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Unit 12: The Big Brother by Munshi Premchand

consciousness and responsibility. He wrote about the realities of life and the various Notes
problems faced by the common man in a turbulent society.

Sevasadan (first published in 1918) was made into a film with M.S. Subbulakshmi in the
lead role.

Satyajit Ray filmed two of Premchand’s works– Sadgati and Shatranj Ke Khiladi. Sadgati
(Salvation) is a short story revolving around poor Dukhi, who dies of exhaustion while
hewing wood for a paltry favour.
The Actor Factor Theatre Company, a young Delhi based theatre group, staged Kafan in
2010 in New Delhi. It is an original stage adaptation of Premchand’s short story.

Munshi Premchand, the iconic figure of Urdu and Hindi literature was way ahead of his
time. Premchand always brought home his message by his penetrating accounts of situations
and his authentic delineation of characters.

In his short story “Bade Bhaisahab” Premchand gives a simple example of our book-
oriented and examination-oriented educational system by portraying the interaction of
two brothers.
12.5 Keywords

Closure: It can be defined as an act or process of closing something, mainly an institution,
thoroughfare, or frontier.
Enthusiastic: It means having or showing intense and eager enjoyment, approval or interest.
Evoke: It means to bring or recall a feeling, memory, or an image to the conscious mind.
Fiction: It can be defined as literature in the form of prose, especially novels, which describe
imaginary events and people.
Hewing: It means to chop or cut something, mainly wood or coal with an axe, pick, or other tool.

Paltry: (of an amount) very small or meagre. Something which is very petty.
Portray: Depict or describe someone or something in a work of art or literature.
Turbulent: Something which is characterized by conflict, confusion or disorder.

Answers: Self Assessment

1. True 2. True
3. True 4. False
5. False

12.6 Review Questions

1. Who is Munshi Premchand?
2. Throw light on Munshi Premchand life.

3. Talk about Munshi Premchand’s later years and death.
4. Throw light on Munshi Premchand major works.

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