Uncover the profound summary of “The Shroud” (Kafan) by Munshi Premchand — a powerful tale that critiques poverty, social injustice, and the numbness of human conscience. Ideal for students and readers exploring classic Indian literature.
The Shroud Summary By Munshi Premchand
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Summary of The Shroud By Premchand
Introduction
“Shroud” is one of Premchand’s last and most influential stories. This story is written through two characters who come from the lowest and most neglected class of society-Gheesu and his son Madhav. But this story is not just about poverty, but about social ironies, insensitivity in relationships, and decline in human values which are as relevant today as they were in 1936, when it was written.
Premchand has presented a wonderful combination of depth and sarcasm in this story in a very simple language. Every scene of the story points towards the insensitivity of society and humanity dying in extreme poverty.
Introduction of the main characters
Gheesu:
A poor old man of about sixty years, who is extremely lazy, cunning, and shirker. He avoids work, but is an expert in eating, drinking and making excuses.
Madhav:
Gheesu’s son, about thirty-thirty-five years old. He is just like his father – does not do any regular work, depends on his wife and easily compromises with circumstances.
Budhia:
Madhav’s wife. She is neither seen nor spoken in the story, but the whole story revolves around her suffering. A woman struggling with labor pains, who eventually dies quietly.
Detailed summary of the story in sequence
Opening scene – Hunger and penury
The story begins with Gheesu and Madhav sitting in the hut. It is cold outside, inside their daughter-in-law Budhia is groaning with labor pains. But both father and son are warming themselves by the fire, and they are not worried about anything.
They do not even ask each other whether “something should be done” or “should a midwife be called”, but they get lost in stories of past events and hunger.
They bake potatoes, eat, laugh and joke – and all the while Budhia keeps groaning inside.
Middle Scene – Death Arrives
Budhia’s cries gradually subside, and the next morning it is clear that she is dead. The two now realise that they have to take her to the crematorium, arrange for wood, and most importantly – a shroud.
They don’t have a penny. But they know that the villagers will sympathise and help. They get ready and approach the village dignitaries, with tears in their eyes, words of sorrow on their lips, and a false sense of remorse.
Arranging Money – Benefiting from Sympathy
The landlords and rich people of the village take pity on their plight and give them some money so that they can perform the last rites. One man says – “It is a sin to burn a dead body without a shroud.”
In no time, more than Rs. 5 is collected. Gheesu and Madhav take this as an opportunity – the shroud will burn, but with this money they want to feel ‘alive’.
Climax – Wine instead of shroud
The two go to the city. Not to the crematorium, but to the wine shop. There they buy expensive wine, sweets, puris, and fried fish.
Sitting under a peepal tree, they eat and drink, and talk – “she was so sweet”, “she suffered so much”, “it was good that she died”, “she must be sleeping peacefully now”, and finally say:
“What would have happened if we had brought a shroud? It would have burned anyway… at least it was of some use to someone here!”
Main themes and symbols
1. Reality and satire of poverty:
The story shows how poverty eats away at a person’s soul and sensitivity. Gheesu and Madhav are probably guilty, but somewhere the circumstances have made them so.
2. The silent suffering of women:
Budhia’s death is the most poignant aspect of this story. She served them all her life, fed the father and son, conceived and finally died alone, without any care.
3. Superficial sympathy of society:
The villagers give money in times of grief, but no one helped Budhiya while she was alive. This is a big satire on society.
4. Shroud – a symbol:
The shroud here is not just a cloth, it is a symbol of the humanity that these characters consume. It becomes a symbol of the hypocrisy of society and the market of death.
Premchand’s language and style
Premchand has used very accurate local language, idioms, and dialogue style in this story. The entire strength of the story lies in the human irony hidden in its dialogues.
They do not blame anyone – they highlight the circumstances and leave the reader to think for themselves.
Conclusion
“Shroud” is not just a story, it is a question in front of the society, in front of us –
Does a person lose his relationships, emotions and humanity only in hunger, helplessness and the struggle to survive?
The story of Gheesu and Madhav does not teach us that this should happen, but it warns that this can happen – and is happening.
Premchand has unraveled the layers of society, poverty, hypocrisy and humanity so deeply through “Kafan” that after reading this story both silence and questions go together.
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