Chapter III

Representation of Women
In his works of
Early Phase
This chapter covers the first three novels written by Mulk Raj Anand and also the study of

how women were presented in these novels. During his early phase, Anand’s writings were

mostly centered on social realism, putting light on the harsh realities of our Indian society as

experienced by the women, especially, who belonged to the lower class and groups.

Anand's strengths as a fiction writer are his vibrancy and acute sense of actuality. It may be

claimed that Anand's early writings are directly inspired by the real world and its everyday

realities. Mulk Raj Anand is skilled in melting through touch. Since he is aware of human

pain, he is able to successfully centre his characters' lives on reality.

Some of his famous works from this period includes: Untouchable (1935), Coolie (1936),

Two Leaves and a Bud (1937) and The Village (1939). Mulk Raj Anand's early works

established his name as a socially conscious writer who confronted themes of caste, class, and

oppression in Indian society. His works continue to be studied and praised for their sensitive

depictions of the human experience.

Anand described his early writing as "naive, impetuous, and sporadic utterances coming from

intense feelings". This is due in part to the fact that he had experienced sadness before.

The first novel written by Mulk Raj Anand was Untouchable, which was published in the

year 1935. His first work, Untouchable, examines the miserable predicament faced by those

labelled as untouchables. Anand's description addresses the social evil that impacts the Hindu

society. The objective of the writer is to highlight the negative effects of the caste system,

which worsen the struggles faced by low-caste individuals. He highlights the themes of

exploitation, injustice, humiliation, and oppression, with one class flourishing at the expense

of another. The novel addresses the continuous injustices done by ruling castes against the
lower castes. Anand's debut novel, Untouchable, made his journey to fame and recognition.

The work had significant revisions before its publication in 1935. The author wanted to revise

his book due to personal experiences with 'untouchability'. In his essay "The Story of My

Experiment with a White Lie," he clearly demonstrates this. After Mahatma Gandhi advised

Anand to rewrite the work, he returned to India.

In Anand's novel "Untouchable," the portrayal of women plays a crucial role in displaying

the overlapping worries of caste, gender, and social injustice. While the novel's primary focus

is on Bakha, a young Dalit sweeper, the female characters in the story contribute to

the crucial insights on women's experiences within the caste system and society as a whole.

In the novel Untouchable, Sohini is an important character who represents both the

determination and weakness of a Dalit women in Indian culture. She is Bakha’s younger

sister and daughter of Lakha. She is extremely beautiful, desired and lusted by men all across

the town, including Bakha himself. Bakha is also proud of her beauty. Sohini, who lost her

mother at a young age, feels burdened by the necessity to balance the domestic work and

household duties with her daily responsibilities as a sweeper and mineworker. In many

aspects, Sohini is the most harassed and oppressed character in the novel, as her gender and

outcaste position connects in vulnerable ways, for example, when Pundit Kali Nath attempts

to sexually abuse her and then says she has ‘polluted’ him after she resists his advances.

Anand also exposes the hypocrisy and lustfulness of the pretentious so-called priest through

the character of Pundit Kalinath, who has a strong sexual yearning for Sohini, an untouchable

while believing that the touch of an untouchable pollutes her body. Pundit Kalinath fails to

molest Sohini, causing a Brahmin to yell:

“Polluted, polluted, polluted!’ shouted the Brahmin…”

The above statement exemplifies the long-standing injustices against untouchables in India.
Anand expresses wrath, sorrow, and despair over the abuse of outcastes in the name of

religion. He holds Hinduism responsible for this social inequality. Brahmin priests and

Mahants, the so-called caretakers of religion, avoid the shadows of outcastes while molesting

their girls. Untouchables are frequently molested by high castes in India's countryside.

They regard low-caste women as objects of sexual fulfilment.

