I have written a book review on this book.
Can find it on my blog- silentlywescream.blogspot.com
Hope that helps :)

Really liked most of it. Didn't like the end soooo much. Would definitely still recommend.

Spoke more about the book and my thoughts here: https://youtu.be/Kdt-hvhYs8U?t=749

I read this book straight after 'Go Tell It On The Mountain', and though the themes of the book have some similarity, the plight of Bakha, the Untouchable, resonated with me far more strongly. In this simply planned book; Anand manages to convey through the eyes of Bakha, the greatest evil - no other word is suitable for it- of Hinduism: the caste system. The most pernicious effects being the sense of acquiescence it engenders in those who are victim to it and the untroubled complicity of those who perpetrate it.

Arundhati Roy in one of her essays stated that few people made such a big deal of cleaning shit as Gandhi; and there is nothing impudent in her observation because in Gandhi, you have-although many people would be loth to admit it-an ambivalent character; a leader who laments the plight of the Untouchables but is also recorded as saying that everyone Hindu should practice the profession of his father even if they cleaned latrines; it is hard to imagine a visionary like Gandhi not having the sense to percieve the nonsense in such a notion. Perhaps that is the reason why Anand describes Gandhi as having a 'Mephistophelian smile' despite the rousing humanity of his speech

Bakha is a seminal character in Indian fiction because he- to a far greater degree than the protagonist of 'Go Tell It On The Mountain'- mirrors the horror of his condition and yet is able to summon the vision of a better life for himself; even though his father and brother are innured to their tragic existence.

A day in the life of a young untouchable (manual scavenger) in colonial India. Young Bakha rebels in the little ways that he can, despite knowing the futility of his struggles. He feels confused, frustrated and hurt by the aversion of high-caste people towards him. However, the book ends on hopeful note.

This is a fictional account of one day in the life of young Bakha, a road sweeper and cleaner of public latrines. Because of his occupation, he is at the lowest level of his caste, the Untouchables (now usually referred to as Dalit, the book was written in 1935). Mulk Raj Anand provides a compelling and realistic account of Bakha’s life - the injustice and violence meted out by higher caste Hindus, surprising acts of kindness that lift his spirits, the struggle of his job, and a glimpse of a different way through a chance encounter with a great man.

The clarity and directness of the author’s writing works well to highlight the dehumanising aspects of the caste system as applied to one ordinary man and his family. The details of the small cantonment town are carefully chosen, and the beauty of the landscape is vividly contrasted with the dust and dirt surrounding Bakha. The early episodes of cruelty and unfairness were very affecting and I was rooting for Bakha to get some luck. The final section, where Bakha begins to grapple with political and philosophical ideas, was less engaging but did fit with the way the author is documenting and challenging the system.

3.5* overall, an important and thought provoking read.

Today, if you could get a chance,
to be in their shoes,
to do what they do,
to hear what they hear,
to see what they see,
to feel they what they feel,
Would your world remain
the same you'd perceived it to be?

I almost feel guilty for not liking this book.

It's about my country and one of the gravest problems it has faced (and continues to), the atrocious caste system and from which arose the worst possible outcome - untouchability. I did feel pitiful and sympathetic towards the character but I did not like the book which is mostly because I didn't like the narration so much. The writing, at best, is average and the story just tumbles down somewhere in the last 20 pages.

This book does its job of rousing emotions and making the reader aware of the problems but that's about it. The Indian setting and culture is described but not well enough. If I weren't an Indian, I don't think I would've understood them completely. Also, the dialogues had a larger impact on me when I mentally translated them in Hindi, that is an area the writer cannot alter and I understand that.

I was highly recommended this book and I'm a little let down, this book I think has a such a huge influence because it was written at a controversial and important time. Rather than concentrating on the aspects I didn't like I would instead like to give kudos to the author for raising an issue nobody was during that era.

This is quite a powerful novel. In some ways it reminds me of James Weldon Johnson's Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man>/> or perhaps a slave narrative like Frederick Douglass' autobiography. It has that tenor and is a contemporary of New Negro Movement literature. I found that following the thought processes of Bhaka, the protagonist, both heart-wrenching and powerful. Anand did a terrific job showing what it feels like to be forever being told that your mere existence is "polluting". Too, there is an interesting dynamic with this character as he would love to be--or at least dress like one--and Englishman. It's especially interesting given the sentiment that some Dalits have about the way Brahmins treat them compared to the British.

