Days of Longing by Nirmal Verma (Penguin Modern Classics)

Description

“Days of Longing” is a novel by the Indian writer Nirmal Verma. The novel was originally written in Hindi and later translated into English by Krishna Baldev Vaid.

The novel is set in Delhi in the 1960s and follows the lives of a group of characters who are struggling with their personal desires and aspirations in the changing social and political climate of the city. The main character is a young man named Amar who is struggling to come to terms with his identity and purpose in life. He is drawn to a woman named Sudha, who is also searching for meaning and fulfillment in her life.

Through their experiences and interactions with other characters in the novel, including Sudha’s husband, a poet, and a group of political activists, “Days of Longing” explores themes of identity, desire, disillusionment, and social change in post-independence India.

Nirmal Verma is considered to be one of the foremost writers in Hindi literature, and “Days of Longing” is regarded as one of his most important works. The novel is praised for its evocative prose, nuanced characterization, and insightful portrayal of the complexities of human relationships and society.