Untouchable – Mulk Raj Anand
Mulk Raj
Anand, acclaimed as the Charles Dickens of Indian writing, focused on the
everyday problem of pre-independence and post-independence of India. He is
especially known to shed light on the lives of lower caste people who are
treated with great bias and unfairness. Almost all of his novels and short
stories like ‘Untouchable’, ‘Coolie’, ‘The Big Heart’, ‘Two Leaves and a Bud’,
etc. touch the problems of the political structure, oppression of classes,
un-touch-ability and so on. Untouchable is a novel written in the year 1935 and
revolves around a day’s consequences in the life of Bakha. There are no
chapters in the book; hence, they are split to different sections for the
convenience of the reader
Bakha’s
Family
Bakha
lives in a house made of mud and has only one room. He lives along with his
father Lakha, brother Rakha and sister Sohini. Lakha works as a sweeper and is
the leader for the sweepers of the town. The town they live in is Bulashah (imaginary place) and their community of outcaste’s restricted to a colony near
the latrines of the town.
Bakha
always thinks of his friends and is almost obsessed with the ‘English’ way of
living. He and his friends call the Englishmen ‘Tommies’ and try to imitate
them in everything. Lakha constantly abuses his son for having such an interest
on the Englishmen. As Bakha reminiscences on several things while on bed, his
father abuses him for not going to clean the latrines. However, he does not
care and thinks of his mother who died. He believes that abusing done by his
father started only after the death of his mother. He constantly ignores the
words of Lakha when he hears another voice ordering for cleaning the latrine.
As Bakha
hears the voice of Havildar Charat Singh, he immediately attends to his duty.
He does not soil himself showing that he has great proficiency in his job.
Singh comes out after taking care of his daily oblations and reveals his idea
of gifting a hockey stick to the boy. As Charat Singh is a great hockey player,
Bakha feels really happy about the promise. Bakha resumes his work with joy as
many people enter and exit the bathrooms. He collects the refuse to a chimney
and completes his job for the shift. He goes to home only to find that Lakha is
sleeping and there is no water to drink. Sohini offers to fetch water.
Sohini
goes for water
No
outcaste is allowed to directly take water from the well and water can be
acquired only through the mercy of a high caste person. As Sohini reaches well
with a pitcher, she observes many outcastes waiting for any compassionate individual to help with the water. She waits with others for a sympathetic
higher caste person. The waiting group has a washerwoman named Gulabo who is
very jealous of Sohini. She starts to use derogatory words such as prostitute,
bitch, etc. and Sohini feels that she is joking. However, she does not stop and
increases her verbal abuse making Sohini to realise that intentions of Gulabo
are real. She wonders about her doings that made Gulabo to feel that way.
Gulabo even tries to hit Sohini but Waziro – wife of a weaver, stops her.
Sohini shocked by the incident stays calm and thinks about thirsty Bakha.
Meanwhile,
a sepoy comes to the well to fetch water. Unfortunately, he does not listen to
the pleading of the outcastes and leaves. Shortly, priest and in charge of
temples – Pundit Kali Nath, comes to the well. He is pursued by the women as he
finally accepts to pour water from his pitcher to theirs. Gulabo cries out that
she came first and the rest claim the same. However, Sohini stays out from the
group and waits for Kali Nath to give water. He observes this and looks at
Sohini. He gets attracted by the face of her and the way she refuses to join
the group. Therefore, he asks her to come forward and pours water into the
pitcher. Further, he asks her to come to the temple for cleaning. She accepts
his order and returns to home with water.
As she
reaches home Lakha yells for being late and uses derogatory words. He orders
her to gather her brothers as he intends to say something. However, Rakha
escapes to play and Bakha is the only one to be in the house. As Bakha nears
his father, Lakha acts as if he is ill and makes Bakha to fill his duty as a
sweeper. Bakha reluctantly accepts as he is completely aware of the fake nature
of the illness. He drinks tea and walks towards the temple where he needs to
sweep.
Bakha and
his friends
Bakha,
while walking towards the town, observes that the air fresh and clean outside
the colony. He stands on the road enjoying the sun unaware that his friends Ram
Charan and Chota along with his brother Rakha are watching him. They make fun
of Bakha for his weird behaviour and jokes about it.
Ram
Charan, the son of Gulabo, declares that his sister is about to get married
that day. Bakha feels a bit sad because he has feelings for her. Chota enquires
about his duties for the day, when Bakha orders Rakha to clean the latrines in
the colony as he is out for another duty. However, Rakha doesn’t seem
interested and walks towards his home. The rest force Bakha to join for
gambling but he refuses to skip his duties.
