Untouchable: From mimicry to ambivalence sahib' (p.

4) which signifies 'impersonation sahib',

that implies he is unquestionably demonstrative of
E. M. Forster wrote in the 'Preface' of this novel, mimicry. He disdains Indian method for bathing as
'Untouchable could only have been written by an the British Tommies detest it (p. 10).
Indian, and by an Indian who observed from the
outside. No European, however sympathetic, When he needs to purchase something, he has to
could have created the character of Bakha, because put the cash on a particular place a long way from
he would not have known enough about his the shop and the retailer tosses the item as we toss
troubles. And no Untouchable could have written scraps to a puppy. When he unwittingly brushes
the book, because he would have been involved in past a 'high cast' babu, he faces an inconceivable
indignation and self- pity. Mr. Anand stands in the affront and mortification from where he deals with
ideal position.' (P. vii). Written with regards to a close shave. His experience with Gandhi creates
British India, Mulk Raj Anand's Untouchable his inner conflict and he ends up mindful of his
presents one single day in Bakha's life, a sweeper own religion and culture in its most genuine shape.
kid whose fundamental duty is to clean latrines. We see the repeated use of the words ‘gentreman’
The general population like him was thought to be and ‘fashun’ which are allegorical mockeries to
an untouchable that implies coming to direct their mimicry and the British Colonization. People
contact with them is like sin and contamination. If like Bakha do not have any access to school or any
by chance anyone contacted or got contacted with other educational institutions as ‘schools are
them, the contacted one needed to refine himself meant for the babus, not for the lowly sweepers’
by washing from head to toe. Individuals like (p.30). But paradoxically, the word babu itself is
Bakha were thought to be filthy as they used to similar to slavery. In this regard Ghulam Murshid
clean the 'gentlemen’s dirt' (79). Thus, an said,‘In 1782, the term babu was first used in
untouchable’s duty was to declare his appearance English to mean Bengali clerks who knows
like 'Posh, keep away, posh, sweeper coming, English.’ We do not see the high society
posh, posh, sweeper coming, posh, posh, sweeper individuals embracing the lower ones even today.
coming!' (42). The novel shows different social Even in the temples we see that the untouchables
embarrassments he experiences each day. are not allowed to enter. God has also been
monopolized by the ‘mimic babus’.
The pith of Hinduism and the place of standing
Mulk Raj Anand wanted to show us an India
framework in it have been cleared up through the
which is progressing gradually after independence
discourse of Gandhi who shows up in this novel as
but still is colonized. The western ‘white’
a real-life character. R. P. Masani states that the
influence is somehow dehumanizing. We see
supporters of Hinduism trust that ‘the four castes
mimicry at the starting of the novel where Chota,
[of the caste system] had emerged from four
“oiled his hair profusely, and parted it like the
different limbs of the Creator of the Universe, the
Englishmen on one side, wore a pair of shorts at
underlying idea is not one of detachment but of
hockey and smoked cigarettes like them” (p. 2).
union’ (151). In the last part of this novel Bakha
Anand clears up, “Bakha was a child of modern
abruptly observes a large number of individuals
India. The clear-cut styles of European dress had
surging towards a common destination and he
impressed his naïve mind” (p. 2). Again Bakha can
comes to realize that the considerable Mahatma is
be found looking with inciting at a shop where the
going to a specific place to convey a discourse
formal attire and diverse things of the English
before the mass individuals. Who doesn't know
Tommies were indicated accessible like ‘the
Mahatma? So Bakha likewise surges towards the
scarlet and khaki uniforms discarded or pawned by
colossal man to hear him out. He has gained
the Tommies, pith solar topees, peak caps, knives,
before from optional sources that Gandhi never
forks, buttons, old books and other oddments' (p.
segregates among individuals and he doesn't have
3) and considering, 'I will resemble a sahib, and I
faith in caste system. So Bakha races to consider
will walk like them. Similarly as they do, in twos,
him to be if Gandhi were a friend in need.
with Chota as my buddy. Be that as it may, I have
no cash to purchase things' (p. 3). Additionally, we
In the group Bakha haphazardly listens individuals
see Ram Charan, another friend of Bakha,
discussing Mahatma. One babu says, ‘India has
scorning Bakha and Chota naming them 'Pilpali
1
been the privileged home of the world’s eternal India to figure it out, ‘They claim to be Hindus.
