A Journal of Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya

Discourse
LIFE AND IDEALS OF PREMCHAND
Namwar Singh
Translated
Nishi Tiwari
by
“My life is like a bare plain field, where one may occasionally come
across a few pits and holes, but devoid of dense forests, deep valleys
and ancient ruins. So, people with a taste for the hills and mountains
will obviously be disappointed”.
This, in a capsule is, Premchands’ life history. There’s nothing
romantic or adventurous here to enjoy with relish. It is just a simple
tale of a common man.
About a hundred years ago on 31st July 1880, in village Lamhi,
near Benaras, a son was born in Munshi Ajayab Lal’s house. The
child grew up to be a great writer–Munshi Premchand. He was named
Dhanpat Rai by his father and Nawab Rai by his uncle, but contrary
to all expectations, destiny had other plans. Neither did he become
rich, nor did he become a nawab. Having lost his mother at seven,
and his father at fifteen, he had to fend for himself, and fight his
way through life. His first marriage having failed due to frequent
matrimonial conflicts, he remarried- this time a child widow by the
name of Shivrani. Such a step in those days was considered to be
greatly unconventional and an act of defiance. Living under great
financial constraints he gave tuitions, and sold books in order to
continue his studies. He passed his entrance exams and became a
school teacher. During his tenure as a government servant, he stayed
in a number of places in U.P., especially Gorakhpur.
When the Non-Cooperation movement started in 1921, at Gandhiji’s
request he resigned from his twenty-one year old Government Job.
January-March 2012 :: 41