The Subaltern Writings in India and Overview of Dalit Literature

Abstract

The Dalit and subaltern class of Dr. Mulk Raj Anand\'s time in India are portrayed realistically and sympathetically in his novels, which focus on the class\'s struggle to make ends meet and the ways in which the upper class and well-to-do people in society exploit and deny them any opportunities. Anand is a famous English-language critic of the Indian literary scene. Anand is a prolific writer who writes in both English and Hindi. His works include novels, short tales, and articles on the arts. Anand was among those who translated Hindustani idioms into English. His picture of India\'s poor is so spot-on that it\'s hard not to feel compassion for them. Anand is the first Indian novelist to write in English, and his works show the genuine hardships of the oppressed Indian people. Anand became as a leader in advocating for marginalized groups. Many of his most popular characters come from marginalized communities. Anand\'s made-up world is populated mostly by down-and-outers like janitors, coolies, farmers, and factory employees. The current study will use an inquiring, interpreting, evaluating, and analyzing research strategy. Mulk Raj Anand, a novelist who is deeply committed to social justice, has penned several works on the subject. More than a dozen books, seventy short stories, and several essays and articles have been published under his name. Input from both primary and secondary sources has been compiled. Mulk Raj Anand, a social pundit, talks about the shortcomings of capitalism. Mulk Raj Anand, the author we\'ve picked, presents the tale of colonial India from the perspective of the country\'s lowest strata. Mulk Raj Anand is an esteemed writer whose works have greatly influenced the development of Indian literature in English. Simply said, Anand is the only published author who has ever addressed the plight of the homeless and the social pariah. A voice that is forceful and powerful yet muffled by the stifling fabric of tradition and convention runs throughout Anand\'s work like a constant undercurrent.

Introduction

Mulk Raj Anand (1905–2004) was a pioneering Indian author writing in English, known for depicting the lives and struggles of the marginalized—especially lower castes and laborers. His most influential novels, including Untouchable (1935), Coolie (1936), and Two Leaves and a Bud (1937), critique caste-based discrimination, colonial exploitation, and economic injustice. Anand was inspired by figures like Gandhi, Buddha, and Nehru and was influenced by values of compassion, equality, and brotherhood.

He was honored with the Padma Bhushan, inducted into the Sahitya Akademi, and recognized as a Fellow of three major Indian art academies.

2. Subaltern Writings in India

"Subaltern" refers to people socially, politically, and economically oppressed—those lacking voice and representation. In India, this includes Dalits, women, and marginalized laborers.

Writers like Gayatri Spivak and Arjun Dangle have expanded the concept. Dalit literature, deeply rooted in resistance, critiques caste oppression and seeks justice. It is distinct in language, content, and heroes, focusing on real-life suffering rather than idealized narratives.

Key figures in Dalit literature include:

• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar – Forefather of Dalit literature.

• Anna Bhau Sathe – Famous for novels like Fakira, portraying the Dalit struggle.

• Daya Pawar, Shankarrao Kharat, Laxman Mane, Baby Kamble, Urmila Pawar – Authors of powerful autobiographies exposing caste-based suffering.

Dalit poetry also emerged with works by Namdeo Dhasal, Daya Pawar, and others, addressing exploitation with forceful, defiant language.

3. Subaltern Suffering in Mulk Raj Anand’s Novels

A. Two Leaves and a Bud:

Focuses on Gangu, a poor laborer lured to work on an Assam tea plantation, where he is exploited by British colonialists. His family suffers from poverty and abuse. Gangu ultimately dies trying to protect his daughter from sexual assault, highlighting the brutality inflicted on subalterns.

B. Across the Black Waters:

Follows Lal Singh (Lalu), a poor peasant forced to fight in World War I. Ill-equipped and exploited, Lalu and his fellow Indian soldiers are pawns of British colonial power. The novel exposes how poverty, war, and colonialism intertwine to crush the marginalized.

4. Subaltern Voices in Untouchable

Anand’s debut novel, Untouchable, offers a day in the life of Bakha, a young Dalit latrine cleaner, highlighting the daily humiliations and dehumanization he faces under the caste system. Inspired by Gandhi and grounded in real encounters, the novel critiques:

• Religious hypocrisy (e.g., a priest who tries to molest Bakha’s sister Sohini yet claims pollution when touched by Dalits).

• Social exclusion (denied access to water, temples, and basic dignity).

• Colonial and upper-caste indifference.

Anand ends the novel with hope—Bakha listens to Gandhi’s speech advocating equality and envisions a future with technology (like flush toilets) to eliminate caste-based occupations.

Conclusion

When it comes to Indian literature written in English, Mulk Raj Anand is a forerunner. According to the study\'s predetermined parameters, the authors selected were Mulk Raj Anand, Raja Rao, and R.K. Narayanan, three of the pioneers of Indian writing in English. Our chosen writer, Mulk Raj Anand, tells the history of colonial India through the eyes of its lower classes. Mulk Raj Anand is a well-respected author who contributed significantly to the evolution of Indian-English literature. Simply said, Anand is the only author who has ever written about the destitute and the outcast. He was the first author to debunk the stereotypes about Indian people that had been widely circulated for decades. The outcasts and destitute masses of India have been depicted with unrelenting reality and profound comprehension, while the exploiters, whether they imperialists or feudalists, have been revealed with uncompromising honesty. Anand speaks out strongly against the traditional, caste-based Indian culture. Furthermore, he shows his support for the outcastes and the bulk who are oppressed and marginalized by imperialists, feudalists, and so-called caste-Hindus.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Dr. Damodhar Govinda Ramteke . This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.