‘Go, leave the village.’
Bhungi stood dejected near the oven and looked at its fiery remains, reminded of the kingdom of Lanka after it was destroyed by fire.
Within moments her frail body became one with the fire. Just then the storm blew in with great ferocity. The ascending flames ran towards the east. There were many huts of the farmers near the oven; they were all devoured by the wild flames. In this way, encouraged, the flames shot up further. Nearby there was Thakur’s land, it also came under its grasp. Now there was commotion in the village. Preparations were being made to put out the fire. But the splashes of water acted as fuel to the fire. The flames flared up and Panditji’s great mansion also came under its claws. And, in no time, the mansion, tossing like a ship in tumultuous waves, was drowned in the huge sea of fire and the sound of lamentation that became apparent with the remnants of the ashes was more pitiful than Bhungi’s mournful wailing.
Extract translated from the Hindi by M. Asaduddin
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 Philosopher’s Love
First published in Hindi with the title ‘Tyagi ka Prem’ in Maryada (November 1921), and later collected in Prem Prasoon (1924) and Mansarovar 6 (1946). It was published in Urdu with the title ‘Philsafi ki Muhabbat’ in Hazaar Daastan (November 1921), and collected later in Khwab-o Khayal (1928). Now available in Kulliyaat-e Premchand 10 (2001).
The Bridal Sari
First published in Hindi with the title ‘Suhaag ki Sari’ in Prabha (January 1922), and later collected in Prem Pacheesi (1923) and Mansarovar 7 (1947). It is not available in Urdu, and has been transliterated from Hindi to Urdu for Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).
Witchcraft
First published in Hindi with the title ‘Mooth’ in Maryada (January 1922), and later collected in Prem Pacheesi (1923) and Mansarovar 8 (1950). It was published in Urdu with the same title in Zamana (December 1922), and later collected in Khwab-o Khayal (1928). Now available in Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).
Victory of the Defeated
First published in Hindi with the title ‘Haar ki Jeet’ in Maryada (May 1922), and later collected in Prem Pacheesi (1923) and Mansarovar 8 (1950). It was published in Urdu with the title ‘Shikast ki Fateh’ in Hazaar Daastan (July 1922), and later collected in Khwab-o Khayal (1928). Now available in Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).
Defending One’s Liberty
First published in Hindi as ‘Swatva Raksha’ in Madhuri (July 1922), and later collected in Prem Pacheesi (1923) and in Mansarovar 8 (1950). In Urdu, it was published in Naubahar (1924). Now available in Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).
Cobra Worship
First published in Urdu with the title ‘Saanp ki Ma’shooqa’ in Tahzeeb-e Niswaan (August 1922), and not collected in any Urdu anthology. It has been transliterated from Hindi to Urdu much later for Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001). It was published in Hindi with the title ‘Naag Puja’ in Prem Pacheesi (1923) and later in Mansarovar 7 (1947).
Turf War
First published in Hindi with the title ‘Adhikar Chinta’ in Madhuri (August 1922), and later collected in Prem Prasoon (1924) and Mansarovar 6 (1946). It was published in Urdu with the title ‘Fikr-e Duniya’ in Khaak-e Pawana (1928). Now available in Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).
Hidden Wealth
First published in Hindi as ‘Gupt Dhan’ in Sree Sharada (August 1922), and later included in Prem Pacheesi (1928) and Mansarovar 8 (1950). In Urdu, it was published as ‘Dafeena’ in the annual journal Adab-e-Lateef (1939). It has been transliterated from Hindi to Urdu for Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).
A Dhobi’s Honour
First published in Urdu as ‘Husn-e Zan’ in Zamana (October 1922), and collected much later in Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001). In Hindi, it is included in Mansarovar 7 (1947) as ‘Lokmat ka Samman’.
Hoodwinked
First published in Hindi as ‘Chakma’ in Prabha (November 1922), and later included in Mansarovar 6. Not available in the Urdu version. Transliterated from Hindi to Urdu for Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).
Reincarnation
First published in Hindi as ‘Purva Samskara’ in Madhuri (December 1922), and later included in Mansarovar 8 (1950). Not available in the Urdu version. Transliterated from Hindi to Urdu for Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).
Test
First published in Urdu as ‘Imtihaan’ in Chand (January 1923), and included later in Prem Chaleesi 2 (1930). In Hindi, it is available in Mansarovar 3 (1938) as ‘Pariksha’.
A Loyal Subject
First published in Hindi as ‘Rajya Bhakta’ in Madhuri (February 1923) and later collected in Mansarovar 6. Not available in Urdu. Transliterated from Hindi to Urdu for Kulliyaat-e Premchand 13 (2003) as ‘Rajya Bhagat’.
End of Enmity
First published in Hindi as ‘Vair ka Ant’ in Saraswati (April 1923), and later included in Mansarovar 7 (1947). Not available in the Urdu version. Transliterated from Hindi to Urdu for Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).
The Fool
First published in Hindi as ‘Baudam’ in Prabha (April 1923), and later included in Mansarovar 8 (1950). Not available in the Urdu version. Transliterated from Hindi to Urdu for Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).
Compulsion
First published in Hindi as ‘Majboori’ in Chand (April, 1923), and later included in Prem Chaleesi 2 (1930). Now available in Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001). In Hindi it is included in Mansarovar 3 (1938) as ‘Nerashya Leela’.
In the Hindi version, the story has been expanded to double its original length. While the Urdu story is close to 2400 words, the Hindi story runs into more than 4500 words. The religious identity of the couple—Hridaynath and Jogeshwari—is more sharply delineated, and the plight of widowhood and the transformation in Kailashi’s character have been shown in greater detail in the Hindi story. The missing extracts in Urdu are given below:
Pandit Hridaynath was
