Rescue
Published in Hindi as ‘Uddhar’ in Chand (September 1924), and later included in Mansarovar 3 (1938). Not available in the Urdu version. Transliterated from Hindi to Urdu for Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).
The Game of Chess
Published in Hindi as ‘Shatranj ke Khiladi’ in Madhuri (October 1924), and later included in Mansarovar 3 (1938). In Urdu, it was published as ‘Shatranj ki Baazi’ in Zamana (December 1924), and included later in the collection, Khwab-o Khayal (1928). Now available in Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).
The Urdu story is longer and different from the Hindi one in tone and tenor. Whole sentences appear in the Urdu version that do not appear at all in Hindi. This is particularly true in the case of the narrative rather than dialogue passages, and in places where Premchand expresses his disapproval of Lucknow’s decadence. Moreover, in the Hindi story, the writer uses a lot of Sanskrit vocabulary that leads to a distancing effect and an effective use of irony. The Urdu story is more elaborate and detailed, and more strident in the denunciation of the royalty for its failure to arrest the rot that had set in. Moral indignation is clear and unequivocal in the Urdu story, while in the Hindi story it is suggestive.
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.
One and a Quarter Ser of Wheat
First published in Urdu as ‘Sawa Ser Gehun’ in Chand (November, 1924), and later included in Firdaus-e Khayaal (1929). Now available in Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001). It is available in Hindi in Mansarovar 4 (1939).
Pleasures of College Life
First published in Hindi with the title ‘Vinod’ in Madhuri (November 1924), and later collected in Mansarovar 3 (1938). In Urdu it was published in Zamana (February 1925) under the title ‘Maya-e Tafrih’, and later included in Khwab-o Khayal (1928). Now available in Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).
The Malevolent Baby
First published in Hindi as ‘Tentar’ in Chand (December 1924), and later included in Mansarovar 3 (1938). Not available in the Urdu version. Transliterated from Hindi to Urdu for Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).
Money for the Decree
Published in Hindi as ‘Decree ke Rupaye’ in Madhuri (January 1925), and later included in Mansarovar 3 (1938). In Urdu, it was included in Firdaus-e Khayaal (1929). Now available in Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).
The Condemned
First published as ‘Dhikkar’ in Chand (February 1925), and later included in Mansarovar 1 (1936) . Not available in the Urdu version. Transliterated from Hindi to Urdu for Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).
The Path to Hell
First published in Hindi as ‘Nark ka Marg’ in Chand (May 1925), and later included in Mansarovar 3 (1938). In Urdu, it was included in Prem Chaleesi (1930) as ‘Hasrat’. Now available in Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).
The Secret of Culture
First published as ‘Sabyata ka Rahasya’ in Madhuri (March 1925), and later included in Mansarovar 4 (1939). In Urdu, it was included in the volume Firdaus-e Khayaal (1929). Now available in Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).
Temple and Mosque
First published in Hindi as ‘Mandir aur Masjid’ in Madhuri (April 1925), and later included in Gupt Dhan II (1962). In Urdu it was published in Zamana (December 1925). Not available in Urdu now. Transliterated from Hindi to Urdu for Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).
Faith
First published in Hindi as ‘Vishwas’ in Chand (April,1925), and later included in Mansarovar 3 (1938). Not available in the Urdu version. Transliterated from Hindi to Urdu for Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).
Man and Woman
First published as ‘Stree aur Purush’ in Chand (May–June, 1925), and later included in Mansarovar 3 (1938). In Urdu, it was published in Prem Chaleesi 2 (1930) as ‘Devi’. Now available in Kulliyaat-e Premchand 12 (2003).
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).
A Mother’s Heart
First published as ‘Maata ka Hriday’ in Madhuri (July 1925), and later included in Mansarovar 3 (1938). Not available in Urdu. Transliterated from Hindi to Urdu for Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).
Theft
First published in Hindi as ‘Chori’ in Madhuri (September, 1925), and later included in Mansarovar 5 (1946). In Urdu, it was published in Prem Chaleesi (1930) with the same title. Now available in Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).
The Goddess from Heaven
First published in Hindi as ‘Swarg ki Devi’ in Chand (November, 1925), and later included in Mansarovar 3 (1938). In Urdu it was included in the collection Prem Chaleesi (1930) as ‘Jannat ki Devi’. Now available in Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).
Punishment
First published in Hindi as ‘Dand’ in Chand (October 1925), and later collected in Mansarovar 3 (1938). In Urdu it was published as ‘Saza’ in Prem Chaleesi 2 (1930). Now available in Kulliyaat-e Premchand 11 (2001).
The Outcaste
First published in Urdu as ‘Neech Zaat ki Ladki’ in Zamana (December 1925). Not collected in any known Urdu anthology. Now, it is available in Kulliyaat-e Premchand 12 (2003). Published in Hindi as ‘Shudra’ in Chand (January 1926), and later included in Mansarovar 2 (1936).
Laila
First published in Hindi as ‘Laila’ in Saraswati (January, 1926), and later included in Mansarovar 3 (1938). In Urdu, it was included in both Firdaus-e Khayaal (1929) and Prem Chaleesi (1930) with the same title. Now available in Kulliyaat-e Premchand 12 (2003).
Glossaryaanchalend or corner of a sariaartipart of the ceremony of worship when the sacred flame is circled round the holy imageabeer/gulalliquid colouradharmaopposite of dharma; anti-religionaerundcastor plantAghanwinter month in the Indian calendar corresponding to November–Decemberahircowherdakhadawrestling ringamamaspecial big and heavy turbanamavasthe night of the new moonangeethistove that works on coalangochhashoulder clothangrakhanbuttoned-up coats and kurtas with delicate embroideryAsarhfarming
