This quote proposes that the ultimate value of art lies not in its aesthetic appeal alone, but in its practical ability to improve human existence and societal well-being. It challenges the idea of art for art's sake, advocating for a purpose-driven creative expression that serves humanity.
Quote by Premchand: “The greatest art is that which is useful for life.”
The greatest art is that which is useful for life.
Insight
Historical Context
Writing during India's struggle for independence and witnessing widespread rural poverty, Premchand believed literature should be a tool for social reform. His stories exposed societal injustices, aiming to educate and inspire change, thus serving life.
About the Author
Pen name of Dhanpat Rai Shrivastava, the most celebrated Hindi and Urdu fiction writer of the early twentieth century, born in Lamahi in 1880. His novels and stories depicted rural Indian life, caste injustice, and human dignity with unsparing realism, and his novel Godaan is considered a masterpiece.
View all quotes by Premchand