Latest news with #Premchand
Indian Express
01-08-2025
- General
- Indian Express
‘If Idgah was the doorway, Do Bailon Ki Katha was the mirror': Remembering Premchand
On what would have been Munshi Premchand's 145th birthday, I find myself returning to a story that reshaped how I saw the world. If Idgah was the doorway into Premchand's world, Do Bailon Ki Katha was the mirror he held up to society. Hamid may have taught us love and sacrifice, but it was Heera and Moti, the two oxen in this short story, who stirred something deeper in me when I was all of 13. We often read stories with human protagonists, but this was different. It was not a tale of arrogant kings, powerful Gods, or even ordinary men. It was a story of two humble bullocks. Voiceless and speechless, these animals of burden, tirelessly toil in fields, yet Premchand lends them vivid personalities. I still remember reading that first page and feeling strangely emotional. The story has stayed with me. Heera and Moti dearly loved their master, Jhuri, and shared a remarkable camaraderie. Both were self-respecting, brave, and benevolent. Their owner treated them with affection. One day, however, they were sent to Jhuri's in-laws' house, where they were mistreated and forced to plough fields beyond their strength. Once free-spirited, they soon found themselves bound in suffering. Unable to bear the injustice, they revolted. They broke free, caused chaos, and ultimately ran away, only to be separated. Eventually, they were auctioned off to a butcher. Miraculously, they escaped from the slaughter house and made their way back to their rightful owner. The narrative that follows is layered with humour, sorrow, and empathy. The two are reunited, but not before we see the world through their wounds. What strikes me most, even today, is not only the animal friendship but how Premchand exposes human hypocrisy. The two oxen behave more honourably than the men around them. They do not speak, yet their protest is louder than any slogan. They refuse to become machines of greed. They walk away. And in that act lies the story of every worker, every underpaid laborer, every being resisting cruelty. It was the first story that made me question authority. Why should endurance be expected simply because someone is silent? Why should loyalty be a license for exploitation? Heera and Moti were not just bullocks. They were symbols. Their pain was real, and so was their choice to escape it. For a ninth-grade student, this story offered the first glimpse of quiet rebellion. In this seemingly simple tale, Premchand opens with a metaphor, of a donkey, often mocked and rarely understood. For him, the donkey represents tolerance. Regardless of what life offers, joy or sorrow, it remains unmoved, like a monk. In a world where emotions often scream louder than actions, Premchand praises the virtue of composure. Unfortunately, humans mistake this stillness for stupidity. Perhaps it is because we lack what the donkey possesses: patience and grace. Similarly, Heera and Moti were not mere animals in a field. They were friends, brothers, comrades. The story begins with them licking and nudging each other: small gestures of affection that speak to a bond stronger than any chain. Whether feeding from the same trough or pulling the same plough, they carried one another's burdens. Even during hardship, they never abandoned each other. Their trial arrives in the form of a violent bull. But this is not just a fight between animals. It is a metaphor for how all beings—human or otherwise—must stand together in moments of crisis. Heera fights to protect Moti, even when escape is possible. Later, when the wall of the slaughterhouse collapses and freedom is near, Moti does not run alone. He waits for Heera, who refuses to leave. Whether it is sharing food or enduring beatings, the bullocks consistently place each other first. That is not merely friendship. That is solidarity. Few human friendships reflect such depth of devotion. In those scenes, Premchand shows us that courage is not always about confrontation. Sometimes, it is about choosing to stay. Premchand does not stop at exploring the bond between animals. He extends it to the relationship between humans and animals. When Heera and Moti return to Jhuri after fleeing from their new owner, Gaya, he is deeply moved. His wife may see them as mere beasts, but for Jhuri, they are part of his family. For Heera and Moti, love outweighs comfort. Premchand reminds us that animals feel. They crave affection. They mourn. They remember kindness. 