Critically evaluate the title of the novel "Godan"

A realistic picture of the Indian rural society:-

          Prem Chand’s “Godan” is considered as one of the greatest novels in Indian literature. It presents a realistic picture of the Indian rural society. A critic rightly observes, “It is a story of changing people, hungry and semi-starved, yet hopeful and optimistic. “Godan deals with the miserable lives of the Indian peasant. The novelist depicts and feudal villages teamed semari with its courageous belief in future renewal. According to the novel, a change in social set-up is sufficient to transform the lives of he individual. His characters have no courage to fight against the adverse conditions. They accept the given social conditions. They bear all kinds of exploitation. They have an unshakable faith in destiny. Here he exposes their weaknesses and the evils in the Indian society.

Hori’s only ambition is to own a cow:-

          “Godan” opens with Hori busy in his house hold and agriculture duties. His wife, Dhania assists him in his work at home and also in the field. Despite their hard labour, they can not clear their debts. They have a son, Gobar and two daughters, Sona and Rupa. Poverty and exploitation have made them rough. In the midst of such hardships, Hori’s only ambition is to own a cow which gives a lots of milk. It is very hot outside and he has to do much work. Suddenly he sees Bhola with his hard of cows. He expresses his wish and Bhola agrees to give him a cow on loan. Hori is overjoyed and starts thinking of a life of luxury wit h the help of this cow.

Hori’s effort to clear the dept:-

          Hori works in the hot sun because he has to clear the dept of a Brahmin. He gets sun stroke and falls unconscious. He is brought home and Dhania weeps on seeing the dying man’s face. In these last moments, Hori hears the voice around him but can not see. Someone suggest that hit is the proper time to offer Godan for a dying man. It is ironical that throughout his life, Hori struggled to earn enough money to buy a cow but even new at the time of his death. He is not able to fulfill his ambition. Suddenly his eyes become lifeless like stone and Dhania faints on seeing her husband deed.

a pathetic and tragic note:-

          At this point, the novel ends with a pathetic and tragic note and the reader closes the novel with a heavy heart. Here the characters are passive against unfavorable circumstances, and they become helpless puppets’. The action covers a long period of many years. The novelist’s main concern is the social set-up rather than individuals. They lead a collective life, not an individual one.

Thematic title:-

          The main theme of the novel is tradition versus individual. The title of the novel, “Godan” is highly suggestive and meaningful. Here the novelist uses the powerful device of irony to intensify the tragic effect of the situation. The novel is also a tragedy of Indian peasantry on an epic scales.