Special lecture on Premchand’s 146th birth anniv at Hindi University held
Serious discussion on Premchand’s contribution to development of literature, society and nationalism
Prayagraj: Speaking as the keynote speaker at a special lecture on “Premchand’s Literary Contribution” on the occasion of Munshi Premchand’s 146th birth anniversary at Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University, Professor Hitendra Mishra, Director of the Central Hindi Directorate, New Delhi, said that what Gandhi did in politics, Premchand did the same in literature. Premchand not only wrote literature but also provided a vision for Indian society. He stated that Premchand placed the suffering of farmers, laborers, women, Dalits, and the deprived at the center of literature. He took literature away from the world of power, luxury, and imagination and brought it to the fields, barns, chaupals, huts, and the lives of ordinary people. This is why Premchand remains the most relevant voice of Indian society even today. He represents not only our past but also our present, and we can see our future in him. Premchand was a conscious writer and stands as a benchmark in world literature.
Professor Mishra stated that in the era of commercialism, the seriousness of literature is steadily diminishing, whereas Premchand’s literature teaches the lessons of patience, serious study, social responsibility, and human compassion.
He urged students to read Premchand’s literature as a document of social change. He stated that as long as injustice, exploitation, and inequality persist in society, Premchand will remain our contemporary. The program was presided over by Vice Chancellor Professor Kumud Sharma. Linking the concept of a developed India to Premchand’s literature, he stated that Premchand’s literature still serves as a strong foundation for human values and social consciousness. Premchand was a visionary writer who saw ahead of his time. His works, such as “Soze Watan” and “Duniya Ka Sabse Anmol Ratan,” demonstrate his true national consciousness. Referring to Premchand’s famous definition of literature, “Literature is a critique of life,” Professor Sharma stated that this statement is as relevant today as it was in his time. Indeed, Premchand’s literature remains the most credible expression of social justice, democratic values, and national renaissance. Premchand understood the essence of life and presented it with ease. This is what makes him a great writer.
While presenting the welcome and introduction in the program organized in Mahadevi Verma Auditorium, the head of the Hindi Literature Department, Prof. Awadhesh Kumar said that Premchand, as a storyteller, novelist, essayist, journalist, editor, translator and thinker, made serious ideological interventions on the questions related to literature, language, journalism, society, politics and culture. The program was conducted by Dr. Sunil Kumar ‘Suman’ and Dr. Ashoknath Tripathi expressed his gratitude. The program started with offering flowers to the statue of Premchand, lighting lamps and singing the college song. A large number of teachers, researchers, students and literature lovers were present in this event.
