Final answer:
Premchand's 'The Thakur's Well' critiques caste-based discrimination and inequality in Indian society through the experience of lower caste characters facing humiliation and economic exploitation for access to water from a higher caste's well.
Step-by-step explanation:
Premchand, in his story 'The Thakur's Well', addresses the social issue of caste-based discrimination and inequality prevalent in Indian society. The story illustrates the harsh realities of social hierarchy and the plight of lower caste individuals through the protagonist Gangi, who faces humiliation and discrimination due to her low caste when she attempts to fetch water from a well that belongs to a higher caste. This discriminatory practice delineates the socio-economic segregation and moral degradation embedded in the rural settings of India. It brings to light the ostracism faced by certain communities, which is not only limited to social but also includes economic disparities. The story is a poignant critique of a system where the labor and lives of certain people are undervalued simply because of their caste. As Gangi's husband, Jokhu, is denied water from the well and forced to pay a significant sum for it, Premchand highlights the economic exploitation and extortion that accompany the social injustice. Despite the official dismantling of the caste system in India, Premchand's story demonstrates that it is still deeply ingrained in the psyche of the populace, as the stratification persists, especially in rural areas. This systemic injustice has long-lasting effects on various aspects of life, including access to resources like water, and continues to influence the social fabric of Indian society.