Munshi Premchand
It's was Dhanpat Rai's 125 birth Anniversary yesterday. The text books, book stalls at railway station, patrons like Gulzar & Prem Piyush, and readers like Vandy have kept him alive in our hearts.
It's not easy to relate to his works, especially in the escapist times we live on. In the times, when writers used to pen the stories around fantasies, kings, royals - Premchand's hero would invariably be a common, downtrodden man especially, a villager. Perhaps the hardships and struggle which he himself suffered throughout his life, found vent in his pen. Nobody else have conserved the more correct picture of an Indian village at that time.
He gave literature a new hero, who fight the system for his survival in Godan, in my reckoning, his best work. How greed and lust are two bitter enemies of human is clearly evident in Gaban. The complexeties of relationships are beautifully portrayed in Nirmala.
Like most of the other writers of that time his writings also showed the patriot in him. Karma Bhumi is one such example(that TV serial in late eighties had made such a mess of the story). He even gave up his job at Mahatma Gandhi's call. Munshi Premchand’s was a strident voice that spoke for a free India. His Progressive Writers’ Association was a movement of defiance against the Raj and the social ills of the day.
Of course, he was a master story teller as well. While Kafan is a perfect satire reflecting on the falling human values, and poverty in society - Namak Ka Daroga tells you that honesty always pays. Pareeksha is a short account on, again, sincerety & honesty.
That exactly was Premchand's essence. He always stressed on simple and relvant things in life. If you have not already logged into Premchand, it's high time.
It's not easy to relate to his works, especially in the escapist times we live on. In the times, when writers used to pen the stories around fantasies, kings, royals - Premchand's hero would invariably be a common, downtrodden man especially, a villager. Perhaps the hardships and struggle which he himself suffered throughout his life, found vent in his pen. Nobody else have conserved the more correct picture of an Indian village at that time.
He gave literature a new hero, who fight the system for his survival in Godan, in my reckoning, his best work. How greed and lust are two bitter enemies of human is clearly evident in Gaban. The complexeties of relationships are beautifully portrayed in Nirmala.
Like most of the other writers of that time his writings also showed the patriot in him. Karma Bhumi is one such example(that TV serial in late eighties had made such a mess of the story). He even gave up his job at Mahatma Gandhi's call. Munshi Premchand’s was a strident voice that spoke for a free India. His Progressive Writers’ Association was a movement of defiance against the Raj and the social ills of the day.
Of course, he was a master story teller as well. While Kafan is a perfect satire reflecting on the falling human values, and poverty in society - Namak Ka Daroga tells you that honesty always pays. Pareeksha is a short account on, again, sincerety & honesty.
That exactly was Premchand's essence. He always stressed on simple and relvant things in life. If you have not already logged into Premchand, it's high time.
Labels: Memories, Personalities, Premchand
posted by Unknown at 9:31 AM
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