In which year was Munshi Premchand's novel 'Godaan' published?

"Godaan" ("The Gift of a Cow") is a Hindi novel by Munshi Premchand, published in 1936, the year of his death. It is regarded as his greatest work and one of the finest novels in Hindi literature.

About the novel:

• The main character is Hori, a poor farmer in a village in Uttar Pradesh, whose greatest wish is to own a cow, which is a symbol of status and religious merit.
• Hori and his wife Dhaniya struggle against debt, moneylenders, landlords, priests and social customs.

At the end, Hori dies, and the priest asks for a "godaan" (the ritual gift of a cow) for his salvation. Dhaniya, having no cow, gives the little money she has earned.

The novel contrasts village life with the life of the urban middle class and shows the exploitation of the Indian peasantry.

It was made into a Hindi film in 1963.

About Munshi Premchand (1880-1936):

His real name was Dhanpat Rai Srivastava. He was born in Lamhi village near Varanasi.

He first wrote in Urdu under the name "Nawab Rai". His first collection of stories, "Soz-e-Watan" (1908), was banned and burnt by the British because it was seen as seditious.

He then adopted the pen name "Premchand".

He is called "Upanyas Samrat" (Emperor of Novels).

He wrote about 300 short stories, collected in "Mansarovar" (eight volumes), and around a dozen novels.

His major novels include "Sevasadan" (1918), "Rangbhoomi" (1925), "Nirmala" (1925-27), "Gaban" (1931), "Karmabhoomi" (1932) and "Godaan" (1936). "Mangalsutra" was left unfinished.

His famous stories include "Idgah", "Kafan" (his last story), "Panch Parmeshwar", "Do Bailon Ki Katha", "Poos Ki Raat", "Namak Ka Daroga" and "Shatranj Ke Khiladi" (filmed by Satyajit Ray in 1977).

He presided over the first conference of the Progressive Writers' Association in Lucknow in 1936.

Why not the other options?

• ✗1918 is when "Sevasadan" was published.
• ✗1925 is when "Rangbhoomi" was published.
• ✗1947 is the year of independence, after Premchand's death.