Chitralekha is a 1934 Hindi novel by the Indian novel writer Bhagwati Charan Verma about the philosophy of life, love, sin and virtue.
"[2]Chitralekha is a slim volume with a narrative that is woven around a love story, and reflects on various aspects of human life.
The story commences with a dialogue between the revered hermit Ratnakar (रत्नाकर) and his disciples, Shwetaank (श्वेतांक) and Vishaldev (विशालदेव), discussing the sins of humanity.
Chitralekha, the protagonist, embodies the life of a truly empowered woman: beautiful and resilient, driven by her own choices, generous by nature, and unwaveringly honest.
Shwetaank and Vishaldev wish to find the truth about the holy and the unholy of life, as suggested by their guru, Ratnakar, but they too become slaves of circumstances, as does Beejgupta.