गबन

by Munshi Premchand

This is a Hindi literary classic.

Genres: Fiction, Classics, Indian Literature, India, Novels, Audiobook, Literature

323 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1931

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

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has just become one of my all-time favourites.

The story is about a man whose life is swayed by people of authority as well as his wrong notions about the people he knew. He didn't have a mind of his own, got easily scared about the consequences of his actions but who didn't have the courage to fight for them when things actually went wrong. Because of his irresponsible actions, he didn't know how he was actually causing harm to his family and got himself caught up in situations none could get him out of.

The writing discussed gender equality, abolishment of cruel traditions against women, education. It portrayed beautifully female friendships, the concept of acceptance and found family, as well as how innocent lives get manipulated by the people in authority.

The ending is quite rushed and some of the characters needed proper closure to their stories. However, I feel character development and how the story progressed aren't something I expected to turn out really good.

Content warnings for self-harm, infidelity

The translation is done well I feel.

[Anshul Gaurav · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Gaban' (embezzlement) was my second book by Premchand, it was perhaps, my second Hindi novel.
This may come as a surprise to my Western peers but such is the sorry state of affairs of Hindi literature in the most predominantly Hindi speaking region of the world. Even here, you would do well just knowing the names of Hindi works. Even though this is not supposed to be a write up on the state of my mother tongue in my motherland, I do consider it as my duty, as a student of literature, to bring forth the precious gems the masters from my motherland have bestowed upon us.

Gaban is right up there with the best. Broadly speaking, it is a story about a man who, blinded in his love for his wife, tries to leave no stone unturned to satisfy her lust for jewels. Even he knowns that he does not have the means to do so but in order to hide his incapacity in front of his wife he gets muddled up in debt and finally an unwanted misappropriation of Government funds. Doing so, he loses all hope in his ability to recover and runs without asking his family(wife) for help. Premchand weaves a heart rendering and extremely interesting concoction between his wife, desperate to find her husband and he, desperate to get out of this cycle of guilt.

A woman's love for jewels is the single most recurring theme throughout the plot. Besides, Premchand has expounded on the socio economic problems and a man's psychology in dealing with the same. He also brings to limelight the issues of corruption, plight of women and poor in the society. Premchand's writings help us to understand the structure of our country especially of its rural hinterland and most of the issues discussed are almost as valid today as they were in pre independence era.

For all my friends worried about being able to read and comprehend the complex Hindi, let me reassure you the language used is quite understandable though you may find your mother's inputs valuable.

The thing I liked about this novel when compared to Nirmala, is that unlike Nirmala its not an all gloom and doom story. And you won't fail to notice that Premchand does make his women quite central and powerful, perhaps he always believed in the importance of their role in society.

[Piyush Bhatia · Rating 5 out of 5]

हिंदी साहित्य की अप्रतीम कृति

पुस्तक ब्रिटिश भारत के युग में निम्न मध्यवर्गीय भारतीय युवाओं के बीच गिरते नैतिक मूल्यों का वर्णन करती है; एक व्यक्ति किस तरह से ऊंचाई व कुलीन वर्ग की दुनिया तक पहुंच सकता है, एवं किस प्रकार अमीर व्यक्ति के रूप में उस झूठी छवि को बनाए रख सकता है।

भारतीय समाज और उनकी संस्कृति में अंतर्दृष्टि प्राप्त करने के इच्छुक किसी भी व्यक्ति के लिए यह एक उत्कृष्ट पुस्तक है|

5/5

English review:

The book shows the declining moral and ethical values ​​among the middle-class Indian youth in British India, how they can reach the world of the elite via swindling, and the false image of an affluent man that they try to maintain.

I observed one similarity in this book to the book "Crime and Punishment" (Cited as one of the supreme achievements in literature) :
A prostitute can offer salvation to a man

A masterpiece of Hindi literature!!

[Avinash · Rating 5 out of 5]

प्रेमचंद जी के लेखन की सबसे बड़ी विशेषता है कि यह वास्तविकता के बेहद समीप है, और यह पुस्तक भी इसका अपवाद नहीं है। कहानी बहुत ही सरल और सीधी है - जिसका प्रारम्भ होता है कहानी की मुख्य नायिका जालपा के बचपन में ही हुए चन्द्रहार के प्रेम से परन्तु एक मध्यम-वर्गीय परिवार में विवाह होने के कारण उसकी यह अभिलाषा विवाह के समय पूर्ण नहीं हो पाती। उसका पति और कहानी का नायक रमानाथ उस से प्रेम तो करता है परन्तु उसे अपनी और अपने घर की परिस्थिति बताने में संकोच करता है। इसी कारण वह अपनी रइसीयत के झूठे किस्से बनाता है। परन्तु यह कथन कि "झूठ से कभी किसी का भला नहीं होता" अक्षरशः सत्य सिद्ध होता है और रमा अपनी तरफ से यथा-सम्भव प्रयास करने के पश्चात भी एक के बाद एक गहरे संकट में पड़ता जाता है। उसके बाद घटनाक्रम किस प्रकार नए करवट लेता है वही इस पुस्तक का कथानक है। जहाँ कहानी का प्रथम भाग प्रयाग (इलाहाबाद) का है वही दूसरा चरण मुख्यतः कलकत्ते का है, हाँ! समापन वापस प्रयाग में ही होता है।

