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Nirmala
Premchand's novella Nirmala , first published in 1928, is one of the most poignant novels in Hindi on the theme of the young adolescent yoked to an elderly husband. Clearly reformist in its agenda, this novel succeeds in exploring sensitive and even dangerous terrain. Alok Rai's English
translation includes an Afterword which takes note of the novel's special context, placing it in perspective and making a contemporary reading of the work possible.
translation includes an Afterword which takes note of the novel's special context, placing it in perspective and making a contemporary reading of the work possible.
218 pages, Paperback
First published December 31, 1899
About the author
Munshi Premchand
881 books1,050 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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January 17, 2025
What I always thought and have observed from any writings of Munshi Premchand is that he was too far advanced from his fellow writers. Its not only about this book but considering any of his works. Importance of Education, social behaviour, societal courtesy these are among few matters that he explained very well in his most of the works, which were not so common in his era.
Nirmala is a story of a female from her mid-teenage to her early twenties. Story of a naive girl to a distressed, matured, socially-detached and forcefully-responsible woman; who seems to have everything but lacks everything that she actually needed. Hard to say after reading this, that no one can understand women so easily, 'coz Premchand did. Every single emotion of a girl from her child-like-age to her becoming-of-woman-age has been depicted very deeply and precisely.
Premchand did so well with this work of his and I loved it with every emotion of mine.
For me its more than what I have given, though its: 5.0/5.0
Nirmala is a story of a female from her mid-teenage to her early twenties. Story of a naive girl to a distressed, matured, socially-detached and forcefully-responsible woman; who seems to have everything but lacks everything that she actually needed. Hard to say after reading this, that no one can understand women so easily, 'coz Premchand did. Every single emotion of a girl from her child-like-age to her becoming-of-woman-age has been depicted very deeply and precisely.
Premchand did so well with this work of his and I loved it with every emotion of mine.
For me its more than what I have given, though its: 5.0/5.0
April 1, 2015
The eponymous Nirmala of Munshi Premchand's novel is, when the story begins, a girl of fifteen, the eldest daughter of a fairly prosperous lawyer. Nirmala's parents have found a match for her, a young man from a wealthy family. Besides the fact that the prospective groom is very eligible, what makes the match even more attractive is that the family has said they want no dowry; their only request is that the baaraat be looked after well. This—not an outright demand for dowry, but a definite assertion of authority, of showing that the groom's people have the right to command the bride's people—is the start of a chain of events that will have far-reaching, tragic consequences.
Because Nirmala's father, in his effort to leave no stone unturned when it comes to hospitality, far surpasses his budget, and as a result has a quarrel with his wife, who advises caution. The quarrel makes him leave home in a huff one night. He ends up bumping into a criminal whom he had got convicted, who had threatened to have his revenge... and who now kills Nirmala's father.
Suddenly, things fall apart. Since Nirmala's mother is unable to afford a lavish wedding (and the dowry which had been expected, even if it had not been asked for), the prospective in-laws call off the wedding. Nirmala's mother, desperate to get Nirmala married, searches about for other grooms, and finally settles on Totaram, a widowed lawyer with three sons, the eldest of whom, Mansaram, is a year older than Nirmala. And with Nirmala's marriage to Totaram begins the tale of her woe, the story of how a bright, beautiful girl is reduced to despair. Of how Totaram begins to suspect the relationship between Nirmala and Mansaram, and how that suspicion fuels other emotions—all snowballing into disaster.
Nirmala is, first and foremost, a hard-hitting commentary on two social ills that plagued Premchand's India: dowry, which is still as prevalent as it was back then; and the practice of marrying off young girls to much older men. All that befalls Nirmala and her family—her husband, his sons, the daughter who is born to Nirmala and Totaram—can ultimately be traced to the extremely ill-matched marriage of Nirmala and Totaram.
The social relevance of the novel notwithstanding, this is a fine work of literature in itself. The plot is good (and it's interesting to see the way Premchand weaves the story so that one thing leads to another, one action— Totaram's marrying Nirmala—leads to tragedy, even several years later). The writing is crisp, lucid. And the characters are memorable: three-dimensional, interesting people, none of them completely black or white, but many shades of grey. These are people with strengths and weaknesses, people who can be affectionate and kind but also jealous, suspicious, selfish, people with very human frailties. Nirmala herself, while being the good, patient, long-suffering heroine (literally निर्मला, 'pure'), has her fair share of weaknesses, makes her share of mistakes.
An excellent book, and highly recommended.
Because Nirmala's father, in his effort to leave no stone unturned when it comes to hospitality, far surpasses his budget, and as a result has a quarrel with his wife, who advises caution. The quarrel makes him leave home in a huff one night. He ends up bumping into a criminal whom he had got convicted, who had threatened to have his revenge... and who now kills Nirmala's father.
Suddenly, things fall apart. Since Nirmala's mother is unable to afford a lavish wedding (and the dowry which had been expected, even if it had not been asked for), the prospective in-laws call off the wedding. Nirmala's mother, desperate to get Nirmala married, searches about for other grooms, and finally settles on Totaram, a widowed lawyer with three sons, the eldest of whom, Mansaram, is a year older than Nirmala. And with Nirmala's marriage to Totaram begins the tale of her woe, the story of how a bright, beautiful girl is reduced to despair. Of how Totaram begins to suspect the relationship between Nirmala and Mansaram, and how that suspicion fuels other emotions—all snowballing into disaster.
Nirmala is, first and foremost, a hard-hitting commentary on two social ills that plagued Premchand's India: dowry, which is still as prevalent as it was back then; and the practice of marrying off young girls to much older men. All that befalls Nirmala and her family—her husband, his sons, the daughter who is born to Nirmala and Totaram—can ultimately be traced to the extremely ill-matched marriage of Nirmala and Totaram.
