Dhan Gopal Mukerji: The First South Asian Literary Pioneer in the US

• Dhan Gopal Mukerji, born near Calcutta in 1890, was the first South Asian immigrant to build a successful literary career in the US.
• He pursued education after leaving the priesthood, studying at the University of Calcutta, Tokyo University, UC Berkeley, and earning a Ph.D. from Stanford University.
• Mukerji authored numerous works across genres, including poetry, novels, children's stories, plays, and social commentary.
• His notable children's books include "Kari, the Elephant" and "Gay-Neck: The Story of a Pigeon," which won the Newbery Medal in 1928.
• Mukerji's writings offered American readers vivid insights into Indian life, folklore, and philosophy, but he tragically took his own life in 1936 after mental health struggles.

Why It Matters: Dhan Gopal Mukerji pioneered a literary bridge between India and the US, leaving a lasting legacy.