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The Barber's Trade Union -Mulk Raj Anand

Question- What is the summary of the story The Barber's Trade Union' by M. R. Anand.

Ans-

The story begin with the main character Chandu and the narrator the writer M. R. Anand.] Chandu was a barber boy and senior to the narrator about six months. They are close friends Chandu was a genius at catching wasps and at pressing the poison out of their tails, at trying their tiny legs to cotton thread and flying them. But he was not so good at doing sums at school The narrator's mother resented the fact that Chandu won a scholarship at school while the narrator had to pay fee to be taught. And she constantly dissuaded him from playing with Chandu, saying that Chandu was a low- caste barber's son and that the narrator ought to keep up the status of his caste and class. But the narrator dislikes his mother's opinion of superiority. The narrator dressed the formalized pattern of the uchkin, the tight cotton trousers, the gold-worked shoes and the silk turban and Chandu wore a pair of Khaki short which the retired Subedar had given him.

Lalla Hukam Chand, the lawyer of village always dressed a frayed black velvet waist coat decorated all over with shell button and a round felt cap. Chandu's father died of Plague. After his death Chandu would do the round of saving and hair cutting at the houses of the high caste notables in the morning, bath and dress, and then steal a ride to town, six miles away, on the footrest of the closed carriage in which Lalla Hukum Chand travelled to town.

Chandu was very kind and helpful for the narrator. He gave many gifts to the narrator from the town -a paint brush or gold ink, or white chalk, a doubled - edged pen knife to sharpen pencils. He would entertain him with long merry descriptions of the variety of things he saw in the bazaars of civilization. He described to the narrator, the appearance of Kubla Khan, a young man with hair parted on one side and dressed in a starched shirt, with an ivory collar and bow tie, a black coat and striped trousers, and a wonderful rubber over coat and pumps. And he recounted the skill with which this magician unpacked on Angrezi leather hand-bag and flourished his shining steel instruments. Chandu is uncontrollably fascinated towards the apparel. He has attraction for the medical profession as he has bequeathed some medical tips and snippets from his father. Chandu's new attire brings about great clamour and chaos in the village. When he approaches Landlord's house, the landlord, an ideologue at dogmatism and orthodoxy, having seen Chandu in the new robe, mortifies Chandu in the foulest terms. The landlord reprimands calling Chandu - "The son at a pig! Get out! Get out!.... You will defile my religion". The simple matter of Chandu changing his clothes to a style that he refers is also frowned upon by those in the village who are of a higher caste. This may be important as those of a higher caste may be suggesting that Chandu because he is of a lower caste. Chandu has no right to dress well as he does seeing improving his appearance that others feel threatened and as such alienate Chandu.

It is also noticeable that those who alienate Chandu are arrogant and appear to be rooted to a value system (caste system) that Chandu himself does not believe in adhering to. Chandu sees nothing wrong with trying to better himself. However due to the rigid values of those in the town Chandu ends up losing business. Though it is interesting that Chandu knows that he can outwit those who have alienated him. All he has to do is to be patient and wait for each individual's hair to grow. This too may be important as it suggest that Chandu is using his ingenuity. He will not be beaten by a system that will not include him. Purely because he is of a lower caste. If anything Chandu knows that those in the village who are alienating him are reliant on him and his services. The narrator's relationship with Chandu is also interesting as he not only respects Chandu but he is full at admiration for him. In many ways the narrator envies the freedom that Chandu has when it comes to him being able to go into town.

Unfortunately, others do not respect or admire Chandu. Something that is clear to the reader by the fact that Bijay Chand throws. Chandu out of his home because he believes that Chandu has no right to dress as he is doing so. What is interesting about Bijay Chand and others is that they do not appear to realize that they need Chandu more than he needs them. He may be of a lower caste and attempting (in their eyes) to dress above his class but he is the only barber in the village. Chandu hus has a monopoly. Something he himself is very much aware of. Chandu can also go into town and earn money and not be judged by his caste but his effort are also respected by those in the town. It may also be important that Chandu buys the bicycle as symbolically this may suggest he is independent of those in the village. He has his own means to get into town and earn money. He is not reliant on the business of the men who alienated him because of his choice of clothing.

The end of the story is also interesting as Anand appears to be exploring the theme of control. Chandu by setting up a barber's union and forcing those in the village to come to him rather than having him travel to them. Chandu has taken control the situation which he finds himself in Where many might have done as instructed by the elders in the village. Chandu does not. He not only continues to dress as he wants to but he also forces the men in the village to adhere to his rules rather than Chandu having to do as he has been told by Bijay Chand and others. Similarly Chandu's mother is able to ignore the instructions of those in the village now that she has money (coming from Chandu), if anything Chandu and his mother have freed themselves from the preconceived societal norms that have been accepted for so long in the village. It might also be worth nothing that Chandu's actions have benefited other barbers in the villages. They too have taken control of their situation thanks to Chandu's ingenuity and his resilience. In reality Chandu started off as an underdog fighting against the caste system and managed to turn things around in his favour.

At last, it is not a win which belongs only to Chandu. It is victory of justice, parity, morality and rejuvenation of human dignity.

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