One of the most innovative and radical Indian novels of the 20th century is Gopinath Mohanty’s Harijan, which was initially published in the Odia in 1948 and was translated into English for the first time here by Bikram Das.
It brings the tale of a community of Mehentars residing in a slum to life. Their caste prevents them from working in any other occupation, leaving them with no choice but to clean latrines with their bare hands. The leader of this group is the middle-aged, obnoxious Jema, who begins each day by downing a pot of alcohol and smoking pinkas to mask the smell of excrement. Jema develops a fever one day and can’t report to work. Puni, 14, offers to take the place of her mother. Puni gets up early the following morning, takes a shower, dons a fresh sari, and spritzes herself with a cheap perfume. Walking outside the hut
Books Info
| Books name | Harijan / ହରିଜନ |
| Author | Gopinath Mohanty |
| No Of pages | 260 |
| Publisher | Vidyapuri |
| Publication | 1948 |
| Printed At | NA |
| Distributor | NA |