10 most popular stories by Munshi Premchand: How many have you read

Munshi Premchand is celebrated for capturing the lives, struggles, and moral dilemmas of India’s rural and small-town world. His stories highlight poverty, social inequality, human compassion and failings. Let’s have a look at 10 of Munshi Premchand's stories:

Kafan is one of Premchand’s starkest stories. It follows Ghisu and his son Madhav, who are too impoverished to provide a burial shroud when Madhav’s wife Budhiya dies in childbirth. Rather than spend the collected money on funeral rites, they squander it on food and drink. Premchand uses this shocking choice to expose moral decay born out of desperation, the indifference of society, and how extreme poverty can erode basic human dignity.

In Eidgaah, young Hamid, orphaned and living with his grandmother, goes to the Eid fair. While other children buy sweets or toys, Hamid buys a small pair of tongs (chimta) for his grandmother so she won’t burn her fingers while cooking. His thoughtfulness and selfless gesture become a poignant symbol of love, sacrifice, and empathy in a harsh world. The story celebrates how even in poverty, human kindness can shine.

Godaan is one of Premchand’s most famous novels. It portrays the life of Hori, a poor peasant, striving to fulfill his dream of owning a cow, which symbolises dignity and respect in rural society. Yet Hori is trapped by debt, social obligations, exploitation, and caste constraints. It’s a realistic, tragic depiction of the socio-economic conditions of rural India under the British Raj, and the tension between idealism and harsh realities.

In Do Bailon ki Katha, Premchand tells of two loyal oxen, a short story about Heera and Moti, two loyal oxen who escape mistreatment, face hardships, and ultimately strive for freedom and reunion with their kind master, Jhuri. The tale explores themes of friendship, loyalty, courage, and the struggle for freedom, critiquing the cruelty and neglect often shown to animals by drawing parallels between the oxen's experiences and social injustices.

“Sati” explores the burdens and expectations placed on women in traditional society. The narrative often centers around a woman forced into widowhood or ritual, facing social pressures to maintain virtue and sacrifice. Premchand uses “Sati” to critique rigid norms and the unfair consequences they impose on women who have little control over their own lives. The story raises questions about obedience, gendered suffering, and the cost of social honour.

In Boodhi Kaaki, the protagonist is a blind, elderly woman who depends entirely on her extended family’s promises. Her nephew, after inheriting her property, assures her she will be cared for, but ignores her in practice. During a family function, she watches guests eat, unnoticed. Overcome by hunger, she timidly picks up leftovers. This act enrages the family. The climax underscores how old age and disability are marginalised, and how promises of care often turn hollow.

Bade ghar ki beti is a story about family status, dignity, and the challenges faced by a girl in a household with lofty expectations. The narrative often portrays her struggle between adhering to familial prestige and coping with personal limitations or societal norms. It illustrates how expectations from a “big family” create emotional burdens, especially in conservative social settings.

In Namak ka Daroga, the main character, Vanshidhar, is appointed inspector in the salt department during colonial times. Facing offers of bribery from powerful traders, he remains honest, influenced by his father’s moral teachings. He arrests a rich offender named Alopideen, refusing monetary inducements. Though pressure mounts, he holds to duty. The story emphasises integrity, the weight of small official roles, and how personal honour matters in a corrupt system.

Poos ki Raat is an evocative story of Halku, a poor farmer in debt. He had saved money to buy his family a warm blanket, but when his landlord demands repayment, he gives up the savings. That bitter night, he and his dog guard his crop in freezing cold, exposed and vulnerable. The story is a vivid portrayal of the harshness of rural life, the weight of debt, and the dignity that persists despite suffering.

In Panch Parmeshwar, two close friends, Algu Chaudhary, a wealthy landowner, and Jumman Sheikh, a poor but upright man, find themselves in a village dispute. Algu is appointed as a “panch” (village juror) to judge the matter impartially. When Algu becomes the head judge, he rules impartially against Jumman, causing a rift. Later, when Jumman becomes the head judge, he faces the same dilemma and chooses to be fair, putting justice above friendship and thus restoring their bond. The story emphasises how the role of a judge requires an objective and unbiased decision-making process, separate from personal relationships.