The social relevance of the novel notwithstanding, this is a fine work of literature in itself. The plot is good (and it's interesting to see the way Premchand weaves the story so that one thing leads to another, one action— Totaram's marrying Nirmala—leads to tragedy, even several years later). The writing is crisp, lucid. And the characters are memorable: three-dimensional, interesting people, none of them completely black or white, but many shades of grey. These are people with strengths and weaknesses, people who can be affectionate and kind but also jealous, suspicious, selfish, people with very human frailties. Nirmala herself, while being the good, patient, long-suffering heroine (literally निर्मला, 'pure'), has her fair share of weaknesses, makes her share of mistakes.
An excellent book, and highly recommended.
April 7, 2016
Rich in conversations, this book is anti-cliche.
1. In arranging a girl's marriage, dowry is not the biggest problem.
2. There is no friction between Sauteli Maa-beta. Albeit over abundance of love!
In spite of this, it is a depressing tale of young and mature Nirmala who is married to an immature old man double her age with 3 sons.
And it has far more twists and turns than anticipated. A gripping page turner. Very interesting story.
1. In arranging a girl's marriage, dowry is not the biggest problem.
2. There is no friction between Sauteli Maa-beta. Albeit over abundance of love!
In spite of this, it is a depressing tale of young and mature Nirmala who is married to an immature old man double her age with 3 sons.
And it has far more twists and turns than anticipated. A gripping page turner. Very interesting story.
November 3, 2020
एक महिला की एक मार्मिक कहानी, जो भाग्य और समाज द्वारा धोखा देती है। पात्रों द्वारा किए गए विकल्प कई प्रश्न उठाते हैं, यह पुस्तक समाप्त होने के बाद आपको बहुत से चीज़े सोचने पर विवश कर देता है| कहानी आपको जोड़े रखती है। बहुत समय बाद मैंने प्रेमचंद की कोई पुस्तक पढ़ी है, मुझे आज भी याद है जब मैं स्कूल में था इनके पाठ विद्यालय में बहुत पढ़े हैं|
August 11, 2017
बिना दहेज के तय हुई शादी,दहेज न मिलने की आशा से टूट जाती है,और फिर वही होता है जो आज भी हमारे समाज मे व्याप्त है बेमेल विवाह,अपने से बड़ी उम्र के पुरूष से शादी,लड़कियों का विवाह न हो तो समाज में लोकनिंदा और दहेज कम मिले तो लोकनिंदा,यहां पर शादी टूटने और होने का यही कारण भी हैं,और इसके बाद कहानी में शक का आगमन होता है,शक एक ऐसी बिमारी है जो उस व्यक्ति के साथ साथ पूरे परिवार को नष्ट कर देती है,और उसकी लपट का असर आस पड़ोस में भी पड़ता है,कहानी मे घटनाएं इतनी तेजी से होती हैं ,की बस बार बार काश शब्द ही निकलता है ,मुंशी जी की निर्मला को कम पन्नों की कहानी समझने की गलती न करें,यह आज भी हमारे समाज की महिलाओं का जीवन है,
September 27, 2019
I read Nirmala's Urdu version years ago.I still remember how sad and poignant it was.It is the tale of a young woman's endless trials and tribulations in pre-partition India.The story of misfortune piled on misfortune,the murder of her father,being married off to an older man for want of dowry and the subsequent troubles she encounters is masterfully told.
March 4, 2018
So I have committed one mistake ... I read this book in very darkest period of my life and it made me more depressed.
I swear I'll not read Premchand's any book in life ... there is only gloomy sadness and dark fates. It made me very tensed.
This book was so depressing that it took me 12 days to finish this small book.
Too sad and converging into miserable fate.
I swear I'll not read Premchand's any book in life ... there is only gloomy sadness and dark fates. It made me very tensed.
This book was so depressing that it took me 12 days to finish this small book.
Too sad and converging into miserable fate.
July 7, 2015
Written in early 90s, this story is about Nirmala, who is married off at a young age, to an elderly man, and how she suffers till her death for no fault of hers. This story shows everything that was wrong with Indian society back in old times, and remnants of which still are seen here and there around us.
The plight of girls in the society, blaming them for all bad that occurs, dowry system, male domination in families, and how man reacts without thinking of consequences of his actions, is so painfully shown here. By the time you reach the end, you feel really sorry for Nirmals, but also kinda lucky for not having been born then yourself.
I read the English translation, but undoubtedly, the only reading it in Hindi can do justice to this piece of literature.
The plight of girls in the society, blaming them for all bad that occurs, dowry system, male domination in families, and how man reacts without thinking of consequences of his actions, is so painfully shown here. By the time you reach the end, you feel really sorry for Nirmals, but also kinda lucky for not having been born then yourself.
I read the English translation, but undoubtedly, the only reading it in Hindi can do justice to this piece of literature.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2013
Premchand attacks the dowry system through this tale of a girl who is married to a man of her father's age after her father is murdered. What follows is a bleak narrative of her suffering as she struggles to overcome this hurdle for the rest of her life.
May 30, 2012
Indeed the first psychological novel in Hindi literature. It opened a new era in Hindi literature. A must read for any Hindi literature student.
March 31, 2023
my heart hurts.
