Prem Chand (1880-1936)

Nawab Rai, later known by his pen name “Prem Chand,” was born on July 31, 1880, in Lamahi, a village near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. His early education was in Persian and Urdu, but he later attended an English school in the city and passed his Entrance examination in 1898. However, due to the death of his father in 1897, he had to forgo further formal education and begin earning a livelihood. Despite this setback, he continued his studies as a private student and eventually passed his Intermediate and Bachelor of Arts examinations.

Initially, Nawab Rai worked as a teacher in a private school in Chunar, Uttar Pradesh. Later, he joined government service as a teacher and served at various places in Uttar Pradesh for twenty-one years. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s call to government servants to resign from their jobs, he left his government position in 1921, despite facing uncertainty about his future livelihood. With the unwavering support of his wife, Shivrani Devi, whom he had married in 1906, he embarked on a journey of literary pursuits.

Prem Chand worked briefly at Kashi Vidyapeeth and later as a headmaster in a private institution in Kanpur. However, financial constraints forced him to seek employment again. He edited the Hindi magazine Madhuri for six years before starting his own magazines, Hans and Jagaran. Despite facing financial difficulties and setbacks, including debts and a brief stint in the film industry, he remained dedicated to his literary aspirations.

Prem Chand’s literary career began with the publication of a short novel in Urdu titled “Asrar-i-Maabid” (Mysteries of a Temple) and a collection of patriotic stories called “Soz-i-Watan” in 1909. Facing censorship from the government, he adopted the pen name “Prem Chand” in 1910. Over the next three decades, he produced an extensive body of work, including around three hundred short stories, fifteen novels, three plays, translations, essays, and journalistic writings.

His stories, such as “Kafan,” “Poos Ki Raat,” “Savaa Ser Gehun,” “Rangbhumi,” “Kayakalpa,” “Gaban,” “Karmabhumi,” and “Godan,” delved into the lives of ordinary people, particularly peasants, and addressed social issues. Prem Chand’s portrayal of the complexities of human life and his ability to capture the essence of rural India made him one of the greatest masters of the short story genre worldwide.

Prem Chand’s works have been widely translated and continue to be celebrated both in India and abroad. The Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department honors his memory and contributions to literature by issuing a special postage stamp in his name.