Munshi Premchand Biography: Munshi Premchand is a name that immediately comes to mind when discussing Urdu novelists and Hindi writers. Prem Chand’s life story is comparable to that of any average individual. However, what distinguishes him are the numerous works he composed during his lifetime. They are still read with great admiration and enthusiasm. Even though he struggled financially throughout his entire existence, he had an extensive collection of his works and compositions. Learn more about the life of this common man who was an extraordinary intellect by reading more about Munshi Premchand’s biography.
Munshi Premchand Biography
Early Years
Premchand is the child of Ajaib Rai and Ananda Devi. He was the fourth of his parents’ children. His father gave him the name Dhanpat Rai, while his uncle gave him the literary name Nawab.
Premchand obtained his early education at a Lalpur Madrasa, where he learned Urdu and Persian. He was then sent to a missionary school to acquire English.
When he was very young, his mother passed away. His father quickly remarried, but Premchand did not get along with his stepmother. A few years later, his father also passed away, and he was forced to discontinue his education.
Munshi Premchand Personal Facts
His parents christened him Dhanpat Rai after the village of Pandepur near Varanasi where he was born. His mother died when he was only eight years old, a tragic beginning to his existence. His father, Munshi Ajayab Lal, was a postal department clerk. He left Premchand in his grandmother’s care and married another individual. He was raised without parental affection and was given responsibilities at a very young age. His grandmother also died shortly after, leaving him without anyone to care for him.
At age 15, he married, but the union did not succeed. In the meantime, his father passed away, and he was forced to abandon his education in order to care for himself and his stepsiblings. He secured a position as a teacher in a primary school and was quickly promoted to Deputy Inspector of Schools. As soon as Mahatma Gandhi announced the non-cooperation movement, Premchand quit his employment and devoted himself entirely to writing.The author Munshi Premchand His first brief story was published in a Kanpur-distributed magazine called Zamana.
Munshi Premchand Major Effort
When it comes to composing Urdu novels and short stories, Premchand holds a unique position. His style of writing novels began with regal fantasy stories. But as he became increasingly aware of what was occurring around him, he began to write about social issues, and his novels evoked a sense of social consciousness and responsibility. In a turbulent society, he wrote about the realities of life and the problems confronted by the common man.
His primary concern remained rural India and the exploitation of villagers by clerics, landlords, loan sharks, etc. In addition, he stressed the unity of Hindus and Muslims. His well-known works include Godaan, Gaban, Karmabhoomi, and Pratigya, among others. His well-known short stories include Atmaram, Udhar Ki Ghadi, and Bade Ghar Ki Beti, among others. Satyajit Ray, a renowned filmmaker, adapted a number of his works for the screen.
Not only was Premchand renowned for his engaging writing, but also for his proficiency in the Urdu language. His proficiency in Urdu gained him a reputation as a gifted journalist. His writing as a journalist was heavily influenced by the Indian independence movement at the time. In his writing, he expressed his desire to participate actively in the liberation movement. He compiled Soz-e-Watan, a collection of short stories influenced by the prevailing patriotism of the time. This work by Premchand was regarded as rebellious and courageous. This book inspired many Indians to participate in the independence struggle against British rule. This prompted a severe response from the British government. The government confiscated Soz-e-Watan and destroyed all duplicates.
The introduction of realism by Premchand was considered a revolutionary development in Hindi literature at the time; most writers before him had written fantastical stories or religious and mythological tales. He was a visionary social reformist. In his novels, he utilised a great deal of reality and realistic situations. His characters were all based on actual people with real problems. He used to write about the prevalent social ills in India at the time. Among these social ills were dowry, poverty, colonialism, corruption, and Zamindari. His stories were set in basic settings and depicted straightforward human emotions. His work has been translated into numerous languages, including Russian, Chinese, English, etc., in addition to Hindi and Urdu.
Munshi Premchand Death
It is unfortunate to realise that a writer of such calibre and vision was underappreciated during his lifetime. He endured a very difficult financial period. He missed out on opportunities to earn an adequate livelihood. Throughout his life, he laboured financially and lived in abject poverty and daily dire financial straits. He also experienced health problems. He continued writing until his death. He was actually in the midst of writing Mangalsootra when he passed away, and it remains unfinished to this day. On October 8, 1936, this prominent literary figure from India passed away.