जैसा कि मैंने पहले कहा प्रेमचंद जी का कथानक ही नहीं अपितु उनके द्वारा कृत सभी चरित्र भी वास्तविक होते हैं। कहानी के दो मुख्य पात्रों के अलावा कुछ प्रमुख चरित्र हैं - जालपा की मित्र रतन जो की एक धनी महिला हैं परन्तु उनके भी जीवन की एक अलग ही व्यथा है। उसके अलावा कलकत्ते में रमा के सुख दुःख के साथी और परिजन समान देवीदीन और उसकी पत्नी जग्गो और अंततः ज़ोहरा।

हर व्यक्ति विशेष में अच्छे और बुरे गुण होते हैं और वह परिस्थितियों और अपनी सोच के अनुकूल व्यवहार करता है इसीलिए किसी को भी उसके मात्र कुछ कर्मों के आधार पर अच्छा या बुरा ठहराना उचित नहीं है।

रमानाथ जहाँ पहले एक गैर ज़िम्मेदार व्यक्तित्व का स्वामी था वह विवाह, प्रेम और ज़िम्मेदारियों के अनुसार स्वयं को काफी बदलता है परन्तु फिर भी उसमें कुछ कमियां हैं, उदाहरण स्वरुप - लोगों पर विश्वास ना करना, दूरदर्शिता की कमी और परीस्थितियों का सामना करने के स्थान पर उनसे भागना।

उसी प्रकार जो जालपा कथानक के प्रारम्भ में गहनों को सर्वोपरी समझती है और उन्ही में उसका सबसे बड़ा सुख है, उसमें स्थिति का बोध होने के पश्चात आया परिवर्तन सराहनीय है। सच कहा जाये तो पुस्तक के सभी किरदारों में सबसे ज्यादा चरित्र-परिवर्तन और विकास जालपा का ही हुआ है। वैसे भी प्रेमचंद जी की कहानियों में महिलाओं को हमेशा एक विशेष ही दर्ज़ा मिलता है, फिर चाहे वो "गोदान" की धनिया या मालती देवी हों या फिर "निर्मला" की शीर्षक पात्र।

रतन और जग्गो की कहानी भी कुछ ऐसी ही है। जहाँ रतन पहले एक-एक रुपयों का मोल करने वाली होती है वही अपनी मित्र के संकट काल में उसके मना करने पर भी उसकी यथा सम्भव सहायता करती है। वहीँ जग्गो और रमा, जो एक दूसरे को पसंद नहीं करते थे, बस एक छोटे परन्तु हृदयस्पर्शी वार्तालाप के बाप उनके मध्य माँ - बेटे जैसा प्रेम हो जाता है।

परन्तु जिस चरित्र ने मेरे ऊपर सबसे ज्यादा छाप छोड़ी वह है ज़ोहरा। उसकी प्रविष्टि कथानक में सबसे आखिर में होती है और उसके पात्र को ऊपर लिखित सभी पत्रों से कम पृष्ठ मिले हैं, परन्तु कहानी का उपसंहार उसकी महत्वता को दर्शाता है।

अगर प्रेमचंद जी की लेखन शैली की बात करें तो उसके विषय में कुछ कहने की कुछ विशेष आवश्यकता नहीं है। जितने सरल-सादे और प्रभावी तरीके से उन्होंने यह कथा कही है उसका कोई सानी नहीं है। हालाँकि मुझे कुछ स्थानों पर कुछ भावों का दोहराव थोड़ा सा ज्यादा लगा, जिसमें रमानाथ का अंतर्द्व्न्द मुख्य है परन्तु शायद वह कथानक की आवश्यकता थी।

इसके साथ ही पूरी पुस्तक में कई सारे ऐसे कथन हैं जो आपको विचार करने पर विवश कर देते हैं या जीवन ज्ञान देते हैं, और कभी कभी अपने जीवन में भी अक्षरशः सत्य लगते हैं उनमे से कुछ –

“रमा के मनोल्लास की सीमा न थी, किन्तु यह विशुद्ध उल्लास न था, इसमें एक शंका का भी समावेश था। यह उस बालक का आनंद न था जिसने माता से पैसे मांगकर मिठाई ली हो; बल्कि उस बालक का, जिसने पैसे चुराकर ली हो, उसे मिठाइयां मीठी तो लगती हैं, पर दिल काँपता रहता है कि कहीं घर चलने पर मार न पड़ने लगे।“

“जालपा ने वह कांच का चन्द्रहार निकाला जिसे एक दिन पहनकर उसने अपने को धन्य माना था। पर अब इस नए चन्द्रहार के सामने उसकी चमक उसी भाँति मंद पड़ गयी थी, जैसे इस निर्मल चंद्रज्योति के सामने तारों का आलोक। उसने उस नकली हार को तोड़ डाला और उसके दानों को नीचे गली में फेंक दिया, उसी भाँति जैसे पूजन समाप्त हो जाने के बाद कोई उपासक मिट्टी की मूर्तियों को जल में विसर्जित कर देता है।”

“बिना विश्वास के प्रेम हो ही कैसे ��कता है? जिससे तुम अपनी बुरी-से-बुरी बात न कह सको, उससे तुम प्रेम नहीं कर सकते।”

“वह वेदना जो अब तक मूर्छित पड़ी थी, शीतल जल के यह छींटे पाकर सचेत हो गयी और उसके क्रंदन ने रमा के सारे अस्तित्व को जैसे छेद डाला। इसी क्रंदन के भय से वह उसे छेड़ता न था, उसे सचेत करने कि चेष्टा न करता था। संयत विस्मृति से उसे अचेत ही रखना चाहता था, मानो कोई दुःखिनी माता अपने बालक को इसीलिए जगाते डरती हो कि वह तुरंत खाने को माँगने लगेगा।”

