Munshi Premchand - The Father of Hindi Literature
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100-word essay (simple, for general or quick read
Munshi Premchand, born Dhanpat Rai Srivastava on 31 July 1880 in Lamahi near Varanasi, is called the 'Upanyas Samrat' of Hindi literature. He lost his mother young and faced poverty, but studied hard and became a great writer. Starting in Urdu as 'Nawab Rai', he switched to 'Premchand' after the British banned his patriotic book Soz-e-Watan. His stories and novels show real life—poor farmers in Godaan, dowry problems in Nirmala, and middle-class greed in Gaban. Short tales like Idgah and Kafan touch the heart. Influenced by Gandhi, he quit his job for freedom fight. He died on 8 October 1936, but his voice for the common man lives on, fighting injustice even today. (100 words)
200-word essay (suitable for 8th-10th class level
Munshi Premchand was one of India's greatest writers in Hindi and Urdu. His real name was Dhanpat Rai Srivastava, born on 31 July 1880 in a small village Lamahi near Varanasi. Life was tough—he lost his mother at seven, father later, and struggled with money. Still, he completed his education, learned English, Urdu, and Persian, and worked as a teacher.
He first wrote in Urdu under 'Nawab Rai', but after the British seized his book Soz-e-Watan for its freedom ideas, he changed to 'Munshi Premchand' and wrote mostly in Hindi. His famous novels include Godaan, which shows a poor farmer's endless suffering for a cow; Gaban, about false prestige; and Nirmala, on the curse of dowry. Short stories like Idgah (where little Hamid sacrifices for his grandma), Kafan (cruel poverty), and Panch Parmeshwar (morality and friendship) are unforgettable.
Premchand was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi—he left his government job during the non-cooperation movement. He believed literature should change society, not just entertain. Though he died young on 8 October 1936 due to illness and money problems, his works remain relevant. They highlight caste, poverty, and inequality, making him the true voice of ordinary Indians. (200 words)
400-word essay (for higher education/college level, deeper analysis
Munshi Premchand (1880–1936), born Dhanpat Rai Srivastava in Lamahi village near Varanasi, stands as a pillar of modern Hindi-Urdu literature and a pioneer of social realism in India. His early life was marked by tragedy—mother's death at age seven, grandmother soon after, father's remarriage, and constant financial hardship—which infused his writings with authentic empathy for the oppressed. Educated in madrasas and missionary schools, he mastered Urdu, Persian, and English, later earning degrees while working as a school inspector and teacher.
Initially writing in Urdu as 'Nawab Rai', Premchand's patriotic collection Soz-e-Watan (1907) led to British confiscation and burning of copies, forcing him to adopt the pen name 'Premchand' (with 'Munshi' as honorific) and shift to Hindi for wider reach. This linguistic choice reflected his nationalist commitment during colonial rule.
His oeuvre—over 300 short stories (mostly in Mansarovar collection), 14 novels, essays, plays, and translations—focuses on rural and urban India's harsh realities. Godaan (1936), his masterpiece, portrays Hori's tragic quest for a cow amid debt, zamindari exploitation, and rural decay, symbolizing the Indian peasant's dignity in suffering. Rangbhoomi critiques industrialization's impact on villages, while Karmabhoomi and Premashram explore Gandhian ideals of non-violence and social reform. Short stories like Kafan expose existential despair in poverty, Idgah captures innocent sacrifice, and Panch Parmeshwar examines moral dilemmas under social pressure. Nirmala and Gaban highlight women's oppression and middle-class hypocrisy.
Deeply influenced by Gandhi and the freedom struggle, Premchand resigned his job in 1921 to join non-cooperation. He co-founded the Progressive Writers' Association in 1936, advocating literature as a tool for social change against casteism, communalism, and imperialism. His style—simple yet powerful language, realistic characters, and moral depth—brought Hindi fiction from romanticism to grounded critique.
Premchand's legacy endures through adaptations (Satyajit Ray's Shatranj ke Khiladi, Doordarshan serials) and translations worldwide. In today's India, where inequality persists, his works remind us of the common man's struggles and the need for justice. He remains not just a writer, but the conscience of a nation
Major works
Munshi Premchand wrote many novels, stories, and essays that would give a new direction to society. His major works are as follows—
Novels
Gaban - This novel depicts greed and social degradation.
Godaan - This is Premchand's most famous novel, in which the pain and suffering of the farmers have been deeply depicted.
Nirmala – It highlights the dowry system and the status of women in society.
Premashram – It highlights the exploitation of the landlord system.
Rangbhoomi – It is a story of social injustice and struggle.
Kahaniyan
Kafan – A heart-touching story depicting the helplessness of poor labourers.
Idgah – The story of a child Hamid, in which sacrifice and love have been wonderfully depicted.
Panch Parmeshwar – It depicts the importance of truth and honesty.
Thakur Ka Kuan – It highlights the problem of untouchability in society.
Bade Ghar Ki Beti – It tells the importance of family and respect.
Social and political ideology
Munshi Premchand's literature was full of social reform ideas. Through his writings, he strongly attacked problems like poverty, casteism, exploitation, injustice and the dowry system. He was influenced by the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi
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