Mulk Raj Anand has always been known for his social plots and serious writings. From his collection I had read The Big Heart on a friend’s recommendation.
The Big Heart basically is about a community of hereditary craftsmen(coppersmiths) in Amritsar whose livelihood is threatened by the establishment of a factory producing copper utensils in their town.
The Big Heart basically is about a community of hereditary craftsmen(coppersmiths) in Amritsar whose livelihood is threatened by the establishment of a factory producing copper utensils in their town. An important character of the book is Ananta, the man with a big heart.
Although Ananta, being a Gandhian supports the cause of the coppersmits, he has faith in the power of modernity and efficiency of machines.
There are other characters also who play a role in the struggle against the capatalists. Ananta gets killed by one of these people in a rage. The writer in the end very well shows how the machine emerges the winner over humans. The charcterization is also done very well by the writer. It is a good book and recommended for serious readings.