Glimpse of gender sensitization in Mulk Raj Anand’s Untouchable

Abstract

The protagonist of “Untouchable”, Bakha’s sister, Sohini, adapts the role of a submissive, patient, and peaceful woman. She waits for a caste Hindu to draw water from the well. As she is an untouchable girl, she herself is not allowed to pollute the well. Pundit Kali Nath an upper class priest in the nearby temple, decides to draw water from Sohini as reward of Sohini’s patience. But then, she was sexually abused by Pundit Kali Nath but Bakha brings the blame somewhat on Sohini’s physical attractiveness. A women, therefore, needs to toe the lines instructed by men of higher caste and should ingrain in themselves the feminine virtues like patience and submissive in order to appropriate the role of an ideal women. Most men do not find anything wrong with this standardization of women. Through his work, Mulk Raj Anand has made an attempt to analyze the subalternity of women in the society. This novel underlines the marginality of women as she is made to suffer under the prevalent class structure, flourishing on rich-poor disconnect. Women become the weaker construction of strong men. Sexualisation and feminine gendering also play prominent role in keeping the women down at the bottom of the social hierarchy.