tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7061921598060221054.post5981037054769863048..comments2022-11-13T07:11:40.065-08:00Comments on HUL238 Class Blog: Untouchable by Mulk Raj Anad - A ReviewHUL238http://www.blogger.com/profile/04777699064513738408noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7061921598060221054.post-19236208363914033252010-11-09T12:13:50.666-08:002010-11-09T12:13:50.666-08:00Adding to your analysis I feel, through his writin...Adding to your analysis I feel, through his writings Mulk Raj Anand has revealed that in addition to the foreign colonialism of Britain there existed layers of colonialism within Indian society. Most of the problems of India were self created. This internal colonialism stood in the way of India's transition to a modern civil society. This view only reiterates the conclusion that political freedom alone will not solve human misery.<br /> The society in the pre-independence time was divided on the basis of occupation. Infact people had accepted the prevalent system considering it as their fate to be born in a Brahmin family or in any inferior caste. But the protagonist Bakha clearly had trouble accepting the identity allotted to him at birth. His desperate attempt to erase the stigma of untouchability from life represents the changing mindset amongst the lower caste people who were willing to bring some dignity to their life.<br /> The author criticizes the social injustice with his powerful words. He rips apart the hypocrisy of the powerful. Meaninglessness of worship and its uselessness when it is not practiced is stressed. The book is also a small reminder of ignorance of strength by the lower caste and the need for moral rejuvenation. Above all, ‘any social revolution should be practical’ is another message the book manages to convey.<br />Though written in pre-independence era the book still holds its importance as the stigma of casteism still has its grip in the society. ‘Untouchable’ is a reminder for us to be aware of the unsolved questions.Basant Bhuyanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18228400305102794363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7061921598060221054.post-46174529254247290392010-11-08T06:26:54.112-08:002010-11-08T06:26:54.112-08:00I did not find the behavior of the Hindu society a...I did not find the behavior of the Hindu society as depicted in the novel as shocking. Even today we look at the beggars with contempt and many amongst privileged even mistreat them. The reality of the untouchables during those times was similar to those of the beggars today and I was aware of this reality even before reading this novel; I also believe that many of my classmates are also aware of it, even if they have not read this novel.<br />I think that you have missed what the novel does when viewed as a whole. Firstly, it shows us that the outcastes regarded themselves as inferior to others and that they fancied the ways of these whom they considered as superior. It shows us the hard work that they had to do in order to make the ends meet. Inspite of the hard work they were abused by the upper castes and ill treated even when they were trying to help. Later, after a jagged course of ups and downs, the novel presents us with three solutions:<br />The first solution is that of Hutchinson, the Salvationist missionary: Jesus Chirst. But though Bakha is touched at hearing that Christ receives all men, irrespective of caste, he is bored because the missionary cannot explain him who Christ is. Then follows the second solution: the one offered by Gandhi. Gandhi too says that all the Indians are equal and the account of the Brahmin doing the sweepers job goes straight to the heart of Bakha. Hard upon this comes the third solution, put through the mouth of a modernist poet. According to him, untouchability is very much due to the work the untouchables do. The solution is the use of modern machines to do the work the untouchables do.<br />You are also unaware of the favorable status that Mulk Raj Anand held in the Indian society to have written such a novel about the Untouchables during those times (the novel was published in 1935.). The Untouchable could have been written only by an Indian who observed from the outside. No European, whoever sympathetic could have created the character of Bakha, because he would not have known enough of his troubles. And no Untouchable could have written about the novel because he would be involved in self-pity. Mulk raj’s position seems to the ideal one for such novels. Inspite of being from the uppercaste (to be precise he was Kshatriya –source internet), he did not inherit the pollution-complex. “Anand's literary career was launched by family tragedy, instigated by the rigidity of the caste system. His first prose essay was a response to the suicide of an aunt, who had been excommunicated by his family for sharing a meal with a Muslim”. (Source is again internet.) <br /><br />Apurva Manvar<br />2009Ch70141Manvar Apurva Pravinbhaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10184095011600059100noreply@blogger.com