August 28, 2020
मुंशी प्रेमचन्द की कहानी निर्मला अदभुत है। इसमें जीवन संगराम की ग्लानी में लुप्त कई किरदार हैं। कहानी हमेशा निष्पक्ष तरीके से प्रस्तुत की गई हैं। यह उस समय के समाज का आईना हैं जो आज भी उपयुक्त हैं। रचना इतनी खूबी से की है की लगता हैं आप उन किरदारों के साथ जी रहे है। उनके पीड़ा आपको भी दुखी कर रही है, उनकी हसी में आप भी शामिल हैं। शहर की रोज मरारा की ज़िंदगी में हमें शायद इन दुविधा का साम���ा ना करना पड़े लेकिन काफी लोग ऐसे भी जीवन व्यतीत कर रहे हैं। इंसान के अन्तर्गत मनोभाव और अलग अलग प्रकार के भावनाओ को बड़ी खूबी से पेश किया है।
April 7, 2016
4.5 stars!!!!
Premchand did it again!!!! this book reminded me why he is my fav *_*
This is journey of Nirmala, the way she slowly grows up, matures and understand the ways of world.
This story is an an attack on all the problems, faced by women of that time (some of them are still relevant today), but not in a preachy way. It does have a social message but not of a feminist type and only if you are looking for it......
The story is about ordinary people, people you can find all around you. these people are not black or white, you can't categorize them as good or bad. they are just people who did some good stuff and some bad. The story is all about how circumstance change people, how they react and what they become in different situations. it reflects complex human emotions, hard to decipher and even harder to understand.
This is a very tragic book but it never became boring, conversations are real page turner and also have amazing character development.
Thanks Gorab and Arpit for buddy read :)
Premchand did it again!!!! this book reminded me why he is my fav *_*
This is journey of Nirmala, the way she slowly grows up, matures and understand the ways of world.
This story is an an attack on all the problems, faced by women of that time (some of them are still relevant today), but not in a preachy way. It does have a social message but not of a feminist type and only if you are looking for it......
The story is about ordinary people, people you can find all around you. these people are not black or white, you can't categorize them as good or bad. they are just people who did some good stuff and some bad. The story is all about how circumstance change people, how they react and what they become in different situations. it reflects complex human emotions, hard to decipher and even harder to understand.
This is a very tragic book but it never became boring, conversations are real page turner and also have amazing character development.
Thanks Gorab and Arpit for buddy read :)
September 30, 2022
Exciting: Yay, My first hindi book!
Not so exciting: The book.
Premchand's Nirmala is the template of the suffering woman in the 70s movies who is the victim of "Kismat", "Naseeb" and men to endure a life full of sadness. And tough to explain this phenomenon but all people whose life she touches suffer worser than her.
Nirmala is engaged to marry when her father suddenly dies. Unable to pay the dowry, she ends up marrying a 38 year old whose first son is almost her age. The stereotype of stepmom gets broken as she tries to get close to the children only to get suspected by the husband. She accepts her fate which leads to a terrible episode - followed by many such episodes.
Of the characters - except for Sudha and to some extent the first son, every other character is in the villian side. The societal themes of the time like dowry, sacrifice, step-mom syndrome etc have been explored in great detail.
The book is like a hindi equivalent of Thousand Splendid suns. Enough said.
Not so exciting: The book.
Premchand's Nirmala is the template of the suffering woman in the 70s movies who is the victim of "Kismat", "Naseeb" and men to endure a life full of sadness. And tough to explain this phenomenon but all people whose life she touches suffer worser than her.
Nirmala is engaged to marry when her father suddenly dies. Unable to pay the dowry, she ends up marrying a 38 year old whose first son is almost her age. The stereotype of stepmom gets broken as she tries to get close to the children only to get suspected by the husband. She accepts her fate which leads to a terrible episode - followed by many such episodes.
Of the characters - except for Sudha and to some extent the first son, every other character is in the villian side. The societal themes of the time like dowry, sacrifice, step-mom syndrome etc have been explored in great detail.
The book is like a hindi equivalent of Thousand Splendid suns. Enough said.
March 18, 2023
कहानी ने बेशक अंत तक बांधे रखा, पर इतनी विषादपूर्ण कहानी पहले नहीं पढ़ी थी। हर परिच्छेद में लिखाई और भी ज़्यादा स्याह हुई जाती है। करीब सौ बरस पहले लिखे इस उपन्यास को पढ़ने से उस समय की सामाजिक, मानसिक और आर्थिक संरचना का बिम्ब जरूर दिखाई पड़ता है।
आंतरिक असुरक्षा और आपसी संवाद का अभाव बड़ी आसानी से सौभाग्य को दुर्भाग्य में बदल सकता है।
बहुत से प्रसंग जो सहज ढंग से पेश किए गए वो अचंभित करते हैं, और इसका उल्टा भी!
मुंशी प्रेमचन्द की ख्याति का कारण समझने के लिए अच्छा ज़रिया है।
आंतरिक असुरक्षा और आपसी संवाद का अभाव बड़ी आसानी से सौभाग्य को दुर्भाग्य में बदल सकता है।
बहुत से प्रसंग जो सहज ढंग से पेश किए गए वो अचंभित करते हैं, और इसका उल्टा भी!
मुंशी प्रेमचन्द की ख्याति का कारण समझने के लिए अच्छा ज़रिया है।
September 5, 2016
यह उपन्यास गबन और गोदान के अपेक्षा काफी छोटा है। लेकिन जितना ही छोटा है उतना ही रुचिकर है। इस पुरे उपन्यास को पढ़कर कई बार आँखें भर आई।। दहेज़ और बेमेल विवाह को इतने करुण रूप से मुंशी जी ने प्रस्तुत किया है की जैसे लगता है की सभी घटनाए आपके सामने घट रही है। और आप बस बेबस होकर देख रहे है।।
January 20, 2012
Nirmala, It was my first encounter with a Hindi Novel and what a pleasure it was. The story, broadly based on the life of an Indian village girl viz., Nirmala, who is forcibly married to an elderly man almost her father's age, due to the untimely death of her father. Besides, an inability to pay for her dowry. The story proceeds with Nirmala mired in the household with the man , his three sons and his widowed sister.
