मानवीय चरित्र इतना जटिल है कि बुरे से बुरा आदमी देवता हो जाता है और अच्छे से अच्छा पशु।

 

मानव चरित्र की जटिलता

“मानवीय चरित्र इतना जटिल है कि बुरे से बुरा आदमी देवता हो जाता है और अच्छे से अच्छा पशु।”

— मुंशी प्रेमचंद

मानव चरित्र को समझना अत्यंत कठिन है, क्योंकि मनुष्य का स्वभाव हमेशा एक जैसा नहीं रहता। प्रत्येक व्यक्ति के भीतर प्रेम और घृणा, करुणा और क्रोध, त्याग और स्वार्थ—सभी भावनाएँ विद्यमान रहती हैं। परिस्थितियाँ, संगति, अनुभव और दूसरों का व्यवहार यह निर्धारित करते हैं कि उसके व्यक्तित्व का कौन-सा पक्ष सामने आएगा।

कभी-कभी समाज जिसे बुरा व्यक्ति मान लेता है, वही प्रेम, विश्वास और सम्मान मिलने पर अपने जीवन को पूरी तरह बदल देता है। किसी की सहानुभूति उसके भीतर सोई हुई मानवता को जगा सकती है। उचित मार्गदर्शन और सच्चा अपनापन कठोर हृदय को भी कोमल बना सकता है। इस प्रकार, बुरे से बुरा व्यक्ति भी अपने कर्मों में सुधार करके महानता की ओर बढ़ सकता है।

इसके विपरीत, एक सज्जन और संवेदनशील व्यक्ति जब लगातार अपमान, विश्वासघात, अन्याय और शोषण सहता है, तब उसके भीतर की अच्छाई धीरे-धीरे कमजोर हो सकती है। बार-बार चोट खाने से उसका विश्वास समाप्त हो जाता है और वह कठोर, क्रोधित अथवा संवेदनहीन बन सकता है। जब उसकी सरलता को कमजोरी और सहनशीलता को कायरता समझा जाता है, तब कभी-कभी वही अच्छा व्यक्ति अमानवीय व्यवहार करने लगता है।

मुंशी प्रेमचंद का यह कथन हमें सिखाता है कि किसी व्यक्ति के वर्तमान आचरण को देखकर उसके सम्पूर्ण चरित्र का अंतिम निर्णय नहीं करना चाहिए। हर बुरे व्यक्ति में सुधार की संभावना होती है और प्रत्येक अच्छे व्यक्ति को अपनी अच्छाई बनाए रखने के लिए निरंतर आत्मसंयम की आवश्यकता होती है। मनुष्य को परिस्थितियों का दास बनने के बजाय अपने विवेक और संस्कारों के अनुसार चलना चाहिए।

हमारे शब्द और व्यवहार भी दूसरों के व्यक्तित्व को प्रभावित करते हैं। प्रेम, सम्मान और क्षमा किसी भटके हुए व्यक्ति को सही मार्ग दिखा सकते हैं, जबकि अपमान, उपेक्षा और क्रूरता किसी शांत व्यक्ति को भी विद्रोही बना सकती है। इसलिए हमें ऐसा व्यवहार करना चाहिए जो दूसरों के भीतर की मानवता को जगाए, न कि उसे नष्ट करे।

वास्तविक महानता केवल अच्छा कहलाने में नहीं, बल्कि कठिन परिस्थितियों में भी अपनी अच्छाई, विवेक और मानवीय संवेदनाओं को सुरक्षित रखने में है। अन्याय का विरोध अवश्य करना चाहिए, परन्तु विरोध करते समय स्वयं अन्यायी नहीं बनना चाहिए। यही मानव चरित्र की सबसे बड़ी परीक्षा और मनुष्यता की सच्ची पहचान है।

मानव चरित्र की जटिलता

 

मानव चरित्र की जटिलता

मानव चरित्र परिस्थितियों और व्यवहार से गहराई से प्रभावित होता है। निरंतर अपमान, विश्वासघात और क्रूरता एक अच्छे व्यक्ति को भी कठोर बना सकती है, जबकि प्रेम, सम्मान और करुणा किसी बुरे व्यक्ति के भीतर भी अच्छाई जगा सकती है। इसलिए हमारा व्यवहार किसी को बिगाड़ भी सकता है और सुधार भी सकता है। सच्ची शक्ति अन्याय का विरोध करते हुए भी अपनी मानवता बनाए रखने में है।

— मुंशी प्रेमचंद

The Complexity of Human Character

 

The Complexity of Human Character

Human character is deeply influenced by circumstances and behaviour. Repeated cruelty, betrayal and humiliation may turn even a good person bitter, while love, respect and compassion can awaken goodness in a hardened heart. Therefore, our conduct has the power either to damage or transform others. True strength lies in resisting injustice without losing one’s own humanity.

