Munshi Premchand: The Voice of Truth

From The Jacket

His timeless tales captured the lives of ordinary people. Through his writing, Premchand gave a voice to the landless peasant, the exploited factory worker and downtrodden women. Just as he was the joyous voice of a child or a pampered nawab of Lucknow.

This empathy for people combined with powerful plots and unforgettable characters made Premchand one of the greatest writers of fiction in Hindi and Urdu, whose books continue to be loved today.

In this affectionate biography, also discover the man behind the words - humorous, hard-working and independent. He plunged into life to savour every vivid aspect of his land and people, facing every adversity with a quiet courage and a smile.

Charitavali is a series of biographies dedicated o the legendary figures of India. The series present the lives of great kings, freedom fighters, political thinkers, social reformers, pioneers of industry, eminent scientists, philosophers, artists, musicians, dancers and film stars, writers and sports people.

These biographies have been written for the reader who is curious about the life, achievements and character of these legends. Full of fascinating stories and facts, written in an easy, story telling style, these biographies will make these great Indians and their times come alive for the reader.

Introduction

A young Urdu poet reached Lucknow to meet the well-known Urdu and Hindi writer, Munshi Premchand. At the entrance to Premchand's house, he met a man casually clad in a vest and dhoti and asked hi for directions.

"I'll take you to Premchand," said the man. He led the young poet to a room on the first floor of the house, asked him to sit down and disappeared. He reappeared a moment later wearing a kurta and said with a broad smile, "Well Sir, now you are speaking to Premchand.

One a visit to Allahabad on a ho day in May, Premchand went to meet fellow writer Mahadevi Verma. Not recognizing him, the attendant at the door said loftily, "Mahadeviji is busy.

"But you have a little time, don't you?" asked Premchand, his eyes twinkling. "Come, let's sit down and talk for a few minutes." When Mahadevi Verma emerged much later, she was horrified to find Premchand sitting under a neem tree in earnest conversation with the attendant, the maliand the chowkidar. He brushed aside her apologies with a laugh. "Out here I've gathered plenty of material for my stories," he said, "which you as a poetess could not have given me.

This simplicity, this humour, even when he was a celebrity, were typical of Premchand. An ordinary looking man with an extraordinary talent and commitment, his name continues to be synonymous with the finest fiction in both Urdu and Hindi.