Godaan
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| The Gift of a Cow | |
| Author | Munshi Premchand |
|---|---|
| Original title | Godaan (गोदान) |
| Translator | Gordon C. Roadarmel |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
| Genre(s) | Novel |
| Publisher | Lokamaya Press (Eng. trans.) |
| Publication date | 1936 |
| Published in English |
15 July 1987 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0948924071 (Eng. trans. paperback) |
Godaan (गोदान) The Gift of a Cow is a Hindi novel by Munshi Premchand.
It was first published in 1936 and is considered the greatest Hindi novel of modern Indian literature. [1] Themed around the socio economic deprivation as well as the exploitation of the village poor, the novel was the last complete novel of Premchand. [2]
Its English translation first published in 1968, by Gordon C. Roadarmel is now also considered a classic by itself.[3]
Godaan was made into a Hindi film in 1963, starring Rajkumar, Mehmood and Shashikala. [4] In 2004, Godaan was part of the 26-episode TV series, ‘Tehreer.... Munshi Premchand Ki ‘, based on the writing of Premchand, starring Pankaj Kapur and Surekha Sikri, directed by Gulzar and produced by Doordarshan. [5]
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[edit] Synopsis
The protagonist, Hori, a poor peasant, desperately longs for a cow, a symbol of wealth and prestige in rural India. Hori gets a cow but pays with his life for it. After his death, the village priests demand a cow from his widow to bring his soul to peace. [6]
[edit] Connection with Hinduism
The act of donating a cow in charity or Godan is considered to be an important Hindu ritual, as it helps in dissolving ones sins and incurring divine blessings.