Watch my review on youtube! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFbjWj...

It was interesting experience to read this pre-Independence text on untouchability and gain insight into the prevailing moderate thoughts. The non-violence movement depended too much on their faith in the "good-nature" of the upper caste Hindus to shatter the practice of Untouchability (spoiler alert : 80 years later, we've still not eradicated it), which is foolishly optimistic considering how convenient it is for the Brahmin caste to have an entire section of servile people they can humiliate and force to do the literal dirty work.

This book touches upon a lot of themes that are central to even the present day conversation around casteism - in particular, the attraction to Western practices and culture as a means to escape present conditions, and religious conversions (however, the author leaves out how lower-caste converts continue to be mistreated in the religions they convert to - casteism isn't just a Hindu practice, it's a quintessential Indian practice). Anand also speaks on the inner turmoil of lower-caste people accepting their place in society versus self-emancipation - Bakha is constantly torn between keeping his head down for fear of consequences, and wanting to escape and find the dignity he knows he deserves.

Overall, a good read. The writing is beautiful, sharp, honest, and doesn't dawdle too long on moments or places, and we are offered a wide range of characters and situations, even the Mahatma himself (who I disagreed with on every point except eradication of untouchability hah). A good work of anti-casteism propaganda, but the solutions offered might not be very efficacious.

3.5 Stars

Untouchable by Mulk Raj Anand is a book full of heart wrenching and clenching fist moments.
It follows Bakha, a young Indian sweeper who belonged to the lower cast of hinduism, the 'Untouchables'. The story goes through the daily life of this man, showing the presence of multiple unfair and inhuman treats from society to him, his family and other untouchables.
+ As an assigned reading from school, my mindset reading this book was mainly analysis more than pleasure. This being said I highly enjoy it, but books like this in which the story told is and unfair reality make me uneasy about how to rate it.
+ The author make a good job in making the reader feel impotent, specially me in which I needed to put down the book and take a deep breath to control myself
+ It was refreshing to read about a reality in which religion was the one dictating the main problem per say, as well as how the author gives the political solutions and different citizens opinions.

My first book of 2K17 & first from Mr. Mulk Raj Anand.

His Thoughts were far high and beyond than his time. Realizing the truth about the Harijans in that era of British Raj seems to be as the worse among whole period. The Brahmans were actually the root cause of such conditions in Indian Society. Discrimination among the humans in regard of the castes started with them only. No shudra can enter the temple, can't touch anybody. From the perspective of Dalits at that time, it seems to be very irritating and frustrating. These things were exist in some other cultures also, say, Burakumin in Japan; but still the condition here in India was worst.
Caste is the biggest back-bone breaking step taken by British by instilling this system in Hindus of India. Dividing Hindus in micro-level statuses basis on their work and then further bifurcate it into more drastic societal status-quo manner.
And what Gandhi did? Nothing .. just expanding more gaps in-between the existing castes. In the name of Equality he did nothing but just igniting the fire between upper and lower castes, as defined in the Indian society by British. And why not?, After-all Gandhi was customarily planned back in India from Africa after he made sure there, for British Empire, that Whites could rule over African blacks. Same way here in India he expand the gaps between people by highlighting their castes and made them believe that the people who are living along with them in society hate them only because they did some usual generations back work which eventually titled by British as lower level job of society. However, in their Christian country of Britain they even allow Janitors to attend churches but here they broke our harmonious society. Can't imagine the humility one can feel when he/she get the leftover of some other person and how does it feel when someone give you any edible item by throwing it on the streets.

Mr. Anand had really done a great job with his pen. Exposing the conditions of untouchables of that time was in itself a very brave and bold act. He reminds me of 'Raja Ravi Varma', who had gifted with his art, to the people of lower caste, the way of worshiping the GOD (idolaters).
However the story drafted was an act of fiction but still its reflecting the realistic thoughts and realism in society at that time. Very well written, this work of fiction gives immense peace while reading it, even when, I myself, comes from the Upper (Unreserved General Category) caste in the present society system which started/titled with this discriminating system far back.

For me its: 4.5/5.0