Premchand
Hindi and Urdu novelist and short-story writer
- Lived
- 56 yrs
- 1880 – 1936
- Works listed
- 8
- Novel, Short story
- Honours
- 0
- Awards & distinctions
- Profile views
- 0
- 0 followers
Premchand was one of the greatest writers in Hindi and Urdu, whose realistic novels and short stories about village life, poverty and social injustice transformed modern Hindustani literature. He is often called “Upanyas Samrat” (emperor among novelists).
Biography
Early life
Dhanpat Rai grew up in Lamhi village near Benares, where his father was a post office clerk. His mother died when he was eight and his father when he was 16, leaving him to support the family while studying. He was a voracious reader of Urdu and Persian romances as a boy and passed his matriculation exam while working as a tutor.
Life
Born Dhanpat Rai Srivastava, he worked as a schoolteacher and school inspector. His early Urdu writing appeared under the name Nawab Rai; after the British authorities seized his patriotic story collection Soz-e-Watan (1907), he adopted the pen name Premchand. In 1921, inspired by Gandhi, he resigned his government job.
Works
His novels — including Sevasadan, Rangbhoomi, Nirmala, Gaban and his masterpiece Godaan (1936) — depict peasants, debt, caste and the position of women with unsentimental realism. He also wrote about 300 short stories, among them Idgah, Kafan, Panch Parmeshwar and Shatranj Ke Khiladi, later filmed by Satyajit Ray. He ran the literary magazine Hans and presided over the first conference of the Progressive Writers’ Association in 1936. He died in Benares on 8 October 1936.
Realism and reform
Premchand turned Hindi-Urdu fiction away from fantasy and romance towards realism, writing about peasants, moneylenders, widows, Dalits and the urban poor. His work reflects Gandhian and reformist ideals, sympathy for the oppressed and scepticism of religious hypocrisy. He also ran a printing press, Saraswati Press, and edited the journals Hans and Jagaran, and briefly worked as a scriptwriter in Bombay’s film industry.
Legacy
Premchand is regarded as the greatest Hindi-Urdu writer of the early 20th century and the father of modern Hindi and Urdu fiction. His stories are taught in schools across India, and his unsentimental portrayal of rural life influenced generations of writers and filmmakers. His birthplace, Lamhi, has a memorial and research centre.
Timeline
-
1880
Born in Lamhi, near Benares (Varanasi), North-Western Provinces
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1907
Soz-e-Watan seized by the British
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1907
Soz-e-Watan published under the name Nawab Rai
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1919
Sevasadan
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1921
Resigns his government job
Joins the non-cooperation movement in spirit.
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1930
Starts the magazine Hans
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1934
Works briefly as a screenwriter in Bombay
-
1936
Godaan; dies in Benares
-
1936
Died, aged 56
Notable works
-
1936
Godaan Novel
-
1931
Gaban Novel
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1927
Nirmala Novel
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1933
Idgah Short story
-
1936
Kafan Short story
-
1925
Rangbhoomi Novel
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1924
Shatranj Ke Khiladi Short story
Filmed by Satyajit Ray in 1977.
-
1916
Panch Parmeshwar Short story
Did you know?
-
1
Satyajit Ray filmed his stories Shatranj Ke Khiladi and Sadgati.
-
2
He wrote around 300 short stories.
-
3
He tried screenwriting in Bombay in the 1930s but soon returned to Benares.
Gallery
Frequently asked
Who is Premchand?
Premchand was one of the greatest writers in Hindi and Urdu, whose realistic novels and short stories about village life, poverty and social injustice transformed modern Hindustani literature. He is often called “Upanyas Samrat” (emperor among novelists).
When did Premchand die?
Premchand died on 8 October 1936 at the age of 56.
Where is Premchand from?
Premchand was born in Lamhi, near Benares (Varanasi), North-Western Provinces.
What is Premchand known for?
Premchand is best known for Godaan, Gaban, Nirmala; short stories such as Idgah and Kafan.
References
- Premchand — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Premchand — Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Premchand — IMDb. IMDb. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Premchand — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Premchand (Q174152) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
External links
About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editors; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal
- First published 26 October 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Premchand.” TrackFame, last updated 26 October 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/premchand
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