Which one of the following is an important historical novel written during the latter half of the nineteenth century?
- Rast Goftar
- Durgesh Nandini
- Maharatha
- Nibandhamala
Explanation
Option (b) is correct
- Durgeshnandini (also written as Durgesh Nandini) is a Bengali historical romance novel authored by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and first published in 1865. It is clearly characterized as a historical novel set against the backdrop of the Pathan–Mughal conflicts during the reign of Akbar. His notable works, including Anandamath (1882), Kapalkundala (1866), and Devi Chaudhurani (1884), reflect the social, cultural, and moral concerns of a colonised society striving for self-identity. Nibandhmala (Garland of Essays) is a historically significant Marathi periodical launched by nationalist writer Vishnushastri Chiplunkar in 1874 to foster pride in Swarajya, Swadharm, and Swabhasha. Rast Goftar (“The Truth Teller”) is an influential 19th-century Anglo-Gujarati weekly newspaper founded in 1851 (or 1854) by Dadabhai Naoroji and Kharshedji Cama in Bombay
