Most Popular Books by Dhan Gopal Mukerji

Take flight with Gay-Neck, the passenger pigeon with a shimmery throat, his kind young master and Ghond, the wildlife expert, on their adventures in a village, across the Himalayas and to a battlefield in France. In this heartwarming, sometimes heartbreaking tale, soar through Gay-Neck’s encounters with hawks and eagles, his quests with the swifts and a monk, and finally his heroic service as a bearer of messages filled with love and courage during the First World War. A prequel to Gay-Neck’s internationally renowned story, Ghond the Hunter focuses on the first fifteen years in the life of Gay-Neck’s trainer, Ghond. The young boy’s initiation into forest life, his understanding of dangerous animals, his run-ins with eagles, snakes and tigers, and his experiences with his pet panther make for this riveting tale of a master hunter. This special edition brings together two classic stories – Gay-Neck, the Story of a Pigeon and Ghond the Hunter – by Dhan Gopal Mukerji, the only Indian to have won the John Newbery Medal. Describing animal life with nail-biting realism, Dhan Gopal Mukerji’s stories take you to a place where the feral meets the tame, man meets nature, and all that matters is the law of the jungle!

Encapsulating the rich tapestry of early 20th century Indian jungles, ''Kari the Elephant'' by Dhan Gopal Mukerji is a poignant tale that transcends simple narrative to become a parable of friendship and loyalty. Couched in lyrical prose characteristic of Mukerji''s nuanced style, the story follows the adventures and bonding between a young boy and his elephant, Kari. The novel''s literary context is steeped in the tradition of animal lore yet stands out due to its authentic depiction of Indian wildlife and cultural ethos. Mukerji''s pioneering effort in this narrative not only captures the essence of human-animal relationships but also provides a subtle commentary on conservation and respect for nature. Dhan Gopal Mukerji, a polymath and the first successful Indian man of letters in the United States, imbued his writings with the wisdom and heritage of his birthplace, India. His personal journey, from the struggles in the colonial subcontinent to his scholarly pursuits abroad, informs the depth of characters and authenticity of the settings in ''Kari the Elephant''. It is through this lens of personal experience that Mukerji crafts this novel, reflecting not only his profound love for nature but also the philosophical undercurrents of his upbringing. The book stands as an essential read for those seeking a deep, culturally rich narrative that bridges the divide between Eastern storytelling and Western literary expectations. ''Kari the Elephant'' will particularly resonate with readers who have an affinity for wildlife, an interest in cross-cultural literature, or a passion for the timeless tales of friendship. Presented by DigiCat Publishing, this edition ensures that the legacy of Mukerji''s work continues to enlighten and captivate audiences, asserting its rightful place as a classic of world literature.

Kari, the loyal elephant, Kopee, the monkey known for making bad decisions, and their nine-year-old master head right into the middle of the jungle on an adventurous journey. Vivid episodes of encounters with a venomous snake, a herd of untamed elephants and forest fires, make Kari the Elephant an unusual tale of three friends growing up together. The endearing elephant reappears in Hari the Jungle Lad, which traces a young boy’s life after a flood washes away his home, leaving him to survive in the jungle. His thrill-a-minute life in the forest, complete with face-offs with deadly carnivores and friendly monkeys, and finally his search for the marked elephant who proves to be a saviour, unfold in a gripping story. This special edition brings together two classic stories – Kari the Elephant and Hari the Jungle Lad – by Dhan Gopal Mukerji, the only Indian to have won the John Newbery Medal. Describing animal life with nail-biting realism, Dhan Gopal Mukerji’s stories take you to a place where the feral meets the tame, man meets nature, and all that matters is the law of the jungle!

