Munshi Premchand’s wife Shivrani Devi was a writer in her own right. A very good one.

But she disappeared from the pages of literary history. This was not unusual.

As men, especially famous men, march on to capture whatever they set their sights on, their wives are left to pick up the detritus of daily life, with little or no time to think of etching their own name in history books.

“Premchand : Ghar Mein” was written because Shivrani took it upon herself to write about the personal life of her famous husband. But who will write about Shivrani? Who will hunt for the many stories she published in magazines and books. Thankfully her memoirs are a mirror of her life as well. She wrote not just of Premchand’s domestic life but also of the strong and unusual relationship they shared. Of his immense respect and deference for her views and the ways in which they influenced each other.

Premchand and Shivrani Devi’s granddaughter, Sara Rai wrote a moving tribute to her grandmother as a preface to the now re-published ‘Premchand: Ghar Mein’. In her words, she did it because no one was going to ever write ‘Shivrani : Ghar Mein’.

Happy New Year from StoryJam!

Starting the year with a little bit of magic, shaken and stirred with reality, only as it can be in the works of Gabriel García Márquez. He forces us to immerse ourselves in magic that is completely believable and makes us rethink reality beyond the price of rice and potatoes.

A short story translated and narrated by me.

Gabriel García Márquez, affectionately as Gabo or Gabito in Latin America, was a Noble prize winner and author of modern classics such as such as One Hundred Years of Solitude (1967), Chronicle of a Death Foretold (1981), and Love in the Time of Cholera (1985). Márquez won both critical and commercial acclaim and upon his death in 2014 was called the called him "the greatest Colombian who ever lived"

Self driven and to an extent self educated, Márquez followed his instincts and his passion in a way few other writers have been able to. His style can be hard to pin down though he is most famous for his kind of 'magic realism'. His works have also been described variously as having "psychological suppleness" and being dichotomizing and exoticizing"

सर्दियों की रात, खेत में छुपा एक चोर पकड़ लिया जाता है। अब इसका क्या करें? यहीं मारें या थाने ले जाया जाये ? चोर भी ऐसा अजीब की कुछ बोलता सुनता नहीं। 

इस चोर के मन में क्या चोर है ?

श्रीलाल शुक्ल ने अपने लेखकीय जीवन में बहुत से उपन्यास, कहानियां, संस्मरण इत्यादि लिखे, लेकिन वे सबसे अधिक जाने गए अपने व्यंग लेखन के लिए. उनकी कुछ प्रसिद्द रचनायें हैं - राग दरबारी, मकान, सूनी घाटी का सूरज, पहला पड़ाव, और बिश्रामपुर का संत. 

Shrilal Shukla was best known for his satire. Some of his famous works are Raag Darbari, Makaan, Sooni Ghaati Ka Sooraj, Pehla Padaav and Bisrampur Ka Sant.

शर्माजी ने बड़े शौक से 'सुकून हाउस' बनवाया, सोचा था रिटायरमेंट चैन से गुज़ारेंगे, लेकिन बड़े होते शहर में दिल छोटे होते जा रहे थे.   क्या शर्माजी इस रंग बदलती दुनिया में फिर सुकून पा सके?     

>आज अपनी लिखी एक कहानी आपको सुना रही हूँ. आप को कैसी लगी, ज़रूर बतलाईयेगा।

Today’s StoryJam is a little different. Unlike earlier episodes where I read from works of well known authors, this time I am sharing a story I wrote a few years ago. I am nervous and excited and keeping my fingers crossed that you’ll take the time to listen. Thanks in advance!..and do leave me a comment. 

मंगलेश डबराल हमारे बीच नहीं रहे. हिंदी साहित्य से एक ऐसी आवाज़ लुप्त हो गयी जिसने लेखकों, कवियों, बुद्धिजीवियों की भीड़ में अपनी अनूठी पहचान बनाये रखी थी.उनके शब्द सरल थे सामान्य नहीं थे. 

आज का episode मंगलेश जी की याद को समर्पित है. सुनिए उनकी लिखी 4 कवितायेँ। 

Love Paan? You'll love this story.

Love humour? You'll find plenty to LOL about.

Love being surprised? Here's a "hat ke" story by Munshi Premchand, whose writing is well known for its humanism, realism and progressive outlook. This time get a taste of his kissagoi.

Set in post independence and post-partition Punjab, Laajwanti is the story of love lost and regained, but one that is never the same again. 

Rajinder Singh Bedi was a pillar of the Progressive Writers Movement. After the partition he moved to Bombay where he made his mark as a dialogue writer, screenplay writer and director. He wrote dialogues for several of Hindi film classics including Mirza Ghalib, Devdas, Abhiman, Garam Coat, Daag, Anupama etc. He also directed Phagun, Dastak etc.

Sachchidananda Hirananda Vatsyayan, better known by his nom de plume Agyeya,  held a prominent presence in the world of Hindi literature. It is widely believed that he brought experimentalism to Hindi poetry. Though long before he was known for his poetry, he had started writing short stories and novels. As a young man he contributed to a magazine edited by Munshi Premchand. In fact there is an interesting anecdote about his pen name, Agyeya. As a freedom fighter young Sachchidanand was imprisoned. While in jail he used to send his short stories to well known writer, Jainendra. Since his name could not be used, Jainendra passed on his articles to Munshi Premchand saying that the writer’s name was ‘Agyeya’ meaning unknowable.

Amrita Pritam lived and loved on her own terms. She drew extensively from her own life for her works. The unbearable pain and the little joys of life, both find place in her poetry, short stories and novels.

If you grew up in the late 70’s-80’s ...right when Indian television was coming into its own...when alternate cinema of a certain kind of middle class sensibility was gaining ground with films like Mausam, Rajnigandha, Rang Birangi, pati patni aur woh…you would know the name Kamleshwar.

Kamleshwar Nath Saxena was a prolific writer and in his career spanning four decades, he wrote in different genres ranging from literary criticism, travelogue, memoirs, to socio-cultural commentary.

edited magazines and newspapers, became the Additional Director General of doordarshan, wrote screenplays, dialogues, wrote stories in TV serials like Chandrakanta and Betal pachisi. He wrote over three hundred stories,worked for over 75 feature films including his book, Kaali Andhi which was adapted by Gulzar sahab into the film Andhi.

He was a writer from the Nayi Kahani ("New Story") movement of the 50’s...when the style was moving away from pre-independence style and content towards addressing  issues about the newly independent, rapidly urbanizing and industrializing India.