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A Winter's Night and Other Stories
Ten classic stories from the master of Hindi literature
Nearly a century after they were written, Premchand’s numerous short stories, novels and plays, written both in Hindi and Urdu, continue to be a mirror to Indian society and its traditions.
A Winter’s Night and Other Stories brings together, for young readers, some of his most powerful short stories. This is a world inhabited by people like Halku, forced to spend the bitterly cold winter night in the open, without a blanket; Kaki, the old invalid aunt, ill-treated by her own relatives; and Shankar, reduced to being a bonded labour for the sake of a handful of wheat. Premchand describes their plights with unflinching honesty. Yet all is not hopeless in this world. There is also little Hamid, who buys tongs for his old grandmother rather than toys for himself; Ladli, who saves her share of puris for her blind aunt; and Big Brother, trying in vain to remember the strange names of English kings and queens.
Greed, dishonesty, cruelty abound in this world, as do kindness, bravery and humour. These ten stories are an ideal introduction to Premchand and his concerns and ideas that remain relevant to this day.
Nearly a century after they were written, Premchand’s numerous short stories, novels and plays, written both in Hindi and Urdu, continue to be a mirror to Indian society and its traditions.
A Winter’s Night and Other Stories brings together, for young readers, some of his most powerful short stories. This is a world inhabited by people like Halku, forced to spend the bitterly cold winter night in the open, without a blanket; Kaki, the old invalid aunt, ill-treated by her own relatives; and Shankar, reduced to being a bonded labour for the sake of a handful of wheat. Premchand describes their plights with unflinching honesty. Yet all is not hopeless in this world. There is also little Hamid, who buys tongs for his old grandmother rather than toys for himself; Ladli, who saves her share of puris for her blind aunt; and Big Brother, trying in vain to remember the strange names of English kings and queens.
Greed, dishonesty, cruelty abound in this world, as do kindness, bravery and humour. These ten stories are an ideal introduction to Premchand and his concerns and ideas that remain relevant to this day.
168 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 17, 2007
3 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
Munshi Premchand
1,117 books1,166 followersMunshi Premchand (Hindi: मुंशी प्रेमचंद) was an Indian writer famous for his modern Hindustani literature. He is one of the most celebrated writers of the Indian subcontinent,and is regarded as one of the foremost Hindustani writers of the early twentieth century.
Born Dhanpat Rai, he began writing under the pen name "Nawab Rai", but subsequently switched to "Premchand", while he is also known as "Munshi Premchand", Munshi being an honorary prefix. A novel writer, story writer and dramatist, he has been referred to as the "Upanyas Samrat" ("Emperor among Novelists") by some Hindi writers. His works include more than a dozen novels, around 250 short stories, several essays and translations of a number of foreign literary works into Hindi.
Premchand is considered the first Hindi author whose writings prominently featured realism. His novels describe the problems of the poor and the urban middle-class. His works depict a rationalistic outlook, which views religious values as something that allows the powerful hypocrites to exploit the weak. He used literature for the purpose of arousing public awareness about national and social issues and often wrote about topics related to corruption, child widowhood, prostitution, feudal system, poverty, colonialism and on the India's freedom movement.
Several of his early works, such as A Little Trick and A Moral Victory, satirised the Indians who cooperated with the British colonial government.
In the 1920s, he was influenced by Mahatma Gandhi's non-cooperation movement and the accompanying struggle for social reform. During this period, his works dealt with the social issues such as poverty, zamindari exploitation (Premashram, 1922), dowry system (Nirmala, 1925), educational reform and political oppression (Karmabhumi, 1931).
In his last days, he focused on village life as a stage for complex drama, as seen in his most famous work Godan as well as the short-story collection Kafan (1936).Premchand believed that social realism was the way for Hindi literature, as opposed to the "feminine quality", tenderness and emotion of the contemporary Bengali literature.
