‘The child’ is a beautiful story written by Munshi Premchand. The story highlights a new sense of social awareness in people.
The story ‘The child’ is narrated by a generous narrator. Gangu is one of the servants who considers himself as a Brahmin. He is different from many other servants in the household. He is lazy by nature and does not bear the characteristics of an ideal Brahmin. Once he goes to the narrator in private to say something but he hesitates to speak. The narrator thinks that he must have came to either ask for money or to complain about another servant. But the narrator is surprised when Gangu states that he wants to quit the job as he is going to marry a woman named Gomti Devi.
Gomti Devi had been driven away twice by her two past husbands. Now, she has started living in the same mohalla. All consider her to be of low character. But Gangu’s opinion is different. The narrator tries to persuade Gangu but he does not understand the scenario. Finally he leaves the job. The narrator thinks that very soon Gomti Devi and Gangu will get separated but they surprisingly they live happily.
After some time, Gomti runs away. The narrator feels satisfied thinking that he has proved true. Gangu is now upset but still has faith in her. After one month when the narrator returns from Nainital, Gangu comes to see the narrator again. Meanwhile, Gangu had found out Gomti with a new born baby. Gangu is not the father of that child because Gomti Devi delivers a baby within just few months after marriage. The narrator tries hard to provoke him against Gomti about the illegitimacy of the child but he is firm in his love. He accepts the child as a gift from the god. Finally, seeing Gangu’s feeling and generosity, the narrator is touched and offers his blessing to the baby.
