Question

Moral of God lives in the panch

Answer 1

Answer … As Gandhi said, ‘India lives in its villages’. Most of us either live in villages or have our roots there one way or the other. So, any story based in rural India has such power to touch our mind so easily.Munshi Premchand wrote ‘God Lives in the Panch’ almost a century ago, but one sees the same goodness and evil of human character even today. Little has changed although rural India has seen such dramatic transformation in the last three or four decades.Greed and disregard for moral principles as seen in the characters of Jumman and Samjhu are evils among villagers that we see in no small measure even today. These human failings besmirch the rural landscape.In the same vein, the regard for ethical values, call for duty and respect for time-honoured institutions like the Panch as seen in Alagu, and later in Jumman are so very commendable. These values practiced by the main protagonists of the story impart great charm and appeal to village life. The institution of Panch dispenses justice fast and with little expense. It is fair to one and all, irrespective of the clout and wealth of the complainant and the defendant. With no lawyers, no fees, no lies, and no adjournments, this simple system has stood the test of time.There are many lessons to be learnt and imbibe from this masterpiece of Munishiji. Honour your commitments, eschew greed, avoid impulses of expediency, and listen to the call of your conscience. These are the lofty moral lessons, this short story preaches.