Caste and Outcast (1923) is an autobiography by Dhan Gopal Mukerji. Published the year after Mukerji moved from San Francisco to New York City, Caste and Outcast is a moving autobiographical narrative from the first Indian writer to gain a popular audience in the United States. Although he is more widely recognized for such children’s novels as Gay Neck: The Story of a Pigeon (1927), which won the 1928 Newbery Medal, and Kari the Elephant (1922), Mukerji was also a gifted poet and memoirist whose experiences in India, Japan, and the United States are essential to his unique perspective on twentieth century life. “As I look into the past and try to recover my earliest impression, I remember that the most vivid experience of my childhood was the terrific power of faces. From the day consciousness dawned upon me, I saw faces, faces everywhere, and I always noticed the eyes. It was as if the whole Hindu race lived in its eyes.” Raised in a prominent Brahmin family, Dhan Gopal Mukerji enjoyed immense privileges in his native India and came to trust in the effectiveness and fairness of the country’s caste system. As a young man, however, no longer enthralled with the ascetic lifestyle explored in his youth, Mukerji devoted himself to nationalist politics and eventually left India for Japan. Unsatisfied with life as an engineering student, he emigrated once more to the United States, where he moved in anarchist and bohemian circles while embarking on a career as a popular poet and children’s author. Although he never returned to his native country, Mukerji left an inspiring legacy through his literary achievement and unwavering commitment to Indian independence. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Dhan Gopal Mukerji’s Caste and Outcast is a classic of Indian American literature reimagined for modern readers.

Gay-Neck, the Story of a Pigeon is a 1928 children''s novel by Dhan Gopal Mukerji that won the Newbery Medal for excellence in American children''s literature in 1928. It deals with the life of Gay-Neck, a prized Indian pigeon. Mukerji wrote that "the message implicit in the book is that man and winged animals are brothers." He stated that much of the book is based on his boyhood experiences with a flock of forty pigeons and their leader, as the boy in the book is Mukerji himself. He did have to draw from the experiences of others for some parts of the book, such as those who trained messenger pigeons in the war. The book offers an insight into the life of a boy of high caste during the early 1900s and also into the training of pigeons. Several chapters are told from Gay-Neck''s perspective, with the pigeon speaking in first person. Elizabeth Seeger writes in a biographical note about Mukerji that, "Gay-Neck was written in Brittany, where every afternoon he read to the children gathered about him on the beach the chapter he had written in the morning." In an article in the children''s literature journal The Lion and the Unicorn, Meena G. Khorana calls the novel one of the few children''s novels from Western or Indian authors to explore the Himalayas in a meaningful way (rather than simply using them as a setting), and notes the way Mukerji recalls their "grandeur and spiritual power". Gay-Neck, or Chitra-Griva, is born to a young owner in India. Gay-Neck''s parents teach him how to fly, but he soon loses his father in a storm and his mother to a hawk. His master and Ghond the hunter take him out into the wilderness, but he becomes so scared by the hawks that he flees and ends up in a lamasery where the Buddhist monks are able to cure him of his fear. When his young master returns home he finds Gay-Neck waiting for him. But Gay-Neck decides to go on other long journeys, much to the boy''s consternation. Then, during World War I, Gay-Neck and Ghond end up journeying to Europe where Gay-Neck serves as a messenger pigeon. He is chased by German machine-eagles (planes) and is severely traumatized when one of his fellow messenger pigeons is shot down. Gay-Neck and Ghond barely survive, and Gay-Neck is unable to fly. Ghond, Gay-Neck, and his master return to the lamasery near Singalila, where Ghond and Gay-Neck need to be cleansed of the hate and fear of the war. After that, Ghond succeeds in hunting down a buffalo that killed a villager, but feels remorse for having to kill the buffalo. Gay-Neck disappears once more, but when the other two return home, they find, to their joy, that Gay-Neck had already flown there ahead of them. (wikipedia.org)

Sandhya, or Songs of Twilight (1917) is a poetry collection by Dhan Gopal Mukerji. Published while Mukerji was a young student in California, Sandhya, or Songs of Twilight is the second collection of poems from the first Indian writer to gain a popular audience in the United States. Lyrical and romantic, Mukerji’s poems capture his commitment to beauty while maintaining his sense of isolation and exile as a young man living far from home. In “Symbolism,” the collection’s opening poem, Mukerji is a poet in search of a song: “Tongueless the bell! / Lute without a song! / It is not night / It is God’s dawn, / Silence its unending song.” Desperate for the beauty and truth of the world outside “pain’s window,” he finds “Faith’s candle lit,” lighting “Eternity’s scroll” for the soul to read at last. Lyrically gifted and profoundly mysterious, Mukerji presents his creative process as a struggle with human emotions. Later, he grounds his feeling in the country he left behind: “O, frail, faint call which I seek to echo! / O, breath of love laden with the aroma of my soul! / Why seek I ever without, O guest at my door?” In “After a Bengali Song,” he provides a powerful image of isolation and longing from a heart that remains “without” for as long as his exile continues. Although he never returned to his native country, Mukerji left an inspiring legacy through his literary achievement and unwavering commitment to Indian independence. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Dhan Gopal Mukerji’s Sandhya, or Songs of Twilight is a classic of Indian American literature reimagined for modern readers.

