Discuss the contribution of Mulk Raj Anand to Indian English

Discuss the contribution of Mulk Raj Anand to Indian English Literature.

Ans.

Most of Mulk Raj Anand’s (1905-2004) novels bring to the light the inequalities of society and trials and tribulations of the less fortunate. Untouchable (1935), Coolie (1936). The Village (1939) and The Private Life of an Indian Prince (1953) reveal the evils existing in the society in the Marxist terms. His novels also give a graphic description of the daily existence of his characters, their tales of woe, sweat and misery. Untouchable targets the evil of casteism and brings to the surface the issue of segregation of people on the basis of the profession. In Coolie (1936), he portrays a poverty stricken protagonist. Munoo who depicts the hollowness of society and the curse faced by the proletariat. He was instrumental in bringing about an awareness of the inequality that existed in India. He also advocated solutions for the issues. Both the novels are “a plea for downtrodden, the poor and the outcast, who face economic hardship and emotional humiliation in a rigid social structure.”

Mulk Raj Anand was the master story teller of the downtrodden and of the untouchable who suffer from the unending misery of exploitation. He, carves out epics from the real Indian life of the pre independence period. He looked at Indian life fully in the face with unblinking and yielding eyes, challenged it, fought with the audacity and boldness of a true Indian. He was sophisticated and cosmopolitan in his outlook and philosophy of life, but was impatient of transcendentalism and skeptical of religion. His realistic novels Angry at Injustice, Satirical yet Warm reveal the great Indian generosity of heart and great sympathy with the unfortunate and anger against the forces, which made them helpless. He was indeed, the true representative of the 20th century Indian literary scenario. His literary works reveal that he was not merely a great intuitive observer but penetrating commentator of life.