One of the first Indian writers in the English language to make a mark on the international scenario, Mulk Raj Anand was an author with hundreds of novels, short stories and essays to his name. Considered a pioneer of the anglo-Indian fiction, he is best remembered for his depiction of the poorer classes of people in India and their plight. His writings are rich with the realistic and touching portrayal of the problems of the common man, often written with heart wrenching clarity. Mulk Raj Anand was much too familiar with the problems of the poorer sections himself. The son of a coppersmith, he had witnessed cruelties of unimaginable horrors unfold before his own eyes—all that stemmed from the caste system that loomed over India like a malignant curse. He was an avid learner and went to Cambridge for higher education where he became actively involved in politics. He later returned to India to campaign for the cause of India’s independence. A bold and outspoken writer, he exposed several of India’s evil practices through his writings. He was a prolific writer and authored a great number of works, most of them were a commentary on the social structure of his time.