The Child

MU N S H I PR E M CH A N D (31 July 1880-8 October 1936) was an Indian writer famous for his modern Hindus tani literature. He is one of the most celebrated writers of India.

Born as Dhanpat Rai Srivastav, 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.

TH E CH A R A C TE R S O F T H E STO RY

The narrator- who is a rich landlord in the story.

Gangu- a servant in the narrator's house.

Gomti- a wi d ow wh om Ga n g u marries.

The Child.

• The story begins with the description of Gangu. People call Gangu a brahmin because of his behaviour • Does not behave like other servants

• Does not have many friends

• Short tempered

• Does not socialize with other servants does not go to fairs and shows

• Does not even like to drink "bhaang".

While talking about Gangu, the narrator also mentions some things about himself:

ØDoes not like to talk with the servants.

ØPrefers to do small jobs himself.

ØDoes not like to give advance payment to servants.

ØDoes not like servants complaining about other servants.

ØFeels irritated when faced with a complaining servant, or a servant who asks for an advance.

Summary

One morning, Gangu came to talk with his master (the narrator). He was very hesitant and the master was very impatient. But after a lot of hesitation and difficulty, Gangu said at last, "I wish to be relieved of my duties, sir. I shall not be able to serve you any longer” "Why do you want to leave?" I asked. “I do not want people to point fingers at you on my account" , replied Gangu. “Why don't you say clearly what is on your mind?" I told Gangu impatiently. "Sir, the thing is that.. that woman who has just been turned out of the Widow's Home ….. that Gomti Devi.….. I want to marry her, sir." Gomti Devi:

• She was a widow. The Widow's Home authorities had got her married twice, but she had come back within a week after both marriages, she was now living in a room in the mohalla. Many young men were interested in her.

• People speak a lot of negative things about her.People speak a lot of negative things about her. But, according to Gangu, all of those rumours are untrue.

• Gangu says, with almost the zeal of a poet, ' "Where there is no love, you cannot expect a woman to stay on. You cannot win a woman with mere board and lodging.

• "Those people who married her thought they were doing her a great favour by marrying a widow and took it for granted that she would do everything for their sake. But to win someone over one has first to forget about oneself."

• "So you have decided finally, " I asked him. “Yes, sir, “he replied. "All right, " I said, "| accept your resignation."

• Five months passed. Gangu had married Gomti and was working as a hawker. The narrator always stopped to inquire about him when he passed him on the road. Gangu was always happy. Glowing. Carefree.

• One day, the news came that Gomti had run away. Gangu was heartbroken.

• She had gone away without telling Gangu. Gangu says, "I am sure I wasn't good enough for her. She was educated and I am an absolute illiterate. If I had stayed with her a little longer she would have made a man out of me.

• Gangu goes to search for her. He finds out that she has g o n e t o a Woma n 's h o s p it a l i n Lu c k n ow. He immediately goes to Lucknow and brings her back home.

• When the narrator meets him again, he is glowing, and is carrying a baby in his arms.

• I said tauntingly, "Oh, so you have got a boy also. That is perhaps why she ran away. Are you sure this is your child?" "Why mine, Babuji, it is God's. It was a month old only yesterday." "How long have you been married?" "This is the seventh month."

• "So this child was born within six months of your marriage. "Yes." said Gangu, undisturbed. “And still you consider it your child?" "Yes, sir."

• Gangu says he is never bothered that the child would not be his. He says that he had told Gomti to leave him if she did not love him, But she should not let the child separate them.

• "After all, when one takes a harvested field one does not refuse the crop merely because someone else has grown it."