The Premchand Archives and Literary Centre at Jamia Millia Islamia, in collaboration with the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL), Government of India, organized a day-long national seminar titled 'Premchand Ka Adab: Naye Tanazur Mein' (Premchand's Literature: In a New Perspective) on April 29. The event took place in the Committee Room of Nehru Guest House at the university campus.
Inaugural Session
The programme commenced with a welcome address by Dr. Shams Equbal, Director of NCPUL, New Delhi. He extended a warm welcome to scholars, participants, and guests, highlighting Munshi Premchand's significant contributions to fiction and emphasizing the need to reinterpret his works from a contemporary viewpoint. The inaugural session was presided over by Prof. Mohd Ali Jauhar, former Chairman of the Department of Urdu at Aligarh Muslim University. He commended the organizers for selecting such a pertinent topic and stressed the importance of understanding Premchand and his writings through a modern lens.
Academic Activities and Contributions
Prof. Shahzad Anjum, Director of the Archives, outlined the academic initiatives of the Centre, describing Premchand as a luminous figure in Urdu literature whose contributions are seminal and extraordinary. He expressed gratitude to the Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia, Prof. Mazhar Asif, and the Registrar, Prof. Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi, for their support in organizing academic activities that enrich debates and discussions among scholars, students, and faculty members.
Keynote Address
The keynote address was delivered by Prof. Anwar Pasha, former Chairman of the Centre for Indian Languages at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. He drew attention to Premchand's enduring relevance in the present context. Prof. Pasha remarked, 'Premchand is a scholar who is studied equally in both Hindi and Urdu languages. We cannot discuss fiction without referencing his works. He strived to transform society through his perspective, and his artistic approach exemplifies human sensitivity and emotions.'
Thought-Provoking Speech
Prof. Jitendra Srivastava, Professor at Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), delivered an insightful speech on Premchand's contemporary significance. He emphasized the need to study Premchand by considering the socio-cultural context of his era and his approach to social issues. The session was conducted by Dr. Jawed Hasan from the Department of Urdu at Jamia Millia Islamia. The seminar provided a platform for intellectual exchange, reaffirming Premchand's timeless impact on literature and society.
