Godaan – Premchand (Hindi)

Description

ONE OF THE HIGHEST SELLING HINDI NOVELS OF ALL TIME

This novel by Premchand, considered the father of modern Hindi literature, was published in 1936. Its central theme is the deeply entrenched socio-economic disparity in Indian society. In this novel, through the eyes of an ordinary farmer called Hori, the entire village is vividly depicted. Hori wished to buy a cow which would improve his fortune. He managed to get one, but Hori’s jealous brother killed the cow. After this, it was as if an avalanche of trouble struck Hori.

Godan is a ritual done before someone’s death as per Hindu custom. It is believed that by donating a cow to a Brahmin at the time of death, a person is forgiven all his sins and they smoothly cross over Vaitarini (the river of death) holding the cow’s tail. Was Hori able to do ‘Godan’ in his last moments?