As Bakha
tries to move towards the town, two boys come to them. They are the sons of a
high caste man named Burra Babu and Bakha greets them well. They discuss about
hockey and agree to play later that day. When one of the boys says that it is
time for school, Bakha’s curiosity immediately increases as he always wanted to
know about schools and teaching. Therefore, he offers one Anna for a lesson to
the eldest of the two boys. He accepts and says that they can meet again to
begin with the lessons. Chota and Ram Charan joke at the interests of Bakha. He
takes them lightly and walks towards the town with great anticipations that
day.
Touching
a High Caste
Bakha
buys a cigarette and takes the coal to light up from a Muslim. He enjoys being
in town absorbing every scene and sound he could. He gets attracted to some
sweets and shrugs off the fear of his father who would abuse him for spending
money on such things. He asks the shopkeeper to give candy for four annas and
the shopkeeper cheats the boy by weighing the scale incorrectly. Despite
knowing this Bakha does not protest and takes what he is given. He feels happy
for the fact that he has some candy to eat and he munches them while walking.
He stands
and observes the advertising boards when a high caste man runs into Bakha.
Although, Bakha is not to blame for the hurriedness of the high caste man, he
starts abusing him and starts shouting about his presence so that others could
know. Bakha pleads his apology but the man won’t listen and soon a huge crowd
circles him. His option of escaping is closed out as he needs to touch someone
if he has to escape the circle. All of them start to insult Bakha for his
actions and falsely accuse him of previous actions.
Fortunately,
for Bakha, a horse buggy with a travel merchant comes to the road scattering
the people gathered around. However, the high caste man stays despite many
urges from the merchant and only leaves after giving a hard slap to Bakha. Many
emotions flow from the furious and crying Bakha like anger, frustration,
indignation, horror, etc. Bakha decides to take revenge when the travel
merchant tries to console him. Bakha gets up to leave when a shopkeeper reminds
about chant of the untouchables. He starts to sing the chant as he walks
forward to the temple.
Bakha is
confronted with many questions after that incident. He could not understand the
humility shown by him despite the arrogant behaviour of the public. He regrets
for not hitting the high caste man when receiving a slap for no reason. He
questions the relevance of the system, wonders about the reason for
untouchables to get abused. Bakha realizes that his duty of cleaning latrines
makes him repugnant to everyone in the society.
The
Temple
Bakha
after observing the happenings of the town finally reaches the temple. Being in
such a tranquil place gives him peace as he starts to work. He sees some
worshipers approaching and starts to chant his presence to avoid the same
treatment again. As he is not supposed to enter the temple, Bakha is always
curious about the worship and the prayers used. He listens to the prayers with
joy but does not understand the words. He does not understand who the gods are!
Therefore wonders who is Narayan, Shanti Deva, Hari, etc. Curiosity increases
within him and slowly approaches the entrance. Suddenly, he becomes discouraged
and returns to his work.
After
completing the clean-up, Bakha tries to see the inside of the temple again and
goes to the top stair. He observes the temple, the priests, the hymns, the
worshippers and is in a divine state. Unfortunately, he hears someone shouting “polluted,
polluted!” and alarmingly falls down in a prostrate position. Slowly, he
realizes that the cry was not meant for him but for his sister – Sohini.
Pundit
Kali Nath accuses Sohini for intentionally touching him and abuses her in many ways.
The worshipers lead her and Bakha forcefully out of the stairs. Sohini explains
that Pundit Kali Nath has tried to touch her, which infuriates Bakha. He holds
her sister and comes near the stairs to spat at the people for not realizing
what has actually happened. As Bakha starts to talk in rage all the worshipers
remain calm with fear. However, Sohini realizes that it could end up bad,
convinces Bakha to leave the matter and leave the Temple. Bakha is filled with
rage but understands that he is not able to cross the barriers set by
traditions and experiences of the past. Therefore, he asks Sohini to go back
home while he leaves to collect food for the day.
High
Caste Woman
Bakha
goes from street to street to beg some food so that his family could eat. No
one shows pity for him and he finally gets tired of begging. Bakha sits in
front of a house and naps. A Sadhu comes to the same house and his voice wakes
the boy. At the same time a woman comes out of the house and is aghast by the
presence of Bakha at the doorstep. She abuses him and Bakha moves away from the
door.