Born Dhanpat Rai, he began writing under the pen name "Nawab Rai", but subsequently switched to "Premchand", while he is also known as "Munshi Premchand", Munshi being an honorary prefix. A novel writer, story writer and dramatist, he has been referred to as the "Upanyas Samrat" ("Emperor among Novelists") by some Hindi writers. His works include more than a dozen novels, around 250 short stories, several essays and translations of a number of foreign literary works into Hindi.
Premchand is considered the first Hindi author whose writings prominently featured realism. His novels describe the problems of the poor and the urban middle-class. His works depict a rationalistic outlook, which views religious values as something that allows the powerful hypocrites to exploit the weak. He used literature for the purpose of arousing public awareness about national and social issues and often wrote about topics related to corruption, child widowhood, prostitution, feudal system, poverty, colonialism and on the India's freedom movement.
Several of his early works, such as A Little Trick and A Moral Victory, satirised the Indians who cooperated with the British colonial government.
In the 1920s, he was influenced by Mahatma Gandhi's non-cooperation movement and the accompanying struggle for social reform. During this period, his works dealt with the social issues such as poverty, zamindari exploitation (Premashram, 1922), dowry system (Nirmala, 1925), educational reform and political oppression (Karmabhumi, 1931).
In his last days, he focused on village life as a stage for complex drama, as seen in his most famous work Godan as well as the short-story collection Kafan (1936).Premchand believed that social realism was the way for Hindi literature, as opposed to the "feminine quality", tenderness and emotion of the contemporary Bengali literature.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 17, 2025
No story collection would reach this level! Each story deserves perfect ratings. All the emotions, perfect translation, realistic relatable characters and good storytelling you can look forward to picking up this gem!
August 28, 2020
There’s short yet useful information provided at the end of the book about the author’s life and an introduction by one of India’s greatest poets Gulzar. Stories from Premchand have been part of textbooks; he was known as the ‘Upanyas Samrat’ – the emperor of novels though mostly in North India. It was surprising and a revelation to read that his early education was in a Madrasa, under a maulvi and his initial stories were written in Urdu.
This book is a collection of short stories and it is from a bygone era, an era from which India has evolved. More specifically it is from the villages of India, it is from a time India was engulfed by the caste system, the British rule, and hence poverty. It transports you to the villages in India, with wells accessible only to the elite, women drawing water from it, people in their traditional clothing, cattle working in the fields, lands and mortgages; no tractors, no high rises, no smart phones, no televisions – yes, a world still existed then. Though the settings have changed and life and India have moved on, the characters and their plight is believable. The forms have changed - the forms of oppression, the forms of sacrifice, the forms of love and belonging; replace a zamindar with one of today’s politicians, replace the moneylender with the big loan sharks of today and you have a new revised version of these stories.
The brilliance of these stories lies in their simple narrative. A story writer needs to be a good observer and Munshi Premchand was brilliant. In each story, he captures the innate capacity of individuals and the brazen thoughtless acceptance of a divided society at large. The lives in these stories are clearly divided between the oppressor and the oppressed. Stories like ‘The salt inspector’, ‘Kaki’, ‘A quarter and one ser of wheat’ and ‘The price of milk’ clearly portray this divide. Readers will relate with the laziness and shamelessness of drunkards in ‘The Shroud’ even today.
I believe these stories are pieces of history that children of today must be made to read if they are to know where their grandfathers and their grandfathers came from; they are as important as stories of Shivaji and of mutinies and of independence; they are stories of behavior, stories to ponder upon.
This is real history; unbiased, secular.
This book is a collection of short stories and it is from a bygone era, an era from which India has evolved. More specifically it is from the villages of India, it is from a time India was engulfed by the caste system, the British rule, and hence poverty. It transports you to the villages in India, with wells accessible only to the elite, women drawing water from it, people in their traditional clothing, cattle working in the fields, lands and mortgages; no tractors, no high rises, no smart phones, no televisions – yes, a world still existed then. Though the settings have changed and life and India have moved on, the characters and their plight is believable. The forms have changed - the forms of oppression, the forms of sacrifice, the forms of love and belonging; replace a zamindar with one of today’s politicians, replace the moneylender with the big loan sharks of today and you have a new revised version of these stories.