“प्रेम कि रोटियों में अमृत रहता है, अम्मां! चाहे गेहूँ कि हों या बाजरे की।”

“रुदन में कितना उल्लास, कितनी शांति, कितना बल है। जो कभी एकांत में बैठकर, किसी की स्मृति में, किसी के वियोग में, सिसक-सिसक और बिलख-बिलख नहीं रोया, वह जीवन के ऐसे सुख से वंचित है, जिस पर सैकड़ों हँसियां न्योछावर हैं। उस मीठी वेदना का आनंद उन्हीं से पूछो, जिन्होंने यह सौभाग्य प्राप्त किया है।"

इसी तरह की कई और पंक्तियाँ भी इस पुस्तक की शोभा हैं परन्तु उन सब को लिखना यहाँ सम्भव नहीं, इनके और उस मार्मिक अंत के कारण जो एक अलग तरह का प्रभाव छोड़ के जाता है एक अतिरिक्त सितारा :)

और मै इस समीक्षा का समापन पुस्तक की अपनी सबसे पसंदीदा पंक्ति के साथ करूँगा -

"एक शक्ति आगे खींचती थी, एक पीछे। आगे की शक्ति में कर्तव्य था, निराशा थी, बलिदान था। पीछे की शक्ति में अनुराग था, स्नेह था, बंधन था। बन्धन ने रोक लिया। वह लौट पड़ा।"

P.S. धन्यवाद बन्धु आपके बिना यह मित्र-पठन इतना सुखद नहीं होता :)

[Spirit-Soul-Body · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read very few by Munshi Premchand but whatever i could was worth it. "Gaban" was one of the first to introduce me to Premchand's world. thereafter I always look for an opportunity to read and latest I stumble on columbia university arts students's love and study of Hindi literature where obviously they had eye on premchand aka "the shakespeare of hindi literature".

Gaban means stealing. person loves his wife and tries to hide his gaban of money.
It is interesting to see how premchand's style of storytelling differs from book to book.

[Saranga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such powerful female characters in the novel be it Jalpa, Ratan or even the vegetable seller Jaggo. It’s the women who rule and give a direction to the story. I can never understand why we are not exposed to these classics while at school, these writings which depict our society in years gone by will still resonate more strongly than Victorian London in Charles Dickens’ novels. Premchand sadly has never got his rightful place in Indian literature. He needs to be read and celebrated more.

[S.Ach · Rating 3 out of 5]

हिंदी साहित्य के कुछ चुनिंदा उपन्यास original lanugage में ही पढ़ना चाहता था। लेकिन हिंदी साहित्य में मेरी जानकारी कुछ कम ही है । इसीलिए मैंने वही किया जो आज कल सब करते हैं, जब कोई भी चीज़ जान ने की इच्छा होती है। Not Google, But Youtube :) वहां पे मुझे हिंदी साहित्य में रूचि रखने वाली एक बहुत अच्छी Youtuber मिली। वहीँ से मुझे गबन पढ़ने की सलाह मिली।

हिंदी साहित्यके सबसे प्रसिद्द लेखक प्रेमचंद को कौन नहीं जानता ? मैंने उनकी काफी कहानियां English Translation में पढ़ चूका हूँ। किन्तु मेरा तो यह मानना है की अगर कोई भी किताब उस की original form में पढ़ी जा सकती है, तो translation का सहारा न लिया जाये तो अच्छा है। लेखक का असली उद्देय्स तो उस के स्वभाबिक भाषा में ही प्रतिफलित होती है।

गबन की कहानी मुझे सिर्फ एक साधारण सी कहानी लगी। हालाकी कहानी pre-independence era की है, लेकिन उस में ब्रिटिश राज या फिर उस दौर की स्वाधीनता संग्राम का उल्लेख नहीं है। इस से यह साबित होता है के, उस समयकी सोच सिर्फ ब्रिटिश बिरोधी नहीं थी। गबन, यानि Embezzlement की कहानी है सरकारी काम करनेवाला एक नौजबान की जो अपने पत्नी की जेबर की मोह के लिए कुछ ऐसे अपराध कर बैठता है, जिस की दलदल से निकलना उसके लिए बहुत कठीन हो जाता है। कहानी की मुख्य पात्र होती है उसकी पत्नी जो एक आदर्शवादी और उदारता नारी है, और वह अपने पति को वापस पाने के लिए कोई भी हद तक जाने में संकोच नहीं करती।

आज कल में fiction कम ही पढ़ता हूँ। मुझे उस तरह की किताबें पसंद है, जो या तो मुझे सोचने पे मजबूर कर दे, या फिर मुझे बीते दौर के कुछ ऐसी चीज़ों से वाकिफ करवाए जो मैं पहले से नहीं जनता था, या फिर कहानी में कुछ ऐसा हो जो में अपने आप से बहुत relate कर सकूँ । सिर्फ अच्छी कहानी या साहित्य रस के लिए उपन्यास पढ़ना मुझे आज कल इतना गंवारा नहीं है । गबन सिर्फ एक अच्छी कहानी है और इसकी कुछ घटनाक्रम ऐसे नाटकीय है, जिसे relate कर पाना थोड़ा मुश्किल है। उपन्यास की खासियत यही है के, यह बहुत ही सहज भाषा में लिखी गयी है, जो पाठक को ज्यादा मुश्किल पे नहीं डालती। सायद वही प्रेमचंद साहित्य की खासियत है - समाज का चित्र एक सहज रूप में बर्णन करना।

[Gorab · Rating 3 out of 5]

My rating - 3/5

This is my first book by Premchand and I liked it more because of easy hindi words and simplistic narration. The characters and situations are realistic and convincing. Easier to connect for Indian readers and gives an insight into rural Indian culture and lifestyle for other readers as well.
Its the story of a poor rural Indian family. While the wife(like most Indian women) is very much obsessed with owning more and more gold ornaments, the husband struggles to meet the household needs but never reveals the true financial situation to his wife. Instead he keeps boasting of lots of wealth to earn his pride and to weave false dreams for his wife. In order to show off his opulence, he buys gold ornaments on credit which becomes the starting point to force him to manipulate many other things .

