Title: The Child

Author: Munshi Premchand
Genre: Short Story / Realistic Fiction
Setting: A village in India

🧍‍♂️ About the Author: Munshi Premchand

Real name: Dhanpat Rai Srivastava (1880–1936).
Known as the “Upanyas Samrat” (Emperor of Novels) in Hindi literature.
Wrote in both Hindi and Urdu.
His works focus on poverty, social injustice, caste discrimination, rural life, and human values.
Famous works: Godaan, Nirmala, Kafan, Idgah, Poos Ki Raat and The Child.

📖 Summary of “The Child”

“The Child” tells the story of Gangu, a simple, ignorant villager who dislikes religion and mocks saints. His attitude towards life changes dramatically after the birth of his child.

Detailed Summary:

Gangu lives in a village and is a poor farmer. He is careless, lazy, and often drunk.
He mocks religion, makes fun of sadhus (holy men), and says that all religious rituals are useless.
His wife is pregnant and close to delivery. Gangu drinks and quarrels with her.
When his wife goes into labour, he rushes to get a midwife. On his way, he sees a group of sadhus crossing the road.
He mocks them again and refuses to bow or show respect.
Suddenly, he hears the cry of a newborn child from his house. His heart changes.
He runs home, sees his newborn baby, and feels divine joy and peace.
The sight of the child softens his heart. He realizes the miracle of creation and life.
His earlier pride, ignorance, and disrespect for religion disappear.
The story ends with Gangu transformed — a changed, humble man who now believes in the power and mystery of life.

🎭 Main Characters

1. Gangu

The central character — ignorant, lazy villager.
Disbelieves in religion but transforms into a loving and spiritual father after seeing his child.
Represents the common man’s inner goodness.

2. Gangu’s Wife

Simple, patient, and caring village woman.
Endures Gangu’s foolishness and represents Indian womanhood and motherhood.

3. The Child

Symbol of purity, divinity, and new life.
Acts as a turning point in Gangu’s life and symbolizes spiritual awakening.

4. Sadhus (Saints)

Represent religion, spirituality, and faith.
Serve as a contrast to Gangu’s disbelief and later transformation.

💡 Themes

Transformation and Redemption – Gangu changes from a sinner to a believer after becoming a father.
Faith and Religion – The story explores faith not as rituals but as an inner awakening.
Miracle of Birth – The birth of a child represents nature’s mystery and the power of creation.
Human Values and Realization – The story teaches humility, love, and respect for life.
Irony of Ignorance – Gangu mocks God but later realizes the divine power through his own child.

🪞 Moral / Message

Every human being has goodness within.
The miracle of life can awaken spiritual realization even in the most ignorant person.
Faith comes not from rituals but from inner experience.

✍️ Critical Analysis

Realism: Premchand depicts village life and ordinary people realistically.
Characterization: Gangu’s transformation is portrayed naturally and convincingly.
Symbolism: The child symbolizes purity, hope, and divine power.
Language: Simple, vivid, and full of emotion.
Ending: The ending is optimistic — even a sinner can change.

🗝️ Important Quotations (in simple form)

“The cry of the newborn child was like a message from heaven to Gangu.”
“The man who mocked God now bowed before life itself.”

🧠 Vocabulary / Difficult Words

Word	Meaning
Labour	The process of childbirth
Midwife	A woman trained to help in childbirth
Mock	To make fun of
Ignorant	Lacking knowledge
Transformation	Complete change
Spiritual	Related to the soul or faith
Miracle	A wonderful and unexplained event
Divine	Of or like God
Redemption	Saving from error or evil

🗺️ PLACES IN “THE CHILD”

1. The Village

· The main setting of the story.

· A typical Indian rural village where Gangu lives.

· Reflects poverty, simplicity, and superstitions of common people.

· Life here revolves around daily labour, farming, and traditional customs.

· Premchand uses the village background to show realism and the spiritual awakening of a common man.

2. Gangu’s House

· The central place in the story.

· A small, poor house made of mud.

· It’s where Gangu lives with his pregnant wife.

· The birth of the child happens here — symbolizing divine transformation within an ordinary home.

3. Village Road / Path

· The place where Gangu meets the sadhus (holy men).

· This scene is important because Gangu mocks them, showing his disbelief in religion.

