The Perspective of Privilege

        As the world moves towards greater equality and continues the fight for social justice, there has become an increasing awareness of the problems posed by those who advocate from privileged perspectives. The author Mulk Raj Anand grew up in the Kshatriya caste, which is considered the “aristocratic” caste, only below the priests and other religious leaders. His first novel Untouchable was inspired by the suicide of his aunt after she was disowned by the family for eating with a Muslim woman. While Anand viewed the inhumane treatment of the untouchable caste he wrote about first-hand, he never truly experienced it first-hand. This clear distinction appears with the description of the protagonist of the novel. Bakha in many ways becomes an “other” in the story. He is attractive, strong, clean, and works hard. The manner in which he is presented sometimes comes across as if he was unusual for his caste. At the end of the book, Gandhi, an idolized figure by Bakha, professes that untouchables must change and “purify” themselves before they are welcomed into society. Anand points out this implicit bias of Gandhi by remarking, “But now, now the Mahatma is blaming us, Bakha felt” (131). Many of those who speak on the behalf of marginalized groups do so with good intentions. However, frequently their socialized beliefs and ignorance to the complete experience of the oppressed have negative effects on the cause. In order for us as a society to reach actual equality and break the cycle of oppression, those of oppressed identities must be put in positions of power. Those who can speak on personal experiences are the strongest advocates. Equality requires the participation of all groups of people, but we cannot allow for the privileged to always speak for the oppressed - that just adds to the problem.