Interrogating Injustice : An Analysis of Social Evils Depicted in Mulk Raj Anand's 'Untouchable'

Abstract

Mulk Raj Anand is undeniably a towering figure in the realm of Indian English literature, celebrated for the authenticity with which he paints his characters. This is largely due to his personal familiarity with the environments and circumstances that his novels so vividly depict. One of his most renowned works, "Untouchable," has garnered acclaim worldwide. It delivers a raw, unfiltered snapshot of Indian society prior to its independence, where the state of the socially ostracized 'untouchables' or subalterns, was heart-wrenching due to their marginalized existence. Anand has earned a reputation as a storyteller for the forsaken and overlooked. In "Untouchable," he lays bare the anguish and torment of Bakha, a protagonist of low societal standing, who constantly endures mistreatment and humiliation at the hands of the self-proclaimed custodians of Indian society. This novel has the power to stir the consciousness of discerning readers, vividly illustrating the horrific social disease that plagued the colonial era and subsequent decades. It spins a tale of sorrow, masterfully orchestrated by societal factors, experienced by the oppressed in Indian society.