Sharing some interesting one liners from this book:

"Bhekh aur bheekh mein sanatan se mitrata hai."

"Vijay bahirmukhi hoti hai, parajay antarmukhi."

"Bahudha humare jeevan par unhi ke haathon kathortam aaghaat hota hai, jo humare sachche hitaishi hote hain."

"Karz lene waale bala ke himmati hote hain."

"Lajja ne sadaiv veeron ko parast kiya hai. Jo kaal se bhi nahi darte, ve bhi lajja ke saamne khade hone ki himmat nahi karte."

[findingnimi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read the short version of Gaban. Story is of old times.

[Ankit Saxena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finest Littérateur..

With Every other novel, Munshi Premchand had proved that he is far ahead of the time in comparison to his other fellow Novelist/Authors.
The words and the sense he had quoted was in its complete Logic and way ahead of its Time. the thoughts that he had given to its characters were suits now a days and were very much Avoidable at his time of writing these books. But His thoughts made him "A Writer worth to Read". This is why he is been seek as the Father of Literature and surpasses many more of his fellow writers.

To discuss the story has never been my style while reviewing but I must feel like doing it this time in brief at-least.

The Complete story is based on the Character of Ramanath even though when every other character seems equally important and powerful to cast the story in its perfect form. The Theme is "Embezzlement". Jalpa, the female lead has been shown very realistic and the character of Ratan proved that the thought of 'Women-Empowerment' lying in the author's mind since that time and he felt it so important in his perspective for the society to its development. However, the time of completion of this novel was the one when the Parda-pratha (Purdah System) was on its very much high in INDIA. The conversation between Ramanath and the Adv. was true to its point and factual.

Morals has always been the part of his stories and his stories are the true picture of rural India at that time (1931). The Late 20's and early 30's of the last century habitats the conservative societies and the Growth to Women on social ground were not appropriate as it should had to be for the better world we could have got now, if was similar to what was explained in this novel about the character of Ratan.

I really had impressed with his writings, as always; and feel that we need more writers like him today of his aura and Level.
He is my all time favorite and I really suggest him to be the MUST part of academics in Hindi-Literature of every regional and central Boards in INDIA.

Powerful writing and factual Thoughts.

For me it deserves: 5.0/5.0

[Priyanka Dixit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing depiction of emotions and great use of hindi words at all the places. He has shown a very true picture of Indian traditional society of 70s and before. Inspired me to read more of hindi sahitya. Storyline is good , but not to relate with current situations, as it was written many years back.

[Divya Pal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gem of a story – how a woman’s vanity and greed for jewellery leads to her husband’s ruin. It shows how a wimpy man’s milquetoast life is impacted by three strong women in his life – Jalpa, Ratan and Zohra. The narrative never slackens. Despite the title of the book being गबन – embezzlement – the epic also looks at police venality and corruption, bureaucratic red-tape, caste and untouchability in pre-Independent India.
I found Premchand’s use of Persian, Arabic and Turkish words rather tiresome e.g. बिसाती मकदूर मुलम्मे माजून मीज़ान ��ालिश ग़ाफिल मुदा महसूल तहसील हलफ ज़हीन इजलास अहलमद शोहदा दोज़ख मुचलका महरूम दरोग़-बयानी, but I suppose, that was the lingua franca at that time, before Hindi/Devnagri become the national language.
Some aphorisms that are used, I could not comprehend

मियां की जूती मियां की चांद, तबेले की बला बदंर के सिर गई।
दमड़ी की हंडिया खोकर कुत्तों की जात तो पहचान ली जायगी

I found this term hilarious and apt: चपर-गट्टू
Some of his lyrical descriptions

शिवलिंग के ऊपर रखे हुए घट में क्या वह प्रवाह है, तरंग है, नाद है, जो सरिता में है?
भादों का महीना था। पृथ्वी और जल में रण छिडाहुआ था। जल की सेनाएं वायुयान पर चढ़कर आकाश से जल-शरों की वर्षा कर रही थीं। उसकी थल-सेनाओं ने पृथ्वी पर उत्पात मचा रक्खा था।
मानो प्रभात की सुनहरी ज्योति उसके रोम-रोम में व्याप्त हो रही है।
रमा की दशा इस समय उस शिकारी की-सी थी, जो हिरनी को अपने शावकों के साथ किलोल करते देखकर तनी हुई बंदूक कंधो पर रख लेता है,और वह वात्सल्य और प्रेम की क्रीडा देखने में तल्लीन हो जाता है।
भादों का महीना था। पृथ्वी और जल में रण छिडा हुआ था। जल की सेनाएं वायुयान पर चढ़कर आकाश से जल-शरों की वर्षा कर रही थीं।

What was irritating in the Kindle version were the innumerable typographic errors – To the extent I was not sure whether they were errors or some Persian word; even the context they were found in did not elucidate the meaning.