— Munshi Premchand

The Complexity of Human Character

 

The Complexity of Human Character

“Human character is so complex that sometimes a good person turns into a devil because of another person’s bad behaviour, while a good person’s influence can transform even a cruel or immoral individual into a gentle human being.”

— Munshi Premchand

Human character is neither fixed nor easily understood. Every person carries within himself both virtue and weakness, compassion and anger, patience and resentment. Which side becomes dominant often depends upon the circumstances, relationships and treatment that a person experiences. Continuous humiliation, betrayal, exploitation and injustice may gradually destroy the goodness of an otherwise sincere person. When kindness is repeatedly mistaken for weakness and trust is constantly betrayed, even a calm individual may become bitter, harsh and revengeful.

At the same time, the opposite transformation is equally possible. Love, respect, sympathy and sincere guidance can awaken humanity even in a person who has travelled far along the path of wrongdoing. A kind word may soften an angry heart; genuine affection may reform a cruel person; and an act of forgiveness may inspire someone to abandon hatred altogether. Many individuals do not change because of punishment or fear—they change when someone treats them with dignity and reminds them that goodness still exists within them.

Premchand’s observation therefore reveals an important truth: our conduct does not affect us alone; it also influences the character and behaviour of those around us. A toxic environment can corrupt a noble mind, while a compassionate environment can reform a disturbed personality. Society is thus built not merely by laws and institutions, but by the daily behaviour of ordinary people toward one another.

However, this does not mean that a person is completely free from responsibility for his actions. Circumstances may influence human conduct, but conscience and self-control remain essential. True strength lies in preserving one’s goodness even when confronted with cruelty. We must learn to resist wrongdoing without becoming wrongdoers ourselves and oppose injustice without allowing hatred to consume our humanity.

The deeper message is simple yet powerful: goodness is contagious, but so is cruelty. Every word, gesture and action may either heal a person or wound him, reform him or corrupt him. Therefore, we should remain conscious of how we treat others. Sometimes, a little respect can save a person from falling into darkness, and a little compassion can transform even a hardened heart into a humane and gentle one.

A lawyer does not get even a single page of a law book for free—then how can his legal advice be expected for free?

 A lawyer does not get even a single page of a law book for free—then how can his legal advice be expected for free?

Legal advice is not merely a few spoken words; it is the result of years of education, continuous study, courtroom experience, professional expenditure and responsibility. A lawyer’s time and knowledge deserve proper respect and remuneration. Free legal aid may be offered to the genuinely needy, but professional advice should never be taken for granted.

— Ashok Kumar Singh
Advocate, High Court at Calcutta

Professional Advice Is the Fruit of Years of Sacrifice

 

Professional Advice Is the Fruit of Years of Sacrifice

“A lawyer does not get even a single page of a book for free; then how can he be expected to give legal advice for free?”

Behind every legal opinion lies a long journey of education, disciplined study, practical experience and professional responsibility. A lawyer must continuously purchase books, study statutes, follow judicial precedents, attend court proceedings, maintain an office and devote countless hours to research. Even a seemingly simple legal question may require careful examination of facts, applicable laws and recent judgments before responsible advice can be given.

Legal advice is not merely a collection of spoken words. It is the product of years of learning, observation, interpretation and experience. A few minutes of consultation may contain the accumulated wisdom of decades of professional practice. Moreover, incorrect or casual advice may seriously affect a person’s liberty, property, family, business or reputation. Therefore, a conscientious lawyer must apply both knowledge and judgment before expressing an opinion.

People willingly pay doctors for medical consultation, architects for designs, accountants for financial advice and engineers for technical expertise. In the same manner, the professional knowledge and time of an advocate deserve equal recognition and respect. Seeking free legal advice while expecting complete accuracy and responsibility undervalues the labour, sacrifice and accountability involved in the legal profession.

An advocate may certainly render free legal assistance to the poor, distressed and genuinely helpless as an act of humanity and professional duty. However, voluntary legal aid should never be treated as a general entitlement or used to diminish the value of an advocate’s services. Charity is a matter of conscience; professional service is a matter of rightful remuneration.

Respecting a lawyer’s professional fee means respecting the years spent acquiring knowledge, the time devoted to studying the matter and the responsibility undertaken while advising the client. Books are not free, education is not free, office expenses are not free, and a lawyer’s time and expertise cannot always be expected to be free.

Value legal advice, because behind every responsible opinion stands a lifetime of learning, labour and professional accountability.

— Ashok Kumar Singh
Advocate, High Court at Calcutta

Ganesh Chaturthi 2026