The growth and adventures of an elephant and his young master.

The story of the training of a carrier pigeon and its service during the First World War, revealing the bird''s courageous and spirited adventures over the housetops of an Indian village, in the Himalayan Mountains, and on the French battlefield.

An inspiring in-depth look at the nineteenth-century Godman of India and Prophet of Harmony. Sri Ramakrishna, one of the greatest spiritual personalities of our time, is widely recognized as the Prophet of the Harmony of Religions. After perfecting the practice of several religions—including Christianity, Islam and various traditions of Hinduism—he declared, “As many faiths, so many paths.” For the first time, two classic biographies—Dhan Gopal Mukerji’s The Face of Silence (1926) and Swami Nikhilananda’s Sri Ramakrishna (1942)—are brought together to provide a fuller understanding of the life and spiritual significance of Sri Ramakrishna as well as the systems of Indian religious thought intimately connected with him. Pairing legend with fact, memory with history, this unique volume—including an Introduction to Sri Ramakrishna’s God-consciousness by Swami Adiswarananda—succeeds in intimately examining the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna and conveying the true story of this great mystic, whose leaping flame of spiritual realization continues to influence the modern spiritual search.

Ghond the Hunter focuses on the first fifteen years of the life of a boy, Ghond - his training as a hunter, the festivals, customs in which he participates and his keen observation of wildlife. Written in an engaging, often lyrical style, the story brings out the close relationship of humans and animals.

Sirdar is chosen chief of the herd and must protect and lead it through many trials and traps.

Embark on a heartwarming journey with "Gay-Neck: The Story of a Pigeon" by Dhan Gopal Mukerji. Join us as we follow the remarkable tale of Gay-Neck, a courageous pigeon whose adventures will capture your imagination and touch your heart. But what if Gay-Neck is more than just a bird? Delve into Mukerji''s poignant narrative and discover the deep bond that forms between Gay-Neck and his human companion, as they navigate the challenges of life in a changing world. As Gay-Neck soars through the skies and explores the world around him, you''ll be captivated by his bravery, loyalty, and unwavering spirit. From perilous journeys across vast landscapes to moments of quiet reflection amidst the chaos of war, "Gay-Neck" is a story of resilience and resilience that will stay with you long after you''ve turned the final page. Are you ready to be swept away by the magic of "Gay-Neck"? Prepare to be moved by the beauty of Mukerji''s prose and the depth of emotion that infuses every page of this timeless tale. Immerse yourself in the richly detailed world of Gay-Neck as you journey alongside him through triumph and tragedy, joy and sorrow. Let his story remind you of the power of friendship, courage, and compassion in the face of adversity. Here''s your chance to experience the wonder of "Gay-Neck: The Story of a Pigeon." Don''t miss out on the opportunity to be transported to a world where the bonds of love transcend species and where every wingbeat carries a message of hope. Will you answer the call of the sky? Secure your copy now and let the enchanting tale of Gay-Neck take flight in your imagination. It''s more than just a book; it''s a soaring tribute to the indomitable spirit of the natural world and the enduring power of love. "

Rajani: Songs of the Night (1916) is a poetry collection by Dhan Gopal Mukerji. Published while Mukerji was a young student in California, Rajani: Songs of the Night is the debut collection of poems from the first Indian writer to gain a popular audience in the United States. Lyrical and romantic, Mukerji’s poems capture his commitment to beauty while maintaining his sense of isolation and exile as a young man living far from home. In “Bhikshu’s Song,” the collection’s opening poem, the poet greets a Buddhist monk at the door, returning in memory to his native Bengal. Repeating the Bhikshu’s mantra throughout—“Om Moni Padme Om!”—Mukerji allows himself to “drift with the stream / To [his] destination of dream.” An exile, Mukerji can only reach his homeland through memory and song, by infusing English meter with the sights and sounds of Bengal. “A singer that sings of sorrow; / Whose night knows no tomorrow; / [His] song finds its source / In its moonless immensity.” Although he never returned to his native country, Mukerji left an inspiring legacy through his literary achievement and unwavering commitment to Indian independence. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Dhan Gopal Mukerji’s Rajani: Songs of the Night is a classic of Indian American literature reimagined for modern readers.

Political situation in India after 1919