Gora by Rabindranath Tagore

Gora is a novel by Rabindranath Tagore, a Bengali author and Nobel Prize laureate. The novel, first published in 1909, explores themes of identity, religion, and nationalism during the Indian independence movement. The story follows a young man named Gora, who is raised as a devout Hindu but later discovers that he was adopted and is actually a Christian. Gora struggles to reconcile his dual identities and beliefs while also grappling with his feelings for a woman named Lolita, who is a follower of the Brahmo Samaj, a reformist Hindu movement.

Gora is considered one of Tagore’s most important works and is a classic of Bengali literature. The novel deals with complex issues of identity and belonging, and explores the tensions between tradition and modernity, religion and secularism, and individual freedom and social responsibility. It is also noted for its portrayal of women characters, particularly Lolita, who defies traditional gender roles and expectations. Gora has been translated into several languages and is widely regarded as a masterpiece of Indian literature.