Playground: Rhangboomi

First published in 1925, Rangbhoomi was considered by Premchand to be his best work. Set against the backdrop of colonial India-characterized by a brutal state, opportunistic, feudal landlords and ruthless capitalists—this novel is a grim account of the blind beggar Soordas¹s struggle against the acquisition of his ancestral land. Weaving together themes such as industrialization, atrocities committed by princely states, the role of women in India¹s independence movement, and caste and class hierarchies, Playground’s concerns remain shockingly relevant. Capturing Premchand’s masterful handling of a variety of linguistic registers, Manju Jain’s evocative translation shows us the deep humanism of one of India’s greatest writers.