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Dhan Gopal Mukerji was an influential writer and also the first author of colour to win the American Library Association’s award named, Newbery Medal for his children’s book “Gay Neck: The Story of a Pigeon” in the year 1928. His works, ranging from children’s literature to nonfiction have been extensively recognised in the field of literature. Read more about who is Dhan Gopal Mukerji, the first Indian author to win America’s top children’s literature prize.
Table of Contents
| Overview About Dhan Gopal Mukerji | |
| Full Name | Dhan Gopal Mukerji |
| Birth Date | 6 July 1890 |
| Spouse | Ethel Ray ‘Patty’ Dugan |
| Awards | Newbery Medal (1928) |
| Famous Works | “Gay Neck: The Story of a Pigeon,” “Caste and Outcast” |
| Themes Covered | Man-animal relationships, Spirituality, Indian culture and politics |
| Occupation | Writer, Lecturer, Poet, Playwright |
| Died | 14 July 1936 |
Who is Dhan Gopal Mukerji?
Dhan Gopal Mukerji was born on 6 July 1890 in a Bengali Brahmin family near Calcutta, in a village called the jungle of Kajangal.
- His father was a lawyer turned musician and also served as the village priest.
- Mukerji’s childhood was a blend of traditional Brahminical upbringing and exposure to revolutionary ideas through his brother, Jadugopal Mukherjee, a notable figure in the Bengal resistance.
- Dhan Gopal even later wrote a memoir about Jadu Gopal, named “My Brother’s Face”.
- His idyllic childhood, spent in the village and the jungles of East India, heavily influenced his later writings too.
- Additionally, his brother’s influence led Mukerji to Japan in 1910 to study industrial machinery and textiles.
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Education and Early Influences
Mukerji was initially educated at Duff School and Duff College within the University of Calcutta.
- His autobiography, “Caste and Outcaste,” provides insights into his life, detailing his experiences of wandering as an ascetic and his eventual disillusionment with traditional Hindu society.
- In Japan, Mukerji’s brief but impactful stay shaped his views on industrialization and humanity.
Life in the San Francisco Bay Area
- In the year 1910, Mukerji arrived in San Francisco and enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley.
- However, he was transferred to Stanford University, where he earned a degree in philosophy in 1914.
- During this time, he supported himself through writing, producing works such as “Sandhya, Songs of Twilight,” “Rajani or Songs of the Night,” and the play “Laila Majnu.”
Marriage and Family
In 1918, Mukerji married Ethel Ray “Patty” Dugan, an American artist and educator. They had a son, Dhan “Dan” Gopal Jr. The family later moved to New York City, where Mukerji entered his most prolific writing period.
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What was Dhan Gopal Mukerji’s career like?
Mukerji’s literary career began with the translation of Girish Ghose’s “Chintamini” in the year 1914.
- Despite early challenges, he went on to publish two books of verse and a play, “Layla Majnu,” in 1916, which gave a kickstart to his successful writing career.
- In 1928, Mukerji won the American Library Association’s Newbery Medal for his children’s book “Gay Neck: The Story of a Pigeon.” This book, which tells the story of a messenger pigeon during World War I, explores themes of human-animal bonds and the futility of war.
Dhan Gopal Mukerji’s Famous Works
- Gay Neck: The Story of a Pigeon (1928): This children’s book won the Newbery Medal. It tells the story of Gay Neck, a messenger pigeon during World War I, exploring themes of human-animal relationships and the futility of war.
- A Son of Mother India Replies: Mukerji’s rebuttal to Katherine Mayo’s Mother India.
- Caste and Outcast, My Brother’s Face, The Face of Silence: A trilogy reflecting his constant search for spiritual and personal identity.
Children’s Literature
Mukerji’s contributions to children’s literature are inspiring and remarkable. His books often drew from his childhood experiences and Indian folklore. Some of his famous children’s books are –
| Title | Publication Year |
| Kari the Elephant | 1922 |
| Gay Neck: The Story of a Pigeon | 1927 |
| Ghond the Hunter | 1928 |
| Hari: the Jungle Lad | 1932 |
| The Chief of the Herd | 1929 |
| Rama: The Hero of India | 1930 |
Nonfiction Works
Mukerji’s nonfiction works also reflected his quest to explain India to the Western world and his personal spiritual journey. Some of his famous nonfiction books are –
| Title | Publication Year |
| Caste and Outcast | 1923 |
| A Son of Mother India Replies | 1928 |
| My Brother’s Face | 1924 |
| The Face of Silence | 1926 |
| Visit India With Me | 1929 |
| Disillusioned India | 1930 |
Credits: Get Bengal
Some of his other Famous Works are –
| Title | Year | Genre |
| “Sandhya, or Songs of Twilight” | 1917 | Poetry |
| “Rajani, or Songs of the Night” | 1922 | Poetry |
| “Laila Majnu” | 1922 | Play |
| Devotional Passages from the Hindu Bible | 1929 | Non- fiction |
| The Master Monkey | 1932 | Children’s Literature |
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Later Life and Legacy of Dhan Gopal Mukerji
Mukerji’s later life was surrounded by a sense of isolation and more towards spiritual exploration. Despite his success, he felt marginalised in America and was deeply connected to the cause of Indian independence. While in a foreign land, he was associated with his colleagues like MN Roy.
On 14 July 1936, Mukerji tragically ended his life in his New York City Apartment. He is remembered because of his writing style entailed topics like animals, humanity, and child prostitutes in America in the late 1910s and 1920s, and he wrote about romantics like Rangini, spiritualism, etc.
FAQs
Mukerji’s autobiography, Caste and Outcast, was published in 1923. He hanged himself on July 14, 1936, in New York City.
Newbery Medal in 1928 by the American Library Association
Some of the famous works of Dhan Gopal Mukerji were – Kari the Elephant, Gay Neck: The Story of a Pigeon, The Face of Silence, etc.
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