A Call for Humanism in Mulk Raj Anand's Untouchable

Abstract

This study explores Anand's Untouchablef rom the perspective of critical humanism. Main concern of this research is to analyze how we human beings and our practices are responsible for the suffering of others. Bakha shows himself against the caste based practice that reinforce the novel's appeal for critical humanism. In the novel, HavildarCharat Singh, PanditKlainath and Colonel Huntchinson represent orthodox while protagonist Bakha carry critical perspective. This thesis has raised the issue of shifting nature of humanism from orthodox to critical humanism. By taking theoretical insights on criticalHumanism as proposed by Edward Said, the study assesses that there are certain characters in every human being which make them act through human spirit regardless to their caste, creed, religious ideology and other such notions. Along with the change of whole history of knowledge the concept of humanism is also changed. Orthodox humanism has been changed into secular one. Thus, the critical standpoint of Bakha has marked the novel with critical humanistic appeal. Keywords: Critical humanism, Orthodox humanism, exclusion, castism, Untouchable, Inhumanity, Underdog, Plight, Outrage.