· The same road becomes the path of realization, as he runs home later with a changed heart.

4. Sadhus’ Camp / Resting Place

· The place where the holy men stay temporarily.

· Symbol of faith, simplicity, and devotion.

· It contrasts Gangu’s earlier disbelief and shows the difference between ignorance and wisdom.

5. Fields and Village Surroundings (Mentioned Briefly)

· Represent the simple, rural lifestyle of Gangu.

· Show his connection to the land and labour, but also his careless nature before his transformation.

👥 CHARACTERS IN “THE CHILD”

1. Gangu – (Protagonist)

· The main character of the story.

· Poor, ignorant, and lazy villager.

· Doesn’t believe in religion and mocks saints.

· Drinks alcohol and argues with his wife.

· Experiences a spiritual change after the birth of his child.

· Symbol of the common man’s inner goodness and redemption.

2. Gangu’s Wife

· Simple, patient, and caring woman.

· Represents Indian womanhood and motherhood.

· Endures her husband’s foolishness quietly.

· Her childbirth becomes the turning point in the story.

· Symbol of love, endurance, and life’s continuity.

3. The Child

· Born at the end of the story.

· The symbol of purity, innocence, and divine power.

· Brings a miraculous transformation in Gangu’s heart.

· Represents hope, faith, and the beauty of creation.

· Though unnamed, the child is the spiritual center of the story.

4. The Sadhus (Saints or Holy Men)

· A group of holy men Gangu meets on the road.

· They represent faith, religion, and spirituality.

· Gangu mocks them, showing his ignorance.

· Their presence helps highlight the contrast between spiritual faith and Gangu’s material attitude.

· After the birth of his child, Gangu realizes what the saints already know — the divine force of life.

5. The Midwife (Dai)

· Mentioned briefly when Gangu goes to call her.

· Represents the traditional helper in childbirth in Indian villages.

· A small but realistic detail that adds authenticity to the rural setting.

🧩 Summary of All Characters and Places

Characters	Description
Gangu	Central character, disbeliever turned believer
Gangu’s Wife	Patient, traditional woman, symbol of motherhood
The Child	Symbol of purity and divine power
The Sadhus	Represent religion and faith
The Midwife	Helps during childbirth, minor character

Places	Description
The Village	Main setting, symbol of rural India
Gangu’s House	Site of childbirth and transformation
Village Road	Where Gangu meets the sadhus
Sadhus’ Camp	Symbolic of faith and devotion
Fields/Village Surroundings	Represent simple rural life

🧾 “The Child” by Munshi Premchand — Exam-Oriented Q&A

🟢 A. Very Short Answer Questions

1. Who is the author of the story “The Child”?
→ Munshi Premchand.

2. What is Gangu’s attitude towards religion at the beginning of the story?
→ He mocks religion and does not believe in God or saints.

3. What is the name of Gangu’s wife?
→ Her name is not mentioned in the story.

4. What happens at the end of the story?
→ Gangu’s wife gives birth to a child, and Gangu’s heart is transformed.

5. What does the child symbolize?
→ The child symbolizes purity, innocence, and divine power.

6. What is Gangu’s occupation?
→ He is a poor villager, most likely a farmer or labourer.

7. What kind of man is Gangu at the beginning?
→ Lazy, careless, and irreligious.

8. What event changes Gangu’s life?
→ The birth of his child.

9. Who are the sadhus in the story?
→ Holy men representing faith and spirituality.

10. What language did Premchand originally write in?
→ Hindi and Urdu.

🟡 B. Short Answer Questions

1. Describe Gangu’s character in brief.
→ Gangu is a poor, ignorant, and lazy villager who mocks religion and drinks. However, after the birth of his child, he becomes humble and realizes the miracle of life.

2. What is the theme of the story “The Child”?
→ The story explores transformation, faith, and the miracle of birth. It shows how the experience of fatherhood brings spiritual awakening in an ordinary man.

3. How does Gangu behave towards the sadhus?
→ He mocks them and refuses to show respect, saying that religion and saints are useless.

4. What realization does Gangu have after the birth of his child?
→ He realizes that life and creation are divine mysteries, and that there is a higher power beyond human understanding.

