Exploitation of poor laborers in Mulk Raj Anand’s Two leaves and a Bud ,Filmed as Rahi and The Wayfarer

Mulk Raj Anand's novel "Two Leaves and a Bud," published in 1937 later adapted into the film "Rahi," released on 1953 in Hindi as Rahi and as The Wayfarer in english vividly portrays the exploitation of poor laborers in colonial India, particularly within the tea plantations of Assam. The narrative centers around Gangu, an indentured laborer, whose life is marked by the harsh realities of colonial oppression and social injustice most of the labourers were once farmers . In a system that deprives them of autonomy and dignity, the "farmers" turn into "laborers" as a result of economic hardship.Anand employs social realism to highlight the economic, social, and political inequities faced by the laborers, depicting their struggles against the backdrop of British colonial rule. The novel underscores the dehumanizing conditions and the psychological impact of colonial dominance on the workers, who are often treated as the 'Other' and subjected to severe exploitation and violence. Through his poignant storytelling, Anand not only exposes the brutalities of colonialism but also evokes a strong sense of empathy and outrage towards the plight of the oppressed, making "Two Leaves and a Bud" a powerful commentary on social exploitation.