The novel – Untouchable
needs no introduction for an Indian reader because its background is well known
to him. The very title is a
telltale.
Humanism,
which is the key concept of his novels like Untouchable and Coolie, reveals
man’s essential dignity and nobility. According to this approach to man – man
is the creative source of infinite possibilities. Mr. Anand is a humanist who
reveals the essential dignity of the underdogs of Indian society. Anand in all
his novels emphasizes the fact that nobility and dignity are not the monopoly
of the rich. The poor have their greatness, honour as well as the richness.
This humanism is the central theme of his novels. His humanism justifies that
man is man, be he a sweeper, a prince or a coolie.
The novel
Untouchable has the confrontation between tradition and modernity. Anand
realized that much in the Indian tradition was obsolete and meaningless.
Tradition might have its utility when it began as a new practice. But in course
of time, it lost its purpose and became an obstacle to progress.
Anand suggests
that modern methods be adopted and the evils would die a natural death. For
example untouchability, originated in the past, then there was need of it, but
continue to present, when it is doing so much damage to the society. It is
against the spirit of democracy. In modern perspective Gandhiji made the
greatest possible efforts to eradicate it and gave the title to them –
Harijans, the servant of the God. Anand also pained to see that even the basic
rights of man are denied to them and out of sympathy for the oppressed – the
down trodden – that Anand turned to fight a battle for them.
In the novel
Untouhable, Anand not only presents the problem of untouchability but also
exposes injustices and inhuman treatment, the degrading humiliation and
cruelty. In fact, in the thirties, Indian society was in a state of transition,
there was a clash between tradition and modernity and this transition is one of
the themes of the novel. The theme of the novel has been studied through the
character of Bakha who is caught between two worlds. Though the pulls of
modernity were strong upon him, he could not break tradition. There is clash
inside the platform of his souls. He becomes a representative of a society
passing through transition. He is not ready to accept his traditional place in
the society. Hot angers burns within him. He is purring with the desire to
change the existing order of exploitation and injustice but, the severity of
centuries, which is ingrained in him, paralyses him even when he vaguely thinks
of retaliation. Accidentally, when he touches a man and pollutes him in so
called way, a crowd gathers around him to beat him.
On the other
side of the picture, Bakha’s father and brother harbor no resentment against
oppression and injustice. They are the representatives of forces of tradition,
orthodoxy and conservatism, whereas Bakha stands for social change, for
transition from the old to new in fact he has caught the glamour of the
Whiteman’s life. He wants to be a White Sahib.
The writer has
depicted an overall grip on the problem of untouchability. In nutshell it can
be stated that the theme of untouchability is very realistic and fit for
naturalistic fiction. The high point of the novel is when Gandhi speaks out
against untouchability, but praised the humble origin of the untouchable making
him a man of God and denouncing those who believe that because of his caste a
man is polluted and can pollute others.
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