Godan

Godan, a classic of Hindi literature by Munshi Premchand, portrays the economic hardships of village life in rural India in the early twentieth century. At its heart is Hori, a poor farmer whose dream is to own a cow, which in his community signals status and prosperity. Despite mounting debts and pressure from those around him, he keeps pursuing that goal. Around him, Premchand builds a web of linked lives among other villagers, looking at poverty, caste prejudice, reform, and the resilience of ordinary people. The contrast between wealthy landowners living in comfort and peasants trapped in debt sharpens the novel's critique of exploitation. Characters such as Jhunia, a young widow shunned by her community, and Gobar, Hori's son who questions old customs, show the struggle for dignity and mobility. The book also examines religion and superstition, which can console the poor yet be turned against them.