Untouchable by Mulk Raj Anand: Themes and Analysis

Mulk Raj Anand’s “Untouchable” paints a vivid portrait of the life of Bakha, a young sweeper, under India’s caste system. This richly-imagined novel raises awareness to social injustice while illuminating the dreams, love, strength, and humanity of the people on the margins.

Anand’s artful storytelling forces us to confront these brutal realities and invites us to reconsider the fabric of our society that allows them to persist. The narrative’s simplicity and power make it a significant piece in Indian literature, encouraging empathy and awareness of ongoing social issues.

Overview of “Untouchable”

Plot Summary

Mulk Raj Anand’s Untouchable provides a vivid portrayal of Bakha’s daily life as a young boy born into the caste of untouchables in pre-independence India. As a sweeper, he is part of the lowest caste, the Untouchables. Yet, this position leaves him vulnerable to everyday hardships and systemic indifference. His life has become a never-ending struggle against hate speech, hate-crime, and the threats of violence.

Living in a mud-walled leper colony on the outskirts of town, Bakha and his family are cut off from the outside world. This dark backdrop sets the tone for the dismal tale of the harsh conditions that the untouchables endure. Throughout the novel, Bakha experiences events that shape his understanding of his identity and societal position.

He touches a high-caste man by mistake and a public confrontation ensues. This moment is perhaps the greatest illustration of his ‘untouchable’ status. While these incidents launch Bakha into a journey of self-discovery and awareness, he starts to confront the societal expectations that constrain him, searching for strength and liberation.

Themes Explored

Written in the wake of the Amritsar Massacre of 1919, the novel explores issues of social injustice, compellingly illustrated through Bakha’s life. The caste system, the film’s main subject, is attacked for its brutality and immorality. Bakha’s search for dignity amid the onslaught of caste oppression is a profound exploration of the search for identity.

This individual fight for dignity in the face of dehumanization highlights the collective criticism of the caste system. Mulk Raj Anand creates a lively portrait of Bakha’s life. Through it, he lays bare the snobbery and hypocrisy that characterize the upper caste sections of Hindu society at large.

That realistic depiction of those that were oppressed in the pre-independence time serves to illuminate the widespread practice of untouchability. It sheds light on the everyday discrimination experienced by people considered untouchables.

Significance of the Title

Untouchable as a title conveys Bakha’s place in Indian society and the ramifications of the caste system with staggering accuracy. It evokes the painful consequences of untouchability in Indian society. This undoubtedly stands as one of the most powerful reminders of the dehumanization faced by marginalized communities.

By centering on Bakha’s life, Anand provides a moving critique of the oppressive social structures that continue to reinforce injustice and bigotry. It is widely recognized for bringing to life the often fatal and dangerous social practices of untouchability.

Anand shows a pivotal role in the Indian independence movement. The beautiful, lyrical prose immerses the reader in untouchable life and draws striking parallels to Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things. It demonstrates social inequality and discrimination in the U.S. With shocking clarity.

Historical and Social Context

Caste System in India

The Indian caste system, a centuries-old social structure that has significantly impacted the lives of millions, including those known as Dalits, is rooted in ancient Hindu texts. These texts categorized society into four main varnas: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras. Over the centuries, this flexible caste hierarchy became more rigid, branching out into thousands of sub-castes, significantly affecting the deplorable condition of the untouchable caste.

The system severely undermines social mobility, routinely denying opportunities across caste lines. ‘Untouchables,’ or Dalits, are on the very bottom, historically given the most impure and menial jobs, like sanitation work. This artificial and overly burdensome division of roles poses insurmountable barriers, excluding people from their education and workforce participation.

The psychological toll of caste discrimination is just as severe. People and neighborhoods are burdened by systemic prejudices that shape how they see themselves and what they can dare to dream to become. When racism is a constant, external oppression can breed internalized oppression, such that those targeted start to accept their alleged inferiority.

