Author: Dr. Rajshree Ranawat and Km. Raghavi Rajpurohit
Affiliation: Department of English, JNVU, Jodhpur
Volume/Issue: Vol. 1 (Jan–June 2026)
Pages: 56–60
Abstract
Caste is one of the most enduring and complex systems of social stratification in India, deeply embedded in religious ideology, economic structures, and cultural consciousness. It is not merely a division of labour but a hierarchical system of graded inequality that regulates identity, dignity, and access to resources. In literary discourse, caste has been a recurring theme, particularly in Indian English fiction, where writers have attempted to represent its lived realities. Among the earliest and most significant voices addressing caste oppression is Mulk Raj Anand, whose novels bring the lived experiences of marginalised communities into English literary consciousness. Works such as Untouchable (1935), Coolie (1936), and Two Leaves and a Bud (1937) expose the brutality of caste-based exclusion and its intersections with colonialism and class exploitation. This essay critically examines caste and casteism through Anand’s literary representation, supported by theoretical insights from B. R. Ambedkar, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, and Homi K. Bhabha. While Anand provides emotional realism, Ambedkar offers structural critique, Spivak interrogates representation, and Bhabha explores cultural hybridity. Together, they create a multidimensional understanding of caste as both material and discursive violence.
Keywords: Caste System, Casteism, Mulk Raj Anand, Untouchable, B. R. Ambedkar, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, Homi K. Bhabha, Subaltern Studies, Dalit Representation, Postcolonial Criticism.