Food and Hunger as Metaphors of Exploitation in Anand’s Fiction

RAMA KUMARI

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i06.65106

Food and Hunger as Metaphors of Exploitation in Anand’s Fiction

Author(s)	Ms. RAMA KUMARI
Country	India
Abstract	This paper explores Mulk Raj Anand’s use of food and hunger as metaphors of exploitation in his seminal novels Untouchable (1935) and Coolie (1936). Anand, known for his trenchant critique of social injustice, employs these motifs to illuminate the oppressive structures of caste and class in colonial India. In Untouchable, food operates as a potent symbol of caste exclusion, where Bakha’s interactions with food reflect the dehumanizing practices of untouchability. His humiliation in receiving food from high-caste families underscores systemic inequality, while moments of solidarity—such as receiving tea from Christians—offer glimpses of resistance and alternative social possibilities. In Coolie, hunger becomes both a literal and existential reality for Munoo, whose relentless struggle for sustenance symbolizes the broader exploitation of labor under capitalist and industrial systems. Anand juxtaposes the abundance of the elite with the deprivation of the marginalized to reveal systemic inequities, while religious and cultural practices surrounding food further expose social hypocrisy. Beyond physical deprivation, hunger in Anand’s fiction signifies a yearning for dignity, equality, and self-realization, making it a universal metaphor for human suffering and resilience. At the same time, the sharing of food becomes a site of resistance and solidarity, challenging exploitative hierarchies. By weaving these motifs into his narratives, Anand critiques entrenched socio-economic injustices while emphasizing the enduring need for empathy and systemic change. His works remain profoundly relevant in highlighting the intersections of caste, class, culture, and the existential dimensions of human survival.
Keywords	Food metaphor, hunger, caste discrimination, class exploitation, capitalism, resistance, solidarity, existential struggle
Field	Arts
Published In	Volume 7, Issue 6, November-December 2025
Published On	2025-12-31
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i06.65106

View / Download PDF File

E-ISSN 2582-2160

doi

CrossRef DOI is assigned to each research paper published in our journal.

IJFMR DOI prefix is
10.36948/ijfmr

Downloads

Research Paper Format Copyright Permission Form and Undertaking Form Cover Page Vol 8 Isu 2 Cover Page Vol 8 Isu 1 Cover Page Vol 7 Isu 6

All research papers published on this website are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, and all rights belong to their respective authors/researchers.

CC-BY-SA

About IJFMR Fees & Payment Current Issue Publication Archive	Submit Research Paper Track Submission Status Publication Guidelines Publication Ethics Peer Review & Plagiarism	Join as a Reviewer Editors & Reviewers Reviewer Referral Program Get Reviewer Membership Certi.	Website/Journal Policies Usage Policy Content Policies Privacy Policy

Contact Us		+91-9687-828-838	editor@ijfmr.com

International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research

A Widely Indexed Open Access Peer Reviewed Multidisciplinary Bi-monthly Scholarly International Journal

Food and Hunger as Metaphors of Exploitation in Anand’s Fiction

Share this