THE SACRED CORNER
With age and experience, observation and assimilation we consider certain Artistes, writers, leaders as close to our own ideology. In fact; our own ideology to a large extent is influenced by these people, whom we consider as our own almost sacred. In the sense that we refer to them from time to time, verify our opinions and defend their ideas and actions in our social discussions and debates often at the cost of annoying our colleagues and friends, sometimes even the family members. They in fact remain in one corner of our consciousness , well guarded by us as our back-up support for sustenance and survival.
There are many of them; whom I have idolised over the years, but at this point I will discuss only Munshi Premchand. Only yesterday I was reading his most famous short story ‘Idgah ‘, which tells the story of a four year old boy Hamid who spends the only three paise he had for iid celebration to purchase a ‘chimta’ ( metal tong ) for his grandmother ‘Amina’ to ensure her hands and fingers remain safe from fire while making chappatis , whilst his other friends purchase expensive toys he sacrifices his desires and even defends bravely his purchase.The grandmother is so moved by his gesture that she weeps uncontrollably showering blessings on the lad thus becoming childlike in front of the young boy who for that moment becomes her guardian. It is poignant story, which is one of the best and representative work of Premchand. Innocence of childhood, child psychology, games children play! The atmosphere during iid, the village setup all are depicted so minutely and accurately in the short story of 7-8 pages.
Prem chand was a keen observer of Society. He wrote for the victims of socio-economic oppression, well the entire nation was oppressed under the British regime but his heart was with the poor. Though he was a graduate he had modest and humble upbringing his father being a clerk in the postmaster office. He learnt Persian under the tutorship of the village Moulvi and along with Persian learnt Urdu too. However Persian was his pet subject and was with him till B. A. Love of reading he imbibed from urdu novels from the village Bookshop with whom he worked part time in turn was able to get books on loan. Rest he imbibed by direct observation of society. No great human influences other than his mother whom he lost as a young boy were in his life. No influential politician or religious or social reformer carved his ideas. Gandhi made a big impact on him but that influence was on the entire Nation. He was man of the masses and remained one till last. The greatest happenings in his life were his writings consisting of stories , novels and writings in newspapers which he edited from time to time.
I return to him regularly to refresh and rejuvenate myself. Each of his story is material for research on subjects such as sociology and literature. Like Pundits who dissect and narrate ramcharitramanas and similar literature with detail analysis investing hours on each word and line and chowpai Premchand too deserves that attention. Some puritans may propagate that literature should be appreciated as literature and should not sermonise, however traditional Indian literature has always sermonised. Sermonising if precise and accurate is indeed pleasing, it should not be superfluous. Premchand is measured and precise in his preaching and therefore endearing.
A story such as Idgah is not merely literature but history, economics, psychology and much more. Such is the greatness of Premchand who resides in my sacred corner; secured.
कोई टिप्पणी नहीं:
एक टिप्पणी भेजें