The Thakur’s Well - Premchand

Answer the following questions in about 100 words each.

1. Why was Gangi unable to get water from anywhere when the story opens?

Premechand’s story “The Thakur’s Well’ tells us about those days when feudal
customs of caste hierarchies are observed in our villages. He writes about
inhuman landlords and heartless money lenders. Gangi and Jokhu live a village. The
couple belongs to an untouchable caste. The village has only three wells. The water
of the well from which they usually draw water is contaminated. The well is far
away. They are not allowed to draw water from the other two wells, Thakur’s well
and the Sahuji’s well because of their caste. That is why Gangi was unable to get
water from anywhere when the story opens. (104 words)

2. What did she plan to do, in order to assuage Jokhu’s thirst?

Premechand’s story “The Thakur’s Well’ tells us about those days when feudal
customs of caste hierarchies are observed in our villages. Gangi and Jokhu live a
village. The couple belongs to an untouchable caste. Jokhu is ill. He is thirsty and
the water is contaminated. So, he could not drink the water. She plans to bring
water from the Thakur’ well at night. She knows that it is risky as they are not
allowed to draw water from the well because of their caste. Jokhu warns her that
the villagers would punish her if they find that she is drawing water from their
wells. (104 words)

3. What were some of Gangi’s thoughts, as she waited near the Thakur’s well in
order to get some water?

Gangi plans to bring water from the Thakur’ well at night. She knows that it is
risky as they are not allowed to draw water from the well because of their caste.
She reaches the well at about 9 o’ clock in the night. While waiting for an
opportunity to draw water, she thinks that the untouchable are not allowed to
drink water from the well even though everybody drinks from it. She is against
traditional society’s restrictions. She thinks that the high caste people cheat,
steal, gamble and adulterate. She wonders how such people can be called as high.
(100 words)
4. What were the two women who came to the well taking about? What does this
show?

Gangi plans to bring water from the Thakur’s well at night. While waiting for an
opportunity to draw water at the well, she listens to a conversation between two
women. The women talk about the men. The men have come in to eat and they
order the women to bring water. They would not like the women to rest even for
awhile. They do not have the decency to draw water themselves. They give orders
as if the women are slaves. The conversation reflects the society of those days.
Women are treated like slaves and men exploited the women. Women have no
rights then. (104 words)

5. What happened when the Thakur’s door opened suddenly?

Gangi plans to bring water from the Thakur’ well at night. She knows that it is
risky as they are not allowed to draw water from the well because of their caste.
In the darkness, she prays God and lowers her pitcher into the well. She pulls up
the pitcher very quickly. But before she could catch the pitcher, the Thakur’s
door opened suddenly. Gangi is terrified and the rope slips from her hands. The
pitcher goes down into the well making a big noise. Thakur comes near the well
shouting to catch the intruder. Gangi runs away from the well. (101 words)

Answer the following questions in about 200 words each.

1. Show how this is a tale of social injustice and cruelty. Use examples from the
story to elaborate your points?

Premechand’s story “The Thakur’s Well’ tells us about those days when feudal
customs of caste hierarchies are observed in our villages. He writes about
inhuman landlords and heartless money lenders. This is a tale of social injustice
and cruelty.

Gangi and Jokhu live a village. The couple belongs to an untouchable caste. The
village has only three wells. The water of the well from which they usually draw
water is contaminated. The well is far away. They are not allowed to draw water
from the other two wells, Thakur’s well and the Sahuji’s well because of their
caste. Gangi, like other lower caste people is a victim of social injustice and
cruelty.

While waiting for an opportunity to draw water at the well, she listens to a
conversation between two women. The women talk about the men. The men have
come in to eat and they order the women to bring water. They would not like the
women to rest even for awhile. They do not have the decency to draw water
themselves. They give orders as if the women are slaves. The conversation
reflects the society of those days. Women are treated like slaves and men
exploited the women. Women have no rights then. (205)

2. Why does Premchand use the title, ‘The Thakur’s Well’ for his story, and how is
this the best title he could have employed?

Premchand is the pen-name of Dhanpat Rai Srivastav. Premechand’s story “The

Thakur’s Well’ tells us about those days when feudal customs of caste hierarchies
are observed in our villages. He writes about inhuman landlords and heartless
money lenders.

The story revolves around a well belonging to Thakur. Thakur represents the
higher castes and Gangi represents the lower castes of the society in those days.
The well is a symbol of natural resources and communal wealth. The water of the
well represents the necessities and aspirations of oppressed classes.

