Untouchable by Mulk Raj Anand detailed summary

 

The novel begins with a description of the society of most exploited class of people on the outskirts of the town of Bulasha. The author illustrates the location :

 "The colony, he belonged to the outcastes, is a cluster of mud-walled houses. They serve as the scavanger, the cobblers, the washer men for the barbers, the water-carriers, the grass cutters and a host of other groups of outcastes who were made to suffer untold miseries and tyranny at the hands of the elite Hindus. The place contains nothing except filth and squalor oozing away penetrating and offensive smell with a disgusting look. Their belongings are neither diamond nor gold. What belongs to them are few dark hovels with some pet animals."

Bakha, the protagonist is extremely exposed to exploitation and deprivation and condemned human being  for no reason except being an outcaste. He lives with Lakha, his father, Rakha, his younger brother and Sohini, his young charming sister, in his filthy colony. He is young, and sturdy boy of eighteen. His mother passed away long ago. His father is old and quite unable to work because his feeble health and lost the strength to work due to ageing. Like most Indian families the responsibility to cater to the requirements befall on the shoulders of Bakha. He works relentlessly. He works for wages that is hardly sufficient to support even the basic needs of life. But they have no way out. Besides, Bakha and his family to bear the excruciating stigma and contempt for being outcastes because they are children of the lesser god. He is a mute spectator and victim of humiliation in caste-ridden Hindu society.

Besides these excruciating experiences he has an unusual passion for English ways of life. He loves to wear English clothes to experience a sense of distinction. He imitates English soldiers as they don't discriminate human beings on the basis of their caste and creed. He mainly imitates the British soldiers (tommies) to forget the pain of humiliation.

He in many ways, is different from others who belong to his community. While others accept humiliation and tyranny as their divine fate in a servile manner he violates the cruel tradition and cultures and represents himself as progressive. He discards traditional uniform of sweeper to voice his sense of protest and revolt. He remains conscious towards justice and equality among human beings. He waits for a radical change that is quite a far dream.

Bakha’s Morning – beginning of a day

“'Ohe, Bakhya! Ohe Bakhya ! Ohe scoundrel of a sweeper's sun ! Come and clean a latrine for me!” Bakha is rudely awakened that morning to resume his routine work. He is sincere and punctual in his work though his father is always scolding him. He treats him with least affection and after his mother's demise his father became more ego-centric. Bakha's mother used to be compassionate, over-indulging. During his mother's life Bakha never realises any of his wishes unfulfilled. Havildar Charat Singh complains, "Why aren't the latrines clean, Ohe rogue of a Bakha ? There is not one fit to go near I have walked all round. Do you know you are responsible for my piles. I caught the contagion sitting on one of those dirty latrines!" Bakha is very efficient and proficient at his work. Toilets glaze like mirror. He has to clean three rows of latrines which hardens the muscles of his body. Anand says "He looked intelligent, even sensitive, with a sort of dignity that does not belong to the ordinary scavenger. Further Anand appreciates, "It was perhaps his absorption in his task that gave him that look of distinction, or his exotic dress however loose and ill-fitting, that lifted him above his odorous world" Charat Singh gives a brand new hockey stick to Bakha. It comes as an unexpected boon and renders him elated.

The Well and the Thirsty Untouchables

 Bakha finishes his morning shift of work and comes back home. He is hungry and thirsty for he has not eaten anything since morning. Sohini tries hard to light the fire but the wet fuel fails her. She realises that there is no water. She takes the pitcher and goes to the well of the elite caste Hindus where she counts on the chance of some gentleman taking pity on her and giving her the water she needed. The untouchables crowd round the well. They are in desperate need of water. But they can't dare drawing water from the well because they can foresee the consequences of this act of pollution. Anand writes, "So the outcastes had to wait for chance to bring some caste Hindu to the well, for luck to decide that he was kind, for Fate to ordain that he had time to get their pitchers filled with water. They crowded round the well, congested the space below its high brick platform, morning, noon and night, joining their hands in servile humility to every passer-by; cursing their fate, and bemoaning their lot." Fortunately a caste Hindu priest approaches. He is suffering from chronic constipation. He wants to relieve himself of this trouble by drawing water from the well. He draws water and pours it into Sohini's pitcher because her physical beauty.