In Mulk Raj Anand’s novel Untouchable, Bakha, as a young sweeper, experiences the deepest scorn of society. He struggles with profound internal contradictions stemming from his ambivalence toward his own place in the social hierarchy. The story is a powerful example of how deeply entrenched the caste system is in determining both personal and collective identity.

Class Issues Depicted

The novel further addresses the economic gap between the upper and lower castes. Upper castes generally dominate land ownership, wealth and resources, whereas lower castes—especially the ‘untouchables’—remain mired in poverty. Bakha’s life vividly captures this conflict. He charges through a world in which his labor is the most important, but the least appreciated.

Bakha’s struggles expose the way caste and class intersect. He is threatened by forces due to his social class as well as his lack of wealth. Class issues deepen the oppression of ‘untouchables,’ creating a cycle of poverty and marginalization.

The novel draws attention to how economic hardship sharpens the blade of social discrimination, offering little space to overcome it with upward mobility. Bakha’s journey reveals how entrenched this oppression is. They illuminate the difficulty that activists encounter in escaping the binds of both caste and class.

Impact on Society

These societal attitudes towards these so-called ‘untouchables’ continue to perpetuate discrimination and exclusion. These attitudes are exacerbated by cultural norms and extra practices that dehumanize and other. The novel captures these grim realities, illustrating how ingrained biases can stall hard-fought social advancements.

Education and awareness become important weapons to combat these caste-based biases. The potential for social reform is palpable through Bakha’s journey, as he encounters new ideas that spark hope for change.

Character Analysis

Main Protagonist’s Journey

Bakha lies at the heart of Mulk Raj Anand’s “Untouchable.” His art strongly depicts the oppressed ostracized ‘untouchable’ society. He is consumed by despair on his ship journey. Bit by bit, he changes, discovering the first stirrings of hope and winning back his power. Bakha’s life is an existential nightmare, impossibly painful and alienating as his life is punctuated on all sides by a world insisting he is dirt.

This fight for dignity and acceptance is at the heart of his story. Each of these trials, in turn, further molds Bakha’s identity and propels him toward eventual self-awareness as he confronts each challenge placed in his path. The turning points in Bakha’s life serve as major catalysts to his development. One such moment comes when he meets a friendly Englishman, who shows him undeserved compassion.

This interaction opens Bakha’s eyes to the new world that is possible. It gives him hope and creates the conviction that change can happen. A turning point in the novel comes when Bakha hits his father. This pivotal meeting forces Bakha to contend with his hopes and dreams as well as the brutal truths of his existence. Each of these events builds onto Bakha’s emerging self-awareness and his burgeoning dream of a life lived in dignity.

Supporting Characters’ Roles

Supporting characters like Sohini, Bakha’s sister, and his friend Kadha, are instrumental in defining Bakha’s journey. The way that Sohini reflects her own experiences of being humiliated and struggling. Her writing raises awareness of Bakha’s struggles and exposes how far-reaching the effects of caste discrimination are. Her encounters with the upper class serve to shed even more light on the societal abuses Bakha is up against.

Kadha provides a feeling of connection and care. More than anything, it embodies the beautiful strong relationships built among the untouchables, despite all odds. These often comedic characters provide an essential counterpoint to Bakha’s serious story. They represent the elite, the bourgeoisie, and the lumpenproletariat—the various classes of the society that Anand hopes to condemn.

Through Sohini and Kadha, the story magnifies the power of resilience and solidarity among oppressed communities. Bakha’s encounters with the privileged, upper-class characters really show the strain on society. This dynamic makes Bakha’s personal struggles all the more complex. These interactions emphasize the prejudices that have become woven into the social fabric, making the novel’s central themes hit home all the more.

Character Development

Bakha’s character arc is centered on his slow awakening to his own selfhood and a deepening sense of possibility. He starts to question the unjust social order, and he starts dreaming of a better future. Much of this growth is due to outside factors. Proximity to smart progressive thought and to the people and ideas that challenge the status quo makes all the difference.

These influences expand Bakha’s worldview, opening him up to the possibility of a future beyond his current fate. The relationships Bakha builds over the course of the novel are instrumental in determining who he will become and the life he will choose. He is deeply protective of, and connected to, Sohini.