religion, that teaches how every man and woman, They read the scriptures. If, therefore, the Hindus
according to their birth and environment, must oppress them, they should understand that the fault
practice swadharma (sense-control), how through does not lie in the Hindu religion, but in those who
sense control they must evolve their higher nature, profess it. In order to emancipate themselves, they
and so realize the bliss of divinity, deep- seated in have to purify themselves. They have to rid
the hearts of all beings. For this bliss all humanity themselves of evil habits, like drinking liquor and
blindly pants, not knowing that neither cigarettes eating carrion.’ (p. 139). R.T. Robertson writes
nor cinemas nor sense- enjoyment can lead to the that the caste division, or untouchability, is
path of dharmic discipline, which alone is the paradoxical: ‘Bakha is both isolated from and
highest bliss to be realized….. Gandhi will reveal bound to his culture; it will not allow him fully to
this path to the modern world; he will teach us the participate in the society and cannot release him
true religion of God- love which is the best swaraj from it because of the essential service he
(self government)’ (p. 129). So here we have the performs for it’ (101). The period of life impact
dash of the primary substance of this novel that is the untouchable encounters about existence as the
the genuine religion of Indian subcontinent which distant needs to hold up under human faces and
is obscure to individuals like Bakha and live close to the lavatories.
purposefully manhandled by individuals like the
savants and babus. Position framework has been A report from The Times of India, dated March 31,
forced on a gathering of individuals and they have 2018 says that a Dalit man named Pradeep Rathod
been hegemonized this is Hinduism and station was beaten to death by upper caste people. His
framework is inescapable. Through another crime was, he used to ride a horse. The upper class
exchange of a similar babu, Anand strikes the people think that a Dalit has no right to ride a
possibility of progress characterized by the West, horse. Again, a short interview distributed in BBC
‘Bhai ji, do not you know, that according to Mr. online on 27 June, 2012 says a heart melting story
Radha Kumud Mukerji we had canals in ancient of Dr Vinod Sonkar, a Dalit who, even subsequent
India four thousand years before Christ? Who to acquiring a Ph.D, can't outnumber his image as
made the Grand Trunk Road? Not the British!’ (p. an untouchable. Subsequent to drinking some tea
130). The West dependably asserts itself as the at a restaurant, the administrator asked which rank
icon and pioneer of human civilization. It has he had a place with. Having realized that he was a
characterized human progress in such a way which Dalit, the chief requesting that he wash his own
will assist it with colonizing and hegemonizing us. glass as nobody would contact that. Dr. Vinod
As a rule by progress the West shows mechanical Sonkar said to the journalist, ‘He didn't want to
headway in which segment the East is lingering touch whatever I had touched. I made it impure. I
behind than the West. However, in this exchange am an untouchable,’
of the babu, it turns out to be certain that even
before the entry of the Christ, the East was 2 Conclusion
innovatively further developed than the West and Hence, it can be said that the untouchable system
Radha Kumud Mukerji is such an antiquarian who is still going on. Law can never abolish a system;
can't be disregarded. At this point when Mahatma it can just impose some dos and donts on people.
says in his discourse, ‘I do not want to be reborn. But people are very much racial in their soul. The
But if I have to be reborn, I should wish to be word ‘Dalit’ indicates the people who are
reborn as an untouchable, so that I may share their dominated because of the so called society-defined
sorrows, sufferings and the affronts leveled at caste system. The White Supremacy is another
them, in order that I may endeavour to free myself example of this. The Muslims are ‘Dalitizing’ the
and them from their miserable condition. Hindus, the Hindus are also doing the same to the
Therefore I prayed that, if I should be born again, I Muslims. The white people are undermining the
should be so, not as a Brahmin, Kshatriya, blacks, even killing them. In India the caste
Vaishya, Shudra, but as an outcaste, as an system is abolished by law now, people can’t
Untouchable.’ (p. 138), we can envision how this practice it in daylight. But they have preserved it
discourse affected Bakha. At that point, Mahatma in their mind and show it whenever possible.
expresses the message that Anand needs the entire
2