Sohini comes back with water. Lakha scolds her for being late. She prepares tea and breakfast and serve to her insistent brothers, bhakha and Rakha and her father who has least resistance to hunger. Later Bhakha leaves home to do the work which his father instructed.

Bakha comes out of his house and proceeds to the town out of his colony. He is in rather jovial mood. He begins to sing and stops when realises that he is being watched by Ram Charan and Chota. They sometimes ridicule him by pointing his body and attire. Bakha is informed that Ram Charan's sister is going to be married. But he declines making an excuse that he has a lot of work to do because his father is ill. He is then asked to participate in a game of hockey the afternoon and he concedes.

Bakha proceeds and buys a packet of cigarettes but he is much humiliated by the shop owner. Later, he buys some cheap sweets because he cannot afford the expensive ones. He was walking through the market unmindful of what is going to happen tomorrow. Happiness seldom visits on Bakha's door.

When Bakha Touches a High Caste Hindu

“Swine, dog, why didn't you shout and aware of your approach!” the boy shouted as he met Bakha's eye. “Don't you know, you brute, that you must not touch me."

It happened accidentally because Bakha was totally unaware of everything around him. He was moving along like a free bird. But he did not know that freedom was mirage for him. Mirage seems real but as a matter of fact that is illusion. The high caste Hindu unleashed abuses on him. The man becomes furious and wildly aggressive. He beats the poor boy for the crime he did not commit. His only sin is that he was born in an outcaste's family. This was the darkest chapter in the human history. Bakha is shocked and dumb-founded and he was quite bewildererd. People did not dare to come to his rescue. Nobody raised voice against this heinous crime. Bakha could have replied against this as his muscles were strong enough. But social culture and hierarchy have chained him everywhere.

 
Bakha apologises with folded hands and bent forehead, But the man doesn't pay any heed. The man is not satisfied with his humble apology. As if he wants to give him a capital punishment for he was touched by a low-caste boy.

Self-realisation and Bakha's Response

Bakha, spiritually broken, condemned and denounced by his contemporary society, because he needs to announce his approach. "Posh, Posh, sweeper coming" He is burning like a furnace with anger, grief and anguish Although the situation is tormenting but he does not collapse. All these harsh realities and hardships of life lead him to introspection and self-realisation. He condemns himself for being humble and mute spectator of cruelty. Why did I not answer such injustice? Sometime he seems to accept everything that befalls him as destiny He is confirmed that he will never be able to overcome and dominate the high-caste? He thinks that he should mind his own affairs. He is a sweeper. That's all. Nothing more. But as a human, when he observes other human beings he concludes that he equally feels pains and pleasure as other human beings do Why do the Mohammedans and the Sahibs not discriminate ? Why is a Mohammedan or a Christian not polluted when a low-caste touches them?  He proclaims, "I am sweeper, sweeper-untouchable! untouchable! untouchable!

All these scenes depict the real predicaments of the untouchables and the downtrodden who have been forces to live in filth and squalor. They have been denied the rights of living human beings.

Bakha's Fear and Temptation

 Bakha comes across a big temple made of stone. It looks formidable and awful. The fear subdues Bakha. He enters it to clean the heap of dust and leaves. The mysterious presence of gods and goddesses create divine atmosphere all around. The awe of the divine deities compel him to surrender and submit himself but he knows has limits. He is conscious of the Hindu-law which does not allow an out-caste to render his heart felt tribute. What a paradox that! a touch of an outcaste pollutes the temple and deities.

Bakha performs his duty honestly and he goes on with his job of cleaning. But he is curious to see inside. It keeps him restless He ponders over the pros and cons of the situation and its consequences Ultimately, he comes to a conclusion and decides to go upstairs. He moves tip-toed and enjoys the glimpse of the images of gods and goddesses. They are made of brass and shrouded in the wreaths and dishes of offerings lying at their feet. A typical semi nude priest is surrounded by devotees. A man of loin clad gets up and blows a conch. This marks the beginning of a happy morning The prayer goes on the melodious tinkling of bell which charges the whole atmosphere with divinity. Bakha is spiritually charged and immensely moved by the sacred verses of the holy scriptures being chanted by the priest.

