Critically evaluate the character of Dhania

       “Godan” is considered as the best novel of Prem Chand. The main theme of the novel is the exploitation of the peasants and their inability to pay their debts. Here different characters represent different walks of life. He presents characters with rural and urban background. Through the rural characters, he presents the Indian peasants of the pre-independence period with their problems of poverty, starvation, poor healthy, misery, humiliation and death. In the matter of characterization, Prem Chand is a progressive writer.

          In “Godan” Prem Chand portrays an Indian middle-class woman though the character of Dhania. She is Hori’s wife and presents the Indian women. In villages. She is a dynamic and powerful character. She gives an active support to her husband in all walks of life. She is a woman of commonsense and fight against injustice and exploitation. Her fiery words frighten the powerful money – lenders in the village.

A foil to Hori:-

          Dhania is a foil to Hori. She is not pleased with her husband on account of his lack of initiative, cowardice and blind obedience to religious belief. He is an easy victim of the rich landlord and the money-lenders. She advises him to change his way of life. She is an extension of Hori’s self. She is a traditional Hindu wife who runs Hori’s house with patience and wisdom. Hori often beats her mercilessly but she ears everything silently. He is lost in hollow ideas while she stands on a solid ground. In the matter of courage, fighting spirit and wisdom, she resembles Aurobind concept of Mahashakti, Mahakali and Mahasararswati. She stands for Prem chand’s concept of a dignified woman who can bring the change in the orthodox Indian society.

A woman of courage:-

          When the village money-lenders wanted Hori to borrow thirty rupees from them to give to the Police Inspector, Ganda Singh, Dhania could see through their villainy. Hori was about to get money form Jhinguri Singh, Dhania sprang before him, snatched the scarf from his hand. She snubbed Hori before all, “Here we are starving at home, longing for just a grain of food, with nothing to wear.” Dhania was right to say that she had lost the cow worth hundred rupees and was yet to pay thirty rupee to the police to avoid the house of Hira being searched. Thus Dania’s freedom of mind and speech save the home from paying an unnecessary find of thirty rupees.

An affectionate woman

          As a mother, Dhania is very affectionate and loving. She lovers her children by heart. When Gobar decides to live in the city. She weeps bitterly. She welcomes Jhunia when she is pregnant. She gives shelter to Seliya even who is Mattaden’s kept. She has never lived a life of comfort an peace, yet she remain calm and cool. Thus she is highly pragmatic and world-wise woman. She often tires to divert her husband from his path hollow idealism, but in vain.

Her sense of Justice:-

          When Hori was carrying the grain to Jhinguri’s house to pay off the fin, Dhania, caught the basket saying she would not allow him to give the grain of her share because she and the girls had worked in the field, and she had the right over her own share. Hori was convinced that he had no right to give way the share that doesn’t belong to me. Dania’s reason saved a prt of the grain. When Bhola asked hori either to pay the price of the cow with his two bullocks or turn Jhuniya out of the house, Dhania toll him in no uncertain world the she would never turn Jhuniya out come. This speech shows Dania’s affection, humanity and brave. In the same breath she asked Jhniya to go back into the saying , “This is your home as long as we are alive and even when were dead.