Page 196 - DENG503_INDIAN_WRITINGS_IN_LITERATURE

Indian Writings in Literature

Notes • Matadin is the son of the brahmin priest Datadin. He is young and has an affair with Seliya,
a low caste woman who works on the farm for him. The villagers know about it. Seliya does
not have entrance to his house.
• Bhola is a cowherd of the neighbouring village. He is a widower and has two married sons
and a young widowed daughter, Jhunia. Bhola agrees to give Hori a cow on loan and in turn
Hori promises to find a companion for him to remarry.
• Rai sahib has won the local elections twice. He wanted to marry his daughter off to a rich
zamindar to again win in the election and claim the property of his in-laws.
• Miss Malati is a beautiful lady intelligent doctor who is educated in Europe. She is one of the
three daughters of Mr. Kaul.
• Mr Mehta is a scholar and lectures philosopy in a college. He is also authoring a book on
Philosophy which he dedicates to Malati.
• Mr. Khanna is an industrialist and owns a sugar factory. Though married and father of three
children, he disrepcts his wife Govindi for her traditional values. He flirts with Malati.
• Govindi is Mr. Khanna’s wife, the rich industrialist, and is epitomized as an ideal Hindu
wife.

22.4 Key-Words

1. Realistic : Tending to or expressing an awareness of things as they really are.
2. Contemporary : A person or thing living or existing at the same time as another.
3. Meager : Lacking in quantity or quality
22.5 Review Questions

1. The plot set in urban life. Do you agree? Discuss.
2. What is the main plot of Godan ? Explain.
3. Discuss the plot and characterization of Godan.
Answers: Self-Assessment
1. (i) Mohandas Gandhi (ii) Cow
(iii) Sona and Rupa (iv) Urban life

22.6 Further Readings

1. Premchand Pachnavali (collected works of Premchand) Vol. 20, Delhi, Janwani
Prakashan 1996: 377–425.
2. Godan (The Gift of a Cow) (1936) English translations by Gordon c. Roadarmel
(2007, 1968, New Delhi).

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