5. How does Premchand show realism in “The Child”?
→ By portraying rural life, poverty, superstition, and ordinary people in natural situations, Premchand brings realism into the story.

6. What message does the story convey?
→ That even an ignorant person can change through love and realization. Faith comes not from rituals but from life’s experiences.

7. What role does Gangu’s wife play in the story?
→ She represents patience, womanhood, and motherhood. Her childbirth becomes the turning point in Gangu’s life.

8. Why does Premchand call the story “The Child”?
→ Because the child is the center of the story — a symbol of purity and the cause of Gangu’s transformation.

9. What kind of change do we see in Gangu’s nature by the end?
→ He becomes emotional, humble, and faithful. The child’s birth fills him with love and spirituality.

10. How does Premchand criticize blind faith and mockery in the story?
→ He shows that mocking religion without understanding is foolish, but true faith comes from realization, not rituals.

🔵 C. Long Answer Questions

1. Discuss Gangu’s transformation in the story “The Child.”
→ In the beginning, Gangu is a careless, lazy villager who mocks religion and drinks. He disrespects saints and refuses to accept the idea of God. However, when his wife gives birth to a child, he witnesses the miracle of life. The newborn’s cry touches his soul and fills him with divine joy. He feels humbled and realizes that there is a greater power governing life. This marks his spiritual rebirth. Premchand beautifully shows that the miracle of birth can awaken faith even in the hardest heart.

2. Explain how Premchand uses the theme of faith and realization in “The Child.”
→ Premchand uses Gangu’s experience to show that faith is not something to be preached — it must be felt. Gangu’s earlier disbelief changes into faith when he becomes a father. The child’s birth acts as divine intervention, teaching him humility and love. Thus, Premchand conveys that true faith comes from life’s experiences, not rituals or words.

3. Write a character sketch of Gangu.
→ Gangu is the protagonist of the story. At first, he is shown as a poor, lazy villager who drinks and mocks religion. He represents ignorance and disbelief. He laughs at sadhus and shows no respect for faith. But the birth of his child completely transforms him. He becomes humble, loving, and spiritually awakened. Gangu symbolizes the possibility of change and the inner goodness hidden in every human being.

4. What is the significance of the title “The Child”?
→ The title is symbolic. The child represents innocence, purity, and the divine power of creation. The child is also the turning point in Gangu’s life, bringing about his spiritual rebirth. Without the child, there is no story — it is the cause of transformation, faith, and realization. Therefore, the title is perfectly chosen and deeply meaningful.

5. How does Premchand combine realism and spirituality in the story?
→ Premchand sets the story in a real Indian village with common characters like Gangu, his wife, and the sadhus. The descriptions of poverty, superstition, and village life are realistic. But he also adds a spiritual dimension — the miracle of childbirth that transforms Gangu’s heart. This union of realism and spirituality makes “The Child” one of Premchand’s most touching and balanced stories.

6. What message about human nature does Premchand give through “The Child”?
→ The story teaches that even the most ignorant person has a heart capable of goodness and faith. Human nature is not fixed; it can change through love and realization. The birth of a child — a symbol of innocence — can awaken humanity and spirituality even in a hardened soul like Gangu’s.

7. How does “The Child” reflect Premchand’s writing style and philosophy?
→ Premchand’s writing is known for realism, simplicity, and moral depth. In “The Child,” he portrays the common man and shows his emotional transformation. He avoids artificial drama and focuses on human emotions and moral lessons. His philosophy — that goodness and truth exist in every heart — shines throughout the story.

🧩 D. Value-Based / Discussion Questions

1. What does the story teach us about faith and spirituality?

2. Is the story more about religion or about human experience?

3. How does the experience of becoming a parent change Gangu’s life?

4. Why do you think Premchand focuses on ordinary villagers in his stories?

5. How is “The Child” a story of redemption and realization?

🪶 E. Quotation-Based Questions

1. “The cry of the newborn child was like a message from heaven.”
Explain the significance of this line.
→ It shows how the child’s birth acts as a divine signal that awakens Gangu’s heart, symbolizing his inner rebirth.

2. “The man who mocked God now bowed before life itself.”
What transformation does this quote show?
→ It marks the moment when Gangu moves from disbelief to faith, showing Premchand’s message of human redemption.

The Child by Munshi Premchand