'Azadi sabko chahiye.' Freedom, Premchand insists, is not limited to humans. Heera and Moti flee not from impulse but from instinct. They recognise oppression. They seek dignity. Whether it is the British colonizing India or a cruel master exploiting animals, bondage must be challenged. And when the moment comes, it must be escaped. Freedom, Premchand suggests, is always worth the struggle. The symbolism in the story is subtle, but once perceived, it cannot be forgotten. Written during colonial rule, Do Bailon Ki Katha is not only about two bullocks. It is about India itself. Premchand channels national resistance through their rebellion. Just as Heera and Moti resist cruelty, so too were India's oppressed rising against imperialism. The story does not raise slogans, but it hums with the anger of a people awakening. Premchand did not write for the intellectual elite. He did not try to impress with language. He told stories the way elders do under the shade of a neem tree. Simple, measured and unforgettable Do Bailon Ki Katha exemplifies that storytelling. Reading it brought an odd kind of maturity. I began to see the world differently, not only the world of animals, but also the lives of laborers, domestic workers, rickshaw pullers, and farmers. The story was never didactic, but it made me uncomfortable in the best possible way. Even now, when I read about animal cruelty or bonded labor, I find myself returning to that chapter in Kshitij. The scene where Heera and Moti collapse from exhaustion, while others stand around laughing, feels eerily familiar. We are still those bystanders. And in that sense, Premchand remains as relevant as ever. What made Premchand timeless was not merely his choice of subjects, but the tenderness with which he wrote them. His stories were not meant to shock or preach. They drew you in gently, then turned the mirror toward you. The beauty of Do Bailon Ki Katha is that it is not simply a fable. It is a human drama told through non-human characters. And perhaps that is why it stings. Because in those two oxen, we begin to see ourselves. It is curious how we grow older, but some stories seem to grow with us. When I first read it, I saw pain. Years later, I saw resistance. Now, I see companionship. I read Do Bailon Ki Katha in school. But I suspect I will remember it in life. It was Premchand's way of reminding us that even the voiceless have choices. Even the beaten down can say no. In a world that continues to normalise injustice, perhaps the most radical act is to walk away. Maybe we all carry a little of Heera and Moti within us. Maybe we are still waiting to find the courage to break free. (As I See It is a space for bookish reflection, part personal essay and part love letter to the written word.)
Time of India
31-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Premchand changed way literature was consumed: Expert
Lucknow: Department of Hindi at Lucknow University marked the 145th birth anniversary of literary legend Munshi Premchand with a national seminar titled 'Contemporary Times, Society and the Legacy of Premchand '. Vice Chancellor Prof Manuka Khanna said, "Premchand's text is language of the people, merging directly with the society. His literary work like 'Nirmala' and 'Mantra' inspired social consciousness over time." Earlier, Khanna paid floral tribute at the statue of Premchand in the department's literary garden. "Premchand redefined Indian literature by bringing struggles of the working class to the forefront. His stories gave voice to those who were never seen as heroes, making them central to the narrative of modern India," said, Vandana Chaubey, guest speaker from Varanasi. "A time when popular fiction was dominated by fantasy and thrill, Premchand rooted literature in social reality and made readers engage with truths of Indian society, transforming the way literature was consumed and understood," said Siddharth Shankar, guest speaker from Chappra.
Time of India
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Social evils that Munshi Premchand chose to write about still resonate'
Lucknow: Literary experts and social activists gathered to discuss the 'relevance of Munshi Premchand's literature on media and stage in the current social environment' at Smriti Bhavan on Wednesday. The event on the eve of Munshi Premchand's 145th birth anniversary was organised by 'Abhivyakti - Cultural and Welfare Society'. Senior dramatist Lalit Singh Pokhariya emphasised how Premchand's conscious choice to address societal issues, caste discrimination, and injustice continues to resonate today. "The problems Premchand wrote about — poverty, casteism, exploitation, gender discrimination — continue to plague our society," Pokhariya observed. "He had the choice of writing on different genres, but he closely observed the scenario around him and chose to write about society, caste discrimination, injustice, exploitation of women and the poor, gender discrimination, and poverty, which are still prevalent in our country," Retired IAS officer and social worker Nageshwar Nath Upadhay, who was the chief guest, highlighted the universal appeal of Premchand's literature. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2 BHKs starts at ₹ 72.6 Lakh | No Floor rise | Zero PLC Mahindra Happinest Tathawade Get Quote Undo "His works transcend the urban-rural divide and continue to voice the concerns of marginalised sections of society," Upadhay said. The event featured readings of two notable articles, "Premchand Ke Phate Joote" by Harishankar Parsai and its sequel by KK Asthana. Senior theatre artist Bhanu Prakash Pandey presented Parsai's piece, while Asthana read his own work 'Premchand Ke Phate Huye Joote Part 2'. Both articles were inspired by a famous photograph of Premchand with his wife, showing the writer wearing torn shoes, an image that became iconic in literary circles.
