Untouchable by Mulk Raj Anand: The Central Theme

Hareshwar Roy,
Untouchable by Mulk Raj Anand: The Central Theme


The central theme of Mulk Raj Anand’s Untouchable is the absolute horror, injustice, and cruelty of the Indian caste system. The novel focused deeply on the evil practice of untouchability and its devastating impact on human dignity. Through the painful experiences of a young sweeper boy named Bakha, the book exposed how a human being can be treated worse than an animal simply because of his birth. Every single interaction in the story highlights the deep-rooted social prejudice, isolation, and systemic exploitation faced by the lower-caste community on a daily basis.
A major sub-theme connected to this suffering is the intense psychological trauma and helplessness felt by the oppressed. Bakha is strong and hard-working, yet he is forced to swallow his pride and choke back his anger whenever he is publicly insulted or slapped. The novel brilliantly captures his inner conflict between a natural urge to rebel and the heavy weight of centuries of social conditioning that forces him to submit. This constant emotional suppression emphasizes that untouchability does not just hurt a person physically or economically; it completely crushes their soul, self-worth, and mental peace.
Finally, the novel explores three different paths or solutions to eliminate this social evil from India. The first option is the work of Christian missionaries who offer equality through religious conversion. The second is Mahatma Gandhi’s powerful political and spiritual appeal, which urges upper-caste Hindus to purify their hearts and treat sweepers as equals, naming them 'Harijans' or children of God. The third and most practical solution presented is modern technology, specifically the introduction of the flush toilet. Anand suggests that by automating manual scavenging through machines, the social stigma will naturally vanish, paving the way for true human equality.
Location: B-37, City Homes Colony, Jawahar Nagar Satna, Madhya Pradesh, India
Currently Dr. Roy is working as Professor of English at Govt. P.G. College Satna, Madhya Pradesh. He is the author of the following books: (1) Diasporic Articulation in the Novels of M.G. Vassanji (2) A Study of M.G. Vassanji 's Novels (3) Varieties of Indianity in the Works of M.G. Vassanji & Rohinton Mistry (4)Diaspora & Indian Diaspora: A Brief Study (5) Short Notes of English Literature - I (6) Short Notes of English Literature - II (7) हमार पहचान ह भोजपुरी - भोजपुरी कविता संकलन (8) हमरा प्यार हो गइल - भोजपुरी गज़ल संकलन (9) भोजपुरी कविताएँ

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