Raag Darbari (novel)
Raag Darbari is a satirical Hindi novel by Sri Lal Sukla, first published in 1968. An English translation by Gillian Wright is available from Penguin Books. The book portrays the worn-out values in post-independence India and the way corruption weaves through society.
The story is told by Ranganath, a history student who comes to stay with his uncle, Vaidyaji, in the fictional village of Shivpalganj, in Uttar Pradesh. Ranganath hopes to rest and learn, but he soon sees how his uncle uses local schools, the village council (panchayat), and government offices to pursue politics and personal gain. His idealism clashes with the messy reality around him.
In Shivpalganj, people take pride in calling themselves “ganjahe,” a playful nod to their village. The patriarch Vaidyaji leads the village, helped by his sons Badri Pehelwaan (Badri the Wrestler) and Ruppan Babu. The village also has teachers and a fiery principal who speaks Awadhi, his native tongue, when angered.
The novel is not a single plot with a hero. It is a collection of anecdotes that satirize the social and political corruption of the time. Ranganath, who arrives with high ideals and a belief in justice, ends up mostly watching and being unable to change the system.
The title Raag Darbari refers not to a music raga, but to a song sung by a village politician, a tune that others in Shivpalganj follow.
Raag Darbari has influenced Indian literature and drama. It was adapted into a television series on DD National (1986–87), and there have been stage adaptations as well, including Ranganath Ki Waapsi in 2009 and another original adaptation in 2018 at the National School of Drama.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 22:11 (CET).