Time of India
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
2-day lit fest marks Premchand's birth anniversary at Lamahi
Varanasi: A two-day literary event commemorating the birth anniversary of celebrated Hindi writer Munshi Premchand commenced at Munshi Premchand Research and Study Centre in Lamahi, his ancestral village on Wednesday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The centre functions under the Faculty of Arts, BHU. The event began with essay writing, literature quizzes, and painting competitions organised for school and college students. Selected participants will be felicitated during the main celebration on Thursday. The competitions aim to familiarise the younger generation with Premchand's literary contributions and social values. Speaking on the occasion, Prof Sushma Ghildiyal from the Faculty of Arts said the programme is dedicated to exploring Premchand's personality and works. It includes academic lectures, cultural performances, and student competitions. A committee constituted by the faculty is overseeing the event, with Prof. Neeraj Khare from the Hindi Department serving as coordinator. Prof Khare informed that the main programme on Thursday will feature a keynote address by noted story critic Prof. Rohini Agrawal from Rohtak, former Head of the Hindi Department at Maharshi Dayanand University. Her lecture will focus on the theme 'India of Premchand's Dreams'. Prof. Sadanand Shahi, former Head of the Hindi Department at BHU, will also address the gathering. BHU Registrar Arun Kumar Singh will be present as the special guest, while Prof Ghildiyal will preside over the function. A theatrical performance based on Premchand's iconic story Bade Bhai Sahab will also be staged.
The Hindu
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Hindi speakers' society of West Bengal to celebrate 100 years of Premchand's masterpiece Rangbhoomi in Kolkata
While it is common to celebrate the centenary of a personality or an event, it is not often that 100 years of the publication of a book is remembered through an event, something that a group of Hindi-speaking people in West Bengal is doing for Premchand's masterpiece Rangbhoomi. At a time when it has become almost routine for language fanatics to make news, the Paschim Banga Hindi Bhashi Samaj (West Bengal Hindi Speakers' Society) is holding a seminar on July 31, 2025 to revisit the Hindi novel that was published a century ago. The event will be held at Premchand Library in north Kolkata. Editorial | Premchand, who? 'The milestone is a memorable moment in Hindi literature, more so because the story is more relevant than ever. It is the story of a poor man being displaced from his land, something that is the reality of today's India. The problems depicted by Premchand in his literature have all acquired monstrous forms,' Ashok Singh, general secretary of the Society and former head of Hindi department at Surendranath Evening College, told The Hindu. 'In the words of critic Ram Vilas Sharma, Rangbhoomi represents the period that saw the beginning of the farmers' movement against landowners in the Hindi belt in the 1920s. They were fighting a lone battle without the help of any political party or leader. They lost because at the time farmers and labourers didn't have a union; that's what the protagonist, a blind beggar called Surdas, advises them while dying — he asked them to unite,' Mr. Singh said. Also Read | Premchand, trashed? 'Imagine, this was the 1920s, as if Premchand was looking at the future. He makes Surdas say, 'We may have lost, but we have not deserted the game, let us catch our breath and we will come back, we will learn from you with each defeat and will eventually defeat you someday.' Today, on one hand, the government is working in the interest of the corporates by displacing farmers from their lands, but on the other, an organised peasant movement has forced the government to withdraw three anti-farmer laws,' Mr. Singh said. According to him, ever since the Paschim Banga Hindi Bhashi Samaj was set up, in 1999, its objective has been to hold literary and cultural events, and among the icons it has celebrated so far include Rahi Masoom Raza, Mrinal Sen and Ritwik Ghatak. Awakening the aesthete within the reader 'The main objective of the language communalism you see in the country these days is to distract people from burning problems such as unemployment, inflation, poor education and privatisation of the health sector. In West Bengal, this sort of communalism was initiated by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during the 2019 elections when she said that the Hindi-speaking people in the State, who formed 15% of the population, were its guests,' Mr. Singh said.
