Munshi Premchand

Munshi Premchand

by Miss Benjamin

​Introduction

​Dhanpat Rai, originally known as Munshi Premchand, was a famous writer

​of Indian origin.

• ​He was born on 31st July 1880 in a village named Lamhi ( near Varanasi)

• ​He spent his childhood in Lamhi in a joint family and was the 4th son to his parents.

• ​His uncle used to call him Mahabir , which means Nawab, and that is how he chose his first pen name as Nawab Rai.

• ​He published his first story Duniya ka sabse anmol ratan in the year 1907.

​Story - Idgah

​An Introduction

Main Characters

​There are only 2 characters in this story.

Hamid

Amina

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​

Introduction

​"Idgah," tells the story of a four-year-old orphan named Hamid who lives with his grandmother Amina. Hamid, the protagonist of the story, has recently lost his parents; however, his grandmother tells him that his father has left to earn money and that his mother has gone to Allah to fetch lovely gifts for him. This fills Hamid with hope, and despite Amina's worry surrounding their poverty and her grandson's well-being, Hamid is a happy and positive child.

​Plot of the story

​The story begins on Eid morning, as Hamid sets out for the Eidgah with other boys from the village. Hamid is notably impoverished next to his friends, poorly dressed and famished-looking, and has only three paise as Eidi for the festival. The other boys spend their pocket money on rides, candies and beautiful clay toys, and tease Hamid when he dismisses this as a waste of money for momentary pleasure. While his friends are enjoying themselves, he overcomes his temptation and goes to a hardware shop to buy a pair of tongs, remembering how his grandmother burns her fingers while cooking rotis.

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​Plot of the story (cont.)

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As they return to the village Hamid's friends tease him for his purchase, extolling the virtues of their toys over his tongs. Hamid retorts with several clever arguments and before long his friends become more enamoured with the tongs than their playthings, even offering to trade their items for his, which Hamid refuses. The story ends on a  touching note when Hamid gifts the tongs to his grandmother. At first, she scolds him for making the purchase, rather than buying something to eat or drink at the fair, until Hamid reminds her of how she burns her fingers daily. She bursts into tears at this and blesses him for his kindness.

QUIZ TIME!!!​

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Multiple Choice

What was Munshi Premchand's real name??

• Dhanpat Rai

• Nawab Rai

• Danpat Rai

• Navab Rai

Multiple Choice

Who gave him the name of Mahabir?

• Uncle

• Father

• Grandfather.

Draw

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