Besides the overall tragic underpinning there are flickers of hope for the protagonist during some period of her life but, it ends on a tragic note.
Premchand, in this novel, has done away with jargon and has concentrated only on characters. His subtle humor is hard to miss not to mention his analogies. His depiction of India of an era not so long ago(or perhaps still prevalent in some parts) is quite genuine indeed. Of course, perhaps it was meant to be a tragedy, hence he has gone into exaggeration of the events but well within the scope of his literary licence.
Overall, a must read especially for those who want to battle it out reading Hindi literature. Munshiji Rocks \m/
Besides the overall tragic underpinning there are flickers of hope for the protagonist during some period of her life but, it ends on a tragic note.
Premchand, in this novel, has done away with jargon and has concentrated only on characters. His subtle humor is hard to miss not to mention his analogies. His depiction of India of an era not so long ago(or perhaps still prevalent in some parts) is quite genuine indeed. Of course, perhaps it was meant to be a tragedy, hence he has gone into exaggeration of the events but well within the scope of his literary licence.
Overall, a must read especially for those who want to battle it out reading Hindi literature. Munshiji Rocks \m/
July 5, 2016
A superbly well written book. It really is a very well drawn picture of its time. A true classic. My only crib is that can things be so relentlessly bad for someone. Perhaps it can. Or perhaps for the book to be hard-hitting, it had to be so. I would be thinking about this book for a long time to come.
June 3, 2017
Anyone who ever said it's difficult to understand women certainly did not read Premchand's Nirmala. He has so beautifully portrayed the emotions and transformation of Nirmala from a young girl to a detached woman. Soulful and tragic it will be hard to let go of Nirmala in the end.
January 29, 2015
Read this book for the first time during my college days, just in time before the exams, for which this was the suggested prose.
The effect or impact is the same even after so many years. Really a masterpiece from Munshi Premchand. A must-read when one starts reading Hindi Literature.
I highly recommend this great book to all those looking to read a masterpiece in Hindi. Kindly note that the language is very pure, sometimes complicated but the plot is simple & straight forward, which makes up for the former.
Now a review of the plot of this novel. Warning, Spoilers ahead!!!
The effect or impact is the same even after so many years. Really a masterpiece from Munshi Premchand. A must-read when one starts reading Hindi Literature.
I highly recommend this great book to all those looking to read a masterpiece in Hindi. Kindly note that the language is very pure, sometimes complicated but the plot is simple & straight forward, which makes up for the former.
Now a review of the plot of this novel. Warning, Spoilers ahead!!!
January 21, 2025
4.5 ✨ - for my first premchand novel nirmala was a rollercoaster. i felt deeply for Nirmala at first, thought she’s stuck in a series of unfair situations then i questioned if her choices added to her troubles but then again premchand’s writing made me rethink everything.
next level 🫨 he makes every little detail hit you emotionally. It’s deep and heavy, and proof the guy knew how to capture real human struggles; definitely my cue to explore more of his writings this year🫶🏼
next level 🫨 he makes every little detail hit you emotionally. It’s deep and heavy, and proof the guy knew how to capture real human struggles; definitely my cue to explore more of his writings this year🫶🏼
February 3, 2025
जिस जिस को छूती गई, उन सबका सर्वनाश करती चली। कलंकिनी।
June 18, 2024
4.5
Very poignant, very emotionally moving. Another favourite from one of my favourite authors. Him actually being the first authors that got me into reading classic novels. His other book I read when I was 10 was just as emotionally touching. Premchand knows how to write women, or girls who are forced to be women one day out of nowhere because they reached puberty. The doom of marriage that hangs on their head from an early age whether they like it or not. Nirmala having been married at the age of 15 to man whose age is 40 is nothing but a crime against a child's innocence. She has to become somebody's wife and a mother to someone else's children when one of his children is the same age as her. This was not an uncommon thing in ancient rural India. This happened a lot back then. Marriage has always been very important for a girl than her education and freedom according to our elders and it is shown here. She adjusts and improves her self and thinks that she can make the best out of this situation but spoiler alert she isn't able to.
I love these books because they are set so close to where I live as the author was born pretty close to where I live and even lived in my city for a while. So I feel a special kind of relatablity to his characters and the setting.
He is known to be the Shakespeare of India which is pretty accurate because all his characters suffer a lot and then die at last as it is common in Shakespeare's plays. Nonetheless it might have become one of my favourite books till now.
There is a lot of commentary on social norms, cultural issues, gender roles as it's common in his novels which I found really informative.
Very poignant, very emotionally moving. Another favourite from one of my favourite authors. Him actually being the first authors that got me into reading classic novels. His other book I read when I was 10 was just as emotionally touching. Premchand knows how to write women, or girls who are forced to be women one day out of nowhere because they reached puberty. The doom of marriage that hangs on their head from an early age whether they like it or not. Nirmala having been married at the age of 15 to man whose age is 40 is nothing but a crime against a child's innocence. She has to become somebody's wife and a mother to someone else's children when one of his children is the same age as her. This was not an uncommon thing in ancient rural India. This happened a lot back then. Marriage has always been very important for a girl than her education and freedom according to our elders and it is shown here. She adjusts and improves her self and thinks that she can make the best out of this situation but spoiler alert she isn't able to.
I love these books because they are set so close to where I live as the author was born pretty close to where I live and even lived in my city for a while. So I feel a special kind of relatablity to his characters and the setting.
