Caste and Resistance: A Comparative Study of Untouchable an d Lagaan

This paper explores the representation of caste discrimination and subaltern consciousness in Mulk Raj Anand's seminal novel Untouchable (1935) and Ashutosh Gowariker's Bollywood film Lagaan (2001). Through a humanistic lens, the study analyzes how both texts critique the entrenched caste hierarchies of Indian society. Drawing on subaltern theory and postcolonial frameworks, the paper argues that while Untouchable presents a direct and emotionally charged portrayal of Dalit oppression, Lagaan uses metaphor and cinematic spectacle to raise subtle questions about caste, unity, and resistance under colonial rule.