The brilliance of these stories lies in their simple narrative. A story writer needs to be a good observer and Munshi Premchand was brilliant. In each story, he captures the innate capacity of individuals and the brazen thoughtless acceptance of a divided society at large. The lives in these stories are clearly divided between the oppressor and the oppressed. Stories like ‘The salt inspector’, ‘Kaki’, ‘A quarter and one ser of wheat’ and ‘The price of milk’ clearly portray this divide. Readers will relate with the laziness and shamelessness of drunkards in ‘The Shroud’ even today.
I believe these stories are pieces of history that children of today must be made to read if they are to know where their grandfathers and their grandfathers came from; they are as important as stories of Shivaji and of mutinies and of independence; they are stories of behavior, stories to ponder upon.
This is real history; unbiased, secular.
May 18, 2024
“I realized he was one of the very few writers of Urdu and Hindi in the early twentieth century who wrote stories about the downtrodden and oppressed; those who form the bulk of our people. His protagonists were chamaars, kisans, and the corrupt Brahmins.”
- An excerpt from Gulzar's Introduction of ‘A Winter's Night & other stories’
Kaki is a story revolving around women spanning three generations with disability, old age, caste hierarchy being the central themes. Rupa, a middle aged lady has a change of heart on witnessing Kaki eating from leftovers. A child delivers a lesson on simplicity with innocence.
Premchand's tales are filled with beautiful metaphors that convey rampant caste hierarchy that still exist in the society. For instance - ’A Thakur's Well’ is a tale in which Jokhu swallowed foul smelling water in the end. The water symbolises the bitter truth of how the lower caste people are subjected to discrimination and they have to make peace with it.
’Shroud’, is a story that signifies what lengths can some poor people go to satisfy their hunger that too at the cost of someone's life. The garment portraying the death of humanity.
‘Salt Inspector’ is a satirical take on tax levied on Salt and how an individual veered his stance in the guise of money. There's a term in Hindi called ‘Namak Haraam’ reserved for such instances.
Premchand's keen observations on Donkeys and Oxen are noteworthy. The central characters - Children & animals deliver an important message in a story centred on two oxen.
Gulzar's introduction provided a fresh new perspective to my interpretation. His deep personal relationship with the story ’Idgah’ touched me.
- An excerpt from Gulzar's Introduction of ‘A Winter's Night & other stories’
Kaki is a story revolving around women spanning three generations with disability, old age, caste hierarchy being the central themes. Rupa, a middle aged lady has a change of heart on witnessing Kaki eating from leftovers. A child delivers a lesson on simplicity with innocence.
Premchand's tales are filled with beautiful metaphors that convey rampant caste hierarchy that still exist in the society. For instance - ’A Thakur's Well’ is a tale in which Jokhu swallowed foul smelling water in the end. The water symbolises the bitter truth of how the lower caste people are subjected to discrimination and they have to make peace with it.
’Shroud’, is a story that signifies what lengths can some poor people go to satisfy their hunger that too at the cost of someone's life. The garment portraying the death of humanity.
‘Salt Inspector’ is a satirical take on tax levied on Salt and how an individual veered his stance in the guise of money. There's a term in Hindi called ‘Namak Haraam’ reserved for such instances.
Premchand's keen observations on Donkeys and Oxen are noteworthy. The central characters - Children & animals deliver an important message in a story centred on two oxen.
Gulzar's introduction provided a fresh new perspective to my interpretation. His deep personal relationship with the story ’Idgah’ touched me.
August 31, 2023
Read Premchand after school for the first time. Same stories hit so different when we are adults.
