Chapter:1
Godan, Premchand's last and most celebrated novel, was published in 1936 and is considered his magnum opus, detailing the struggles of a poor Indian farmer, Hori, who dreams of owning a cow to attain social respect and fulfill his duties but ultimately dies in poverty due to the oppressive feudal system, debt, and socio-economic disparities of pre-independence India. The novel serves as a social document, offering a realistic portrayal of rural Indian society, its class system, the exploitation of peasants by landlords and moneylenders, and the violence that arises from caste-based differences.