Mulk Raj Anand’s Untouchable: A Realistic Portrayal of Dalit Women

Indian Dalit Literature has emerged as a separate category of literature. It has been produced in many Indian languages, but primarily its main aim is to indicate the socio-economic and political position of the Dalits. More or less all of the Dalit literature provides a new voice and identity to the communities that have experienced discrimination, exploitation, oppression and marginalization due to caste system. It establishes the social equality and human dignity for the marginalized section of the society. Dalit literature is one which acquaints people with the caste system and untouchability in India. It matures with a sociological point of view and is related to the principles of negativity, rebellion and science. From novels to short stories, women's existence has always been restricted within the boundaries of home in Mulk Raj Anand's body of writing. Anand’s women are helpless, uneducated, poor and without vision - vision of their stand in the society and probable prescriptions to cure the same. Not sympathy or sporadic compassion a few human beings but economic empowerment of women through freedom of education, of decision making and of enjoyment of equality at all phases of lived life alone can change the shape of things to come. Anand deals with a realistic portrayal of the poor condition of the Dalit women in his novel, Untouchable.