[प्रिया वर्मा · Rating 5 out of 5]

'गबन' उपन्यास की मेरी यह दूसरी बार की पढ़न थी. बरसात के किसी महीने के एक दृश्य से आरम्भ हुई कथा बरसात के ही एक महीने में समाप्त होती है, जहाँ गंगा के रौद्र रूप से थल जल में समाता प्रतीत होता है और लोहित नभ मूक दर्शक बना मृत्यु का साक्षी बना दिखता है. नायक भीरु किन्तु प्रेमी प्रवृत्ति का नवयुवक रमानाथ है, जो म्युनिसिपल ऑफिस में कुछ सैकड़े का हेरफेर में ऐसा फंसता है कि उस के चरित्र की नियति में गबन , परस्त्री गमन और फ़र्ज़ी गवाह तक सब समाया है.
यह एक ऐसा सुखांत और दुःखान्त दोनों हैं- जिसकी नायिका जालपा है, जो आद्योपान्त अपना प्रभाव बनाए रहती है. और नायक को बाइज़्ज़त बचा निकालती है, और उसका डूबा हुआ आत्म गौरव भी खींच निकालती है- मानो वह किसी खाई में गिर गया था.
मैं इस कथानक के विषय में क्या ही टिप्पणी रख सकती हूँ- इतनी प्रवीण तो नहीं, किन्तु मेरे विचार से लगभग एक सदी के पहले लिखे इस तरह के स्त्री-प्रधान कथानकों का समाज में स्त्री चेतना के जागरण और पुनरुत्थान में सबसे महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभाई होगी. हालांकि यह उपन्यास क्लासिक्स में से है- और स्नातक अथवा उत्तरोत्तर पाठ्यक्रम में सम्मिलित अवश्य है- फिर भी भारतीय समाज में आज भी पाठक समुदाय की भीषण कमी है.
कुल मिलाकर एक जागृति कारक उपन्यास है, बहुत स्पष्ट, सुगठित और उद्देश्यपूर्ण भी. मुझे लगता है कि हर किताब को पढ़ने की पहली और दूसरी या तीसरी किश्त की उम्रें होती हैं- सो इस लिहाज़ से इस उपन्यास को पंद्रह -सोलह बरस की उम्र में पहली बार पढ़ ही लेना यथोचित है.

कुल जमा लब्बोलुआब यह कि आदमी बुरा या अच्छा परिस्थितिवश बनता या बिगड़ जाता है. वही पुतले सा काठ मृत्यु के हाथों में फंसे धागों पर नाचता और नाच समेटने पर विवश हो जाता है.
इति.

[Rubal Mittal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who hasn't heard the name of Munshi Premchand? But have you heard of his books other than Godan? There was a time when even I was guilty of this literary blasphemy.
Gaban, meaning embezzlement, is a book first published in 1930. That's 90 years of anticipated change in society. But alas, the book caters to the same issues widespread in the society, even now.
Greed for material things like jewelry, flattery and lies to showcase and be part of elite class, lies, deceit, corruption in public officials, and losing moral values for short termed material game.

The most gratifying element of the book is the representation of female characters. They are the real heroes. Be in Jalpa, Ratna, Johra or Jaggo. They stand stronger in front of the male characters and provide the direction to the storyline.

Premchand paints a vivid image of the society, the situations and emotions and develops beautiful character arcs with a depth, enough to drown most of the 21st century modern writers.

[Sundarraj Kaushik · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book offers a very good insight into how corruption seeps into the lives of ordinary citizens. How greed and lust drive men and women to become corrupt and succumb to temptations of easy money.
The protagonist Rama is a simple villager who wants to idle away his time by playing chess and spending time with his friends. His father is a straightforward man who has never taken bribe in his life and has struggled to make ends meet.
He is married to Jalpa who is a beauty and has an unfulfilled craving for jewels. Rama's father has already taken a lot of credit to conduct the marriage with lots of fanfare. He is struggling to pay back the creditors. Rama slyly takes away the jewels that Jalpa has brought from her parent's place to repay the creditors. The whole family hides this truth from here saying that the jewels were stolen. The loss of the jewels along with Rama's exaggeration of his family's wealth, further fuels her expectations.
Soon Rama is forced to take a job as a clerk in an octroi department. He realizes that he can make more money that his salary by taking bribes. He falls into his habit. He gets into the habit of dressing opulently. This leads the jewelers to believe that he has lot of wealth and they start giving him jewels on credit. At first he resists based on the advice from his friend, but soon he succumbs to the temptation and to the pressure from his wife. Soon he finds himself deep in debt. His ego prevents him from confessing this to his family or to his wife.
Meanwhile his wife, now that she has jewels, has started moving around in the society. She comes across a simple lady who is the wife of an old rich lawyer and lives a big bungalow. They become friendly and the lady asks Rama to buy a bracelet similar to the one with his wife. Rama finds that no jeweler is willing to entertain him now that he has not repaid his debt. He uses the money given by the lady to pay off part of his debt assuming that the jeweler will make the bracelet. Once bitten twice shy, the jeweler keeps putting off Rama and does not make the bracelet.
Now the lady starts demanding either the bracelet or the money back, putting Rama in a tight situation. One day he is in charge of the monies collected at the octroi and on the spur of the moment he decides to take the money and goes home with that cash. He tells his wife that he has managed to get back the lady's money from the jeweler and goes for a walk. In the meantime the lady comes and the wife gives the money to her. When he comes home he realizes the disaster. He tries to get back the money from the lady, but fear and his ego do not let him ask for the money.
The next day morning her writes a letter to his wife explaining the situation and runs off and boards a train to Calcutta without any ticket.
In the train he meets an old man who pays for his ticket and also takes him to his home in Calcutta and gives him shelter. Rama behaves like a brahmin and wins the trust of the old man and his wife. He does not venture out during the day for the fear that the police would see and take him away for embezzlement.
In the meantime the wife reads the letter and she sells off the jewels to pay off the debts and the monies to the octroi office. She desperately seeks to find him and wishes to lead a reformed life, but he never gets in touch with her.
The first day he sets off from the old man's home during the day he encounters the police and they take him as they see him trying to avoid them. He confesses to have embezzled funds from the octroi office in Allahabad. The police call up the Allahabad police to see if there is any charge against him and find none. They also call up the octroi office to find that there is no case against Rama. But they are looking to prove to have solved some cases of dacoity in the area and are looking for somebody who can implicate a few people who they have arrested. They find Rama suitable and scare into giving a false testimony.
In the meantime his wife comes to know through the octroi office that Rama is in Calcutta and comes in search of him and learns of his situation from the old man. She manages to sneak a letter to Rama saying that he has no cause to be scared and can stop giving false statements and come back to Prayag. But the police play on his fear and continue to keep plying him with goodies and keep him as their witness.
When the case concludes with death sentence for one of the accused, Jalpa goes to the man's place and starts helping their family.
Eventually she manages to give Rama enough courage to defy the police and withdraw his false testimonies.
The book is about greed and lust for jewels. Premchand has analyzed the Indian mind well and he is right in saying that it is lust for jewels combined with fear that makes many Indians corrupt. One can see this phenomenon even today. And there is no end to the greed of man. 100 crores, 1000 crores (God knows how many zeros are there in these numbers) does not seem sufficient for people to say enough is enough.