At the same time, his encounters with the elite expose the violence and empathy that define the world around him. These family and community relationships greatly influence Bakha’s journey. They further underscore the complexity of human relationships, even when faced with the weight of systemic oppression.

Literary Style and Techniques

Mulk Raj Anand’s “Untouchable” is one of the best examples of social realism. Anand opens the book by dramatically introducing Bakha, a boy who is an ‘untouchable’ in British colonial India. Through this character, he exposes the brutal truth of the lives of the untouchables. His artful stories are steeped in the real-life challenges of the oppressed, laying bare the inequities and injustices they face.

Anand doesn’t pull his punches on the gritty realities of Bakha’s life. Instead, he wields them masterfully to paint a truthful picture of societal oppression. Bakha is subject to discrimination and desires respect. The story is so effective at depicting his challenges that readers are forced to come to terms with them on a deep emotional level. This technique helps the reader to engage with the characters and cause on a much more personal level.

Narrative Structure

Through its linear narrative structure, the novel strikes the perfect balance between depicting the experience of invisibility and ultimately redeeming it. The pacing is slow, letting each event play out in a way that ramps up tension and sympathy. This formalism paralleled the day-to-day rhythm of Bakha’s life, with long sequences that emphasize the brutal, unyielding repetition of humiliation that he endures.

From art installations to musical performances, programming is intentionally curated to highlight themes of oppression and resilience. Bakha’s interactions among the various strata of society are depicted in near cinematic succession. This does a fantastic job of illustrating just how deep and ingrained the caste system really goes. The structure deeply enhances the story, deepening the emotional resonance and challenging readers to consider the social structures that produce these inequities.

Use of Language

Anand’s stylistic choices are key in realizing the rich cultural landscape of the novel. Through his use of dialect, or vernacular speech, Anand deftly conveys the complexities of societal hierarchies and character affiliations. Through these conversations, readers learn about the caste hierarchy and the internalized oppression of both oppressors and the oppressed.

The dialogue, frequently peppered with regional vernacular, brings a wonderful dynamism to the story. Furthermore, Anand’s literary style clearly conveys the emotional states of his characters, especially that of Bakha. His inner monologues bring to life the chaos and hopes of an individual stuck within an unyielding class hierarchy.

Through Bakha’s conflict and change of desires, this deliberate choice of language allows readers to deeply connect to Bakha’s struggle and desire for something more.

Symbolism and Imagery

Symbolism and imagery are two very important techniques that are used throughout the literary piece “Untouchable.” Important symbols, such as the mango that recurs throughout, act as metaphors for Bakha’s hopes and the unattainable. These symbols are intricately woven into the narrative to illustrate the difference between what one wishes for and what one gets.

Anand further uses powerful imagery to illustrate the deplorable conditions faced by the ‘untouchables.’ The degradation and grime illustrated throughout Bakha’s world serve as visceral testaments to the institutional apathy endured by his people. This powerful imagery not only creates a strong visual image but further emphasizes the themes of struggle and hope.

This powerful symbolism, layered on top of the fertile imagery, deepens the narrative’s emotional impact and highlights the unstoppable power of the human spirit.

Critical Reception and Legacy

Initial Reception

When “Untouchable” made its initial splash in 1935, it sent ripples through the literary world in India and beyond. Readers received the novel with ambivalence and horror. Readers were captivated by the unvarnished portrayal of caste discrimination, which upended a number of long-held societal norms.

Through the protagonist, Bakha, Mulk Raj Anand offered a vivid portrayal of the harsh realities faced by the untouchables in Indian society. This unflinching portrayal led countless readers to reconsider their conceptions of caste and colonial structures. Literary critics were instrumental in determining its legacy.

The critics praised Anand’s brave attitude in tackling topics considered taboo, which was very revolutionary for that period. Acclaimed as a watershed work, Untouchable was hailed by critics. It was revolutionary in its use of prose to challenge the status quo and introduce issues that subsequent literature could examine further.