Anand, a social reformer and scientific humanist, presents a true issue, problem, and solution

in the narrative. Through his concern for the downtrodden, he has raised the issues, causing

the reader to feel pity and compassion for untouchables, and finally, through the character of

Sohini, Anand provides three solutions to her problems: either become a Christian with the

assistance of Hutchinson, the Salvation Army Missionary. Take solace in Gandhiji's

chastisement of caste Hindus and wait for social conscience to be awoken, or introduce the

water closet and flush system.

Sohini appears to feel the humiliations of higher – caste brutality more accurately than either

of her brothers do. Sohini, a member of the lowest caste, faced insults while fetching water

from a well. Unlike other castes, woman is not allowed to obtain water from the well and

must rely on a male to provide it. Finally, Pandit Kalinath decides to fetch water for her.

Despite his age-related wrinkles on his body due to the old age, he strives to capture her

youthful beauty. He turns to Sohini and puts water into her bucket, indicating that she should

come to his house to clean the courtyard the next day. When she goes to sweep the courtyard,

he attempts to molest her.

of Indian young girlhood. Although being raised by a poor family and environment, she

shines. Sohini epitomises innocence, sincerity, integrity and virginity as well. She serves as

an antagonist to Gulabo. When she goes to collect water, Gulabo, an attractive middle-aged

washer-woman, abuses her. Sohini's innocence makes it difficult for her to understand why

Gulabo is unfriendly to her. Also, Pandit Kali Nath's favouritism towards her and invitation

to clean his temple compound in the afternoon leave her confused. She is unable to identify

the evil intentions behind everyone’s faces due to her inherent honesty and innocence.

Thus, Sohini's virtues include innocence, virginity, and sincerity. She is timid, obedient, and

nice. She has a caring and sympathetic heart. She continuously performs her duties with a

positive attitude with a smile on her face. Sohini evokes similar sympathy and admiration as

Bakha. Her intelligence, sensitivity, and dignity set her apart from other sweepers. She will

not tolerate any attempt to violate her chastity. Sohini’s peaceful nature is highlighted in her

attempts to avoid an argument with the washing woman. The ill-tempered woman's mindless

abuse makes her giggle, which motivates Pandit Kali Nath to ask her to clean his house from

that day. Lachman, the water-carrier is another admirer of Sohini. He waits for his chance to

come close to Sohini. Sohini’s predicament is even worse than her brother Bakha. Poverty

and the lack of proper accommodation are not the only issues she faces, in fact she has to ask

the Hindu caste members to fill her vessel of water and then too if she gets late, her father

scolds her for no fault of her own. On the top of it, she has to put up with all the unjustified

taunts of the loose charactered washer - woman, Gulabo. Gulabo is cruel enough to

disapprove of Sohini’s attractiveness because she views Sohini as her enemy who attracts

men and as a result no one wishes to pursue Gulabo. She is also jealous of Sohini. She abuses

Sohini:
Ari, you bitch! Do you take me for a buffoon? What are you laughing at, slut? Aren't you

ashamed of showing your teeth to me in presence of men, you prostitute?

She degrades and abuses Sohini by calling her "bitch," "prostitute," and "illegally begotten."

When she complains, Gulabo lifts her arms and threatens to attack her.

Further if we look into the novel, we see Sohini works as a scavenger and collects food to

increase her family’s income. During the story, Sohini's experiences show the deeply rooted

socio-economic disparities that existed in Indian culture at the time. She endures many sorts

of discrimination and harassment because of her caste identification. Sohini's portrayal

depicts the awful reality of untouchability, which includes sexism, brutality, and denial of

basic fundamental human rights.

Despite her hardships, Sohini displays diligence and strength. Her character inspires

the readers because she faces adversity with courage and dignity, challenging the strict social

conventions of her time.

Overall, Sohini's portrayal in "Untouchable" is a striking picture of the sufferings and

perseverance of the untouchable caste in India, drawing focus on the widespread caste-based

discrimination that exists in society.

