WE RECOMMEND

Atranslation of Mohan Rakesh’s play, Ashadh ka Ek Din, on the life of mahakavi Kalidasa, from the Hindi original written in 1954, reacquaints readers, old and new, with a major post-Independence literary work. At its heart a love story of Kalidasa, a revolutionary poet of his time, and Mallika, his muse, the play documents the eternal dilemma of an artist’s life — the choice between inspiration and recognition. Mohan Rakesh’s play was appreciated for its choice of protagonist to critique Indian life post-Independence.

One Day in the Season of Rain by Mohan Rakesh Translated by Aparna and Vinay Dharwadker Penguin, 499