Untouchable by Mulk Raj Anand charts a day in the life of Bakha, a young man enslaved by India's caste system. Bakha, an Untouchable, cleans latrines and faces mistreatment from upper caste Hindus. After he and his sister endure numerous indignities, Bakha attends Gandhi's speech advocating for the end of the caste system. Bakha's hopes rest on societal reforms and the arrival of innovations like flushing toilets. The book includes instances of sexual assault.

Mulk Raj Anand's Untouchable receives acclaim for its powerful portrayal of caste discrimination in India. Critics laud Anand's empathetic character development and vivid narrative style, though some find the novel's didactic tone and graphic depictions challenging. Overall, the work is praised for its historical significance and emotional impact.

Readers who would enjoy Untouchable by Mulk Raj Anand are often those interested in social justice, Indian history, and caste discrimination. Fans of works like To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee or The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy will appreciate the poignant exploration of marginalized communities and the fight for dignity.

Challenging / Informative / Mysterious / Melancholic / Emotional

- Mulk Raj Anand was inspired to write Untouchable after being deeply influenced by Mahatma Gandhi's fight against untouchability and social discrimination in India.
- Untouchable, published in 1935, is known for being one of the first novels of a genre that came to be known as "Indian-English" literature, making it a pioneer in its field.
- To create a direct and authentic narrative, Anand wrote Untouchable in a single day, fueled by his anger at the institutionalized social injustices he had observed.

**Bakha**  
An eighteen-year-old man from the Untouchable caste in India who works as a street sweeper and grapples with the injustices of the caste system over the course of the novel.

**Sohini**  
Bakha's fourteen-year-old sister, known for her beauty, who encounters unwanted attention from several men due to her looks.

**Lakha**  
Bakha's father, a widower, who often expresses his frustrations and powerlessness through harshness towards his children but is ultimately concerned about their safety.

**Charat Singh**  
A famous hockey player and Brahmin who displays kindness towards Bakha, notably giving him a hockey stick and allowing him to enter his home, offering a contrast to other upper caste characters.

**Colonel Hutchison**  
A white, English missionary who notices Bakha's sadness and extends kindness, illustrating the potential for compassionate interactions between different cultural and societal groups.

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Untouchable Summary and Study Guide

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