This poignant story by Premchand highlights the degrading treatment of Dalits (untouchables) under India’s caste system.A woman brings water for her sick husband from the only well in the village available to Dalits. It is contaminated and has a foul smell. She doesn’t know that boiling will purify the water, and decides that her only option is to risk a severe beating by secretly drawing water from the well of the high-caste Thakur, who forbids low-caste villagers from using it. Themes include social class, discrimination, poverty, courage, gender roles, corruption of the upper classes.
Original Text / PDF (1,450 words)