Another
woman comes out and gives some food to the Sadhu and a Chapatti to Bakha with
the same kindness. She exits and the first woman comes with some food to Sadhu
and orders Bakha to clean a gutter before receiving any alms. He does so and
she asks to clean the bathroom, which he does. Then, the higher caste woman
throws bread into the ground for Bakha to pick. Unable to do anything, Bakha
picks the bread and frustrated throws his work-broom. The woman criticises the
lower castes in common that they are getting too much excited these days.
The
Doctor
Bakha
reaches home desolated only to find his father’s frustration for brining just
two pieces of bread. Rakha is not home as usual and is said to fetch food for
the family from the barracks. As Lakha asks about small amounts of food
collected, Bakha says that he is not aware of many people in the town. Lakha
says that he needs to know people as it is the only way to get food in the
future. However, Lakha sees some distress in his son and asks about it. Bakha
explains the happenings of the day and feels very sad.
Lakha
tries to convince his son that high caste people are far superior to them in
everything. Therefore, it is their duty to respect them without any
questioning. He reveals about a doctor who saved Bakha from severe illness.
When Bakha was only a child, he was sick with fever that was not healed.
Therefore, Lakha goes to a doctor of high caste to get help. Lakha stood
outside the home of the doctor pleading everyone entering to pass the massage
to the doctor. No one helped and he cannot even buy medicine [although having
money] for he is not allowed to be in the place. Lakha desperate comes back to
see if his son is alive and to his great fortune he is alive.
But, he
notices that the child was barely able to take breaths and runs back to the
doctor. This time he does not wait and enters to the chamber directly not
thinking about the circumstances. He, at once, falls at the feet of the doctor
while other patients scream and run because of his presence. Not minding them
and the furious doctor, Lakha explains the situation and begs the doctor to
help.
The
doctor understands and starts to write medicine when Lakha’s brother enters and
announces that Bakha is about die. Lakha not taking the prescription rushes
back to the house to look at his son. As the parents cry dejectedly, the doctor
knocks the door. The high cast doctor enters the house of Lakha and saves the
life of Bakha. After hearing the story, Bakha feels so happy but controls his
emotions.
They have
a conversation about Rakha and wonder where he is. He soon appears with some
food from the barracks. However, Bakha feels that the food is collected from
the water used to wash hands after eating. This idea repels Bakha from eating
and makes an excuse of attending the marriage of Ram Charan’s sister.
The
Wedding
Bakha
moves towards the wedding thinking about the sister of Ram Charan. Both of them
used to play together when they were children and once they contemplated
marriage through a game. They were even married in that game and Bakha always
had feelings for her. As he enters the area of the wedding, he is too shy to
enter directly into washer-man wedding. He is afraid of Gulabo as she has
acquired a name of having great hatred towards people.
Fortunately,
Chota appears and together they try to get the attention of Ram Charan who is
busy eating sugarplums. When they do get his attention, Gulabo also watches and
chases them away. Rama Charan also runs with them towards the hills. Bakha
contemplates on the beauty of nature and falls back while his friends move
forward. He drinks from a natural pool in the hill and tries to take a nap. As
he sleeps, Chota tickles his nose making Bakha to sneeze louder with a weird
noise. He laughs along with other but not in a natural way arising suspicions.
The two inquire Bakha, but he says that it is nothing to worry about.
Bakha
then asks Ram Charan to give his lot of sugarplums. Ram Charan opens a hand
kerchief and asks Bakha to take a sugarplum. However, Bakha refuses and asks
Ram Charan to throw one so that he can catch. This dismays Ram Charan as well
as Chota who understand that something is terribly wrong with their friend.
There was no difference between them previously as they ate together and shared
the same bottle of soda. So, they pressure Bakha to reveal the reason for such
behaviour. Bakha confesses about the three incidents that took place earlier.
Ram
Charan feels ashamed of the behaviour of the high caste people and remains
silent. Chota tries to console Bakha and shows great frustration towards the
way they are treated. However, he resorts to cheering his friend and reminds
about the hockey game. He also offers to take revenge on the priest for his
treatment of Sohini. Ram Charan reminds them that if he needs to attend the
game, then it is imperative to go home now. All of them head back and decide a
time to meet. Chota leaves home and Bakha moves towards the place of Charat
Singh to receive a hockey stick as promised.
