Theoretical overview
Panch Parmeshwar’ by Munshi Premchand is a defying tale of Nepotism in Jurisdiction. This story is all about two friends Jumman sheikh and Algu Chaudhary, they are good friends in their Childhood days. Algu is famous for the wealth in the village and on the other hand Jumman Sheikh is popular for Knowledge and Wisdom. Jumman Sheikh and Algu Chowdhari were very good friends, such good friends that they trusted each other deeply. When Jumman went to Mecca, he left his house in charge of Algu and whenever Algu went out of the village, Jumman took care of his house. Jumman had an old aunt who had no close relatives except Jumman. Jumman wanted to have her small property in his name, for that he made false promises and took good care of her until the deed was done.
Jumman became quite indifferent afterward, even his wife ill-treated the poor old woman. She wasn’t given enough food and was cursed day and night. One day, she decided not to live with Jumman’s family any longer. She asked Jumman for some money so that she could live on her own but Jumman refused cruelly. The old woman became very upset and decided to take the matter to the panchayat.
The old woman went to every house in the village reciting her situation and even went to Algu’s house for his help to support her in front of the panchayat. Algu didn’t want to ruin his friendship but her words for justice kept ringing in his mind. In the evening when the panchayat sat down for the matter and the old woman told the panchayat that Jumman had not kept his word, he and his wife ill-treated her. They did nothing that they promised and now she asked the panchayat for justice. Ramdhan Misra, one of the panches, asked Jumman to settle with his aunt or name his head panch. Jumman noticed that most of the people present in the panchayat were obliged to him in one way and the other. He was sure that he would win the case. He thus decided to let his aunt choose the head panch and the old woman proposed Algu’s name. Algu didn’t want to get involved and tried to back out but the old woman had faith in him and believed that God recites over the panch and he will serve justice. When Algu’s nomination was accepted, that very moment he decided to keep his friendship aside and see both of them as equals. He asked Jumman to make his statement in the panchayat. Jumman wasn’t worried and spoke peacefully and didn’t think he did anything wrong with the old woman. Jumman wondered what had happened to his friend, Algu, and was shocked when Algu announced the decision in favor of the aunt Jumman could never imagine that his dear friend would go against him. However, Ramdhan Misra and other members of the panchayat openly praised Algu for the just decision. This decision broke the friendship between Algu and Jumman. Jumman all the time thought about Algu’s betrayal and lived now only to take revenge.
The previous year, Algu had bought a pair of beautiful, long-horned oxen from Batesar. Unfortunately, a month after the panchayat decision, one of the oxen died. Jumman was very happy when he heard about it. Since one ox was of no use to a farmer, Algu decided to sell the other ox. He sold it to Samjhu Sahu who was a trader in the village. Samjhu bought the ox on the condition that he would pay the price of the ox after a month. Algu wanted to get rid of the ox so, he agreed to it. Samjhu was very careless towards the animal and didn’t take care of food and water for him nor give him proper rest. He had become so weak that his bones had stuck out. One day Samjhu, while making his fourth trip to the market, had overloaded the cart. The poor ox was so tired after the long day that it could hardly lift its feet.. After running for a few yards, its strength failed and it collapsed to the ground.
According to Samjhu, Algu had cheated him and gave him a sick ox. Algu took the matter to the panchayat. This time Algu was to nominate his head panch. But Algu very politely let Samjhu select and he purposely proposed the name of Jumman Sheikh. Algu was scared and feared that Jumman might take his revenge on him.
As soon as Jumman was appointed Sarpanch, he felt a sense of responsibility. He decided that he would not stray even an inch from the truth. After a long discussion, Jumman announced the decision. He said that Samjhu Sahu would have to pay the full payment for the ox because the ox was in good health when he had bought it. Algu shouted with joy, “God bless the sarpanch.” And everyone praised the decision made by Jumman. In the end, Jumman came to Algu and embraced his decision of being fair as Jumman had now learned that a panch is neither anybody’s friend nor anybody’s foe. He can see only justice. By this, all the misunderstandings were washed away in their tears.
Theme
The moral of the story is that one should choose justice and truth over anything in this world. In the words of Jumman, no one should ignore justice or truth in the name of friendship or enmity. Both these friends demonstrated this moral effectively.
The ethical values, espoused by the protagonists of the story, beautifully intertwine the flaws of human nature as well as the strength to overcome them. Any great institution is only as good as the one who operates and controls it.
The timeless adage of ‘with great power comes great responsibility’ only holds true when human beings devote themselves to their call of conscience and duty. The central theme highlights that justice knows no friendship or enmity.
A person who assumes the position of dispensing justice must deliver it without regard for personal biases, and loyalties like caste, race, creed, kinship, etc.
The principles of justice, truth and fairness are even more important today when the social life is stricken with the evils of systemic nepotism, personal ambition, materialism, greed, and inequality.
Points to remember
- This story is all about two friends Jumman sheikh and Algu Chaudhary, they are good friends in their Childhood days.
- Jumman Sheikh and Algu Chowdhari were very good friends, such good friends that they trusted each other deeply.
- When Jumman went to Mecca, he left his house in charge of Algu and whenever Algu went out of the village, Jumman took care of his house
- . Jumman had an old aunt who had no close relatives except Jumman.
- Jumman wanted to have her small property in his name, for that he made false promises and took good care of her until the deed was done.
- She wasn’t given enough food and was cursed day and night. One day, she decided not to live with Jumman’s family any longer. She asked Jumman for some money so that she could live on her own but Jumman refused cruelly.
- The old woman became very upset and decided to take the matter to the panchayat.
- The old woman went to every house in the village reciting her situation and even went to Algu’s house for his help to support her in front of the panchayat. Algu didn’t want to ruin his friendship but her words for justice kept ringing in his mind.
- He thus decided to let his aunt choose the head panch and the old woman proposed Algu’s name.
- Algu didn’t want to get involved and tried to back out but the old woman had faith in him and believed that God recites over the panch and he will serve justice.
- When Algu’s nomination was accepted, that very moment he decided to keep his friendship aside and see both of them as equals.
- Algu announced the decision in favor of the aunt Jumman could never imagine that his dear friend would go against him.
- This decision broke the friendship between Algu and Jumman. Jumman all the time thought about Algu’s betrayal and lived now only to take revenge.
- The previous year, Algu had bought a pair of beautiful, long-horned oxen from Batesar. Unfortunately, one of the oxen died
- Since one ox was of no use to a farmer, Algu decided to sell the other ox.
- Samjhu bought the ox from algu on the condition that he would pay the price of the ox after a month.
- The ox brought by samjhu died and he balm algu for this and refuse to pay money
- Algu took the matter to the panchayat. This time Algu was to nominate his head panch. But Algu very politely let Samjhu select and he purposely proposed the name of Jumman Sheikh.
- Algu was scared and feared that Jumman might take his revenge on him.
- Jumman announced the decision. He said that Samjhu Sahu would have to pay the full payment for the ox because the ox was in good health when he had bought it.
