बूढी काकी

by Munshi Premchand

मुंशी प्रेमचन्द की गिनती हिन्दी के सर्वश्रेष्ठ कहानी-लेखकों में की जाती है । 1880 में उनका जन्म वाराणसी के एक छोटे से गाव लमही में एक साधारण परिवार से हुआ था। उनका घर का नाम धनपतराय था। स्कूल में अध्यापन का कार्य करते हुए उन्होंने कहानियाँ और उपन्यास लिखने शुरू किये। उन्होंने सैकडों कहानियाँ और एक दर्जन के लगभग उपन्यास लिखे जिनमें से गोदान, गबन, सेवासदन, रंगभूमि, कायाकल्प और निर्मला बहुत प्रसिद्ध हैं। 1936 में उनका देहान्त हुआ। उनकी चुनी हुई रोचक, कहानियाँ चित्रों सहित प्रकाशित कर दी है ।

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Classics, Indian Literature, India, Ebooks

40 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2009

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

[Ankit Saxena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep

He is the author you never tired of reading and can't deny to took any of his books. Language he used is simplified to a level where a 5th grade student to an old person, anyone can understand it very well. Metaphor is beyond excellence. No words can express what you feel after reading him.
Munshi Premchand is really the 'Father of Hindi Novels'.

For me it's 5.0/5.0 without any doubts.

[Shabana Mukhtar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic indeed. But then, can you ever go wrong with a Premchand book? No.

Munshi Premchand narrates stories so true and painful that I feel I'm hit in the stomach. This story is nothing different. It tells us that the fire within an empty stomach lets you forget everything - your cast, your mannerisms, the difference between right and wrong. Painfully beautiful.

[Madhulika Liddle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This slim book consists of two stories, Boodhi Kaki and Hardaul Singh.

These are diametrically different stories, with very different settings, different protagonists, and different dilemmas. Boodhi Kaki is a poignant tale of an old woman, helpless and without any support except that of the household—her nephew’s—where she is now living. Even though the nephew’s wealth has come to him because of Kaki, Kaki is neglected, lonely, and unloved by all except her nephew’s little daughter.

Hardaul Singh, on the other hand, is set in the Bundela kingdom of Orchha, where the prince, Hardaul Singh, is obliged to reign while his elder brother, Jujhar Singh, is sent off to the Deccan by the Mughal emperor Shahjahan. By the time Jujhar Singh returns to Orchha a year later, Hardaul Singh has won over the hearts of the entire populace of Orchha—and, or so Jujhar Singh suspects, that of Jujhar Singh’s own wife. Jealousy, suspicion, and a thirst for vengeance ensue.

Hardaul Singh is based on popular folklore, and is a straightforward period story: interesting, well-written as Premchand’s writing always is, but not really memorable. Boodhi Kaki, on the other hand, is heartbreakingly touching, and brought tears to my eyes more than once. Even if you buy this book only to read this story, it’s worth it.

[Ankita Sahani · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's weird that I'm writing a review for a Hindi book in English and I'm ashamed to admit that I'm much more skilled in writing in English than I'm in my FREAKING mother tongue― a language that I spent my entire life speaking. (Even though technically it's not my mother tongue. And I can't even speak properly in the tongue that my grandparents spoke or even my parents speak.)

Coming to the book, Budhi Kaki by Munshi Premchand is the shortest short story that I've ever read till now. Munshi Premchand is one of the most famous writers in Hindi and his works are considered a classic.

The story revolved around an elderly women disabled with age. Her only family was her nephew, to whom she transferred the rights of all her property.

But he (and his wife and kids, except his daughter) turned to be an a-hole. They neglected her and her needs, keeping her secluded in a room. She barely got scraps for food. Things got so worse that after a tragic day, she did something really unthinkable. But it caused a change of heart of her family members.

This story broke my heart. The way budhi kaki (old aunt) was treated is so reminiscent of the actual treatment of parents and elderly in some families. My heart ached for that old lady. If anything, she deserved a little kindness and love. That's all old people need after all.

Read it, because it's short, hardly 35 pages and free on Kindle. But most importantly, read it because it's in your mother tongue. (If Hindi is your mother tongue)

[Gaurav pratap singh chauhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but subtle read

Came across this short story through kindle reccomendation. Contains two short stories which deals with morale and basic human nature. Makes us question our surroundings as usual after reading premchand. All in all a good read.

