Coolie Novel Analysis

ABSRACT

Mulk Raj Anand carried the Indo-Anglian novel to a great position. He is one of the major novelists among the Indo-Anglian fiction writers and his contribution to the development of Indo-Anglian literature is high. He is a social realist. In Coolie, we get an idea of Anand’s socialist realism. Anand expresses humanism as the basis of existence on earth. His realistic approach is coloured by his sympathy. At the same time, it should be made clear that, Anand is nowhere, not even in Coolie a Marxist whose main aim is socialist realism as is the case with Russian novelists. What is remarkable about Anand’s realism is that it is not only an artistic creed but also a way of life, an approach. Like the Untouchable,

Coolie is full of realistic episodes, economic determinism and Anand’s dreams and plea for change in society and in human heart. Coolie is written in the vein of a realistic fiction. It is a picture of real life. The solid facts of life have been recapitulated. The illusion of reality of miserable life in Coolie is created by starkly realistic narration. It is a well-known fact in India of life from the very childhood. This is the first stroke of realism. The description of the rustic life in the opening of the novel and its contrast with the city life is realistic. The villagers’ dreams about the city life are also pictured realistically. The strings of communalism, industrialism, racism are also depicted very realistically. The whole tragic life of Munoo at different places by different people is also presented with social

It presents a picture of the poor people; their sadness and cruelty, happiness and revolt, exploitation and hunger. The typical technique adopted in Coolie is naturalistic. Munoo’s progress and other things are described in naturalistic setting. The photographic realism brings accuracy and objectivity and makes the picture very touching. Anand shows his grip on the expressionistic technique. Expressionistic technique is x-ray photography and it is diametrically opposed to naturalism. It is a technique of bringing out the intrinsic reality or truth of an emotion or situation. Truth can be known only by distortion. Coolie is a novel written with purpose. It is a powerful indictment of modern capitalistic society and its tragic exploitation of the poor. The hero of the novel wants to live, but the society does not allow him to live. He dies of exploitation, poverty and hunger. Humanism is the answer to the problem. If the poor are treated humanely, many of the problems related to them can be solved easily. As mentioned above, Coolie is remarkable for its humanism too. It has given the story of Munoo a human touch. It runs like an undercurrent and saves the novel from being a dark picture of contemporary India. There is a certain philosophical touch and