Charat
Singh
Charat
Singh lives in a deserted barracks where there is no one. Only two sentries who
stand guard a solar topee can be seen. There are many legends surrounding the
topee and Bakha was always attracted to it. He even thought to steal it in
order to possess the topee. However, his plans to have the topee diminished
over the years. Bakha observes the topee and wonders if his courage witnessed
in his younger days is declining. He hesitates to talk to the sentries about
the hat and leaves to the house in fear of insults. The door is closed at the
house of the Charat Singh and he waits outside for someone to open the door.
After a while, Charat Singh comes out and does not notice Bakha. So, he gently
calls out for Charat Singh and he greets him gladly.
He enquires
about the absence of Bakha in recent hockey games for which the boy tells that
he has to perform his duties. However, Charat Singh tries to emphasise the
importance of the game (earlier that morning he wants the latrine to be cleaned
by Bakha) and tells the boy that he can ignore the work. Despite observing the
contradictory ideas of the hockey player, Bakha is happy to spend time with him
as he is a famous player of the game.
Charat
Singh asks Bakha to enter the house and bring some coal from the kitchen. Bakha
becomes astonished to realise that Charat Singh being a Hindu is fine with him
entering the house. He enters into the house with great joy and is filled with
love towards Charat Singh. He collects the coal from a cook and hurries back to
the hockey player. Then Charat Singh gives a new hockey stick to Bakha. He
denies having a new stick as a gift, but the hockey player asks him to take the
stick and go. Bakha receives his gift and is overwhelmed with joy and thinks
that he has good fortunes. As he leaves the house, he immediately thinks about
the lessons promised by the elder son of Burra Babu.
Game of
Hockey
Burra
Babu’s youngest son brings all the hockey gear needed to play. Chota tells
everyone that Bakha is a bearer to a Sahib to mask his true identity. Bakha
shows his new hockey stick and everyone congratulates him. Unfortunately, the
youngest son does not get to play and is dejected. To console him Bakha gives a
task of protecting his overcoat which means so much to him. As the game begins
Bakha proves to be a wonderful player with no equal in the field. He moves
swiftly between the opponents and scores a goal for his team. This infuriates
the goal keeper who hits the leg of Bakha.
Chota
orders his team to attack and everyone starts fighting. They throw rocks
without observing the young son of Burra Babu is amongst them. A stone thrown
by Ram Charan hits his head and he falls unconscious and bleeding. Bakha rushes
him to his house expecting some treatment to the kid. As he reaches the home,
he is abused by the mother for attacking the child. Bakha is shell shocked and
the elder son tries to say that it was Ram Charan’s fault. The boy’s mother
does not listen and constantly abuses Bakha for the condition of his son. He
withdraws from the place and realises that her hatredness is because of his
untouchability.
He walks
back home dispirited expecting more abuses from his father. He hides the hockey
stick under a cactus bush and enters his home. Lakha and Rakha abuse him for
being away from the house leaving them to work. As things get more serious,
Lakha shouts at Bakha to leave the house and asks him to never come back. Bakha
could not control his rage and bursts through the house leaving his family. He
runs towards the plains without even looking back at the colony or thinking
about anything associated with his life.
Christianity
Bakha
after running a fair distance settles under a pipal tree [sacred fig]. He
expects someone to come and relieve him from his sufferings. However, he
understands that such expectations are wrong and impossible.But,
Colonel Hutchinson comes near the tree and tries to comfort him. Now, the
Colonel is a party of the Christian Salvation Army trying to convert
untouchables into Christianity. His wife often chides him for his incapability
and wasting time on untouchables. Bakha is surprised to see an Englishman
laying his hand on him. They introduce each other and the Colonel talks about
Jesus. Bakha inquires who Jesus is and the Colonel says that he will explain
everything in the Church.
Colonel
Hutchison starts to drag the boy to the Church and singing songs about God.
Bakha cannot understand a thing and wonders the difference between Jesus and
Ram or any other God. Gradually, he becomes bored of the hymns but bears it
because he likes the presence of an Englishman. He begins to dream about
wearing trousers similar to that of the Colonel.
Even his
thoughts do not create interest as Bakha tries to escape from the Colonel.
Observing the growing disinterest, the Colonel says that Jesus died for the
sins of mankind. This piece of information does not attract the boy; therefore,
Colonel Hutchison claims that Jesus treats Brahmins and the Untouchables in the
same way with equality. Bakha is immediately attracted to the words of
equality, but loses his interest as the Colonel starts to blabber so many
religious aspects.
