UNTOUCHABLE BY MULKRAJ ANAND

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Mulk Raj Anand’s novel Untouchable (1935) is a powerful social critique of the caste system in India. It follows a day in the life of Bakha, a young Dalit (untouchable) boy, exposing the dehumanizing discrimination he faces. Through vivid realism and deep psychological insight, Anand brings out the suffering, aspirations, and dilemmas of the oppressed class.

Summary

Bakha, a strong, handsome 18-year-old boy, belongs to the lowest caste of scavengers. He lives with his father, Lakha, his younger brother, Rakha, and his sister, Sohini. Their job is to clean latrines, a task that brands them as untouchables, forced to live on the fringes of society.

The novel begins with Bakha waking up to the harsh voice of his father, Lakha, who asks him to get to work cleaning toilets. Lakha, old and weak, depends on Bakha to carry out their hereditary profession. Bakha, however, dreams of a different life—one inspired by the Englishmen, whom he admires for their cleanliness and lifestyle.

As he goes about his work, he feels exhausted but takes pride in doing it efficiently. However, his pride is constantly shattered by the insults of the upper-caste Hindus who treat him as an outcast.

Later in the day, while walking through the streets to collect food, Bakha accidentally touches a high-caste Hindu man. The man cries out in horror:

"Polluted! Polluted!"

A crowd gathers, and Bakha is slapped and abused. Helpless and humiliated, he feels deep shame but also anger at the injustice.

Bakha's sister, Sohini, goes to fetch water from the well, where upper-caste women allow her to draw water only if she maintains distance. Pundit Kali Nath, a temple priest, takes advantage of the situation. Pretending to be kind, he allows her to enter the temple premises but later tries to molest her.

When Sohini resists and cries for help, the priest shamelessly accuses her of polluting him. Bakha arrives and sees his sister distressed. When he learns the truth, he is furious but helpless against the powerful Brahmin.

Distraught, Bakha wanders aimlessly and runs into a kind British officer, Colonel Hutchinson, who tries to introduce him to Christianity. However, Bakha does not fully understand the religion and soon loses interest.

As Bakha roams, he stumbles upon a large gathering where Mahatma Gandhi is delivering a speech. Gandhi condemns untouchability, calling it a sin and urging people to treat Dalits as equals. He advocates for self-purification rather than external reforms:

"We must change our hearts before we change our laws."

This speech stirs something within Bakha. He realizes that there is a possibility for change.

As he leaves, he hears a young poet and a modernist discuss the future of sanitation. They talk about machines like the flushing toilet, which could eliminate the need for manual scavenging. This idea fills Bakha with a new kind of hope:

"Perhaps the machine can free us from this terrible work."

For the first time, Bakha envisions a world where he can live with dignity, free from the filth and humiliation of his caste.

Themes of the Novel

  1. Caste System and Social Discrimination – The novel vividly portrays the oppression of untouchables in Hindu society.
  2. Colonial Influence – Bakha’s admiration for the British reflects the complex relationship between colonized Indians and their rulers.
  3. Religious Hypocrisy – Pundit Kali Nath represents the moral corruption within religious institutions.
  4. Political Awakening – Gandhi’s speech offers a beacon of hope, suggesting that social change is possible.
  5. Technological Progress – The mention of modern sanitation hints at a solution beyond traditional caste-based labor.

Conclusion

Untouchable is a poignant novel that exposes the brutality of untouchability and the struggle of those who bear its burden. Through Bakha's journey—his suffering, humiliation, and hope—Mulk Raj Anand calls for a more just and humane society. The novel remains a landmark in Indian literature for its realistic portrayal of caste oppression and its subtle but powerful plea for social reform.

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