Gangi and Jokhu live a village. The couple belongs to an untouchable caste. The
village has only three wells. They are not allowed to draw water from the other
two wells, Thakur’s well and the Sahuji’s well because of their caste. Gangi, like
other lower caste people is a victim of social injustice and cruelty.

Lower caste people are not allowed to use necessary facilities of the village
because of their caste. Upper caste people enjoy all these facilities even though
they cheat, steal, gamble and adulterate. The story is about the prevailing social
conditions of those days. Thus the title is very appropriate and Premchand could
not have employed a better title to the story. (204 words)
The Limits of the Untouchables: A Critique of THAKUR'SWELL by Munshi
Premchand

Through a pathetic situation faced by a so-called untouchable couple – Jokhu and

Gangi – in a caste-conscious Indian society, Munshi Premchand presents the
injustice perpetrated on acertain group of humans, on the basis of the caste system.
It suggests the limits within whichthese pathetic outcast humans can move. In the
episode where this story develops, Jokhu, justrecovering from a serious illness,
feels thirsty and asks for some water. When Gangi gives himthe water in the lota,
he expresses repulsion. Gangi realises something is wrong with the waterfrom its
stench. It establishes that the water has been polluted by an animal carcass
rottinginside the well. Yet she does not know that the water could be made
drinkable by boiling. Shocked by her husband’s feeble condition, she is wondering
where to find a lota of clean
water. Ironically, there is a well nearby, but the untouchables are prohibited to
draw water from it. It belongs to the Thakur who is known as a man of a so-called
high caste. Gangi goes to the well in the dark and lurks nearby until everybody
leaves. Once she feels confident she starts drawing water. A noise from inside the
Takur’s house frightens her. She lets go of the rope, and the bucket falls into the
well. She runs away. On her return home she finds Jokhu quenching his thirst with
the contaminated water in the lota. In this situation what these two persons tell
each other, feel about themselves, and experience in their surroundings provide the
material for Premchand’s indictment of the caste system in India. The caste system
can be defined as a traditional Hindu system of dividing society into hereditary
social classes. Within this system some people earn respect by birth as members of
a higher caste and some often get harassed for being those of a lower caste. Those
who are at the lowest rung of this social ladder are considered untouchables, and
unfortunately, Gangi and Jokhu belong to this caste.

Water as a Metaphor

Premchand has wisely used a metaphor - “water”- that functions as the pivot of his
discussion. It is believed that life evolved in water. It is believed that life evolved
in water. Therefore, “water” is more essential than air for the existence of life.
Without a drink of water no being can live. Therefore this metaphor is wellsuited
in depicting the extent to which a so-called untouchable is deprived of her rights.
Further, the thirst that Gangi’s husband suffers contributes to the enhancement
of this metaphor. She wants to have a lota of clean water only to quench
her husband’s thirst. Here the necessity looks elemental. The necessity to have
some drinking water in store is different from the immediate need of it for
consumption in order to quench one’s thirst. If one can prohibit a drink of water to
a thirsty person, one can be even more ruthless in one’s attitude to others. He is
violating a fundamental law of hospitality. Thus the metaphor of “water” helps
together with its antithesis “thirst” to represent the degree of wickedness
inculcated by caste system in the members of a caste-conscious society.

Elemental Needs versus Traditional Fears

Passing a couple of wells nearby, Gangi has to go a long distance to bring a pot of
water to the house around nine in the night. The only reason for the prohibition to
draw water from these particular wells, is her connection with a lower caste. The
fears inculcated in her are enormous. As it is dark she cannot go the long distance,
escaping from the lustful eyes of the powerful. Her husband starts crying for
water. Therefore she goes despite her knowledge of the destiny of people like
Mahagu. (He was severely beaten by the Thakur’s men for refusing to work in a
forced labour gang.) Without listening to her husband’s warning, she musters up
enough courage and enters the Thakur’s premises. This gives her an opportunity to
experience first hand the predicament of being there.

