Premchand Ki Sarvashreshta Kahaniyan  (Hindi, Paperback, Chand Prem)

Premchand Ki Sarvashreshta Kahaniyan (Hindi) features a treasured collection of short stories by the celebrated Indian writer Munshi Premchand. It takes readers on a journey through time as it weaves poignant stories set in colonial India.

Summary Of The Book

Well known for his socio-cultural style of writing, Premchand had composed over 250 short stories. This book, Premchand Ki Sarvashreshta Kahaniyan (Hindi), brings together 18 of his best stories that were written at different times. Through these intricate stories, Premchand explores intimate human emotions and multiple Indian societal issues like poverty, feudalism, and dowry system.

Shatranj Ke Khiladi is a captivating tale crafted around the revolts against the British East India Company, and closely accounts the colonial expansion, its politics and the role of deludedly divided Indian monarchs. Owing to its gripping plot, Shatranj Ke Khiladi was adapted into an award winning feature film by the renowned Indian director Satyajit Ray.

Idgah, another one from the book, is a deeply moving tale of a very poor child called Hamid who is left with only 3 paise to celebrate the festival of Eid. As he watches his friends spend their pocket monies on rides, candies and other festivities, Hamid’s young mind thinks of gifting something to his loving grandmother using the 3 paise. The end leaves the readers teary-eyed and wondering how the small boy could be so thoughtful and kind. Idgah sensitively observes the humane relationship between Hamid and his grandmother.

In Bade Bhai Sahab, the master storyteller splendidly captures the love, loyalty and the differences between two young brothers Kamta Prasad and Samta Prasad. What starts as a small disagreement in the way they look at school and studies, gradually drags these brothers to question each other’s outlook on life. Amidst comical anecdotes, Samta’s vibrant and easy going character clashes with the poised nature of his older brother.

Lekhak, Ramleela, Nashaa, Prerna, and Sava Ser Gehu are some of the other short tales from this book.

About Premchand

Premchand is one of the influential writers of modern Indian literature.

Nirmala, Godan, Saut, Gaban, Kafan, and Premashram are some of his other works.

Premchand was born in a village near Varanasi in 1880, with the birth name of Dhanpat Rai Srivastav. He had first chosen Nawab Rai as his pen name, before changing it to Premchand. Besides writing several novels and short stories, Premchand has also translated many foreign literary pieces to Hindi. Most of his books have been translated into different languages and some have been adapted into plays and movies. Inspired by modern thought, Premchand married a widow despite strong social resistance. He passed away in 1936, after which his wife Shivarani Devi has, in his memory, written Premchand Ghar Mein.