He is known to be the Shakespeare of India which is pretty accurate because all his characters suffer a lot and then die at last as it is common in Shakespeare's plays. Nonetheless it might have become one of my favourite books till now.
There is a lot of commentary on social norms, cultural issues, gender roles as it's common in his novels which I found really informative.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2016
I rarely write reviews but since this is my first in Hindi, it was an experience.
I picked a book written in Hindi after a good 9 years. It began slow, but the entire narrative was moving from the beginning.
The author has written it in a manner of a script. It felt like I was reading a stage show narrative with proper explanations and how to enact each scene.
The story touches the subtleties of human tragedies and the way he described them makes it a heart wrenching read.
The topics he touches on are varied and still prevalent in today's India.
1. Marrying off a girl to a man 20-30 years older and a widower to save dowry.
2. Trust is the sole foundation of every relationship and how mistrust can ruin even the most revered relations
3. How the society effects your thought process and this has adverse effects on children.
4. How when you give into a tragic moment and from there on begins the decline of a family and how children get ruined and end up in the most unfavourable places.
5. Finally how guilt ends up consuming you.
The best part was how he managed to write where even though people were cunning, heartless and all other things there was no character you'd want to hate. It was all circumstances that made them who they were and how circumstances took lives and played around with emotions and eventually showing us how we are bound by it.
The book was written in the early 20th century and holds true even in todays age and time.
It can get a little dragged in certain areas but it's a book that needs to be read!
I picked a book written in Hindi after a good 9 years. It began slow, but the entire narrative was moving from the beginning.
The author has written it in a manner of a script. It felt like I was reading a stage show narrative with proper explanations and how to enact each scene.
The story touches the subtleties of human tragedies and the way he described them makes it a heart wrenching read.
The topics he touches on are varied and still prevalent in today's India.
1. Marrying off a girl to a man 20-30 years older and a widower to save dowry.
2. Trust is the sole foundation of every relationship and how mistrust can ruin even the most revered relations
3. How the society effects your thought process and this has adverse effects on children.
4. How when you give into a tragic moment and from there on begins the decline of a family and how children get ruined and end up in the most unfavourable places.
5. Finally how guilt ends up consuming you.
The best part was how he managed to write where even though people were cunning, heartless and all other things there was no character you'd want to hate. It was all circumstances that made them who they were and how circumstances took lives and played around with emotions and eventually showing us how we are bound by it.
The book was written in the early 20th century and holds true even in todays age and time.
It can get a little dragged in certain areas but it's a book that needs to be read!
July 28, 2020
ಕೃತಿ: ನಿರ್ಮಲಾ
ಹಿಂದಿ ಮೂಲ: ಪ್ರೇಮ್ ಚಂದ್
ಕನ್ನಡ ಅನುವಾದ:ಡಾ. ತಿಪ್ಪೇಸ್ವಾಮಿ
ಪ್ರಕಾಶಕರು: ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಅನುವಾದ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಅಕಾಡೆಮಿ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು
ಮದುವೆಯ ವಿಚಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ಗಂಡು-ಹೆಣ್ಣುಗಳ ವಯಸ್ಸು ಬೀರುವ ಪರಿಣಾಮಗಳನ್ನು, ಅದರಲ್ಲೂ ಹೆಣ್ಣು ಯುವತಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದು ಗಂಡು ಮಧ್ಯವಯಸ್ಕ ನಾಗಿದ್ದರೆ ಅವರ ಜೀವನದಲ್ಲಿ ಉಂಟಾಗಬಹುದಾದ ತಳಮಳಗಳು, ಏರುಪೇರುಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಅನರ್ಥಗಳನ್ನು ಚಿತ್ರಿಸುವ ಕಾದಂಬರಿ.
ಮೂಲಕೃತಿ ಹೇಗಿದೆಯೋ ಎಂಬ ಕಲ್ಪನೆ ನನಗಿಲ್ಲ. ಆದರೆ ಅನುವಾದ ಅಷ್ಟಕಷ್ಟೇ. ಕೆಲವೊಂದು ಕಡೆ ಹೆಸರು, ವಯಸ್ಸು ಮತ್ತು ಸಂಬಂಧಗಳು ಅದಲುಬದಲಾಗಿ ಕಥೆಯು ಗೊಂದಲಮಯವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಹೀಗಾಗಿ ಅನೇಕ ಸಂದರ್ಭಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ರಸಭಂಗವಾಗಿದ್ದು ಉಂಟು.
ಕಾರಣಾಂತರಗಳಿಂದ ಕಥಾನಾಯಕಿ ನಿರ್ಮಲ ತನಗಿಂತ ಎರಡು ಪಟ್ಟು ಹೆಚ್ಚು ವಯಸ್ಸಿನ ಮೂರು ಮಕ್ಕಳ ತಂದೆಯಾದ ವಿದುರ ಗಂಡಸಿನ ಜೊತೆ ಮದುವೆಯಾಗುತ್ತಾಳೆ. ಅವರ ನಡುವಿನ ವಯಸ್ಸಿನ ಅಂತರದಿಂದಾಗಿ ಎದುರಿಸುವ ಕ್ಷೋಭೆಗಳು, ಗಂಡ ಹೆಂಡತಿಯರ ನಡುವೆ ಉಂಟಾಗುವ ಹೊಂದಾಣಿಕೆಯ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆ, ಒಬ್ಬರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಇನ್ನೊಬ್ಬರಿಗೆ ಇರುವ ತಿರಸ್ಕಾರ ಭಾವನೆಗಳು ಅಪನಂಬಿಕೆಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಸಂಬಂಧಗಳ ಸುತ್ತ ಬೆಳೆಯುವ ಅನುಮಾನದ ಹುತ್ತ ಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ವಿವರಿಸುತ್ತಾ ಹೋಗುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಇಂತಹ ಮದುವೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಗಂಡನ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಹೆಂಡತಿಗೆ ಇರುವ ತಿರಸ್ಕಾರ ಮತ್ತು ಹೆಂಡತಿಯ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಗಂಡನಲ್ಲಿ ಮೂಡುವ ಅನುಮಾನ ಅನಾದರಗಳು ಇಬ್ಬರ ಜೀವನವನ್ನು ಅಸಹನೀಯವಾಗಿಸುವ ಸಂದರ್ಭಗಳನ್ನು ಲೇಖಕರು ಬಹಳ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ವಿವರಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಅಲ್ಲದೆ ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕವಾಗಿ ಎದುರಿಸಬೇಕಾಗಬಹುದಾದ ಮುಜುಗರದ ಸನ್ನಿವೇಶಗಳು ಸಹ ಕಂಡುಬರುತ್ತದೆ.