January 29, 2015
Totally there are 10 collection of short stories of PREMCHAND JI translated by Rakhshanda Jalil. I was in search of Author in Hindi to read. Thanks to Rakhshanda Jalil who have translated the work.It takes such a love to translate the wonderful stories. It is not only for young readers. It is also for adults.I want to give brief overview whaT i FELT WHEN I READ the book
1. A WINTER'S NIGHT
Made me to feel the warmness required for a person when they starve for warm clothes..A simple story making to undersatnd the loyalty between master and dog.
2.The Salt Inspector
Now a days we buy Salt from shop and use it. This story is regarding Corruption. It makes to understand HONESTY and SINERITY is always rewarded.
3. Kaki
As given in last page o fthe book like Kaki now a days many are atarving for food, many waste food. This story makes to understand the nature of old person who likes to eat food. When I read it tears were out not able to control..........
4. The Tale of Two Oen
When I read it I thought about real Oxen how they communiate with each other. It made me to think how author is able to write such a wonderful lines .. I feel he might have imagined himself as Oxen.
5. A Quarter and One Ser of Wheat
This story gives the importance of education in one life and how we must be areful while we borrow and return money.
6. The Price of Milk
The most important thing or to say more value is Mother's Milk. It shows the importance of mothers milk in simple word.
The other Stories Big Brother, The Shroud ,The thakur's well and Idgah Each ahs its own important MESSAGE.
1. A WINTER'S NIGHT
Made me to feel the warmness required for a person when they starve for warm clothes..A simple story making to undersatnd the loyalty between master and dog.
2.The Salt Inspector
Now a days we buy Salt from shop and use it. This story is regarding Corruption. It makes to understand HONESTY and SINERITY is always rewarded.
3. Kaki
As given in last page o fthe book like Kaki now a days many are atarving for food, many waste food. This story makes to understand the nature of old person who likes to eat food. When I read it tears were out not able to control..........
4. The Tale of Two Oen
When I read it I thought about real Oxen how they communiate with each other. It made me to think how author is able to write such a wonderful lines .. I feel he might have imagined himself as Oxen.
5. A Quarter and One Ser of Wheat
This story gives the importance of education in one life and how we must be areful while we borrow and return money.
6. The Price of Milk
The most important thing or to say more value is Mother's Milk. It shows the importance of mothers milk in simple word.
The other Stories Big Brother, The Shroud ,The thakur's well and Idgah Each ahs its own important MESSAGE.
June 7, 2021
The last time I read a story of Munshi Premchand was in my school days. I don't even remember the title. I chanced upon this book while searching for another, and decided to give it a go.
Ten stories in the book. Each of them written in a simple style and translated by Rakshanda Jalil as simply. I liked reading them.
The consequence of the night leading to something positive in the title story, the character of Vanshidar the Salt Inspector, the price paid for milk... these stories have parts that are memorable, sometimes poignant, touching.
It makes one contemplate life. There are some memorable quotes too, like "Hope is the mother of enthusiasm." I'd reread some of these stories again for sure. And I am glad to have found this book. Kind of like finding a gem hidden in the shelves of my favourite bookstore.
Ten stories in the book. Each of them written in a simple style and translated by Rakshanda Jalil as simply. I liked reading them.
The consequence of the night leading to something positive in the title story, the character of Vanshidar the Salt Inspector, the price paid for milk... these stories have parts that are memorable, sometimes poignant, touching.
It makes one contemplate life. There are some memorable quotes too, like "Hope is the mother of enthusiasm." I'd reread some of these stories again for sure. And I am glad to have found this book. Kind of like finding a gem hidden in the shelves of my favourite bookstore.
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July 11, 2017Deep yet simpler than most things...
This version is especially good for young city based readers to acquaint themselves with Bharat. The colour, squalor and vigour of the India just under the veil of modern development is conveyed aptly and with tenderness.
This version is especially good for young city based readers to acquaint themselves with Bharat. The colour, squalor and vigour of the India just under the veil of modern development is conveyed aptly and with tenderness.
April 3, 2017
it was cool but there were some words that were in Hindi and i didn't understand it.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews