By Asif Anwar Alig
Ajkal aur Premchand (Ajkal and Premchand), edited Abrar Rahmani, pp238,
Indian Rupees210, Publication Division, Government of India, New Delhi, Hard.
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Book Ajkal Aur Premchand |
Simplicity is the glory of expression,” said Walt Whitman while
defining the everlasting attributes of a great personality. Littérateurs
attached to the roots usually possess such caliber whose down to earth approach
make them "idols worth worshipping.” A common man too can show envisioning
insight to the herd of masses from where he or she is born to become godfather.
Premchand is one such immortal nom de plume of the past century.
His contemporaries did have hypes but their success was perishable that swept
out of the history of literature.
There is no dearth of books and articles written on Premchand, who
was born Dhanpat Rai on July 31, 1880 at Lamati near Varanasi. His father
Munshi Ajaib Lal was a clerk in the postal department. Premchand lost his
mother at the age of eight.
Though his grandmother raised him, she too died sooner. Both Urdu
& Hindi critics have counted minute details of his life time and again
since last five decades wherever littérateur in Premchand is being re-searched.
Newer researches are still in continuum but there is ample scope to understand
the multifaceted dimensions of his personality for “discovering” him–the person
and the littérateur.
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Reviewer Asif Anwar Alig |
Recently launched book Ajkal aur Premchand is a major
initiative by the publication division of India. This book, a compilation of
published articles on Premchand’s life is a brainchild of the then editor of
Ajkal magazine, Abrar Rahmani to tribute the legend. Rahmani gathered selected
articles for this book: each thematic compilation of scholastic ideas that had
already been printed in the literary journal Ajkal since independence.
Ajkal has given due respect to Premchand and published scholarly
articles on him written by the critics of Urdu & Hindi, which attributed
his contribution as a littérateur and evaluated the unique features of his
fiction work in context of Indian subcontinent.
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Editor, Abrar Rahmani |
Each article of the book deals with a particular “corner” on this
literary doyen, which is based on the evidences brought out over constant
research. Mostly analytical they were written by eminent critics having
expertise on Premchand. Troubled childhood didn’t hamper his urge to attain
higher education.
From receiving early Urdu education in a madarasa under the
guidance of a maulavi to being married off against his wishes in the ninth
standard barely at the age of fifteen and et al are the revelation of the
thorough monologue quoted by Premchand himself—describes the facets of his
life. After passing away of his father Premchand had to stop his study in
intermediate to let his family run.
Destiny enforced him to join the job of a teacher in a primary
school. Hard times of his life didn’t hinder his urge to attain higher
education. In the year 1919, when Premchand was a teacher at Gorakhpur passed
B.A. with English, Persian and History. His association with government of
India as deputy inspector (schools) wasn’t the bed of roses.
In response to Mahatma Gandhi’s call for non-cooperation with the
British, Premchand quit his job and gave full attention to writing. His plots
are based on daily life events. He belonged to village hence knew the problems
of the rural life that depict from the characters of his novels and short
stories which are altogether a miniature of the rural undivided India. One gets
enough chance to understand the versatile littérateur through this book. Most
admirable aspect, though, is the personality sketch of Premchand on the basis
of facts and findings identified ever.
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Ajkal Urdu Journal |
Sometimes, Premchand wrote the plots of Urdu stories/novels in
Hindi and vice versa. He used to note down most Hindi & Urdu plots in
English. This fact has been evidenced from his personal diaries that has a lot
on his literary life, personal problems and the relationships he would have
with his friends and publishers. These facts have already been made public
through the special issues of Ajkal. The scholastic articles were until now
scattered which needed compilation for more evidenced knowledge pool on
Premchand.
This book provides us a chance to think beyond a particular
framework of mind applied by the critics and researchers. The impartial leaning
makes a room to know the momentous incidences that had happened in his life.
Premchand penned meaningful details of his life in his diaries and letters and
transformed some of those happenings into themes of his fiction work. It helps
us to read between the lines the unrevealed corners.
Some critics might claim that Premchand had exchanged ideas with
the writers of English. He could be influenced from few of them to design his
own plots. He had been compared with the veterans of the literary world in the
mid of his career. The unique style applied by him had already been admired by
all. Renowned littérateur George Eliot had an impact on him whom Premchand
liked. He had a thought that Eliot wrote sensible literature because her
thoughts were beyond the imagination of her counterparts. Looking into Urdu &
Hindi, one sees same individualism intense in Premchand what Eliot had in
English. His novels and short stories created renaissance amongst the
pre-independent Indians and awakened them to know their rights. His literature
was educative and inspirational source for the masses to cope with their
sufferings. The “provocative” ideals, according to some, included him in the
group of progressives.
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English Writer George Eliot |
In novels Seva Sadan was his first attempt. Ajkal aur
Premchand sums best critical comments on his magnum opus novels and short
stories Sevasadan, Rangamanch, Ghaban, Nirmala, Godan
and Kafan. It also has a corner on his first short story that appeared
in Zamana published from Kanpur. He had set principle in life to ‘hate
the sin and not the sinner.’ Likewise concept of realism began with Premchand
that others adopted later. This trend is a pioneer in the art of fiction.
He wrote primarily about life around himself to make his readers
aware of the problems of middle class Indians. Each story/novel emphasizes on
presenting the realities of life for that he made villages pivotal. His work
augurs communal harmony. They are simple flowering of language with excellent
use of satire, humour, drama and “comment”.
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Godan by Premchand |
Dealt in serious literature they keep pace with the realities portraying
the nerve of the society that was rooted upon unequal bases. His famous stories
Qaatil Ki Maan, Zewar Ka Dibba, Gilli Danda, Eidgaah,
Namak Ka Daroga and Kafan explain this psychology, which still
haunts the social and political system of the independent India.
A few articles
of the book describe Prem Pachisi, Prem Battisi, Wardaat
and Zaad-e-Raah and the reality behind their inception. Three of
Premchand’s novels have been made into films.
Being a social reformer and thinker he served his society from the
bottom of his heart. To fulfill this and for the sake of a few bucks he moved
to the film industry in Bombay (Mumbai) but the worsening condition of filmdom
shattered his dreams.
He had to return back disheartened. Literature being
exploited in the name of glamour and monetary gains through cinema medium
shivered his spines. That disrespect was intolerable to Premchand. His bitter
experiences are noted comprehensively in a whole chapter of the book.
Ironically same film industry attributed his novels in actuality after his
death.
Literature embodies purpose, which can’t be merely a source of
entertainment. According to Premchand, it is a powerful means to educate people
that count the deeds of a society. He died in 1936 but since then he has been
alive with us. Regarded in the Indian subcontinent and world over as one of the
eminent fiction writers his contribution to literature is of paramount
importance.
This book review first appeared in www.chowk.com,
Mumbai on 19 July, 2007.
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