Premchand – A Pen Name

Did you know that writer Premchand was born Dhanpat Rai (Master of wealth) and ‘Nawab Rai’ was the first pen name chosen by him.

His first short novel titled Asrar-e- Ma’abid (Mystery of God’s Abode), which explores corruption amongst temple priests, and sexual exploitation of poor women has his name as ‘Nawab Rai’

His book Soz-e-Watan (a collection of patriotic stories) was noticed by the British Government officials, who banned it as a seditious work. The British collector at the time, ordered a raid on Premchand’s house, where around five hundred copies of Soz-e-Watan were burnt. Subsequently, Dhanpat Rai had to change his pseudonym from “Nawab Rai” to “Premchand”.

Premchand