Premchand, or Dhanpat Rai Srivastava, was born on 31 July 1880. He was the author of numerous short stories, novels and a play. Some of his best known works include Godan (1936), Premashrama (1918), Sevasadan (1918), Rangabhumi (1925), Nirmala (1928), Gaban (1931) and Karmabhumi (1932). He also worked briefly as a script writer for films in Bombay. He wrote both in Hindi and Urdu.