Mulk Raj Anand is known for writing about:
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Correct Answer
Indian rural life and social issues
Explanation
Mulk Raj Anand was a pioneer of Anglo-Indian fiction and is globally celebrated for his realistic and empathetic portrayal of Indian rural life and social issues. Alongside R.K. Narayan and Raja Rao, he was one of the first India-based writers in English to gain an international readership.
Anand's literary works are deeply rooted in social realism, focusing heavily on the traditional Indian caste system, poverty, exploitation of the working class, and the structural miseries of rural society. He brought the lives of the marginalized, outcasts, and the poorest of the poor to the forefront of Indian literature. His debut novel, Untouchable (1935), which exposes a day in the life of a toilet cleaner named Bakha, instantly established him as a powerful voice against social inequality. Another monumental work, Coolie (1936), highlights the brutal economic exploitation of a young hill boy.
The other choices represent entirely different literary genres that do not align with his realist social crusade:
Science fiction involves speculative technology, space exploration, or futuristic concepts, which were completely absent from his realistic settings.
Mythology focuses on traditional legends and religious gods, whereas Anand's writing was deeply secular and humanist.
Historical fiction builds narratives around documented historical events, while Anand focused on the contemporary social issues of his era.
Key Points
Anand's narratives heavily utilized Punjabi and Hindustani idioms translated directly into English, capturing the raw, authentic rhythm of rural Indian speech.
He was a deeply committed humanist, and his fiction served as an active literary weapon against societal injustices, heavily influenced by his political associations in Europe and Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy.
In recognition of his monumental contributions to Indian literature and social advocacy, he was honored with the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1971 and the Padma Bhushan in 1967.
Important Questions and Answers
Question: Which globally renowned English author and member of the Bloomsbury Group wrote the historical introduction for Mulk Raj Anand's first novel, Untouchable?
Answer: E.M. Forster.
Question: Which famous trilogy written by Mulk Raj Anand traces the life and struggles of a peasant named Lalu against British military life and rural debt?
Answer: The Village (1939), Across the Black Waters (1940), and The Sword and the Sickle (1942).