[Dr.J.G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

................................................................................................
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बूढी काकी (Boodhie Kaakie),
by Munshi Premchand, मुंशी प्रेमचंद.
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One forgets that this author's reputation was due to his superlative quality of writing, over and above language that now is so rare a treat.

The first story, that gives the small collection it's name, is heartbreaking. The horror and pathos of an old woman, forced into living with relatives who treat her I'll despite her having bequeathed her considerable wealth to them, is a universal thing that could happen anywhere, to anyone, and that it lacks any villains as such, only makes it worse.

One is reminded strongly of a similar tale from Tagore, where the old relative was dependent but took the senior position, and although the storylines are different, there is the deep similarity of helplessness of dependence of powerless.

The story is so heartbreaking, one stops reading this and goes on to other, less gripping reads, until one has gotten a little over it. But the next is just as gripping, although very different in content in almost every way. And not just heartbreaking but fills one with dismay.

Fortunately the book ends with these two. One couldn't have taken any more!
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[Philomath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting stories and beautiful writing style

His detailed explanation of human thoughts is very interesting, accurate and sometimes hillarious. The way he narrates the story makes the reader bound to it and that is one of the many things that makes his writing beautiful. The description of the subjects and the places mentioned in the story is so lively that one can feel to be in their actual presence.

[Rohit Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imporatance of our parents when they are in their old age


I have read most of the munshi premchand's stories during my childhood. Again after 15 years reading them again. And now I am getting the theme behind his stories.

[Yashaswa Fogawat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would have given it 6 out of 5 if such option was available

Premchand ji wrote the reality of every Indian household (exceptions are always there). His language is superb and he had written with such a great perfection.

[Sarita · Rating 3 out of 5]

प्रेमचंद की बूढी काकी हर उस घर की कहानी है जो परिवार में एक बूढ़े सदस्य को अपने सर पर एक भार समझता है |

इस कहानी में हमारी बूढी काकी अपने भतीजे और उसकी पत्नी पर इस तरह का सरदर्द है कि वो काकी को दो वक़्त की सुकून की रोटी भी नहीं देना चाहते हैं | बुढापे में जहाँ एक आम इंसान अपनी इन्द्रियों का बिलकुल गुलाम हो जाता है , काकी भी अपनी जिह्वा की गुलाम बन बैठती है , जिसे पढ़ना अत्यंत दुःखद प्रतीत होता है।

बूढी काकी के चंद पंक्तियों को पढ़ते ही मुझे हमारे रिश्तों की सच्चाई दिखती है - वो रिश्ते जो प्यार की झूठी लेप लगाकर , केवल अपना स्वार्थ साधने के लिए होते हैं।

इस अर्थशास्त्र की दुनिया में एवं धन के पीछे अँधा हुआ हर इंसान की बस एक ही आवाज है जो इस सृष्टि में कुछ इस तरह गूंजती है - तुम्हारी क़द्र सिर्फ तब तक है , जब तक तुम धन पैदा करने वाली एक मशीन हो , जिस दिन वो मशीन बंद हुई , तुम एक कचड़े एक डिब्बे में सड़ते रहो , हमें कोई परवाह नहीं |

पर इस धन के पीछे अंधी दुनिया के बीच में ही , कोई लाड़ली जैसी भी होती है , जो अपनी बूढी काकी के लिए प्यार और स्नेह रखती है , शायद वो काफी होता होगा , काकी को अपनी भूख की तड़प को सहने में |

ये कहानी साथ में इंसान की गुलामी भी दिखाती है ~ जवानी में धन , यश , कीर्ति , क्रोध का गुलाम , तो बुढ़ापे में जब सब छीन गया तो अपनी इन्द्रियों का गुलाम |

हमारी सारी जिंदगी ही गुलामी में निकल जाती है , और हमें मालूम ही नहीं पड़ता ||

बूढी काकी के साथ ही एक और कहानी है - हरदौल सिंह , जो एक वीर भाई की कहानी है जो हसते हसते अपने भाई के अंधे झूठ को ख़तम करने के लिए और अपनी भाभी की गरिमा पर आंच ना आने पाए , अपनी जान दे देते
है |

