रानी नागफनी की कहानी

by Harishankar Parsai

एक व्यंग्य-कथा।

124 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2010

About the author

Harishankar Parsai (हरिशंकर परसाई) was one of the greatest hindi satire writer. Despite holding a MA degree in English, he never wrote in this language. Started his career as a teacher, he later quit it to become a full time writer and started a literature magazine "Vasudha"(it was later closed because of financial difficulties).

He was famous for his blunt and pinching style of writing which included allegorical as well as realist approach. He was funny enough to make you laugh but serious enough to prick your conscience. There would be hardly any dimension of life left which has not appeared in his satires. He received Sahitya Academy Award(biggest literature award in India) for his book "Viklaang Sraddha ka Daur". He has penned down some novels also.

Reviews

[Ekta Kubba · Rating 5 out of 5]

व्यंग्य से भरपूर कहानी है यह। समाज की वास्तविकता के कुछ पहलुओं को व्यंग्यात्मक ढंग से इस प्रकार प्रस्तुत किया गया है कि बहुत गंभीर बातें भी हँसने को मजबूर कर देती हैं। यह व्यंग्य है- शिक्षा प्रणाली पर, प्रेमी-प्रेमीका संबन्धों पर, देश की राजनीति पर, नालायक विद्यार्थीयों द्वारा परीक्षा में पास होने के अनैतिक तरीकों पर, परीक्षा में असफल हो जाने पर उठाए जाने वाले कदमों पर, चापलूसी पर, आरक्षण पर, रिश्वतखोरी एवं मुफ्तखोरी पर और जाति-प्रथा पर। 'कुर्सी पर दीमक' जैसे मुहावरे का शाब्दिक अर्थ, आत्महत्या के लिए waiting और 'आत्महत्या अधिकारी' जैसे पद का होना हँसा कर ही छोड़ता है। इस कहानी के सभी पात्र हमारे समाज की कुंठाओं के प्रतीक के रूप में उभरे हैं। हरिशंकर परसाई जी व्यंग्य लेखन के लिए जाने जाते हैं और इस पुस्तक का एक एक शब्द हँसाने के साथ ही सोचने को विवश करता है। बहुत बढ़िया पुस्तक है यह। व्यंग्य पसंद करने वालों को ज़रूर पढ़नी चाहिए।

[Ashwani Mahoour · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always wanted to read this book because of its interesting title. Queen Nagfani's Story. Nagfani is the Hindi name of Hawthorns 🌵. Although hawthorn is not mentioned anywhere in the play.
I didn't particularly read the story but listened to its radio version which almost the same because it's a play. And well, it's written by the greatest satirists of all time in Hindi literature Harishankar Parsai so that also just made it way great.
All the political and social satirical scenes will make you laugh and if not laught smile at certain points.
Social problems are very well portrayed through this entertaining play.

[Madhu Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Rani Nagfani is based on satire. In it, Harishankar Parsai has brilliantly presented the reality prevailing in society in a humorous form. This story brings laughter while reading, but the author delves deeply into those funny situations. He has portrayed the realities of the media, the dowry system, government jobs, love marriages, etc., through this story.

[विकास 'अंजान' · Rating 4 out of 5]

रानी नागफनी की कहानी कहते हुए हरिशंकर परसाई जी ने किसी भी नहीं बख्शा है फिर वो कालाकर हों, सरकारी कर्मचारी हों, राजनीतज्ञ हों, बड़े देश हों। अपने व्यंग्य के तीरों के निशाने पर उन्होंने सभी को लिया है और ऐसा कथानक रचा है जो आज भी प्रासंगिक है। नहीं पढ़ा है तो पढ़ डालिए।

[Waqas Khan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read it as a part of Hindi Literature in my college. Honestly, the worst novel ever to have in your academics.