[Jayank · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gaban is the story of a scared man child, Ramanath that comes into his own when life blesses him with a wife, Jalpa who has a moral conscience and spirit to do what’s right even when the consequences are adverse.

It is a story and a life lesson of how the lure of worldly vices and short term gains can shroud your understanding of morality and principles you base your character on. It teaches you that running away in the face of adversity rarely provides a long term solution and the only respite is actually trying to live with it.

The complexity of Jalpa unravels as the book progresses, from a spoiled daddy’s princess to a woman with a moral compass so high that she sacrificed her worldly comforts to do what’s right and did not have any spite inside her despite it all.

As my reviews usually go, I’ll quote some instances from the book but i haven’t done a good job noting them this time and now that i look back they’re all morbid.

दुखी के लिए स्वर्ग भी दुखी है

जीवन एक दीर्घ पश्चाताप के अलावा और क्या है?

मानो जीवन की सबसे महान घटना (मृत्यु) कितनी शांति के साथ घटित हो जाती है, वो विश्व का एक महान अंग, वो महत्वकांक्षाओं का प्रचंड सागर, वो उद्योग का अनंत भंडार, वो दुख और द्वेष, सुख और दुख का लीलाक्षेत्र, वो बुद्धि और बल की रंगभूमि कब और कहाँ लीन हो जाती है; किसी को ख़बर नहीं होती। एक आह भी नहीं निकलती।

And a special मुहावरा that I hope to inculcate into my vernacular

दमड़ी की हड़िया खोलकर, कुत्ते की जात तो पहचानी जाएगी।

which means when someone gets access to money, power, or opportunity, their real character becomes evident. A dishonest or greedy person will act accordingly, while a virtuous person will remain righteous and summarises the core message of the book beautifully.

Written in 1928, this has remained timeless and doesn’t feel dated at all, the themes of women empowerment, morality, and subtly supporting the freedom movement make it timeless and a tale we still remember to this day.

[Sanjeev Naval · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect piece of writing.

[Vipin Sirigiri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Premchand highlights multiple issues still relevant and plaguing Indian society through this book.
Beginning from the baseless luster for jewelry amongst women, flattering oneself by deceiving and half truths, fear of public shame over slightest incidents to abuse of power by police and government officials. Each character goes through a complete journey of renunciation at some point or the other. Although at times it gets a bit preachy, liked the way its protagonists were neither virtuous nor vicious but changed their thinking over circumstances.

PS: Hindi edition was getting difficult to decipher forcing to pick up the only available English edition by Cedar Publications, which had simple and poor translation!

[Sheetal Maurya - Godse (Halo of Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book in train journey. An excellent book which depict a message to society.

[Bonitasonhe · Rating 4 out of 5]

NEED & GREED. Perfectly balanced, a less of a novel and more of a journey of greed and loss. Is it the same case until the end? Find yourself.

[Bhairvi Bhardwaj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book..lots of learning in one place..
A must read book.. if you have never read any hindi literature please read this and you'll know deep thinking Indian Writers.

[Sonali Malhotra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful story about society, struggle, love, morality, honesty, humanity and money. One wonders at the sheer simplicity of words used to describe the complex characters and their emotions.

[Vipan Bavoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Munshi Premchand is considered "Upanayas Samrat" or "The Novelist-Emperor" of Hindi literature. His language and themes are extremely accessible. You do not need to be literature major to understand what his stories stand for. Yet, hardly any Hindi-speaking person has read his works unless they look for his writings themselves. This speaks volumes about the sorry state of language studies in Indian educational system. The languages are taught in schools just to make literate beings - there are no recommended readings beyond text books; there is no interpretation of poetry; and there is no Godan, nor Gatsby; no Premchand, nor Harper Lee. But let's move towards the book, or my review would diverge to become a tirade against Indian educational system.