प्रेमचंद की कहानी आज भी नयी और सादगी से भरपूर है , ये कहानियां बरसों पहले समाज का आइना दिखाती है , पर सच तो ये है कि हम और हमारा ये समाज आज भी इन कहानियों के शीशे में खुद को देख सकता है , बस रूप और पात्र बदल जाते हैं ||

बूढी काकी कहानी पर प्रसार भारती ���्वारा टीवी प्रोग्राम-

[Readersacuity · Rating 5 out of 5]

बुढ़ापा बच्चों की तरह होता है। जिस प्रकार बचपन में मन विचलित रहता है, उसी प्रकार की स्थिति बुढ़ापे में होती है। यह कहानी बुढ़ापे की स्थिति का वर्णन करने के साथ बुजुर्गों के साथ होने वाले व्यवहार का वर्णन करती है।
प्रेमचंद को पढ़कर कभी भी कोई इनकी कहानियों को बुरा नहीं कह सकता, हर एक मॉड पीआर कोई और कोई सीख होती है, भावनाएं होती हैं या समाज की सच्ची घटनाओं से प्रेरित होकर इनकी कहानियों की रचना होती है...❤️

[Keshav Singhal · Rating 5 out of 5]

बूढी काकी

बुढ़ापा बच्चों की तरह होता है। जिस प्रकार बचपन में मन विचलित रहता है, उसी प्रकार की स्थिति बुढ़ापे में होती है। यह कहानी बुढ़ापे की स्थिति का वर्णन करने के साथ बुजुर्गों के साथ होने वाले व्यवहार का वर्णन करती है। बूढी काकी कहानी का अंत सुखदाई है।

[PREEYA NEGI · Rating 5 out of 5]

अक्सर माँ को कहते सुना था कि एक बूढ़ा व्यक्ति एक छोटे बच्चे के समान ही है। ये कहानी पढ़कर माँ की बात पर और गहरा विश्वास हो गया और समझ आया कि आसपास के बुजुर्गों के साथ कैसे धैर्य दिखाना चाहिए। दिल को छू जाने वाली रचना है।

[Nidhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Premchand -:stories with morals and full emotions.

Premchand ko padhkar kabhi bhi koi inki kahaniyo ko bura nahi keh sakta, har ek mod pr koi n koi seekh hoti hai, emotions hote hai or samaj ki sachi ghatnao se prerit hokar inki kahaniyo ki sanrachana hoti hai...❤️

[Reema · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Everyone should know about our Hindi literature.. We are loosing touch with our language... Premchand books are very vivid and describes everything in great detail

[Pradeep Kumar Dewani · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of epic from Munshi Premchand .. He is real legend of Hindi Literature

[Anandita Dhall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice

Nice to read. Good to go for Indian reader and quite emotional made me cry with budhi kaki. You can enjoy the read

[Laxmi narain rawat · Rating 5 out of 5]

inspiring

jeevan me naitik mullyon aur ek saddhantik pustak.........hame in baato par veechar avashya karna chaiye aur ho sake to nibhanaa bhi....

[Dharam Lal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good books

Is book se hame shiksha milta h ki bujurgo ka hame khyal rakhna chahiye.
It's our duty to care our old parents

[Amit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great 2 store by premchand.... It's too much awesome story

[Gunjan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tears welled up in my eyes while reading this book.

[Sury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple, short.

It's like typical Hindi story, with lots of over head narrative. For Hindi lovers it's good to read such story with extended emotions.

[Nand Kishor Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

बहुत सुंदर मार्मिक कहानी। बेहतरीन शब्द चयन और परिदृश्य का निर्माण।
प्रेमचंद की श्रेष्ठ कहानियों में से एक।

[Jayrajsinh Rana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice

[Vishesh Dudheria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was in our course during school days

[Akrabar · Rating 5 out of 5]

a great story

[Akashdeep Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

हृदय परिवर्तन

[Deepak · Rating 5 out of 5]

मार्मिक कथा। कैसे इंसान बुढ़ा होने के बाद अक्सर अपने आप को असहाय स्तिथि में पता है।
मुंशी प्रेमचंद जी को नमन ऐसी प्रस्तुति के लिए।

[KISHORE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two short stories with big impactful messages. They portray the greatness of the writer Shri Munshi Premchand. Absolutely recommend it for starting point of Hindi Literature.

[Saurabh Singhal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gut wrenching