ತಾಯಿಯನ್ನು ಕಳೆದುಕೊಂಡ ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಭಾವನೆಗಳು, ಮಲ ತಾಯಿಯ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಅವರಿಗಿರುವ ಧೋರಣೆ, ಸುತ್ತ ಮುತ್ತಲಿನ ಸಮಾಜದ ಕುಹಕದ ನುಡಿಗಳು ಹಾಗೂ ಸಮಯ ಸಂದರ್ಭಗಳು ಎಂತಹ ಒಳ್ಳೆಯ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಬದಲಾಯಿಸುವ ಬಗೆಯನ್ನು ಕಾದಂಬರಿಯುದ್ದಕ್ಕೂ ಕಾಣಬಹುದು.
ಮದುವೆ ಎಂಬುದು ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಬ್ಬ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಯ ಜೀವನದಲ್ಲಿ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಪ್ರಮುಖ ಘಟ್ಟ. ಅದು ಸರಿಯಾದ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಯೊಂದಿಗೆ ಆಗದಿದ್ದ ಪಕ್ಷದಲ್ಲಿ, ಆದಮೇಲೆ ಸರಿಯಾಗಿ ಒಬ್ಬರನ್ನೊಬ್ಬರು ಅರ್ಥೈಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳದ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಜೀವನ ನರಕವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಮದುವೆ ಅರ್ಥ ಕಳೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತದೆ.
ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ,
ಅಮಿತ್ ಕಮತ್
ಹಿಂದಿ ಮೂಲ: ಪ್ರೇಮ್ ಚಂದ್
ಕನ್ನಡ ಅನುವಾದ:ಡಾ. ತಿಪ್ಪೇಸ್ವಾಮಿ
ಪ್ರಕಾಶಕರು: ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಅನುವಾದ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಅಕಾಡೆಮಿ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು
ಮದುವೆಯ ವಿಚಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ಗಂಡು-ಹೆಣ್ಣುಗಳ ವಯಸ್ಸು ಬೀರುವ ಪರಿಣಾಮಗಳನ್ನು, ಅದರಲ್ಲೂ ಹೆಣ್ಣು ಯುವತಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದು ಗಂಡು ಮಧ್ಯವಯಸ್ಕ ನಾಗಿದ್ದರೆ ಅವರ ಜೀವನದಲ್ಲಿ ಉಂಟಾಗಬಹುದಾದ ತಳಮಳಗಳು, ಏರುಪೇರುಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಅನರ್ಥಗಳನ್ನು ಚಿತ್ರಿಸುವ ಕಾದಂಬರಿ.
ಮೂಲಕೃತಿ ಹೇಗಿದೆಯೋ ಎಂಬ ಕಲ್ಪನೆ ನನಗಿಲ್ಲ. ಆದರೆ ಅನುವಾದ ಅಷ್ಟಕಷ್ಟೇ. ಕೆಲವೊಂದು ಕಡೆ ಹೆಸರು, ವಯಸ್ಸು ಮತ್ತು ಸಂಬಂಧಗಳು ಅದಲುಬದಲಾಗಿ ಕಥೆಯು ಗೊಂದಲಮಯವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಹೀಗಾಗಿ ಅನೇಕ ಸಂದರ್ಭಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ರಸಭಂಗವಾಗಿದ್ದು ಉಂಟು.
ಕಾರಣಾಂತರಗಳಿಂದ ಕಥಾನಾಯಕಿ ನಿರ್ಮಲ ತನಗಿಂತ ಎರಡು ಪಟ್ಟು ಹೆಚ್ಚು ವಯಸ್ಸಿನ ಮೂರು ಮಕ್ಕಳ ತಂದೆಯಾದ ವಿದುರ ಗಂಡಸಿನ ಜೊತೆ ಮದುವೆಯಾಗುತ್ತಾಳೆ. ಅವರ ನಡುವಿನ ವಯಸ್ಸಿನ ಅಂತರದಿಂದಾಗಿ ಎದುರಿಸುವ ಕ್ಷೋಭೆಗಳು, ಗಂಡ ಹೆಂಡತಿಯರ ನಡುವೆ ಉಂಟಾಗುವ ಹೊಂದಾಣಿಕೆಯ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆ, ಒಬ್ಬರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಇನ್ನೊಬ್ಬರಿಗೆ ಇರುವ ತಿರಸ್ಕಾರ ಭಾವನೆಗಳು ಅಪನಂಬಿಕೆಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಸಂಬಂಧಗಳ ಸುತ್ತ ಬೆಳೆಯುವ ಅನುಮಾನದ ಹುತ್ತ ಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ವಿವರಿಸುತ್ತಾ ಹೋಗುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಇಂತಹ ಮದುವೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಗಂಡನ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಹೆಂಡತಿಗೆ ಇರುವ ತಿರಸ್ಕಾರ ಮತ್ತು ಹೆಂಡತಿಯ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಗಂಡನಲ್ಲಿ ಮೂಡುವ ಅನುಮಾನ ಅನಾದರಗಳು ಇಬ್ಬರ ಜೀವನವನ್ನು ಅಸಹನೀಯವಾಗಿಸುವ ಸಂದರ್ಭಗಳನ್ನು ಲೇಖಕರು ಬಹಳ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ವಿವರಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಅಲ್ಲದೆ ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕವಾಗಿ ಎದುರಿಸಬೇಕಾಗಬಹುದಾದ ಮುಜುಗರದ ಸನ್ನಿವೇಶಗಳು ಸಹ ಕಂಡುಬರುತ್ತದೆ.