A minor character in the book Untouchable is Gulabo. She plays a big part in how the story

unfolds. The author drew her based on a real woman he may have thought of as Sohini's

opposite. She's a lady in her middle years. She is the mother of Bakha's close friend Ram

Charan. Gulabo is portrayed as greedy, calculating, and quick to wrath, and she epitomizes
how caste distinctions destroy solidarity. Though she was truly lovely in her youth, time and

labor have aged her, and she now resents Sohini for her sweeper status as well as for her

beauty; at one point, while they are both standing in queue for water, Gulabo threatens to

physically hit Sohini. Because she believes that washermen and washerwomen have the

highest status among the outcastes.

Anand's realistic portrayal of the women and other characters turned Untouchable become a

historical document. Anand aims to use literature to change society, stating:

"I feel that, only in fiction, which is the transformation, through the imagination, of the

concrete life, in words, sounds and vibrations, one may probe into the many layers of human

consciousness in its various phases."

In his next work ‘Coolie’, Anand portrays the modern Indian life. With the publication of this

work, Anand’s scope and achievements were increased and he was able to attain the height

which he could not attain in the novel Untouchable.

K.R. Srinivasa Iyengar says: “If Untouchable is a microcosm, Coolie is a macrocosm, that is

Indian Society”.

Anand’s another book, Coolie, describes the plight of coolies and women in India during the

pre-independence era. There are characters who resides from India and Britain in the novel.

This shows the division of our Indian society and culture, which is also depicted in the novel.

This book provides a graphic depiction of portions by the British. Class conflict is a global

issue, but growing nations like India require a new social structure. The way women are

portrayed in Anand’s book "Coolie" is a reflection of the social inequities and limitations that

prevailed in India during the colonial era. The novel portrays the terrible reality that women
—especially those from marginalized communities—had to deal with when they were

oppressed and exploited in numerous ways. In "Coolie," women are portrayed as being

confined to inflexible gender roles and as bound to societal patriarchal ideals. They

frequently experience prejudice, mistreatment, and exploitation at the hands of males. For

instance, Munoo’s mother’s character stands in for the predicament of many young women

who are pressured into marriages against their will and are then forced to endure a life of

misery and slavery.

In addition, women are portrayed in the book as having little agency in decision-making and

being economically disadvantaged. They are frequently assigned to lowly jobs, denied access

to education, and prevented from taking advantage of chances for both career and personal

advancement.

In Anand's story, real-life characters exhibit social realism. In Coolie, Lakshmi is a typical

Hindu wife who is loyal to her husband and kids. Lakshmi is a minor woman-character in

Coolie. She is the wife of old coolie Hari with whom Munoo lives in Bombay. Lakshmi, a

modest villager, was taken to Bombay by her husband to work at a factory. She seems really

scared and bewildered in Bombay. She is a typical Indian - Hindu wife who is committed to

her family and husband. She has to take care of the kids, take care of the house, and put in

long hours in the workplace. However, she never complains or moans.

In Anand's Coolie (1936), Laxmi, Hari's wife, while living in impoverished conditions,

remains faithful in her love for her husband without showing any grudge or grumbling. She

treats Munoo, the protagonist with kindness and empathy. She always waits for him

whenever he gets late and used to console him like a mother till, he goes to sleep in her arms.

She used to take good care of him.

show innocence in their conversation and behavior with everyone.

Another major character of this novel is Mrs. Mainwaring. In Coolie she is portrayed as a

woman of vast pretensions and no morals, and makes Munoo her rickshaw-puller and

domestic servant (and perhaps something more as well).

Anand's next novel, Two Leaves and a Bud gives an account of the miserable condition and

plight of the women and coolies who works in the Tea-estates, located in Assam. Anand

discusses the challenges faced by tea plantation coolies, as well as their luxurious lifestyles

and harsh treatment of white managers who exploit women and their families.

Lower-caste female characters, such as Sohini in The Untouchable and Leila in Two Leaves

and a Bud, are often portrayed as vulnerable to upper-caste lust.

