ShodhPatra: International Journal of Science and Humanities

Religious Authority and the Reinforcement of Social Hierarchy in Mulk Raj Anand’s The Village

This study analyzes Mulk Raj Anand’s novel, The Village, focusing on the exploitation of religion and its ties to social hierarchy in colonial Punjab. Anand critically examines how religious leaders, such as Brahmins and priests, manipulate faith and ritual to strengthen their authority and maintain inequality. Centered on the experiences of Lal Singh, a young peasant who resists oppressive tradition, the novel elucidates how conformity is enforced through humiliation and punishment, particularly when individuals challenge inherited customs. Through vivid depictions of ritual, caste boundaries, and the economic interests of religious authorities, Anand highlights how institutionalized religion sustains marginalization instead of offering genuine spiritual guidance. This paper argues that The Village critiques religious hypocrisy and social injustice while emphasizing the importance of moral sensibility and equality in guiding communal life. Keywords: Mulk Raj Anand, The Village, religion, social hierarchy, caste system, ritual, exploitation, colonial India, hypocrisy, conformity.