Mulk Raj Anand’s “The Two Lady Rams” is a witty short story that uses the mock epic style to poke fun at social and political issues. In this story, Anand creates a humorous situation that mirrors the grand, exaggerated elements of traditional epic tales but with a satirical twist.

The Mock Epic Elements

1. Exaggeration of Importance: The story centers around Lalla Jhinda Ram, a contractor who receives a knighthood from the British government. This honor is treated as if it were a monumental achievement, much like the grand deeds celebrated in epic tales. The knighthood, which in reality is a minor honor, is given exaggerated importance, highlighting how British titles were often trivial but made to seem grand.

2. Heroic Conflict: The real drama of the story unfolds between Lalla’s two wives, Sukhi and Sakuntala. Their rivalry over the knighthood is depicted with exaggerated intensity, echoing the dramatic conflicts found in epic narratives. The way the wives battle over the honor, each trying to outdo the other, mirrors the epic struggles of heroes, but with a humorous twist. This over-the-top depiction of their conflict shows how personal disputes can be inflated to seem much more significant than they actually are.

Social Satire

1. Critique of British Titles: Anand uses humor to criticize how the British Raj handed out titles and honors. The story suggests that these honors were not given based on true merit or worth but were rather superficial ways to flatter and control local figures. By showing how the knighthood leads to such exaggerated reactions, Anand comments on the emptiness of these British accolades.

2. Irony and Comedy: The story’s humor highlights the ridiculousness of the social and political systems of the time. The way Sukhi and Sakuntala treat the knighthood as a matter of life and death is both funny and ironic. Anand’s use of a mock epic style allows him to exaggerate the situation to point out the absurdity of how British honors were valued. The exaggerated conflict between the wives underscores the silliness of placing so much importance on such honors.

In “The Two Lady Rams,” Mulk Raj Anand combines humor and the mock epic style to critique the social and political issues of his time. By treating a minor honor with grandiose importance and depicting a trivial conflict with epic intensity, Anand effectively satirizes the British Raj’s superficial values. The story is a clever commentary on how colonial honors were often just empty gestures, and it uses the mock epic style to entertain while also provoking thought about the absurdities of colonial social structures. Through exaggerated characters and situations, Anand shines a light on the folly of giving undue importance to trivial matters, making his point both engaging and thought-provoking.