Premchand Lives

The Ideal Drama and Entertainment Academy (IDEA) is spreading works of this pioneer of Hindi-Urdu social fiction among the young generation through plays based on his stories and novels.

“Staging these plays is to prove people have not forgotten him and at the same time open the eyes of those who have,” said IDEA head Mujeeb Khan,a theatre activist writing and directing plays on social issues for over three decades now.

The group,which in 2005 started ‘Aadab Main Premchand Hoon’ based on Munshiji’s plays and stories,has been celebrating his birth anniversary since 2006 by organising theatre festival ‘Prem Utsav’. “In eight years,we staged 295 of Munshiji’s works,” said Khan.

He added,“We organise ‘Prem Utsav’ from July 31 for 10 days. Initially,we organised the fest for four days but since 2009 we have been organising it for 10 days. This year we managed to stage 100 plays in 10 days.”

Entry to the festival is free. Khan says his theatre group wants to spread Premchand’s works rather than ‘sell’ it to people. According to him,the stories of Dhanpat Rai – Premchand was his pen name – are among the best by any writer. His stories written about 100 years ago are relevant even today.

“There are many reasons we decided to stage Munshiji’s stories and plays,but the main is we think his works are very contemporary and the issues he addressed are relevant today,which shows his genius. It is a pity such a man has been forgotten by people of his own country. Most of his stories attempt at correcting wrongs in society. That is why we have staged them so many times. Besides,our society is gradually forgetting its roots and Munshi Premchand’s stories remind us of our culture,tradition,morals and language,” said Khan.

Khan and his group IDEA are also trying to spread the works of other legends like Saadat Hasan Manto,Ismat Chughtai,Sharat Chandra and Qazi Mushtaq Ahmed. “We have initiated another series based on stories and poems of the great Rabindranath Tagore,” said Khan.

The group also stages street plays on social and current issues. “We want to do journalistic theatre,where we stage plays on current issues. We have been staging plays in various parts of Jharkhand against corruption and drugs. Wed did a play ‘Tsunami-the-terror’ at railway stations and other public places in and around Mumbai to collect funds for Tsunami victims,” said Khan.

Idea also conducts free workshops in schools and colleges to spread awareness among the young generation.

Khan and his team perform two plays a week against domestic violence and other social issues in the bylanes of Dharavi and other places.

Munshi Premchand

A prolific writer,Munshi Premchand,born as Dhanpat Rai in a remote village,Lamhi,in Varanasi contributed to Hindi literature in the form of 21 novels,18 plays,280 short stories,and innumerable letters and articles.