Resignation - Premchand

    Dhanpat Rai Srivastava(1880-1936), better known by his pen name Premchand, was an Indian writer famous for his modern Hindustani literature.  Premchand was a pioneer of Hindi and Urdu social fiction. He is one of the most celebrated writers of the Indian subcontinent and is regarded as one of the foremost Hindi writers of the early twentieth century. He is one of the first authors to write about caste hierarchies and the plights of women and laborers prevalent in the society of the late 880’s. He published his first collection of five short stories in 1907 in a book called Soz-e-Watan.

    This short story “Resignation” is an English translation of “Istifa”(1927) by the most celebrated author Premchand. This work was translated by Neelam Kumar. In most of his works Premchand voiced out the sufferings of the middle class people. He also gave voice to the sufferings of the Indians under the British rule and how the Indian poor people were exploited by the Britishers. Even in this novel “Resignation” we see Lala Fateh Chand being mistreated by the British officer. The British officer treat him almost like a slave.

    Lala Fateh Chand is almost superior to a yogi. Even a yogi will express his anger through facial expression but Chand is, as the author describes him is a “Dumb animal”. A workman, a coolie or a beggar will show off his attitude if he is to be disrespected. Even a donkey will kick off its tormentor.  But Chand who works as office clerk is like an epitome of silence, personification of loyalty and model of respectfulness. Fortune never favours his hard works. Even the huts see the lights of Diwali once a year but Chand’s life is monotonous.

    Chand who almost leads a mechanical life was just 32 years old but his health condition has already deteriorated. He have poor eye sight, poor digestion, pale face, sunken cheeks, drooped shoulders, pepper salt hairs and he could not even walk properly. The author here tells that though the actual meaning of his name is “the moon of victory” it would be apt to call him as “Slave of Defeat”, who has three daughters and not even a son-in-law. The author focus of the Indian myth here, where it is considered a bad luck not to have a son in the family.

    His life is confined within the four walls of his house and his office. He works from nine to six and he takes no interest in entertainment, not even in sins. On one particular winter evening when Chand was trying to recollect his lost energy by lying in a charpoy, the Chaprasi, the peon, calls out for him. Sarada, Chand’s wife gets angry on seeing the Chaprasi. The Chaprasi informs that the Sahib, the British officer wants Chand immediately and even Chand himself was confused regarding this urgent calling. Since his wife insisted, he had some spoons of lentil porridge and started off.

    Sarada express her anger on the Sahib to Chand. She tells Chand to stand against the officer and to quit from such a kind of job which sucks up all his energy. But Chand was afraid to even think about quitting his job. He thinks that his whole life would be ruined if he quits his job. Fateh Chand could not keep up the pace with Chaprasi. He asked the Chaprasi to go forward and when he reached the Sahib’s bungalow he saw the Chaprasi complaining to the Sahib, who was angrily wandering in the verandah. On seeing Chand, the Sahib’s anger increased and he literally called Chand as a swine and asked him why he came late.

    The British officer was drunk not just by the whiskey alone but also by the power. Calling him names and threatening him with a cane, he asked the Chaprasi to pull out Chand’s ear for being late. The Chaprasi refused to disrespect an officer higher in position and he resigned his job and left the place. Chaprasi’s reply made the officer angrier and he showed all his angry on Chand. He pulled out Chand’s ear and asked him to bring the file. Chand left the bungalow confused. Since he don’t know what file to bring he stepped towards his house. 

    While on his way back he analyzed his own actions. He thinks that he is unable to stand against the officer just because of his family. He feels that if something happens to him his family members would suffer a lot and his children’s future would be in danger. He thinks that he has to withstand all these kind of disrespect for his family, who are his only happiness.

    Back at home his wife got angry on knowing about Sahib’s action and she feels so happy when Chand tells her that he showed his piece of mind. When Chand tells that he will be punished for it, Sarada is not much bothered about it and she tells that God will take care of her but if her husband didn’t showed his opposition she would have hated him for life time. On hearing this, Chand ran to the bungalow borrowing a cane from his friend. His wife’s courageous words, off course woke up that sleeping Indian spirit in him, which always craves for freedom and respect. 

    He met the sahib in the dinner hall and the appearance of the Chand itself imparted fear in the minds of Sahib. He wanted to patch up with Chand but Chand refused all such polished words and asked the Sahib to ask for forgiveness by pulling his own ears. When the Sahib refused it, Chand struck him on the skull and the frightened Sahib pleaded for forgiveness. Chand left the place after an announcement of his resignation.

    This story broke the false idea of the Indians, who thought Britishers were always superior to them and who thought that the Britishers have all rights to oppress them. It is a wakeup call for all the Indians to stand up for their own self respect and dignity.

---HAPPY LEARNING----