PREVIOUSLY ASKED IN:
WBPSC Miscellaneous Preliminary 2019
Answer
Prem Chand
Explanation
'Sawa Ser Gehun' (A Quarter and a Ser of Wheat) is a classic Hindi short story written by the legendary Indian writer Munshi Premchand. The story brilliantly exposes the socio-economic exploitation of poor Indian farmers by wealthy rural moneylenders. It follows the tragic life of a poor farmer named Shankar, who borrows just a small amount of wheat from a priest to feed a holy man, and spends the rest of his life and generations trapped in a vicious cycle of compound debt.
Key Points
- > Munshi Premchand's real name was Dhanpat Rai Srivastava.
- > Premchand is widely referred to as the 'Upanyas Samrat' (Emperor of Novels) in Hindi-Urdu literature.
- > His most famous novels include 'Godaan', 'Gaban', 'Karmabhoomi', and 'Sevasadan'.
- > Khushwant Singh authored the famous partition novel 'Train to Pakistan'.
- > Jaishankar Prasad was a prominent figure in Hindi literature, best known for his epic poem 'Kamayani'.
Additional Information
Prominent Indian Authors & Masterpieces
| Author Name | Famous Literary Works |
|---|---|
| Munshi Premchand | Godaan, Gaban, Sawa Ser Gehun, Idgah |
| Khushwant Singh | Train to Pakistan, A History of the Sikhs |
| R.K. Narayan | Malgudi Days, The Guide |
| Jaishankar Prasad | Kamayani, Chandragupta |
| Mulk Raj Anand | Untouchable, Coolie |
Memory Tips
- Premchand's literature heavily focused on rural poverty and exploitation. 'Gehun' means wheat, symbolizing the agricultural struggle central to his plots.