Uka Character Analysis

Uka is the childhood friend that Gandhi cites in his speech about untouchability. Uka was a sweeper in Gandhi’s hometown; because of Uka’s work, Gandhi’s mother prevented him from playing with his young friend, until (as Gandhi puts it) his relationship with Uka caused him to challenge the principle of caste entirely. Bakha finds Uka powerful as a rhetorical figure, and he strongly identifies with this other, much-discussed sweeper.