Mulk Raj Anand - Role and Achievement

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A novelist, short story writer as well as an art critic, Mulk Raj Anand (1905-2004) was among the first few Indian writers in English who gained international recognition early in his life. His novels Untouchable (1935) and Coolie (1936) impressively articulate the abuses of an exploited class.

A dynamic personality, impeccably dressed Anand befriended great writers like E.M. Forster, Herbert Read and George Orwell. Till 1947, he spent half his time in London and half in India. It was therefore inevitable for him to be drawn to India's struggle for independence. The most important influence upon Anand was that of Gandhi who shaped his social conscience. With success, Anand come to firmly believe that a writer's work is an illustration of a 'fiery voice of those people who through his own torments...transmutes in art all feeling...thus becoming the seer of new vision...'

Anand was proactively associated with the Progressive Writers' movement of India and was one of the moving spirits behind the drafting of its first manifesto. Equally noteworthy was his passion for the arts whose best expression were the issues of Marg which he founded and edited for a quarter century. Even after he withdrew from its editorship, it continued to be the leading art journal of India.

This book is the first ever attempt to put together the biography of such a vibrant personality who left no stone unturned to realise his dreams. With Raja Rao and R.K. Narayan, Anand is regarded as one of the founding fathers of the Indian English novel.

Amrik Singh (Late), the author of this volume got to know Mulk Raj Anand in 1938 and remained in touch with him all his life. During his long career, he had been a teacher, an educational administrator, an author of several books on educational policy, a playwright in Punjabi and also a human rights activist.

Writing this book has been uncommonly difficult for me. Mulk Raj Anand (1905-2004) wrote so extensively and about such a variety of issues that to track down each one of his publications was quite a job. That apart, there are a few other things which need to be referred to.