The Thakur’s Success a s a Transgressor

She waits at the well and watches all that takes place at the Thakur’s house. The
idlers, who have gathered, talk about a court case, which the Thakur won by means
of chicanery. He boasts about obtaining a copy of the dossier in the relevant lawsuit,
in order to establish his innocence. This shows that the Thakur has influential
contacts everywhere and he uses their power to carry out his vicious plans against
his rivals. Another implication of this situation is that the Thakur is safe in all
matters pertaining to the breaching of the law. The kind of protection that he
enjoys from the law ironically implies that his rivals, who are generally the so-called
untouchables, are dead helpless in his presence. The injustice faced by the
untouchables even under the institutionalized framework of justice becomes clear
in this talk. There is no legitimate procedure to protect their rights. Under these
circumstances the Thakur continues to be a transgressor of the law and order of
the country.

Hypocrisy of the High-Caste

The realisation that arises through Gangi’s knowledge of the illicit activities carried
out by the so-called high caste people also helps to establish the falsehood of this
hereditary division of society. According to her, the Thakur steals a sheep from a
shepherd; the priest accommodates a casino in his house; the shopkeeper mixes the
ghee with oil before selling; they all do not settle the wages of their workers; and
they stare at her lustfully when they meet her. They privately violate the
puritanical conditions that they publicly talk about. This alludes to the Buddha’s
words –

“It is by one’s actions one becomes either noble or ignoble, and not by his birth.”

Although, they claim to be of high birth, they maintain no qualities to substantiate

such a claim, because they are up to all types of mischief.

Male Chauvinism

The conversation between the two women who meet at the well sheds light on
another dimension of this social class. Their topic is male chauvinism. The husbands
treat the wives as slaves; and the wives lead their lives in miserable circumstances.
This shows that the women in this society are no different from those
untouchables. This obviously levels an attack on the institution of brahminism that
compels its male members to consider women dirty. Ironically, these suffering
women do not show any sympathy towards the untouchables even though they are
in the same plight.
Gods’ Indifference

The prayer Gangi makes to the Gods does not help to maintain her strength and
courage either, while drawing water from the well. When the Thakur’s door opens
she runs for her life. Premchand uses this moment to mock at the concept of the
Gods by highlighting their indifference to the helplessness and suffering of the
faithful. The untouchables are so unfortunate that even the Gods do not come to
their rescue.

Untouchables’ Deprivation

The story ends in an ironical tone. Ultimately Johku has to quench his thirst with
the same contaminated water, however harmful it can be to his health. Johku’s
decision to quench his thirst is symbolic of the untouchables’ destiny under the
caste system and their deprivation of the right to satisfy even the basic human
needs. This summarises the unwritten law passed on the untouchables in this
traditional Indian society. They have no right to live. Compelled to work out their
own salvation, they have no right to justice.

Premchand’s Treatment of the Theme of Caste Distinction

Although this short story is an obvious indictment of the caste system, it does not
suffer from the interference of the author’s personal views. Premchand does not
include any slogans or expressions to attack the caste system, but makes a steady
attempt to capture the feelings of others in their true form. As the metaphor of
water that stands for a necessity intrinsic to the existence of life functions in
depicting the size of deprivation that the untouchables suffer, there are other
metaphors to show the nature of the fear inculcated in them. The jaws of a tiger
could not have terrified her more. This aptly suggests the fear of the helpless
heroine. Even the darkness that overwhelms the environment is suggestive of the
tragic plight of the untouchables. Thus, the tension of the caste system
experienced by its victims is brought to light in clear terms. Premchand has been
sincere in his selection of material to establish his case against the hereditary
division of society into castes. Hypocrisy, cruelty, sadism, immorality, ignorance,
mingled with traditional beliefs and conformist views, play upon the human psyche
in setting up one against the other. This has been dramatised throughout the story
through the feelings, emotions, recollections, and beliefs of the characters involved
Munshi Premchand: Thakurs Well (Thakur ka Kuan)