ತಾಯಿಯನ್ನು ಕಳೆದುಕೊಂಡ ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಭಾವನೆಗಳು, ಮಲ ತಾಯಿಯ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಅವರಿಗಿರುವ ಧೋರಣೆ, ಸುತ್ತ ಮುತ್ತಲಿನ ಸಮಾಜದ ಕುಹಕದ ನುಡಿಗಳು ಹಾಗೂ ಸಮಯ ಸಂದರ್ಭಗಳು ಎಂತಹ ಒಳ್ಳೆಯ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಬದಲಾಯಿಸುವ ಬಗೆಯನ್ನು ಕಾದಂಬರಿಯುದ್ದಕ್ಕೂ ಕಾಣಬಹುದು.
ಮದುವೆ ಎಂಬುದು ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಬ್ಬ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಯ ಜೀವನದಲ್ಲಿ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಪ್ರಮುಖ ಘಟ್ಟ. ಅದು ಸರಿಯಾದ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಯೊಂದಿಗೆ ಆಗದಿದ್ದ ಪಕ್ಷದಲ್ಲಿ, ಆದಮೇಲೆ ಸರಿಯಾಗಿ ಒಬ್ಬರನ್ನೊಬ್ಬರು ಅರ್ಥೈಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳದ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಜೀವನ ನರಕವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಮದುವೆ ಅರ್ಥ ಕಳೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತದೆ.
ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ,
ಅಮಿತ್ ಕಮತ್
July 18, 2015
Nirmala brings to fore the plight of a woman who were married off to much older widower ( already having three sons) due to dowry. The brief summary is as follows:
Nirmala’s marriage was about to happen to a doctor in a rich Brahmin family but because of the death of her father, a financial burden starts looming over the Nirmala’s family. Thus, paying the dowry becomes a concern. Her marriage then happens to a widower, Munshi Totaram in his forty’s who brings Nirmala home in order to fill his first wife’s place. He has 3 sons and one sister living with him. He is a lawyer and is rich and respected in the society. By marrying, he hopes that his children would get the love of a mother and there would be someone to take care of his house too. His lost hopes to live comes alive.
But Nirmala could not find her dream man in him as he was too old for her. Even then, she faked happiness in front of him.
Soon suspecting the beauty of Nirmala, her husband starts doubting the relationship between his eldest son and Nirmala and so sends him to hostel.
All three children regret this, especially the eldest one. His health soon deteriorates in the hostel. A catastrophes strikes the house of Nirmala. She was now blamed for all that happened and the situation goes on to become from bad to worse. The story wonderfully depicts that how everybody get caught in the situation even though it is no one’s fault.
A very poignant tale of shattered dreams because of poverty.
Nirmala’s marriage was about to happen to a doctor in a rich Brahmin family but because of the death of her father, a financial burden starts looming over the Nirmala’s family. Thus, paying the dowry becomes a concern. Her marriage then happens to a widower, Munshi Totaram in his forty’s who brings Nirmala home in order to fill his first wife’s place. He has 3 sons and one sister living with him. He is a lawyer and is rich and respected in the society. By marrying, he hopes that his children would get the love of a mother and there would be someone to take care of his house too. His lost hopes to live comes alive.
But Nirmala could not find her dream man in him as he was too old for her. Even then, she faked happiness in front of him.
Soon suspecting the beauty of Nirmala, her husband starts doubting the relationship between his eldest son and Nirmala and so sends him to hostel.
All three children regret this, especially the eldest one. His health soon deteriorates in the hostel. A catastrophes strikes the house of Nirmala. She was now blamed for all that happened and the situation goes on to become from bad to worse. The story wonderfully depicts that how everybody get caught in the situation even though it is no one’s fault.
A very poignant tale of shattered dreams because of poverty.
August 16, 2016
3.5 stars
This book is not what I usually pick up to read so, therefore, to be honest; it was a little depressing to go through the plight of a kid who was married off to a man who is her dad's age. Reading about the situation, especially female about a century ago freaked me out.
It definitely made me realize the perks of living and being brought up in the 21st century. Things expected off females during those times are the nightmare.
About the book, though, it's a classic. The plot is intriguing and no doubt, it will enrich your mind about societal pressure and social evil prevailing centuries ago. Munshi Premchand beautifully weaves the story presenting the faults in the society, plight of female along with various emotions displayed by each character. There’s bundle of emotions throughout the book and the series of misfortunes that follows Nirmala, which is presented to be only because of the marriage of Totaram and Nirmala. There is jealousy, love, hatred, respect, forgiveness along with misunderstandings and numerous deaths.
As about Nirmala, it difficult to categorize her as a strong headed female whose ultimate aim was to support the happiness of her husband or a helpless child who was coerced into the things that led her to misery.
