The novel The God of Small Things is author Arundhati Roy's most well-known work, published in 1997. The story is centered on a Syrian family living in southern India from the 1960s to the 1990s. 

In the Indian caste system, Velutha is a paravan— an untouchable. He works for Mammachi's Paradise Pickles and Preserves factory as a repairman, and he and Ammu, who is above him in the caste system, eventually have a forbidden affair. When Velutha's father discovers the affair and tells everyone, Baby Kochamma and Mammachi trap Ammu in her room, and Mammachi fires Velutha. 

Velutha is beaten and arrested by the police because Baby Kochamma falsely reports to the police that Velutha tried to rape Ammu. Baby Kochamma also liess and says that Velutha kidnapped Rahel, Estha, and Sophie Mol, when in reality the 3 children ran away on their own. Tragically, Velutha dies at the police station because he was beaten so brutally.