Dhan Gopal Mukerji (1890-1936) wrote numerous books and stories for children, most of which describe the animal life of India and Hindu lore and beliefs. Mukerji is also known for his autobiography Caste and Outcast, which tells of life in India and America. He is considered the first Asian Indian writer of significance in the United States.

Dhan Gopal Mukerji was born on July 6, 1890, in a jungle village near Calcutta, India, and was the son of Kissori and Bhuban (Goswami) Mukerji. His family were members of the Brahmin priest class and for centuries had been in charge of the temple in their village. Brahmins are members of the highest caste in India and follow Vedanta, the system of Hindu philosophy that seeks to transcend the limitations of self-identity and become one with Brahman, the essential divine reality of the universe. At the age of 14, Mukerji entered the Brahmin...