Premchand, a global literary legend: Shyam Benegal

Varanasi, July 31 (UNI) Paying rich tributes to Munshi Premchand on his 126th birth anniversary, Rajya Sabha member and award winning filmmaker Shyam Benegal today termed the legendary writer as a global literary legend.

Addressing a programme to mark the occasion here, Benegal placed Premchand in the league of Leo Tolstoy and William Shakespeare.

''Munshiji should not be limited within the bounds of language, but elevated to the exalted status of a global literary legend,'' Mr Benegal observed.

The filmmaker, considered to be one of the integral pillars of parellel cinema in the country, said Munshiji brought tears to the eyes of readers by penning the pangs of poverty-stricken people and hence should be reverred as one of the founding fathers of Modern Indian literature.

The celebrated director also exhorted the gathering, mostly comprising child theatre artists, to strive for originality in their performance, much like Premchand's work.

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