Ninety years have gone by since its first publication yet Gaban could be a story set in contemporary small-town India and still be believable by making hardly any changes. At the root, it is a story about a Gaban (embezzlement). But through the book, Premchand creates a novel which weaves together characters that truly embody myriad issues of Indian social structure. The characters (contrary to my expectations) are not stock black vs white archetypes. Jalpa and Ratan (two of the central women characters) have huge character arcs which change them from being young fun-loving pretentious girls to mature independent and proud women. Ramanath (the central male character) is stuck in a loop of constant attempt to break-away from his temptations so-much-so that even his final break in the end did not seem convincing enough for me. The book talks about corruption, social shame, women rights, gender power dynamics in Indian marriage, caste system, british opression, police state, Indo-European cultural clash, superstitions, basically everything you could find under the sun in India in 1930s (or even in 2020s).

Only thing where I was not fully satisfied was that his women have to become these extremely self-sacrificing (almost deified) proud women to show their power as a person. There is salvation or truth even in a prostitute - but that can be attained only by becoming an always "giving" and "ask for nothing" woman. They can either be a Ramni (an object of desire) or they can be a Devi (a woman worth worshipping) to gain any respect from the other gender. Anything in-between is inconsequential or a thing of background. But, maybe that too is true for the most of Indian society even today.

[Puneet Sangwani · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is hard to imagine that I carry no memory of hearing this word, let alone knowing its meaning. I somehow liked Munshi Dayanath's character's philosophy of money. Naturally, honest effort is just enough to make ends meet. And children, in that case, grow tired of this lifestyle and want to change their lives. Rama, Dayanath's son, the protagonist, unfortunately, fails at that too. The story gets more interesting when Rama & Jalpa get married, and Jalpa, who was told by her family that you would only get a necklace after her marriage (Chandanhaar), doesn't receive one because Rama's family isn't well-to-do. Jalpa would have understood this, but she wasn't communicated anything by Rama. Things go out of hand when Rama starts taking bribes and spends even more than he earns. On top of that, commits fraud, runs to another city in fear of being caught, and abandons his family. He is helped by another man, who also lives off his wife's money. Rama stays in hiding as he thinks he's a fugitive, while Kalpa has cleared the dues by selling her jewellery. One day, Rama strays off a path and the police become suspicious. They ask his name, address and he fumbles, and is taken to the police station. He narrates his entire story, and the police take advantage of the fact and force him to lie on the stand to solve a case. The police confirm his story with his hometown police station, and the call is transferred to Rama's office. They deny any charges being pressed. But the police decide not to share this with Rama. Meanwhile, Jalpa figures out that Rama is in Kolkata and leaves for Kolkata too. She tries to convince Rama not to lie on the stand but the police blackmail him into not changing his statement. It was very characteristic of Rama not to listen to his loved ones and continue on his merry way. Jalps abandons Rama and starts helping and working for the man's family, who will be hanged until death due to Rama's statement. The case drags on, and Rama is kept in custody. Johra is sent to keep him company. He decides to abandon everything when he learns from Johra that Jalpa is helping the unfortunate man's family. Rama comes clear, narrates the story to the Judge, and the death penalty is reversed. Everyone decides to go back to their old lives.

It is a simple storytelling is as it isn't giving it to me in writing that the person is feeling this or that. There isn't enough time between two events. Two people meeting after months are bound to have a roller coaster of emotions, but it passes in plain sight. Do give it a try!

[Sandesh Rawat · Rating 3 out of 5]

प्रेमचंद के उपन्यास 'कर्मभूमि' को सुनने के बाद, मैंने 'गबन' का ऑडियोबुक सुन्ना प्रारंभ किया। इन दोनों उपन्यासों मैं मुझे 'कर्मभूमि' ज्यादा पसंद आया।

'गबन' का मतलब होता है दिए हुए धन का अपहरण कर लेना। ये उपन्यास प्रयाग के एक साधारण युवक रमा की कहानी है, जो अपनी पत्नी जालपा को खुश रखने की लिए कुछ भी करने को तैयार रहता है और अपने आपको समस्याओं में उलझा लेता है। ये उपन्यास इस बात पर टिपण्णी देता है कैसे लोग संसार की सामने कुछ सावित करने की कोशिश करते हुए जानते हुए भी गलत रास्ते पर निकल जाते हैं और फिर बोहोत दूर पहुंचने की बाद ही उन्हें ये समझ आता है की अब इस रास्ते पर और आगे नहीं ज्यादा जा सकता। सरल शब्दों में लिखे हुए इस उपन्यास में दो मुख्या पात्र है, एक है रमा - एक हिचकिचाने वाला युवक है जो भावनाओं में बहकर फैसले लेता है और दूसरी है उसकी पत्नी जालपा - जो एक ऊँचें विचारों वाली नारी है जो सच की लिए कुछ भी कर सकती है।

कहीं कहीं मुझे इस उपन्यास में ये लगा जैसे जबरदस्ती स्टोरी को पिरोया गया हो, खाशकर की कहानी का सुखद-अंत। हिंदी-प्रेमी 'गबन' को एक बार जरूर पढ़ सकते हैं। अगर आप प्रेमचंद की कहानी पढ़ने का विचार कर रहे हैं तो मेरा सुझाव होगा की 'गबन' से पहले 'कर्मभूमि' पढ़ें।

मैंने ये बुक Spotify पर समीर गोस्वामी के चैनल 'कहानी सुनो' से सुनी और मुझे समीर गोस्वामी का वचन करने का तरीका बोहोत पसंद आया।

[Vishal Jha · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was my first time, reading a novel by one of the greatest Indian Author of all time, Munshi Premchand ji. And, What an experience this was..

