Quick Summary
- A seminar is being organized on July 31, 2025, in Kolkata by the Paschim Banga Hindi Bhashi Samaj to mark the centenary of Premchand’s iconic hindi novel Rangbhoomi.
- The event will be held at the Premchand Library in north Kolkata.
- According to Ashok Singh, General Secretary of the Society and a former academic, Rangbhoomi‘s themes of land displacement and farmer struggles are highly relevant to contemporary India.
- The novel reflects early farmers’ movements in the 1920s and emphasizes the need for unity among marginalized groups against systemic challenges.
- Mr. Singh linked some aspects of present governance with corporate interests while acknowledging recent successes like rural protests leading to government rollbacks (e.g., anti-farmer laws).
- Established in 1999, Paschim Banga Hindi Bhashi Samaj organizes cultural events promoting literary icons such as Rahi Masoom Raza and Ritwik Ghatak.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The party of Rangbhoomi‘s centenary reflects how literature continues to resonate deeply with modern-day issues like displacement, inequality, and political resistance. Premchand’s foresight into socio-economic disparities remains an enduring source for understanding grassroots movements across India’s past century.
The seminar serves not only as a literary tribute but also highlights a broader cultural effort by West Bengal’s hindi-speaking community amid rising linguistic chauvinism nationwide-an issue that prompts questions about inclusivity within states like West Bengal itself. This rekindles awareness around grassroots struggles while emphasizing contextually relevant lessons on societal unity against powerful systems.
Read more: The Hindu