Influence on Literature

Untouchable is a classic, one that has forever changed the literary landscape, inspiring generations of writers to tackle social justice topics with equal passion. Anand’s clear, authoritative, yet always deeply human narrative tone produced a new way to tell urgent, potentially didactic stories.

Arundhati Roy, Rohinton Mistry, and other Indian writers who followed him—like many who have come after him—have been inspired by his work. They fight back with critical literature to challenge the social injustices they face.

The novel’s presence in the Indian literary canon further attests to its importance. Not just a product of the socio-political landscape of its time, it continues to speak to audiences across the globe today. Untouchable” exists as an important work of world literature.

It continues to raise controversial issues of caste and class, crossing cultural boundaries and encouraging conversations about human rights and equality.

Contemporary Relevance

The themes “Untouchable” examines are still as shocking today, especially in India where caste system discrimination still exists today. Anand’s work rings true in today’s climate of social justice activism.

At the same time, it reminds us of all that we still have to do. The ongoing fight against caste-based discrimination reminds us that the problems Anand depicted are persistent.

In light of current struggles, revisiting “Untouchable” will provide readers with critical context to understand how we got here. It further motivates them to fight for a better future.

The novel inspires hilarious debates around gender equality and human rights. It motivates a whole new generation to engage with these critical issues. Its relevance today is a testament to the timelessness of Anand’s message and his contribution to continuing the dialogue on social equity.

Conclusion

Mulk Raj Anand’s novel “Untouchable” provides a richly textured narrative of the caste struggle in India. The narrative emphasizes the harsh realities encountered by those in real life, particularly by those residing at the social periphery. It paints a highly evocative portrait of the lives of the downtrodden. As a result, the narrative is often marred by its own privileged perspective. It gives life to the characters with truthfulness and compassion. Anand’s poetic language and stylistic mastery enrich the narrative, making the book at once powerful, riveting, and enlightening.

Today, this novel is as potent an instrument for combating prejudice as ever. Open it up and see for yourself the power of what its pages have to say. Tell us what you think and join the discussion about its ideas and topics. Let’s continue to make this conversation timely and important.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is “Untouchable” by Mulk Raj Anand about?

Untouchable” is a novel by Mulk Raj Anand. It tracks a day in the life of Bakha, a young Indian street sweeper. Through the characters and events in the novel, Anand addresses the discrimination, social injustice, and exploitation that the Dalit community experienced during pre-independence India.

In what historical context was “Untouchable” written?

Untouchable as it was published in 1935. It was a surprisingly radical book, set during the British colonial rule of India. Through the character of Kalu, the novel poignantly sheds light on the caste-based discrimination that existed during this period, providing an incisive critique of the social hierarchy.

Who is the main character in “Untouchable”?

The main character in “Untouchable” is Bakha. He is a small young Dalit boy who is a sweeper by profession. By following Bakha’s struggles, the novel reveals the deeply dehumanizing impact of the caste system.

What literary techniques does Anand use in “Untouchable”?

Anand’s use of a stream-of-consciousness technique, vivid imagery, and symbolic language is extraordinary. Taken individually or together, these techniques draw you into a visceral narrative. These scenes are hauntingly beautiful, and they illustrate the emotional and social isolation of the protagonist.

How was “Untouchable” received by critics?

Untouchable was very well received by critics, who hailed its unflinching depiction of the realities of social discrimination. It won acclaim for its portrayal of an empathetic character, and a courageous critique of the caste system. Even decades later, the novel continues to be a touchstone in conversations around social justice.

What legacy has “Untouchable” left behind?

Untouchable is an acknowledged classic of Indian literature. It scared the establishment. It inspired future generations of writers to address social and political issues. The novel is still read today for its profound influence on social reform and literary movements.

How does “Untouchable” reflect social realities in India?

Untouchable as a narrative closely reflects shocking realities of caste discrimination in India. It astutely captures the layers of systemic oppression that have long targeted marginalized communities. Today, the novel continues to be a touchstone in conversations about caste, the dynamics of privilege, and social inequality.