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
urduwallahs 