Dhan Gopal Mukerji
Dhan Gopal Mukerji was an influential Indian-American writer, born on July 6, 1890, near Calcutta, India. He hailed from a Brahmin priest family and entered the priesthood at a young age, but ultimately chose to pursue an academic career instead. Mukerji studied at the University of Calcutta and Tokyo University before immigrating to the United States, where he completed his Ph.D. at Stanford University. He became a lecturer in comparative literature and began his writing career focusing on children's literature. His most notable works include "Gay-Neck: The Story of a Pigeon," which, published in 1927, won the Newbery Medal and tells the poignant tale of a young hunter and his beloved pigeon during World War I. Mukerji’s writings often incorporated elements of Indian folklore and theology, emphasizing harmony between nature and humanity. Despite his literary success, Mukerji faced personal struggles, culminating in his tragic death in 1936. His works continue to be recognized for their vivid portrayal of Indian culture and landscapes, offering a unique perspective to readers.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Dhan Gopal Mukerji
- Born: July 6, 1890
- Birthplace: Near Calcutta, India
- Died: July 14, 1936
- Place of death: New York, New York
Biography
Dhan Gopal Mukerji was on born July 6, 1890, near Calcutta, India, to Kissori and Bhuban (Goswami) Mukerji. His family, members of India’s Brahmin priest class, managed the temple in his village near Calcutta for generations. When he was fourteen, Mukerji entered the priesthood. Prior to assuming official duties, however, he was required to live for two years as a beggar. Upon returning home he worked in the temple but decided against continuing as a priest, instead choosing to pursue his education. He attended the University of Calcutta in 1908 and Tokyo University in 1909. He immigrated to the United States and attended the University of California, Berkeley, graduating in 1913. After receiving his Ph.D. from Stanford University in 1914, he served as a lecturer in comparative literature and published two plays and a collection of verse.
In 1918 he married Ethel Ray Dugan, a teacher. They had one son, Dhan Gopal II. Mukerji and his family returned for a short time to India, where he began his career as a children’s writer in 1922 with Kari, the Elephant. He is best known for another children’s book, Gay-Neck: The Story of a Pigeon (1927), which won numerous awards and accolades. The book tells the story of Ghond, a young hunter, who is enlisted for military service during World War I. When he leaves for the front, his beloved pigeon undergoes his own battle to remain close to his owner. The duo is reunited at the end of the book, each having overcome wartime distress, and the two find inner peace together. This book was followed by a sequel, Ghond, the Hunter, published in 1928. Both Hindu Fables for Little Children (1929), a collection of ten tales, and The Master Monkey (1932), focus on folklore and share elements of Hindu theology.
During his early career, Mukerji produced one book for children and one for adults each year. Whether writing for children or adults, his books share his homeland’s diverse cultures, weaving the lore and religion of India into his stories to express his belief of the importance of balance within nature and between man and nature. In addition to writing about Indian history and society and novels for children, Mukerji published an autobiography, Caste and Outcast, which includes rich description and insight into his life in India and as an immigrant to the United States.
Fierce-Face: The Story of a Tiger (1936), Mukerji’s last novel for children, follows the adventures of a tiger kit who overcomes threatening jungle creatures as he learns to be an honorable hunter. Shortly after completing this book, Mukerji suffered a six-month nervous breakdown. He hanged himself in his New York apartment in 1936.
Gay-Neck: The Story of a Pigeon was included on the American Institute of Graphic Arts’ list of fifty best books published in 1927, while Ghond, the Hunter was included on the list of best books for 1928. Gay-Neck was also awarded the Newbery Medal from the American Library Association in 1928, and a filmstrip of the book was released in 1973. Mukerji’s children’s books portray a native view of the lush jungles of India through the eyes of its inhabitants that must have been exotic and compelling to his contemporary readers.