Bakha of Untouchable: A Character Sketch
Bakha of Untouchable: Character Sketch
Mulk Raj Anand stands as a giant of modern Indian English fiction, celebrated for his profound empathy toward the marginalized and oppressed. His debut masterpiece, Untouchable, published in 1935, revolutionized Indian literature by centering its narrative on those at the very bottom of the social hierarchy. At the heart of this groundbreaking novel is Bakha, a young outcaste sweeper boy whose life unfolds over the course of a single, highly dramatic day. Bakha is not merely a literary creation; he serves as a powerful symbol of human dignity struggling against the cruel and rigid walls of social prejudice. Anand crafts him with deep psychological depth, making him one of the most memorable and poignant protagonists in world literature.
Bakha is an eighteen-year-old youth who stands on the threshold of manhood, full of energy, dreams, and a natural zest for life. He lives in a dark, single-room mud hut located in the squalid outcaste colony on the outskirts of the cantonment town of Bulandshahr. He shares this cramped, gloomy dwelling with his family, which consists of his lazy and demanding father, Lakha, his gentle and affectionate younger sister, Sohini, and his younger brother, Rakha. The family dynamic is often tense, as his father frequently shouts at him and fails to appreciate his hard work, forcing Bakha to bear the heavy burden of providing for the household.
Physically, Bakha is described as a remarkably handsome and well-built young man. He possesses a strong, athletic frame, broad shoulders, and a graceful agility that comes from his daily physical labor. Unlike the common stereotype of a dirty sweeper, Bakha has an innate love for cleanliness, grooming, and personal hygiene. His physical attractiveness and dignified posture make him stand out dramatically from his bleak surroundings. He carries himself with a quiet, natural pride that often contrasts sharply with the submissive attitude expected of his caste by the upper-class society.
Bakha’s choice of dress reflects his unique personality and his deep fascination with the lifestyle of the British soldiers stationed in the cantonment. He loves what he calls "fashion" and eagerly wears a mix of discarded Western clothes, including old army boots, a pair of trousers, and a blanket draped over his shoulders. To the traditional people of his colony, his clothing appears strange and slightly humorous, earning him the nickname "gentleman." However, for Bakha, this hybrid dress is a desperate psychological shield—a way to distance himself from his low identity and feel a sense of modern self-worth.
Socially and economically, Bakha exists at the absolute bottom of the human ladder. As an untouchable sweeper, his official status in Hindu society is lower than that of street animals, and his daily work involves cleaning public latrines and sweeping dusty streets. Economically, his condition is one of extreme poverty, where he must beg for dry bread at the doorsteps of high-caste families. He has no financial security, no access to formal education, and no hope for social mobility. He is trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty and systemic exploitation, where his hard work is rewarded only with insults, scraps of food, and social exclusion.
Despite his harsh life, Bakha possesses a rich inner world, a sensitive mind, and a complex mental status. He is not a passive or brainless laborer; he thinks deeply about his condition and notices the profound injustices around him. His psychological state shifts constantly between a natural joy in simple pleasures and a deep, simmering frustration caused by constant humiliation. He experiences intense emotional hardships, feeling a profound sense of isolation because his sensitive nature prevents him from blindly accepting the cruel fate that his father and society tell him he must endure.
Bakha’s friendships and daily actions highlight his youthful spirit and his longing for normal human connections. His closest friends are Ram Charan, the washerman's son, and Chota, the leather-worker's son, with whom he shares a deep bond of mutual respect and casual camaraderie. His favorite activity is playing hockey, a sport where his natural athletic talent shines brightly and allows him to briefly forget his low social status. Bakha is a highly responsible and diligent worker; his actions throughout the day show that he performs his dirty, exhausting duties with a high level of efficiency and quiet dedication.
His likes and dislikes are distinct and reveal his modern outlook. Bakha likes buying small treats like cheap cigarettes and traditional jalebi sweets, and he deeply appreciates genuine kindness, such as the warmth shown to him by the high-caste sepoy Charat Singh. Conversely, he intensely dislikes the filth of his colony, the lazy hypocrisy of his father, and the arrogant, unprovoked cruelty of the upper-caste Hindus. His deepest emotional pain and blinding anger are triggered when he witnesses the public slap on the street and the attempted molestation of his sister Sohini by the temple priest, moments where his natural protective instincts collide violently with his social helplessness.
The core hardship of Bakha’s character lies in his internal conflict between sudden rage and forced submission. When insulted, a fierce, burning anger rises within his strong body, and he feels a powerful urge to strike back at his oppressors. However, the heavy weight of centuries of social conditioning and the realization of his complete vulnerability quickly crush his rebellious spirit. He is forced to swallow his pride, choke back his tears, and hold his hands together in a posture of begging. This constant suppression of his valid emotions constitutes the ultimate tragedy of his daily existence.
Despite his endless suffering, Bakha is a character defined by his big dreams, unyielding optimism, and a deep-seated faith in a better tomorrow. He does not let poverty kill his spirit; instead, he dreams of breaking free from his miserable identity and living with dignity. This optimism is powerfully ignited when he listens to Mahatma Gandhi's speech at the public ground. Gandhi's message of social reform and his decision to call sweepers the "children of God" comfort Bakha’s wounded soul and give him moral hope.
Furthermore, Bakha's forward-looking mind embraces a profound faith in new technology. When he overhears the young poet talk about the introduction of the modern flush toilet, Bakha realizes that machinery can do the dirty work of manual scavenging. This mechanical solution fills his heart with immense joy because he understands that if the machine takes away the dirt, the stigma of untouchability will vanish naturally.
In conclusion, Bakha is a masterfully drawn character who remains a timeless beacon of human resilience and silent suffering. Through his simple language, familiar struggles, and deep sensitivity, Mulk Raj Anand successfully transforms a social outcast into a tragic and noble hero. Bakha’s journey does not end with open rebellion, but with a quiet, thoughtful hope for a dignified future, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's words and the promise of modern machinery. His character forces readers to look beyond rigid social labels and recognize the universal human soul that beats within every individual.