Phd @PROFESSOR_ADDA

#Dhanpat_Rai_Srivastav was one of India’s greatest literary figures and was popularly known by his pen name #Munshi_Premchand.

Life and Work:

- He studied in different schools where he learnt Urdu, Persian and English language.
- After supporting himself by taking tuitions for a few years, he became an assistant teacher at a government school in Bahraich district.
- It was around this time that he also began writing fiction.
- Initially, he assumed the pen name Nawab Rai for his first novel Asrar e Ma’abid.
- The author was influenced by the freedom movement and his works not only entertained readers, but also conveyed social messages, and encouraged them to participate in the movement.
- One such work, Soz-e-Watan, published in 1907, was banned by the British rulers, which prompted him to change his pen name to Premchand.
- Premchand wrote his first Hindi novel, Seva Sadan, in 1919.
- In 1921, he attended a meeting addressed by Mahatma Gandhi who called on people to resign from government jobs and support the non-cooperation movement.
- Even though he had been promoted to the post of Deputy Inspector of Schools, responding to Gandhi’s appeal, he quit his job in support of the non-cooperation movement, after which he shifted to Varanasi and focused on writing.
- In 1923, he set up the publishing house Saraswati Press.
- This establishment published the novels Nirmala (1925) and Pratigya (1927), which dealt with the issues of the dowry system and widow remarriage.
- His notable works include- Godaan, Bazaar-e-Husn, Karmabhoomi, Shatranj ke Khiladi, Gaban, Mansarovar, Idgah.
- He also wrote the script for the film Mazdoor which portrayed the plight of labourers. The film influenced workers in factories to stand up against the owners.
• He died on 8 October 1936, after several days of sickness.
t.me/PROFESSOR_ADDA