Mulk Raj Anand as a novelist

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Introduction

Mulk Raj Anand (1905–2004) was one of the pioneering figures of Indian English literature, alongside R. K. Narayan and Raja Rao. A novelist, short-story writer, essayist, and art critic, Anand gained international recognition for his vivid portrayal of India’s poor, oppressed, and marginalized communities. Through his powerful works such as Untouchable (1935), Coolie (1936), and Two Leaves and a Bud (1937), he highlighted social injustices, caste discrimination, and the exploitation of laborers. His writing combined realism with deep compassion, influenced by both Indian traditions and Western thought. Anand’s contribution to literature lies not only in his narrative art but also in his role as a humanist, a social reformer, and a voice of the voiceless.

Early Life and Education

Mulk Raj Anand was born on 12 December 1905 in Peshawar (now in Pakistan) into a Kshatriya family. Though his family followed Hindu traditions, Anand grew up with exposure to various cultures and faiths in the diverse environment of colonial India. From an early age, he was troubled by the rigid caste system and social inequalities he witnessed around him.

He studied at Khalsa College, Amritsar, and later moved to England for higher studies. At University College London and Cambridge, he pursued philosophy, eventually earning a PhD. During his time in Europe, Anand came into contact with leftist intellectuals, humanist thinkers, and modernist writers, all of which shaped his political and literary outlook.

Literary Career

Anand began his career with essays and art criticism but soon turned to fiction as a means of addressing India’s pressing social issues. His novels, written in English, brought the plight of India’s marginalized classes to a global audience.

Untouchable (1935)

Anand’s first and most celebrated novel, Untouchable, is set in a single day in the life of Bakha, a sweeper boy who suffers humiliation because of his caste. The novel exposes the cruelty of untouchability and the hypocrisy of a society bound by rigid hierarchies. It remains a landmark in Indian English fiction for its direct, realistic style and its moral urgency.

Coolie (1936)

In this novel, Anand tells the tragic story of Munoo, a poor orphan who works as a servant, factory worker, rickshaw-puller, and laborer, only to die young from tuberculosis. Through Munoo’s life, Anand critiques poverty, colonial exploitation, and industrial oppression.

Two Leaves and a Bud (1937)

Set in Assam’s tea plantations, this novel depicts the exploitation of peasants under colonial capitalism. Gangu, the central character, becomes a symbol of countless laborers trapped in cycles of injustice.

The Village Trilogy (1939–1942)

This trilogy—The Village, Across the Black Waters, and The Sword and the Sickle—reflects Anand’s semi-autobiographical experiences and his concern with India’s political and social transformation during the colonial period.

Other Works

Anand also wrote short stories, essays, and autobiographical volumes, including Seven Summers (1951), Morning Face (1968), and Confession of a Lover (1976). His short stories, such as “The Lost Child,” are noted for their simplicity and emotional depth.

Themes in Anand’s Writings

  1. Caste and Social Oppression – Anand consistently attacked untouchability, caste prejudice, and the dehumanization of the lower classes.
  2. Poverty and Exploitation – His novels expose the suffering of peasants, coolies, and workers under both traditional and colonial systems.
  3. Humanism – Influenced by Gandhi and Western humanist philosophy, Anand believed in the dignity of every individual, regardless of class or caste.
  4. Colonial Critique – He revealed the exploitative structures of British colonial rule, particularly in Two Leaves and a Bud.
  5. Search for Identity – Many of his characters struggle for dignity, identity, and a place in a rapidly changing society.

Style of Writing

Mulk Raj Anand’s style combines realism with lyrical sympathy. He often wrote in a simple, direct English that incorporated Indian idioms and speech rhythms, making his fiction authentically rooted in Indian life. His characters are ordinary people—sweepers, peasants, laborers—rarely depicted in earlier literature. His narrative voice blends social critique with compassion, echoing both Charles Dickens’s concern for the poor and Mahatma Gandhi’s humanism.

Personal Life and Beliefs

Anand was deeply influenced by Gandhian philosophy, though he remained politically close to socialist and leftist circles. He married twice and had a cosmopolitan life, traveling widely in Europe and maintaining friendships with literary figures like George Orwell, T. S. Eliot, and E. M. Forster (who wrote the preface to Untouchable).

He was also a noted art critic and co-founder of the Indian Progressive Writers’ Association, which sought to use literature as a tool for social reform.

Recognition and Legacy

Mulk Raj Anand received several honors during his lifetime, including the Sahitya Akademi Award (1971) and the Padma Bhushan (1968). His long career spanned nearly seven decades, during which he witnessed India’s struggle for independence and its postcolonial transformations.

Today, Anand is remembered as the humanist of Indian English literature, a writer who gave voice to the voiceless and used fiction as an instrument of social change. His works remain relevant for their exploration of caste, poverty, and dignity, issues that continue to shape contemporary India.

Conclusion

Mulk Raj Anand was not just a novelist but a moral force in Indian English literature. By bringing the lives of the marginalized into the mainstream, he challenged readers to confront uncomfortable truths about society. His novels, full of compassion, realism, and reformist zeal, continue to inspire readers and scholars alike. Through Untouchable, Coolie, and other works, Anand established himself as a pioneer whose humanist vision made literature a vehicle for justice and empathy.

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