Nirmala is a novel by Munshi Premchand that critiques the destructive effects of the dowry system and societal pressures on women in early 20th-century India. The story follows the tragic life of Nirmala, a young woman forced into a marriage with a much older widower, and how circumstances lead to suspicion, tragedy, and her eventual demise. It's considered a masterpiece of social realism, highlighting issues like arranged marriages, gender inequality, and the hypocrisy of society