Munshi Premchand’s Birth Anniversary: 5 must-read books, lesser-known facts, and inspiring quotes from Hindi’s legendary writer

July 31, marks the birth anniversary of Munshi Premchand, a towering figure in Indian literature. Known for his Hindustani literature, Premchand’s work vividly portrays colonial India through a realistic lens. His contributions to Hindi and Urdu fiction have left an indelible mark on the literary world.

About Munshi Premchand

Munshi Premchand was born on July 31, 1880, in Lamhi, a village in the Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh, to Ajaib Lal, a post office clerk, and Anandi Devi. Initially using the name Nawab Rai, he adopted Premchand after facing criticism from the British government for his short story collection, Soz-e-Vatan in 1909. Premchand’s prolific career spanned novels, short stories, essays, and translations, earning him the title “Upanyas Samrat,” or “Emperor among Novelists.”

He began his schooling at a Madrasah in Lalpur, Varanasi, where he learned Urdu and Persian. From a young age, he found comfort in reading and developed a deep interest in literature. Premchand later studied English at a missionary school and read various works of fiction, including George W. M. Reynolds’s The Mysteries of the Court of London. In the mid-1890s, he attended Queen’s College in Varanasi as a day scholar. He married at the age of 15 in 1895, while still in class IX.

Five Books from Premchand you must read

1. Sevasadan (1918)
Originally written in Urdu as Bazaar-e-Husn, Sevasadan was published in Hindi in 1919. This novel, Premchand’s first major work, tells the story of an unhappy housewife who becomes a courtesan and seeks redemption.

2. Karmabhoomi

Set in 1930s Uttar Pradesh, Karmabhoomi addresses the exploitation of the poor by the wealthy. It reflects Premchand’s empathy for the underprivileged.3. Gaban (1931)
This novel explores the moral decline among the lower middle class in British India and the lengths people will go to maintain a façade of elitism.

4. Godaan (1936)
One of Premchand’s most celebrated novels, Godaan depicts socio-economic challenges and exploitation in rural India, providing a realistic portrayal of the rural poor.

5. Nirmala (1928)
Nirmala confronts the issue of dowry exploitation, highlighting the plight of a young girl married to an older man. The novel critiques the unfair treatment of women in Indian society.

As we remember Munshi Premchand today, his works continue to offer profound insights into the socio-economic issues of his time, and his legacy endures through his compelling storytelling.

Premchand: Lesser-Known Facts

Premchand’s novel Godaan is celebrated as one of the greatest Hindi novels, exploring themes such as caste discrimination, the exploitation of the poor and women, and the adverse effects of industrialization. A film adaptation of Godaan was released in 1963.

In 2005, the Sahitya Akademi established the Premchand Fellowships, awarded to prominent cultural figures from SAARC countries, with past fellows including Amrita Pritam and Sumitranandan Pant.

Reports suggest that Premchand briefly worked as a salesboy in a bookshop to gain access to more books.

Over his career, he authored more than 300 short stories, 14 novels, essays, letters, plays, and translations.

His children’s books, such as Jangal ki Kahaniyan and Ram Charcha, are also well-regarded. However, his first literary work, created in Gorakhpur, was never published and is now lost. Premchand passed away on October 8, 1936, at the age of 56.

Premchand Quotes

“To be successful in life what you need is education, not literacy and degrees.”

“As long as the shackles of wealth and property bind us, we will remain accursed forever and never attain the altar of humanity, which is life’s ultimate goal.”

“Boys are quite often whimsical. Whereas girls are modest by nature and know their responsibilities very well. Their weapons are service, sacrifice, and love, by which they conquer over the males.”

“If someone ensures us two square meals a day, we will sing and pray all our waking hours. If one has to hoe sugarcane all day, devotion to God vanishes like smoke.”

“I will not call that person happy who knows no rest because of his enemies, who is the butt of fun by all and for whom no one has any empathy, who is as if held on a leash by others, who has lost himself in hedonistic pursuits, who preys on those weaker to him and wags his tail for his superiors.”

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