The very realistic story of Greed, Fake Show off in the society, and consequences arising from it is a really moving tale..

The story is of "Jalpa" whose love for jewellery forces her husband "Ramanath" into corruption, and how they deal with the consequences.

Through the story, Premchand Ji has shown a mirror to all those, who go beyond their limits just for the sake of creating a fake social image.

I don't think i can stand with either of the two characters, but yes "Jalpa" comes out as a much more stronger character, then "Ramanath".

There are some other side characters, whose importance to the plot can not be neglected..
"Ratan" and her story, was a great part.

The story also shows the continuous conflict between honesty and financial gains.

I am in love with the way, this story is written.
Highly recommend to everyone, who would like to have a look at the mastery of words the great author has shown.
I will be soon starting another of his work, and i believe, i will love it as well..

[Nishi · Rating 4 out of 5]

यह इस साल मेरी दूसरी हिंदी किताब है। रोज़मर्रा अंग्रेजी पढ़ना इतना आवश्यक हो गया है की जब में हिंदी पढ़ती हु तो किताब पूर्ण करने में बहुत समय लगता है । यह चीज़ मैं बदलना चाह रही हु। मैं हिंदी और गुजराती साहित्य की और कई किताबों को पढ़ना चाहती हु।

"गबन" में प्रेमचंद कुछ इस तरह जीवन की सच्चाई दर्शाते है मानो आप उनमे डूब से जाते है। जालपा के दुःख आपको अपने दुःख लगाने लगते है। यथार्थवाद की लेखनपद्धति ने मुझे निकोलाई गोगोल द्वारा लिखित "डेड सोल्स" की याद दिला दी। हालाँकि गोगोल समाज में होने वाली घटनाओ पर हास्यास्पद कटाक्ष करते है किन्तु प्रेमचंद इन्ही घटनाओ को बड़े ही गंभीर तरीको से पेश करते है।

मुझे प्रेमचंद की लेखनशैली बहुत पसंद आई। जालपा के पात्र का विकास बहुत प्राकृतिक लगा। लगा की झिंदगी से हारे बिना लड़ते रहना शायद कही अच्छे मुकाम तक पहुंचा दे। उपन्यास के अंदर का दुःख और मातम ह्रदय को अवश्य द्रवित कर देता है।

जो भी वाचक हिंदी साहित्य को पढ़ना चाहते है उन्हें इस उपन्यास को ज़रूर पढ़ना चाहिए। मैं प्रेमचंद को और भी किताबों को जल्द ही पढ़ना चाहूंगी।

[itsnikhat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally got around to finishing this one - I listened to it with the narrator as Yunus Khan and it was such a good experience. A good narrator gives depth to the story and characters and I felt it with this narration. Gaban is a story about a man who goes to various extents to cover his pride because he doesn’t want to lose face in front of his bride. In the process he ends involving himself with debt, spends money that isn’t his own and escapes to another city because he’s unable to deal with the pressure. Meanwhile, his wife whose was led to believe that she doesn’t have to want for anything soon begins to realise that all is actually not as what was told to her. Through these characters and their acquaintances and friends, we see many glimpses of India which doesn’t feel very strange despite there being a gap of nearly a century from when it was published, a lot of it is very familiar: the people and their practices, the casual casteism, the corruption in the state and much more.

It’s Premchand’s writing that allows to to experience reality in almost a hilarious manner. There is a lot happening in the book, and none of it feels forced. The style of writing and plot is familiar if you have had the chance to read other Hindi stories. With a blend of sarcasm and humour, the author brings about complex and flawed characters which go through gradual believable development while keeping the story alive.

[Anurag · Rating 5 out of 5]

my first time venturing into Hindi Sahitya, and i’ve so much to say, yet I find myself short on words. Gaban is not just a book, but a gripping tale of materialism, greed, separation, deception, moral decline, & ultimately redemption, premchand really did a good job into making this book an emotional rollercoaster read. what makes Gaban a powerful tale is its nuanced portrayal of complex human emotions, ranging from the character of Ramanath & the powerful female leads (Jalpa, Ratan, & Johra). furthermore, it’s the transformation of Rama & Jalpa shaped by their circumstances which adds depth to the plot, while taking a sharp jab at the social hypocrisy & corruption. the story telling is simple yet so profound which is why it leaves a long lasting impression on everyone who reads it. one of my fav reads ever!!!

[Rumika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gaban doesn’t rely on sharp twists but rather on a slow-burning tension that reflects the everyday dilemmas of a common man’s life; the pressure to uphold social image, the love of materialism, the quiet erosion of values...

Premchand indeed had this rare ability to make ordinary situations feel profound.

When we read the novel through the lens of its time, we see how radical and honest Premchand’s work was; especially in portraying a flawed male protagonist like Ramanath, presenting a woman like Jalpa who evolves from materialistic desires to stick to the morality and keeps her emotional strength in her testing times.

There wasn’t any point where I lost interest in the novel. It kept me gripped throughout…

5 star for the work that beautifully captured the conflict between desire, morality and the societal expectations.