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Kayakalp (कायाकल्प)
Literature
200 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
18 people are currently reading
191 people want to read
About the author
Munshi Premchand
1,156 books1,159 followersMunshi 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 31, 2024
A novel first published 98 years ago talks about social issues which are still relevant; shame on our regressive society.
I didn’t realize Premchand wrote exciting epic tales with twists and turns. I appreciate the restless souls of most characters; it’s easy to understand why Premchand remains such a revered writer.
I didn’t realize Premchand wrote exciting epic tales with twists and turns. I appreciate the restless souls of most characters; it’s easy to understand why Premchand remains such a revered writer.
July 8, 2020
A nice one time read
January 29, 2025
Through Kayakalp, Premchand again tries to delve into the intricacies of human behaviour.Subtlety not it's strength, but the abrupt transformations in the behaviours of its characters subject to different circumstances do remind us of the fickle nature of the human thought process. Also the book delves into the constant tussle between the duties of a human and the worldly temptations, and how some overcome it with the path of reclusion while some live with it and navigate life with all they got at their disposal.
August 4, 2024
I am in awe after finishing the book. There are so many questions. So many unfinished stories within this story.🤯
I wish there was more.
I was hoping for more of Dev Priya's story.. I wanted Ahilya to have more regrets.
I wish there was more.
I was hoping for more of Dev Priya's story.. I wanted Ahilya to have more regrets.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2024
Definitely not the best of Munshi Premchand but still the language was good. There were unnecessary explanations and characters which were not required. The storyline was not much exciting throughout but had some good turns and twists
June 16, 2022
Good language (obviosuly it's Premchand) it keeps you involved with the characters. Overall a complete story, which makes you think about life choices.
August 10, 2025
कायाकल्प मुंशी प्रेमचंद की एक और गहरी और सोचने पर मजबूर कर देने वाली रचना है। जैसा कि उनकी बाकी कृतियों में भी देखने को मिलता है, यहाँ भी समाज, मनुष्य की मानसिकता, और नैतिक संघर्षों को बेहद सरल लेकिन प्रभावशाली अंदाज़ में पेश किया गया है।
इस उपन्यास में प्रेमचंद जी ने धन, मोह, रिश्तों और इंसान की मूल प्रकृति को लेकर कई परतों में बात की है। पात्रों का निर्माण बहुत संतुलित है, हर किरदार की अपनी सोच और भूमिका है, और उनकी आपसी टकराहट ही कहानी को आगे बढ़ाती है।
गोदान, गबन, वर्दान या प्रेमाश्रम की तरह इसमें भी संवादों की गहराई, भावनाओं की सच्चाई और सामाजिक सच्चाइयों की छवि देखने को मिलती है।
इस उपन्यास में प्रेमचंद जी ने धन, मोह, रिश्तों और इंसान की मूल प्रकृति को लेकर कई परतों में बात की है। पात्रों का निर्माण बहुत संतुलित है, हर किरदार की अपनी सोच और भूमिका है, और उनकी आपसी टकराहट ही कहानी को आगे बढ़ाती है।
गोदान, गबन, वर्दान या प्रेमाश्रम की तरह इसमें भी संवादों की गहराई, भावनाओं की सच्चाई और सामाजिक सच्चाइयों की छवि देखने को मिलती है।
July 18, 2023
Amazing Story.
Kept me hooked all the time. Premchand is real genius. The portrayal of characters is over the top.
It's about the what choices we make and in turn how they affect us in the long time.
It questions a lot about our emotions and choices and some extent of existentialism.
Brilliantly written.
Kept me hooked all the time. Premchand is real genius. The portrayal of characters is over the top.
It's about the what choices we make and in turn how they affect us in the long time.
It questions a lot about our emotions and choices and some extent of existentialism.
Brilliantly written.
March 28, 2015
one of the best book ...........................
October 5, 2016
This book is intricately written ! another great work of the great Hindi Writer Premchand !
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews