Born on 31 July 1880 in Lamhi village near Varanasi, India, Munshi Premchand began his writing career in 1901. He wrote on a variety of topics including prostitution, poverty, dowry, child widowhood, and the feudal system, using his works as a vehicle for arousing public awareness. He was the first Hindi author whose works featured social realism. Premchand has penned down hundreds of short stories, more than a dozen novels, plays, and several critical essays. His most celebrated works include Vardaan, Seva Sadan, Premashram, Rangbhoomi , Nirmala, Godaan, and many more. One of the most influential writers of Indian literature, his works continue to remain popular and are translated into various foreign languages across the world.