Nihilism in Mulk Raj Anand’s Untouchable and U. R. Ananthamurthy’s Samskara: A Rite for a Dead Man

Abstract

Untouchable (1935) depicts the pain of its protagonist, Bakha in a single day incident. Bakha is born to an untouchable, who are known for their manual scavenging work. Set in Aristotelian model if ideal drama, the plot follows unities. Bakha is son Lakha who is happy to be called as jemadar or manual scavenger (Anand 4). Most of the story revolves around the problems Bakha faces. Bakha is not the product of old generation but is rather rational and does not accept his present situation. The story unfolds and we see numerous incidents in which Bakha is maltreated. Many a times despair and depression grips his mind, but his resilient spirit results in the change of attitude and eventually he tries to explore the new arena, ironically again to get disheartened. The depiction of Bakha, elaborates the exploitative practices that caste Hindu poses, in which the untouchable acquire lowest position in the society. Bakha tries to find solution of his problems in religion but all in vain. The only reason he works for “to him work was a sort of intoxication which gave him a glowing health and plenty of easy sleep” (10).