INTERNALIZTION OF SOCIAL INFERIORITY IN MULK RAJ ANAND’S UNTOUCHABLE

Abstract

This study examines the factors that contribute to the internalization of social inferiority as depicted in Untouchable (1935) by Mulk Raj Anand. Employing a qualitative approach, this research uses the novel as the primary data source, supported by secondary data from scholarly books, journal articles, and relevant academic literature. Data are collected through close and comprehensive reading, focusing on narrative descriptions, dialogues, and events related to social discrimination and hierarchical structures. The analysis is conducted using postcolonial literary criticism, particularly Frantz Fanon’s concept of the internalization of social inferiority. The findings reveal that the internalization of inferiority in the character Bakha is shaped by interconnected social factors, namely social relationships, workplace conditions, limited access to education, and religious exclusion, all of which operate within the caste system. These factors function not only as external forms of marginalization but also as psychological mechanisms that normalize inequality and lead individuals to accept unjust treatment as natural. The study demonstrates that social inferiority is sustained through everyday practices and institutional structures that influence self-perception and identity formation. This research contributes to postcolonial literary studies by highlighting the postcolonial dimension of social discrimination and its lasting impact on marginalized individuals.