‘Two Leaves and a Bud’ is a domestic novel, unlike Coolie and Untouchable, which are

epics. The title is highly suggestive and thus describes the hardships faced by labourers in

Assam's tea estates, who must pluck, the two leaves and a bud throughout the day. Mulk Raj

Anand's Two Leaves and a Bud highlights the plight of tea plantation coolies. Gangu, the

novel's major character is larger-than-life. A middle-aged farmer works on his field in a

village near Hoshiarpur, Punjab. After being enticed by the false claims of a better life on tea

plantations, he leaves his hometown for Assam in pursuit of new opportunities. Set against

the backdrop of British colonial power in India, "Two Leaves and a Bud" shows the severe

working conditions and systemic oppression experienced by tea plantation workers in the

Himalayan foothills. The story brings light on the exploitative methods of British-owned tea
estates, as well as the labourers' struggles to make a life in the face of poverty and

exploitation.

The novel's title, "Two Leaves and a Bud," symbolizes the labour of plantation labourers,

particularly the women who work in the fields. The tea leaf represents their persistence and

capacity for growth, despite the difficult environment they face. The portrayal of the

marginalized class, i.e. the poor, is entirely accurate in this story.

According to M. K. Naik, “the position of woman in traditional Hindu society is a recurring

theme in Anand’s fiction, and quite a few of his short stories are devoted to it, bringing out

both the tears and the laughter latent in the subject.”

According to Dr. R.S. Pathak: Indian novelist Mulk Raj Anand's earlier works portray a

conventional view of women. Over time, the representation got more genuine, emphasizing

women’s unhappiness and loneliness. Their characters, like their creators, were divided by the

tension between tradition and modernity. Working women have additional challenges such as

marital adjustment and establishing their identity, making their situation worse.

Mulk Raj Anand's depictions of women are more realistic than those of other writers such as

Narayan and Raja Rao. In 'Untouchable', Sohini, Bakha's sister, is depicted as a symbol of

oppression. The character depicts both caste and sexual exploitation, as a priest tries to

seduce her while she cleans the temple latrine. Despite her beauty, she lacks appropriate

clothing to shield herself from male admirers. So, she becomes a victim of sexual

exploitation.

Gujri and Bibi Uttam kour, two female characters in 'Coolie', are exposed as exploiting

Munoo, the hero. Parbati, a tragic character in the tale, is kind-hearted and religious. She is

polite and affectionate towards Munoo, but she weeps when her husband is taken to the

police station.
Anand's 'Two Leaves and a Bud' highlights the oppression of women due to colonialism.

Sajani, Gangu's wife, depicts the meticulous village women who spend their lives cleaning,

washing, cooking, and cleaning. She cares for her husband, Gangu, but becomes afflicted

with malaria and passes away.

He portrayed these women with depth and complexity as described in his early novels. In

works like "Untouchable" and "Coolie," Anand's portrayal of women reflects the social and

economic reality of the time, notably the challenges of women from marginalised areas.

In "Untouchable," Anand depicts Bakha's sister Sohini as a figure of fortitude in the face of

injustice. Despite being born into a society that considers her untouchable, Sohini

demonstrates courage and tenacity by opposing conventional standards in her own manner.

Anand's early works portray female characters as diverse persons who struggle with social

injustice while demonstrating extraordinary courage and endurance in the face of tragedy.

Anand's stories illuminate the hardships and successes of women in Indian society throughout

the early twentieth century.

Mulk Raj Anand's unique blend of truth, creativeness, and aesthetic sensitivity has greatly

influenced both Indian and English literature. Anand's representation of women is realistic, as

he believes they are marginalized regardless of their socioeconomic status.

Anand's women are silent victims in the patriarchal culture. Anand's magnum opus,

Untouchable, expresses his long-standing protest against the Indian caste system. Sohini's

role in Untouchable exemplifies religious hypocrisy. She was molested by Pandit Kali,

demonstrating how upper caste individuals exploit religion for their own sectarian profit,

exceeding those of lower castes. Gauri is the only novel by Mulk Raj Anand in which he has

presented a woman as his protagonist, otherwise all the major works of Anand depicts women

as subordinate or secondary characters.