Contemporaneity of Class and Caste in India: From Text to Context with Special Reference to Mulk Raj Anand  (Hardcover, Sunita Arya)

Contemporaneity of Class and Caste in India navigates the historical currents and contemporary manifestations of these deep-rooted social hierarchies. The book traces the origins of the categories of ‘caste’ and ‘class’ and explores the sociological significance of these concepts through select works of Mulk Raj Anand. It surveys the representation, analysis and critique of social stratification in path-breaking novels like Coolie, Two Leaves and a Bud and Untouchable, studying their thematic relevance with additional reference to the works of modern Indian authors like Arundhati Roy, Rohinton Mistry and Arvind Adiga, as well as protest literatures from around the globe. Offering an incisive examination of social discrimination, the book unveils the power of literature as a catalyst for social change, demonstrating its efficacy in amplifying marginalized voices in their relentless struggle against entrenched prejudices.