Also, English translation most definitely does not aptly present the essence of this story.
Highly recommended to be read in Hindi.
This book is not what I usually pick up to read so, therefore, to be honest; it was a little depressing to go through the plight of a kid who was married off to a man who is her dad's age. Reading about the situation, especially female about a century ago freaked me out.
It definitely made me realize the perks of living and being brought up in the 21st century. Things expected off females during those times are the nightmare.
About the book, though, it's a classic. The plot is intriguing and no doubt, it will enrich your mind about societal pressure and social evil prevailing centuries ago. Munshi Premchand beautifully weaves the story presenting the faults in the society, plight of female along with various emotions displayed by each character. There’s bundle of emotions throughout the book and the series of misfortunes that follows Nirmala, which is presented to be only because of the marriage of Totaram and Nirmala. There is jealousy, love, hatred, respect, forgiveness along with misunderstandings and numerous deaths.
As about Nirmala, it difficult to categorize her as a strong headed female whose ultimate aim was to support the happiness of her husband or a helpless child who was coerced into the things that led her to misery.
Also, English translation most definitely does not aptly present the essence of this story.
Highly recommended to be read in Hindi.
March 1, 2017
You can read the full Book review on my blog here http://www.haloofbooks.com/nirmala-mu...
Hindi literature is incomplete without mentioning the name of Munshi Premchand. I have already read his Kafan, Godan, Gaban, Idgaah and Kayakalp novels
The protagonist of this book is a 16-year-old free spirited Nirmala. She has a sister and two brothers. Being the eldest among the kids, her marriage is fixed with a boy from Lucknow. Her father doesn’t believe in dowry system and luckily finds a family who has not demanded any dowry. The marriage was just about one month away when Nirmala’s father dies in a horrible circumstance.
The marriage gets broken as boy’s family thinks that they will not get any dowry from Nirmala’s family.
Nirmala’s mother who doesn’t have money to give in dowry marries off Nirmala to an aged man of 40. This man is also a father of three sons. His elder son’s age is same as Nirmala’s age.
Nirmala’s husband doubts Nirmala and his elder son which leads to the death of his son.
Read this book to know the plight of Nirmala and how this odd marriage leads to various troubles in the life of everyone related to them.
If you are familiar with the writings of Munshi Premchand then you must know that he always represent his stories with amazing plot and steady characters. This book is incredible and every bookworm should read this book.
Hindi literature is incomplete without mentioning the name of Munshi Premchand. I have already read his Kafan, Godan, Gaban, Idgaah and Kayakalp novels
The protagonist of this book is a 16-year-old free spirited Nirmala. She has a sister and two brothers. Being the eldest among the kids, her marriage is fixed with a boy from Lucknow. Her father doesn’t believe in dowry system and luckily finds a family who has not demanded any dowry. The marriage was just about one month away when Nirmala’s father dies in a horrible circumstance.
The marriage gets broken as boy’s family thinks that they will not get any dowry from Nirmala’s family.
Nirmala’s mother who doesn’t have money to give in dowry marries off Nirmala to an aged man of 40. This man is also a father of three sons. His elder son’s age is same as Nirmala’s age.
Nirmala’s husband doubts Nirmala and his elder son which leads to the death of his son.
Read this book to know the plight of Nirmala and how this odd marriage leads to various troubles in the life of everyone related to them.
If you are familiar with the writings of Munshi Premchand then you must know that he always represent his stories with amazing plot and steady characters. This book is incredible and every bookworm should read this book.
November 15, 2022
Classic at its true essence
This book is not a mere story but an account of India in the 1900s. This was one of the reason that I started reading this, to understand what was India and the society like a hundread years back.
Premchand ji, is a personality who needs no introduction. Having read Godaan as a child, I was drawn to reading his works in the original lamgauge, Hindi with all the intricacies in the language and vocabulary. This doesn't disappoint.
Nirmal starts off as a reality-driven and sad story with back to back sudden turns of events and how they were so common the society back then. The thought process of the people then, the family structure, the society dynamics and ofcourse the language-it is so worth reading.
It's an entertaining read if you consider the language and the new unheard words you get to read.
Otherwise, it's a sad account of the 1900s India with the poor state of women, young girls and widows with mismatched marriages, dowry and much more which I think everyone should explore at their own pace and understanding.
This book is not a mere story but an account of India in the 1900s. This was one of the reason that I started reading this, to understand what was India and the society like a hundread years back.
Premchand ji, is a personality who needs no introduction. Having read Godaan as a child, I was drawn to reading his works in the original lamgauge, Hindi with all the intricacies in the language and vocabulary. This doesn't disappoint.
Nirmal starts off as a reality-driven and sad story with back to back sudden turns of events and how they were so common the society back then. The thought process of the people then, the family structure, the society dynamics and ofcourse the language-it is so worth reading.
It's an entertaining read if you consider the language and the new unheard words you get to read.
Otherwise, it's a sad account of the 1900s India with the poor state of women, young girls and widows with mismatched marriages, dowry and much more which I think everyone should explore at their own pace and understanding.
July 14, 2015
The novel "Nirmala" entirely deals about the life and activities of Nirmala. Nirmala as the protagonist and as the victim conveys some sensitive issues which leave the readers choked under the burden of the tragedy. It documents a change that was occurring in the earlier part of the 1900's and is an introduction of the history of women's rights and the status of women in Indian culture. Moreover "Nirmala", though is perceived as a progressive indictment to the debased patriarchal society, it enables the readers to have an insightful idea about the prehistory of `feminist` thinking in India of these days. It will be of special interest for the lovers of Indian culture and history and possibly of the history of women's rights.
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