ScooReviews
On Hindi Divas, Check Out 13 Hindi Books by Premchand Under Rs 250
September 14 is Beohar Rajendra Simha’s birthday. He was an acclaimed Indian scholar, historian, theologian and littérateur.
September 14 is Hindi Day (Hindi Divas) celebrating the adoption of Hindi language as one of the official languages of India.
Decades ago, leaders like Beohar Rajendra Simha, Hazari Prasad Dwivedi, Kaka Kalelkar, Maithili Sharan Gupt and Seth Govind Das, along with thousands of people, rallied pan-India asking the administration to embrace this beautiful language. To honour the effort of these changemakers to secure Hindi as an official language, a decision later ratified by the Constitution of India, we've been celebrating Hindi Diwas in our country on 14th September every year, starting from the 50th birthday of Beohar Rajendra Simha.
Commemorating this day, we're sharing a list of our favourite Hindi books for children authored by one of our beloved Indian writers, Munshi Premchand.
Premchand (1880-1936) is also known as the Upanyas Samrta (King of Novels). His work includes more than a dozen novels, around 250 short stories, several essays and translations of a number of foreign literary works into Hindi.
We like how his books are still so relevant as they are both socially-engaging and bear brilliant life lessons in those simple stories. The way in which his short fictions narrate everyday life in an easy-to-understand language never fails to captivate the new readers or kids. From caste system to exploitation of poor by rich, from highlighting one’s fundamental darkness like greed, anger to unveiling civil faults like poverty, injustice, sexism, dowry, he has done it all in his books.
Here’s a list of five books that you can get for your students to stimulate their interest in Hindi literature through Premchand’s genuine and educational writings.
Do Bailon Ki Katha, INR 36
This is the story of two bulls, Heera and Moti, who struggle to fight for their independence together. It’s a tale of the plight and determination of two friends while they get ill-treated by their new owner.
Poos Ki Raat, INR 150
It’s a story of a poor farmer named Halku, who is made to pay his debts with the money he had saved to buy himself a blanket during the winter season. Read about his struggle, his relation with his dog and how he fights the cruel weather with his old, torn blanket.
Thakur Ka Kuan, INR 235
The story reveals the discrimination that prevailed in our society before the pre-independence era. It’s about a Dalit couple, Gangi and her husband, and their struggle to fetch themselves fresh water. However, they are forbidden to do so because they belong to the lowest caste of the Indian system.
Boodhi Kaaki, INR 99
It’s a story of an old blind woman who lost her husband and sons. She now lives with her nephew who wants to take over her wealth and even ill-treats her. However, things begin to change after a family member notices the Boodhi Kaaki eat the leftover following a family function where she was not invited.
Panch Parmeshwar, INR 10
This story is about two best friends named Jumman Sheikh and Algu Chaudhary. When Jumman's aunt complains to the panchayat that he overtook her property and is ill-treating her, Algu, who is a representative in the panchayat, is asked to make a strict decision. The story is of justice and the dilemma one faces between right or wrong when it comes to someone close to us.
More short stories by Premchand that you and your students can explore are:
- Shikari Rajkumar, INR 36
- Maa Ki Mamta, INR 32
- Ramleela, INR 35
- Gulli Danda, INR 35
- Shatranj ke Khiladi, INR 100
- Guru Mantra, INR 35
- Pariksha, INR 36
- Mandir, INR 45
All the books are available on Amazon India.