1. 1. Thakur’s Well: A Deconstruction of Caste Stuctures in light of 21st

Century
2. 2. Munshi Premchand: The Upanyas Samrat  Premchand was a prolific writer
of Hindi and Urdu literature and translated various works of English into the
vernacular.  He is regarded as one of the foremost Hindustani writers of
early 20st century.  His works include more than a dozen novels , aroud 250
short stories, sevral essays and transalations.  He is considered the first
Hindi author whose writings prominently featured Realism. His novels
describe the problem of the poor and the upper middle class.  He used
literature for the purpose of arousing public awareness about national and
social issues and often wrote about topics related to corruption, child
widowhood, prostitution, feudal system, poverty, colonialism and on the
India's freedom movement.
3. 3. Thakur ka Kuan Note the sense of power and ownership in the title itself
when it anounces that the well belongs to an indiviudal of a particular caste
(Thakur). The surame is used to make the name more ambigous but the
reality of exploitation is not left unfounded.. The Thakurs were the
dominant landed aristricaracy at that time and find themselves at the apex
of Hindu caste system. Jokhu and Gangi in converstion.
4. 4.  There are two main character in the short story Jokhu and his wife
Gangi. They belong to the lower starta of society, as they were refered by
Gandhiji at that time as Harijans and in the more contemporary terms as
Dalits.  The story deals with the struggle of Gangi as she tries to get
water for her ailing and sick husband from the well of Thakur. Their own well
water is not potable and since they are untouchables they are not allowed to
draw water from the wells of one Sahu (Trader/Baniya) and Tahkur
(Landlords/Zamindars). Gangi is relentltesss and decides to get the water
for her husband, thus challenging the authority of the caste system. She
says, “There’re two wells. The Thakur’s and the Sahu’s. Won’t they let me
have even one potful?” The whole narrative follows her quest to secure that
one pot of water. Water which is supposedly universal becomes a symbol of
struggle. 1. Does she get that one potful of water for her husband? 2. Did
the readers of that time, particularly the swarn castes sympathize with
her? Would they now? 3. Is caste system as rigid now as it was back when
Thakurs Well was written?
5. 5. Quotes ‘Gangi’s rebellious heart began to hit out at the traditional
society’s restrictions and compulsions. What makes us low, and them high?
Just because they are wearing a string round their necks! ’ ‘At last, invoking
the gods, she lowered the pitcher into the well.’ ‘In what way are they higher
than us? We don’t go shouting, like them, in the streets that we are
superior. ’ ‘The Thakur’s door opened suddenly. A tiger's opening jaws
couldn't have been more terrifying than this sound.’
6. 6. Has India come out of the dark phase of Pre-independence era? Perhaps…
7. 7. In many ways the story of Gangi has become outmoded. The caste
realtions have become more fragile and open and there is a new sense of
political consicousness. Yet the important features of feudal India that
Prem Chand portrays in this story still persist in the new and changing India.
8. 8. Is Thakurs Well still a relevant narrartive in present dicourse? Introspect
9. 9. Exclusion and discrimination on the basis of caste are still endemic, and
self-assertion by the lower castes often leads to violent retribution by the
upper castes in many parts of the country, which goes unpunished by the
state still heavily biased in favour of the upper castes, though with some
exceptions. The Sad Reality
10. 10. Modern India Jokhu. Yes, he is human too.
11. 11. India still needs a collective consciouness in order to eradicate the vices
of Caste and Religion that have kept the bowels of development and progress
from flowing at their full capacity. Reservation or not, education or
healthcare we continue to be hounded by these questions as a society.
12. 12. The Three Trimurivates Yet Opressed classes. TribalsOBC
Minorities Their overlapping power structures, ideals and aspirations make
them a common community.
13. 13. Power Struggle Scenarios, THE COGS OF THE SAME SYSTEM
(SOCIETY) Gangi (Dalit + Women) Gokhu (Dalit) Thakur (Upper Class)
14. 14. 20,000Reported Murder and Criminal Cases against Minorities and
Backward Classes since 2009.
15. 15. IS Dalit/Minority Reservation Necessary? Reservation Education
Jobs/Upliftment?
16. 16. Conclusion ✣Today, Prem Chand would have written the story,
Thakurs Well, differently, but the essential features would have been the
same: Caste/class/gender inequalities, gross social injustice, and corruption
and abuse of power. This is what Bhisham Sahani wrote 25 years ago: ‘Out of
 the evils against which Prem Chand struggled only one has disappeared – the
British Raj. All the others he wrote about continue to haunt us in one form
or the other.’

What are the themes in thakur's well?

The story begins with the man's struggle social conventions. The horrible, evil nature of Hindu cast
system is deputed in the story. According to Hindu cast system birth decides man's nobility. The
Thakur, the shop keeper and idlers gathered at Thakur's door represent high cast Hindu's. Joahu
and Gangi represent the low cast untouchable. High cast people believe that untouchable are
polluted at birth. So they do not want to be polluted by associating them. Man's nobility should be
decided by his actions not by his birth. The so called noble people are engaged in all the vices. They
are not ashamed to lie, steal, gamble, adulterate food and even to look at low cast woman who
pretty with lust. It's really the so called low cast people whom should keep away from associating
with high cast people as they are not corrupt.