Social consciousness in the novels of Mulk Raj Anand

Abstract

This article examines social consciousness in the novels of Mulk Raj Anand, focusing on his representation of caste oppression, class inequality, poverty, gender discrimination, religious prejudice, and the lived experiences of marginalized communities. Anand’s social vision is closely connected with his personal encounters with caste humiliation, communal prejudice, and social injustice, which shaped his commitment to representing the lives of the oppressed. The study situates Anand within the broader tradition of socially engaged Indian fiction, particularly in relation to Premchand, R. K. Narayan, and Raja Rao, while also examining the influence of Dickens, Zola, and Gorky. It further considers Gandhian and Marxist perspectives that inform Anand’s treatment of social reform and structural exploitation. The article reviews biographical, postcolonial, Dalit, feminist, and sociological approaches to Anand’s fiction and highlights the need for an integrated reading that connects formal, political, material, and ethical dimensions of his literary representation.