Premchand
(1880–1936), Hindi and Urdu writer. Premchand is the pen name of Dhanpat Rai Srivastana, who was born on 31 July 1880 in the village of Lamahi near Varanasi (Benares), India. Rai Srivastana was not good at his studies and could not pass the matriculation examination. After the death of his father, he became a schoolteacher in 1899 with a salary of eighteen rupees per month. He began his literary career and wrote under the pen name Premchand. In 1907, he published short stories in Urdu but switched to Hindi eight years afterward. In 1916, he published his first short story in Hindi, Panch Parameswar (Five Gods).
During the period between 1917 and 1936, Premchand dominated the Hindi literary scene with his stories and novels. His works reflected contemporary social and political realities in India at the time. Sympathizing with the downtrodden, he wrote powerful and gripping stories and novels about social inequality, poverty of the peasants, and exploitation of women. He was influenced by Gandhian ideals and even joined the noncooperation movement. The novel Godan (Gift of a Cow) is a vivid account of a helpless peasant, exploitation by landlords, and problems of untouchability. Gaban (Misappropriation) is about the destruction of a family caused by the materialism of a female member. He wrote 250 short stories and eleven novels. Some of his important novels are Premashrama (Hermitage of Love, 1918), Rangabhumi (Theater, 1925), and Karmabhumi (Workplace, 1932). He died on 8 October 1936.
Further Reading
Jidal, K. B. (1993) A History of Hindi Literature. New Delhi: Munshiram.
Rai, Alok. (1993) Premchand. Reprint ed. New Delhi: National Book Trust.
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