Finally,
they reach the Church compound with Bakha hoping for a trouser and Hutchinson
hoping for a new convert. Then, the Colonel’s wife shouts at him to join her
for tea. He says that he will come but could not decide whether to attend Bakha
or his wife. As he stands there wondering, his wife comes and shouts at the
presence of Bakha by calling him a ‘blackie’ indirectly. She screams about
Bhangis and Chamars making Bakha to grow fearful of the two. He takes leave
from them and runs away from the Church. A helpless Colonel Hutchison watches
as Bakha runs off from his grasp.
Mahatma
Gandhi
Bakha is
very upset to see that everyone blames the untouchables as if they had done
some mistake. He feels that the hatred shown by the Colonel's wife was
much greater than the Hindus he encountered that day. Unknowing where he is
going he reaches the railroad station of Bulashah. A train seems to approach
and all the people shout about the coming of Mahatma Gandhi. All of them are in
white and are walking towards Golbagh where Gandhi is expected to address the
gathering.
The term
Mahatma creates great curiosity in the mind of Bakha wanting him to join the
crowd. As Bakha does not have his tools, the crowd do not realise that an
untouchable is standing amongst them. He observes that there are different
kinds of people in the crowd. He could easily identify 'who is who' by their mannerisms and attire. As he looks forward, there are many people in
front of him and he decides to take a shortcut from a nearby marsh. Some people
follow him and they end up much closer to the oval [stage] where Gandhi would
talk. Bakha decides to stay under a tree and leans against it.
The men
around discuss about the struggles and achievements of Gandhi. They talks about
the political progress he could bring and his dedication towards uplifting
people who are called untouchables. Gandhi has done fasting for the sake of
untouchables and Bakha is grateful that at least someone is trying to help
them. A motorcar enters from which Gandhi along with his wife and daughter of a
British admiral come out. He reaches the centre of the oval and greets the
crowd.
Mahatma
Gandhi begins by praying to the Gods and Bakha feels purged of all the filth of
the day. He begins his speech with the mention of imprisonment for protesting
against the rule of British. He agrees that the Government has let him out by
making an agreement of 'not speaking against' British
Government. Therefore, he declares that he would speak on another important
problem i.e. untouchability. Gandhi says that the people are being oppressed
both by the British rule and the unscrupulous principles followed in the
society. He emphasises:
‘I regard untouchability as the
greatest blot of Hinduism. The view of mine dates back to the time when I was a
child.’
Gandhi
relates a story from his childhood, where he would untouchables and conceal the
fact from his parents. Bakha listens many things like abandoning practices like
drinking, scavenging, eating carrions and gambling. Although, they seem to criticise the untouchables he understands the importance of them. Gandhi says
that untouchables should never take anything that is left over from plates. He states
that only good food and grain must be accepted. Bakha feels that Gandhi should
tell the same to his father so he could understand the importance of these
things. Mahatma even declares that untouchables should have access to temples,
schools, wells, etc. The speech ends and Mahatma Gandhi pass by Bakha. The boy
is spellbound by the speech and remains near the tree.
The
Muslim and the Poet
As
Mahatma Gandhi slowly leaves with the crowd behind him a Muslim calls him a
hypocrite. Bakha identifies him as a Muslim and the young man who protests such
claims as a poet. The poet agrees that Gandhi has indeed made some mistakes but
he has achieved a force to attract the nation towards freedom. He states that
India is abundant in philosophy, resources and knowledge of living. Someone in
the crowd identifies the poet to be Iqbal Nath Sarshar. The Muslim is
identified as Mr. R. N. Bashir, a lawyer.
Bashir
expresses his dislike towards the concept of eradication of untouchability by
Gandhi. The dislike alone surprises Iqbal as he believes that the issue is the
most legible of all. Then he explains about the origin of untouchables, which
is the creation of some cruel Brahmins who do not know how to interpret the
Holy texts. He emphasises that such creations of men can be easily destroyed
through proper effort. People are following the system based on the work done
by the untouchables and according to Iqbal if people start to use the ‘Flush
System’ then there would be no need of human intervention. The latrines would be
clean without humans and cleaning profession would completely vanish resulting
in the eradication of the untouchables. Bashir cannot respond to the claims of
Iqbal and they leave.
Bakha
wants to listen to the discussion as it gives solutions to the problems in his
mind. He is cleansed of all the bad things that happened on that day. Bakha
then decides to follow the instructions given by Mahatma Gandhi. He understands
that having a flush system would decrease the problems faced by untouchables
and heads back home to say all these things to his father.
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