by Premchand
Some facts have been reversed when the story was rendered into the other version. For example, in Hindi we have the following: ‘Mirza was losing the game. Mir Sahib was checkmating him again and again.’ In the Urdu version, we have the exact opposite: ‘Mir Sahib was losing the game. Mirza Sahib was checkmating him again and again.’ Similar discrepancies are there at several places.
A Special Holi
First published in Hindi with the title ‘Vichitra Holi’ in Swadesh (March 1921), and later collected in Prem Pratima (1926) and Mansarovar 3 (1938). It was published in Urdu with the title ‘Ajeeb Holi’ in Khaak-e Parwana (1928) and collected much later in Kulliyaat-e Premchand
10 (2001).
The English translation was first published in Literature and Nation: Britain and India 1800–1990, ed. Richard Allen and Harish Trivedi, London: Routledge/Open University, 2000, 310–14. It has been extensively revised by the translator for this anthology.
The Thread of Love
First published in Hindi as ‘Prem Sutra’ in the monthly Saraswati (April 1926), and later included in Gupt Dhan 2 (1962). Not available in Urdu. Transliterated from Hindi to Urdu for Kulliyaat-e Premchand 12 (2003) with the same title.
Moteramji Shastri
First published in Hindi as ‘Moteramji Shastri’ in Madhuri (January 1928). Not available in Urdu. Published in Urdu transliteration from Hindi for the first time in Kulliyaat-e Premchand 12 (2003).
Moteramji, the Editor
First published in Hindi as ‘Sampadak Moteramji Shastri’ in Madhuri (August– September 1928), and later included in Aprapya Sahitya 1 (1988). Not available in Urdu. Transliterated from Hindi to Urdu for Kulliyaat-e Premchand 12 (2003).
The Murderer
First published in Urdu as ‘Qaatil’ in the collection Aakhiri Tohfa (1934). Now available in Urdu in Kulliyaat-e Premchand 14 (2003). In Hindi, it was collected in Gupt Dhan 2 (1962).
There are structural dissimilarities between the Hindi and the Urdu versions. Paragraph divisions and section divisions vary in them. The following part is missing in the Urdu version:
. . . He behaved like a child who would clap when he would see a bear from a distance but shriek as the animal approached closer. Both looked at each other. They cried together.
Suddenly the mother felt very happy. She wiped Dharamvir’s tears with the edge of her stole, and said, ‘Let us run away from here, son!’
Dharamvir stood there anxious and lost. Mother continued, ‘We need not disclose anything to anybody. Let us get out of here so that nobody gets to know about our departure. There are many other ways to serve the nation.’
Dharamvir spoke as if he had just got up, ‘This is impossible, Mother! Duty is after all duty and it has to be carried out. Either you discharge it crying or with a smile on your lips. The only thing that frightens me is the outcome of this action. I may miss my mark and get arrested or even shot by my target’s own bullet. But what will be, will be. Even if I die, I will live in people’s memory.’
After a moment he said, ‘I do not feel like eating anything right now, Mother! It’s time to get ready. If you are not willing to accompany me, I will go alone.’
In a tone laced with obvious complaint, she said, ‘I do not attach much value to my life, son! You are my life. I have lived my life looking at your face. Without you, it is all the same whether I live or die. I would rather prefer death to life.’
Dharamvir did not reply. Both got busy with their preparations. There was not much for her to do to get ready. She meditated for a while thinking of God, took her revolver and was all set to go.
Dharamvir had to make his diary entry for the day. As he sat down to write, a flood of emotions welled up in his heart. This flow, this unrestrained onrush of thoughts was a new experience to him. He felt as if a fountain had sprouted in his heart. The subject of this stream of thought was man as immortal and indestructible. It began with a heart-rending goodbye: Adieu! O the charms of the world! Adieu! The blessings of life! O, sweet pangs of life, adieu! Countrymen! Pray for this wounded and wretched servant of the nation. Life is such a beautiful thing! The experience has taught me so. The same unfulfilled wishes, the spears of pain, the moments of disappointment that had turned life bitter—but now they seem all that one can treasure. The golden rays of the morning sun, the spellbinding breeze of evening, these streets and alleyways, these beautiful structures of houses—the eyes will not have a glimpse of them ever! Life is all about restraints and checks. Now every stronghold breaks one by one. Life cannot contain itself and falls apart. O, the freedom of my heart! Come! Let me bury you in the grave of hopelessness. I raise my hands in prayer to God that my countrymen prosper and my country flourishes. There is no regret. Who are we and what difference do we make to the world? But the garden will always have its bulbuls and will not be deserted. It’s my request to you my brothers that when you sing your songs of freedom, do remember the name of this poor fellow in your prayers.
Having closed his diary, he heaved a long sigh and stood up.
Translated from the Hindi by Sarfaraz Ahmad
A Wife’s Testimony against Her Husband
First published in Hindi as ‘Gila’ in Hans (April 1932), and later collected in Mansarovar 1 (1936). In Urdu, it was collected in Vardaat (1935) under the title ‘Shikwa Shikayat’. Now available in Kulliyaat-e Premchand 13 (2003).
A Battle of Ideals
First published in Hindi with the title ‘Adarsh Virodh’ in Shree Sharda (July 1921), and later collected in Prem Pacheesi (1923) and Mansarovar 8 (1950). It was published in Urdu with the title ‘Taalif-e Qalb’ in Tehzeeb-e- Niswan (September 1922). The Urdu version is no longer available. It has been transliterated from Hindi to Urdu for Kulliyaat-e Premchand 10 (2001).
A Hired Pony
First published as ‘Bhaadey ka Tattu’ in Madhuri (July, 1925), and later included in Mansarovar 3 (1938). In Urdu, it was published in the collection Firdaus-e Khayaal (1929). Now available in Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).
The Debt Collector
First published in Hindi as ‘Tagada’ and collected first in the volume Prerna (1931), and later in Mansarovar 4 (1939). Not available in Urdu. Transliterated from Hindi to Urdu for Kulliyaat-e Premchand 13 (2003).
THE BEGINNING
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This collection published 2018
Introduction copyright © M. Asaduddin 2018
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ISBN: 978-0-670-09146-1
This digital edition published in 2018.
e-ISBN: 978-9-353-05191-4
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