Munshi Premchand: The Master Storyteller Who Brought India to Life

Munshi Premchand Modern Hindi literature

Munshi Premchand : Munshi Premchand was one of the greatest literary figures of modern Hindi literature. His stories vividly portrayed the social scenario of those times. Premchand wrote on the realistic issues of the day-communalism, corruption, zamindari, debt, poverty, colonialism, etc. He avoided the use of highly Sanskritised Hindi and instead used the dialect of the common people.

Premchand’s real name was Dhanpat Rai Srivastava. He was born on July 31, 1880 in Lamahi near Varanasi where his father, Munshi Ajaayab Lal was a clerk in the post office. Premchand lost his mother when he was just seven years old. His father married again. Premchand was very close to his elder sister. His early education was in a madrasa under a Maulavi, where he learnt Urdu. When he was studying in the ninth class he was married, much against his wishes. He was only fifteen years old at that time.

Premchand lost his dad, when he was sixteen years of age Premchand was left answerable for his stepmother and step kin He procured five rupees a month mentoring a legal counselor’s youngster. Premchand finished his registration test with incredible exertion and took up a showing position, with a month to month compensation of eighteen rupees. While working, he concentrated secretly and passed his Intermediate and BA assessments Later, Premchand filled in as the delegate sub-controller of schools in what was then the United Provinces.

In 1910, he was pulled up by the District Magistrate in Jamirpur for his collection of brief tales, Soz-e-Watan (Dirge of the Nation), which was named rebellious. His book, Soz-e-Watan was prohibited by the then British government, which consumed the duplicates as a whole. At first Premchand wrote in Urdu under the name of ‘Nawabrai’. Nonetheless, when his novel, Soz-e-Watan was seized by the British, he began composing under the nom de plume’.

Munshi Premchand: The Master Storyteller Who Brought India to Life

Before Premchand, Hindi writing comprised essentially of imagination or strict works. He carried authenticity to Hindi writing. He composed north of 300 stories, twelve books and two plays. The narratives have been gathered and distributed as Maansarovar. His well known manifestations are: Panch Parameshvar, Idgah, Shatranj Ke Khiladi, Poos Ki Raat, Bade Ghar Ki Beti, Kafan, Udhar Ki Ghadi, Namak Ka Daroga, Gaban, Godaan, and Nirmala.

Premchand was an incredible social reformer. He wedded a kid widow named Shivarani Devi. She composed a book on him, Premchand Gharmein after his demise. In 1921, he addressed Gandhiji’s call and left his work. He attempted to produce positive energy and nationalistic opinions in the overall people. Whenever the editorial manager of the diary, Maryaada was imprisoned in the opportunity development, Premchand worked for a period as the proofreader of that diary. Thereafter, he functioned as the Principal in a school in the Kashi Vidyapeeth.

The main characteristic of Premchand’s writings is his interesting storytelling and use of simple language. His writings have been translated not only into all Indian languages, but also Russian, Chinese, and many other foreign languages.

Besides being a great novelist, Premchand was also a social reformer and thinker. His greatness lies in the fact that his writings embody social purpose and social criticism rather than mere entertainment. Literature, according to him, is a powerful means of educating public opinion. He believed in social evolution and his ideal was equal opportunities for all. Premchand died in 1936 and has since been studied both in India and abroad as one of the greatest writers of the century.