Gaban (Hindi) - गबन

FROM THE GRAND OLD MAN OF HINDI LITERATURE This novel written by the grand old man of Hindi literature, Premchand, depicts the realities of Indian social structure with empathy and precision. Gaban is the story of a young man named Ramanath, an ordinary clerk, who takes to unethical means to fulfil his wife Jalpa’s desire for jewellery, which affects their personal relationship and eventually leaves Ramnath humiliated. To escape this humiliation, he escapes to Calcutta. But troubles continue to chase him and he gets caught in the maze of India’s judicial system, witnessing first-hand the deep-set corruption, cruelty and inhumanity of police officials. Remorseful, Jalpa too comes to Calcutta in search of him and helps him get out of jail. In the meantime, a great public awakening begins against the dictatorship of the police, and Jalpa becomes an active part of it.