Class Conflict and Capitalist Indian Society in Mulk Raj Anand’s Coolie

This paper explores the issue of class conflict, focusing on the tension between the wealthy capitalist colonizers, the upper-class Indians, and the lower-class laborers. The novel portrays the deep social and economic divisions exacerbated by colonialism in India, shedding light on the dehumanizing impact on the working poor and the role of various societal groups in sustaining these oppressive systems. Within the capitalist framework, characters like Munoo, Daya Ram, Parbha, Tulsi, Hari, and Ratan, who represent the working class, endure constant exploitation and oppression. Munoo’s journey begins in a rural village, where poverty and limited opportunities force him to move to the city. His experiences as a coolie in various settings—such as a pickle factory, a cotton mill, and as a domestic servant—reveal the brutal conditions faced by the working class. Anand critiques the complicity of British colonialism and capitalism in perpetuating class conflict, highlighting how the colonial economy benefits both the British and the Indian elite while exploiting the labor of the working class.