Bakha Defiles God

“Polluted ! polluted ! polluted” a sudden cry fills the atmosphere He becomes embarrassed and bewildered.  The priest along with all devotees shout at him. They beat the poor helpless scavanger to get off the temple because he has defiled it sanctity. The scene is noticeable and heart-rending because it is the worst example of discrimination against human being on the ground of caste. It is a matter of shame for entire religion indeed. It requires a great social and religious reform. Equality of all human beings is fundamental teaching of all great religions of the world.

Pandit Kali Nath Molests Sohini

The lecherous, lascivious, and libidinous Pandit molests Sohini to gratify his mean desire. He becomes savage and brute and forgets that Sohini is like his daughter. She is too tender. She fights against the Pandit to protect her modesty. The author depicts the vivid graphics of how the priests treated with low-caste women. They used them as daily commodities The priests were supposed to be equipped with divine privilege to use low-caste women to gratify their mean of lust in the name of service to deities.

 
Bakha's self-respect is hurt when he comes to know that Pandit molested his sister. He becomes angry and revengeful. When Sohini resisted him, Pandit made a counter allegation that she polluted him He proceeds further to take his revenge. But the crowd discouraged him Baka.

 
Bakha's Self-respect breaks

 Sohini was very much close and affectionate to her brother and she has respect for her brother. He looked revengeful and ruthless. This is a matter of shame for entire humanity How did he dare to touch and molest a young and innocent girl. The hypocrite Brahmin ! Bakha pursued his sister to explain what happened to her in reality.

“Tell me, Sohini', he said, turning fiercely at his sister, 'how far did he go?

She sobbed and didn't reply.

 
Tell me! Tell me! I will kill him if.............he shouted.

 
Heee just teased me, she at last yielded. And then when I was bending down to work, he came and held me by my breasts Brahmin dog " Bakha exclaimed. I will go and kill him And he rushed blindly to the courtyard. No, no, come back. Let's go away, called Sohini after him, arresting his progress by dragging hard his overcoat.”

 

The author categorically expresses the dual character of caste Hindu priests. He satirises the hypocrisy of the priests and the elite caste Hindus.  Writer wanted to  expose the hollowness of them.

The Psyche of an Untouchable

Bakha's urge to retaliate is still alive His blood is boiling for revenge. The whole sequence of his sister's molestation is extremely tormenting. It tortures him frequently. He has cast his mental poise and can go to any extent to retaliate. Although he knows that he cannot retrieve Sohini's modesty, he becomes more violent when he thinks of his sister who is the living victim of this inhuman act of savagery. He is unable to hide his smouldering revenge. He would have slaughtered the lecherous Pandit if the caste Hindu society had not fabricated a strong wall to protect the mean interests of such hypocrite Brahmins.

 
He cannot trespass the barriers forged by caste culture. He fails to take his revenge. His heart sinks. He is helpless and he can't violate the conventions and also subjected to the will of hypocrite priests.

 
More Humiliation and Insult

Bakha asks Sohini to go home. She is tortured and mentally shattered. She goes away silently. She veils her face with her saree. Bakha wanders in search of food. Because he has to collect today's bread. Otherwise they will have to sleep without bread. He begs his daily bread because his meagre earning can't meet the requirements of daily bread.

Bakha wanders from door to door with scant hope in his eyes. He goes through more polluted streets and lanes, quite narrow, unhygienic and unfit for healthy living. He is depressed, frustrated, humiliated, condemned and tortured. His suffering is the outcome of thousands of years of exploitation of the lower caste Hindu by the Brahmins. This is the most tragic chapter of human history.

 

He begged and voiced his demand, "Bread for the sweeper, mother."

It is a heart rending scene. A woman hurdles abuses on him because he sat at her doorstep. She scold him harshly. He moves to next door. As he moves on, a woman from roof top throws bread to him. He fails to catch them. Soon he collect them from damp and dirty brick pavement and sets for home. He does not go to collect more food for the day. A fresh insult added his grief. He felt that his veins are running short of blood and shrinking to perish. He is desperately yearning to get rid of these tormenting memories. But it is not possible. Everything is an indistinguishable part of his life. He should not have picked the bread. But he had no alternative.

Trapped Between Emotion and Anguish

 He feels excessively hungry as if he would eat the others residues to subside his hunger. He looks enervated. He is going home with perspiring top to bottom. He broods the bread under his arm is not sufficient. Lakha will ask for bread because Sohini did not go out to collect.