Use of Realism in Mulk Raj Anand's Novels - international indexed ...

International Referred Research Journal, January, 2012, ISSN- 0975-3486, RNI : RAJBIL 2009/30097, VOL- III * ISSUE 28
is the prominent theme and he is concerned with the
sufferings of the masses i.e. Shudra- sweepers and his
wish to bring about social happiness in their lives and
to register his protest against the evil in the social
system of Hindus as well, whereas Coolie is about the
new caste system, the economic 'classes' being so rigid
as to be almost 'closed'. Two Leaves and a Bud represents
the pain of poor Indians, who suffer in the hands
of the British, but the Indian life it represents is based
on the caste and community. Anand wrote these novels
in the phase of his career when caste system was on the
peak in India and he was aware enough to raise his in
protest. Anand himself accepts:
"From tha time onwards my protest about the human
predicament, under the empire and in the atmosphere
of our own decay, often resulting from blind acceptance
of bad habits and the taboos of the sage Manu
and the Hadith tradition of Islam, beceme selfconscious….In
a way I sensed the pain of lofe, which
the more privileged took out of the weaker member of
the flock"( Anand)
In the realist depiction of the Indian
society, he has presented to us a class of those people
whose social status is dominated by their economic
status. In his masterpiece Untouchable the status is
determined by birth, whereas in one of another his
novel Coolie it determines by an economic group. If
we talk about the theme, Coolie of Anand is just extension
of Untouchable, Anand depicts the social evil that
has run its impact even in Indian history. A strong
believer in the dignity and the equality, Anand is naturally
shocked at the inhuman way the untouchables
and coolies are treated by those belong to the superior
caste. Whereas Anand tells about a single community
in his novel untouchables, but it also implies in the rest
of the world, where we have caste-based society. Where
we have discrimination on the name of class, race. His
representation of social structure reflects his idea to
R E F E R E N C E
revolt against for exploitators to change their inhuman
behaviour with the rest of the world, and also to
uplift their behaviour in the society. In the words of
K.R.S. Iyenger, his works "not only a representation
of social reality, but also a necessary functional part of
social control, and also, paradoxically, an important
element in social change"
Mulk Raj Anand is the greatest writer
of downtrodden because of his realistic portrayal of
Indian society, which includes the social values and
social harmony. Anand believes that man is the creator
of his own destiny. He has immense faith in man and
his power. Being a great artist, Anand does speak about
black and white, but he gives the artistic form to the
tragic experience of a man. Anand's revolt and warning
lies within the presentation of his art. About the
novels of Anand, Iyanger says that they came "fresh
from contact with flesh and blood of everyday existence".
We find no discrimination based on race and
caste in our constitution, but in practical life these all
aspects still exist in our society. Social discrimination
still prevails this way or that way and, therefore, social
exclusion and exploitation of the lower class of the
society, though their form and proportion might be
different from the cases of pre-independence era. K.R
Shrinivas Iyenger also confirms this, "….the problem
with blunted edges, perhaps, and also with some relieving
features here- still defies a firm and final solution!"
Despite of that Anand's novels considered as the
blend to change the social system so that the untouchables
can enjoy the equal freedom in the society. Anand
dreamt for our strong, united, prosperous and peaceful
nation. Through his great works he has presented to us
the painful realistic picture of our so called Indian
society in a great manner, now he has left on us to think
how we can change the prevailing system, and how
can we make our nation more prgressive.
Mulk Raj Anand, Untouchable, New Delhi: Orient Paperbacks, 1970 Mulk Raj Anand, "The Source of Protest in my Novels" in The Indian
Novel with a Social Purpose ed. By K. Venkata Reddy, New Delhi: Atlantic Publishers and Distributors, 1999, pp. 20-21 K.R.S. Iyenger, Indian
Writing in English, New Delhi: Sterling Publishers, 1984, p.338-39. Mulk Raj Anand, "The Source of Protest in my Novels", op. cit., p.29
Mulk Raj Anand: Coolie. 1936. London: Penguin, 1986 Saroj Cowasjee: Author and critic: The letter of Mulk Raj Anand (Writers Workshop
Publication).
RESEARCH ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION 101