Abstract:
In this dissertation, I have focused on four novels of Indian authors:
Untouchable by M u l k Raj Anand, A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry,
The God of Small Things by Aurndhati Roy and The Inheritance of Loss
by Kiran Desai . I have focused on five subaltern characters and their
disaster in India's caste based society. Caste discrimination, untouchability
and subalternate are a despicable practice in India. Over the years books
have been written, committees and commissions have been set up, and
laws have been enacted to eradicate the caste taboo and the stigma of
untouchability but, even after six decades of Independence, India
continues the inhuman caste discrimination. The upper caste practice some
inhuman codes for the lower caste. They are marginalized by the old age
oppressive system of the society. In the pre-1960s, most of the writers
dealt with upper and middle cl ass people but did not explore the struggle
of lower and subaltern class. A majority of the Indian novel lists including
Mulk Raj Anand, Rohinton Mistry, Arundhati Roy and Kiran Desai , have
appeared at the contemporary time an d shown an open concern for the
subaltern class. These four novels represent the struggle of the subalterns
for the lower position in society. The subalterns are at the bottom of the
social pyramid and are utterly unprivileged . For thousand of years they
lived and died as menials, in conditions worse than that of slaves. The
novels which are discussed in this thesis involve a deep exploration of the
subaltern class. The authors have worked on the theme to make the upper
castes aware and destroy the caste and class taboos. These novels also
exhibit the subalterns ' turmoil in their inner psychology and their struggle
to elevate their social and economic positions. This thesis aims to explore
the subalterns' struggle in India through the depiction of the subaltern
characters of these novels. Thus, it must give an overview of the subaltern
subjectivity and their struggle in India to project the issue on the world
stage .
Description:
This thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MA in English Language and Literature of East West University, Dhaka, Bangladesh