Untouchable and Coolie: The Soul of Social Realism

Mulk Raj Anand is very well- known as an Indian novelist, distinguished writer, reformer, art critic, editor, journalist, a short story writer and political activist. He opened a new section of writers of fiction along with Raja Rao and R. K. Narayan and produced a great deal of English literature and his mastery in the realistic and sympathetic portrayal of the exploited class of Indian society marks his genius as a socially committed novelist. That‟s why he is not only known as India‟s Charles dickens but also considered the messiah of the have-nots, unloved, down trodden and unwanted. The exploitation of the downtrodden in Indian society made him focus his attention on their miserable and pathetic condition and formed the major theme of his works. His writings reflect his urgent social concern, preoccupations and the social impulse and made the reader to be immediately aware of the exploitation faced by the downtrodden through the heart throbbing description of their wretched state. Painted with the colors of social realism Mulk Raj Anand‟s two novels Untouchable and Coolie reflect the hard core reality of the Indian society of early decades of twentieth century.. Written with a purpose both these novels condemn the modern capitalistic Indian society and feudal system for the shameless and tragic exploitation of the poor and underdog as there is nothing but a true, real and bitter reflection of the society in both the novels dealing with a similar central theme of social exploitation, the exploitation of the downtrodden and the underprivileged because of the curse of untouchability, poverty, hunger, child labour, social governance, social set up of society, customs, religious belief, prejudices and the suffering of the Indian masses by the forces of capitalism, industrialism and colonialism. The present paper shows the true colours of social realism in Untouchable and Coolie; the epic like novels of M. K. Anand to strike a cord in the hearts of the consciententious Indians through a beautiful and real to life portrayal of the exploited masses of Indian society.