One Of Kind Storyteller, Remembering The Great Munshi Premchand On His 136th Birthday.

Mushi Premchand is on the same leagues of Charles Dickens and Leo Tolstoy. His stories are pure classic and he is one of the most celebrated writers of the early 20th century. Premchand’s works are representative of the socio-economic conditions that prevailed during the nationalist movement. His take on taboo issues like prostitution, widow remarriage, and feudal system through his stories, shows how much calibre and talent Munshi Premchand owned.
On his birth anniversary, we are looking at some of his best works –

1. Godaan

It was first published in 1936 and is considered one of the greatest Hindustani novels of modern Indian literature. Godaan brings out the class struggle prevalent during his time and the meagre conditions of the poor villages during the British era. The novel was adapted for film and television as well.

2. Pratigya

Published in 1927, Pratigya means The Vow, Premchand found his way to a balanced and realistic level and the capability to hold his readers with Pratigya, a novel which deals with the issue of widow remarriage.

3. Nirmala or Idaara-e-Furoogh

This novel talks about the then common issue of marriage between two individuals having a large age difference. The novel highlights the issues pertaining to the dowry system in India.

4. Gaban

One of the most popular novels of Premchand, Gaban, is set in the pre-independent India. The novel is an account of the socio-economic conditions of that time and the simple living conditions of the North Indian society.

5. Shatranj Ke Khiladi

The novel which revolves around two idle aristocrats who are addicted to playing chess and die a tragic death by killing each other. Satyaji Ray directed a movie based on this novel.

He wrote more than a dozen novels, around 250 short stories, several essays and translations of a number of foreign literary works into Hindi, and because of Premchand’s popularity many of his works were translated into English and Russian after his death.