दो बैलों की कथा

by Munshi Premchand, मुंशी प्रेमचंद

प्रस्तुत कहानी में लेखक ने मनुष्य तथा पशु के भावनात्मक सम्बन्धों को हीरा और मोती दो बैलों के माध्यम से व्यक्त किया है। झूरी नामक किसान के पास हीरा और मोती नाम के दो बैल हैं जिससे वे बहुत प्यार करता है इस प्यार को पाकर हीरा और मोती अपने मालिक झूरी को छोड़कर कहीं अन्यत्र नहीं रहना चाहते हैं। इससे यह सीख मिलती है कि पशु भी स्नेह का भूखा होता है।

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Indian Literature

120 pages, Paperback

Published January 19, 2016

About the author

Munshi 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.

Reviews

[Madhulika Liddle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jhoori owns two bullocks, Heera and Moti. When his brother-in-law Gaya asks to borrow the bullocks for ploughing, Heera and Moti are sent off to his village... and thus begin the adventures of Heera and Moti, who soon decide they have had enough of Gaya's neglect and don't like being in this place where, other than a little girl who gives them two rotis every night, nobody cares for them.

This was a much more lighthearted and often humorous story than much of what Premchand is known for. The entire tale is from the point of view of the two bullocks, and their conversations are an interesting reflection of Premchand's idea of what goes on in the minds of animals.

[Sanvi Yadav · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very educational.

[Asthaaaaaa :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

मुंशी प्रेमचंद की ये कथा साहित्य में आज भी ऊंचे स्थान पर है , साहित्य के साथ साथ मनुष्य जीवन में भी यह बहुत सारी सीख देती है|
हीरा मोती का प्रेम एक दूसरे के प्रति शब्दों में बयान नहीं किया जा सकता है |
मूक भाषा , प्रेम, संघर्ष, परिश्रम, विश्वास और त्याग का महत्व समझाते हुए ,मुंशी प्रेमचंद जी ने इस कथा की व्याख्या बहुत सुंदर रूप से की है|

[Drake Sully · Rating 5 out of 5]

हिंदी साहित्य में मुन्शी प्रेमचन्द को मात देना संभव नहीं 😌।

[Richa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Animals lovers this story is for you! A perfect example of how animals are a loyal creature. Also, I have a vague memory of reading it in my school days.

[Niharika Bhatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was introduced to this book at a very young age. The author brilliantly captivates the audiences whilst he transcends the readers deep into the bulls' unsaid emotions—a brilliant read for those who are extremely emotional, animal lovers; moreover, this classic tale is indeed heart-wrenching and profound. Indian literature at it's best!

[Rudradeep Mukherjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is titled "The Story of Two Oxen". Munshiji begins with a hilarious description of a Donkey. An animal whose name itself is an abuse. But, a donkey is fantastically Stoic. He never complains, never changes his facial expressions, eats whatever rotten fodder he gets and has a calm demeanor. He acts like a proper saint and still people call him foolish. The comparison then goes to Indians. During Munshiji's era, Indians were mistreated in South Africa and were barred from America. Indians were religious and maintained rigorous boundaries - they didn't drink, refrained from eating meat and were never involved in fights or shady businesses. Still, other countries pushed Indians away as they lowered the standard of living. Munshiji then wonders - if Indians begin acting like Japanese(Nippon was beginning its imperial march) - then maybe Indians will get respect in the West.

Apart from that, the author shows his remarkable observational skills in describing villages, villagers and the oxen. The oxen are humanized - they can talk and communicate with each other. The main story revolves around the numerous hardships they faced after leaving their master before finally reuniting with him. People have also drawn parallel between the plight of the two oxen and India's freedom struggle. Overall, it was another beautiful story where big things are put forward in simple language and plots.

[Subhash]

nice

[priya · Rating 5 out of 5]

दो बैलों के बीच में घनिष्ठ भाव |

[Aly Shah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A moral story.

[Ansh J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

एक छोटी और रोचक कहानी, जो पालतू जानवरों की रोज़मर्रा की ज़िंदगी और उनके द्वारा झेली जाने वाली परिस्थितियों की झलक देती है। इस कहानी से हमें एक शक्तिशाली संदेश मिलता है।

[Iseektoread · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the conversations between the Bullocks. It was sensitive and honest, reflecting on human cruelty.

I'm glad I started off with this short story.

Happy Reading!

[Utkarshj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, a happy ending !!!