SACRIFICE AND NATION- A CASE OF PREMCHAND
Premchand died in 1936 at the age of 56. He left an indelible mark in the field of literature. Though he wrote in Hindustani his works are translated in all the major Indian Indian languages and many other languages of the world. He wrote about 300 short stories and 14 long and short novels.
He is still widely read and quoted. His stories are reflection of his humanism and concern for the downtrodden. Yet, his language and observations are so interesting that readers remain captivated. In the present times his underlying secularism in his stories make them relevant for our present generation and generations after. A Dramatic group in Mumbai only enacts Drama based on stories of Premchand.
Here, I do not wish to narrate his life story but narrate only one important incident of his life. We are all aware that all his life he lived in economic scarcity, after completing Matriculation he could not get admission in Intermediate ( though he passed B. A. later ) however he secured a job of a Teacher in Chunar near Benaras. This job he held for 21 years as he was unable to sustain on only his writings and had to seek regular employment all his life; he could never afford the luxury of leasure.
In 1921 Gandhiji visited Gorakhpur where Premchand was posted as a teacher. Gandhi gave call to the nation for non cooperation , he urged those holding Government jobs to resign. Premchand was deeply motivated to plunge into the movement but had a pregnant wife and two growing children to support. He consulted his wife Shivrani, both contemplated for some days and on the sixth day she gave signal to resign. Thus Premchand resigned his secured Government job of 21 years along with the Government quarter. Thereafter he continued to struggle and survive till his premature death in 1936.Premchand; however was just one among the thousands who made similar such sacrifices in order to attain independence . Such was the spirit of the National movement that it not only aroused the great but many ordinary and deprived. Compare it to our present times;so immersed we are in consumerism that our character has changed . There is no Premchand among us nor we have the capacity to create one !
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