Kayakalp (Hindi)

About the Book

The novel Kayakalp by Munshi Premchand has been written keeping in mind the social, political, communal, and family problems. Along with the social anomalies, not only have the Hindu-Muslim communal riots been depicted in it, but the example of communal harmony has also been set through the friendship of Yashodanandan, a Hindu, and Khwaja Mehmood, a Muslim. Along with the British rule and the tyranny of erstwhile kings and emperors and their sycophants, the idealistic form of Kayakalp comes to the fore in the form of Chakradhar representing the educated younger generation. The idealism of Kayakalp soon begins to transform into realism and eventually experimentalism. After the 'kayakalp' (rejuvenation) of the loving image of the Queen Devpriyas, her longing and lust become the cause of her downfall every time. This is a very interesting and experimental fantasy of this novel.

About the Author
Born Dhanpat Rai Shrivastava on 31 July 1880 in Lamhi village near Varanasi, India, Munshi Premchand began his writing career in 1901. His first short novel, Asrar e Ma’abid (Secrets of God’s Abode), written in Urdu was published in a weekly between 8 October 1903 to February 1905. He wrote on a variety of topics including prostitution, poverty, dowry, child widowhood, and feudal system, using his works as a vehicle for arousing public awareness. He was the first Hindi author whose works featured social realism. Premchand has penned down hundreds of short stories, more than a dozen novels, plays, and several critical essays. His most celebrated works include Vardaan (1912), Seva Sadan (1918), Premashram (1922), Rangbhoomi (1925), Nirmala (1927), Pratigya (1927), Gaban (1931), Karmabhoomi (1932), Godaan (1936). Premchand breathed his last on 8 October 1936. One of the most influential writers of Indian literature, his works continue to remain popular and are translated in various foreign languages across the world.