Contents
Premchand
Writing Hindi and Urdu fiction about rural life, inequality and moral choices.
Nirmala · Gaban
- Born
- 31 July 1880
- Birthplace
- Lamhi, India
- Died
- 8 October 1936
More people
Premchand
Premchand was an Indian novelist and short-story writer whose realism placed ordinary people at the centre of literature.
Early life
Village origins
Grew up near Varanasi in a family of limited means.
Languages
Studied Urdu and Persian while young.
Career
- Early 1900s
Teaching and writing
Worked in education while publishing fiction.
- 1921 onward
Full-time literary work
Left government employment during the non-cooperation movement.
- 1930s
Editing and major novels
Ran literary publications and completed influential fiction.
Selected books
Nirmala
Examined marriage, dowry and the consequences of social custom.
Gaban
Explored status, desire and financial dishonesty.
Godaan
Portrayed a farming family caught in poverty and obligation.
Beyond work
Publishing
Edited journals including Hans.
Public concerns
His work challenged caste hierarchy and the treatment of women and labourers.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Photo: KumarWPE. CC0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
