Question

describe the process of development of Hindi novels

Answer 1

Bharatendu Harishchandra was the pioneer of modern Hindi literature. He encouraged many other poets and writers to recreate and translate novels from other languages to Hindi. The first proper novel in Hindi was written by Srinivas Das of Delhi. It was titled Pariksha Guru and was published in 1882. This novel highlights the rising middle class adopting the Western culture blindly leaving aside the traditional Indian values.

The writings of Devaki Nandan Khatri created a novel-reading public in Hindi. Chandralekha was his best-seller. This novel popularised the Hindi language  and the Nagari script among the educated classes of that time.

The Hindi novel achieved excellence with the writing of Premchand. He began to write in Urdu and later shifted to Hindi. He shifted his theme of writing from the traditional art of kissa-goi (storytelling). Simple language was the hallmark of his writings. Moreover, his writings focussed  people from all sections of the society. In many of his writings, the main character belonged to oppressed classes.