Maila Aanchal by Phanishwar Nath Renu (Hindi)

This social novel details the trials and tribulations of a small group of people in a remote village of North-East Bihar during the Quit India Movement. It also has the reference of a young doctor, dagdar babu, who took care of the masses at that time, which was inspired by Dr Alakh Niranjan, the first MBBS doctor in the locality. Phanishwar Nath's very first novel which is also considered his masterpiece, depicts the life in rural Bihar and its people, especially the backward and the deprived lot. Maila Anchal is one of the finest novels ever written in Hindi. Describing the landscape of Bihar, the caste division, Indian independence and changes in its aftermath, Maithili folklores and poems and multiple love stories painted on a canvas with highly perceptive descriptions of village life, make it one of the most important novels written about rural India. The novel describes characters who get involved in caste-based politics. Maila Anchal was published by Rajkamal Prakashan in the year 2013 and is available in paperback. About the Author Phanishwar Nath Renu was one of the most influential and successful writers of modern Hindi literature after the era of Premchand. After Premchand's Godaan, this book is regarded as the most prominent Hindi novel. He was awarded one of India's highest civilian honours, the Padma Shri in 1970.