**Chapter 5: Kritika - Summary**

Kritika is a Hindi textbook for Class 9 students following the CBSE curriculum. This chapter, titled "Kritika," focuses on a collection of short stories and plays that aim to provide students with a deeper understanding of various themes and enhance their language skills. Let's explore the summary of this chapter in detail:

**1. Introduction:**
The chapter begins with an introduction to Kritika and its significance in the Hindi curriculum. It highlights the importance of literature in developing language skills, improving comprehension, and fostering creativity.

**2. Stories and Plays:**
The chapter consists of several short stories and plays, each with its unique theme and narrative. Some of the prominent stories and plays included in this chapter are:

a. "Dukh Ka Adikar" (The Right to Sorrow): This story by Ravindranath Tagore revolves around a young boy named Anath who finds solace in his sorrow and believes that everyone should have the right to express their grief.

b. "Savle Sapno Ki Yaad" (Memories of Dark Dreams): Authored by Krishna Sobti, this story delves into the life of a woman named Dadi who reminisces about her past and reflects on the significance of dreams.

c. "Vakh" (The Gift): A thought-provoking play by Sudama Panday 'Dhoomil,' it explores the idea of the true meaning of a gift and the value of relationships.

d. "Kallu Kumhar Ki Unnakoti" (The Crorepati Potter): This play written by Ramanlal Joshi portrays the struggle of a potter named Kallu Kumhar, who aspires to become a millionaire.

**3. Themes and Moral Lessons:**
Each story and play in Kritika carries a theme and imparts a moral lesson. Some of the common themes explored in this chapter include grief, memories, dreams, relationships, aspirations, and societal issues. Through these narratives, students learn valuable life lessons and gain insights into human emotions and experiences.

**4. Language Skills:**
Apart from the literary aspect, Kritika also aims to enhance students' language skills. The chapter provides opportunities for students to improve their vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking abilities through various exercises and questions related to the stories and plays.

**5. Conclusion:**
In conclusion, the Kritika chapter of CBSE Class 9 serves as a platform for students to explore diverse literary works, understand different themes, and develop their language skills. It encourages students to think critically, empathize with characters, and extract meaningful insights from the stories and plays. By engaging with these texts, students can enhance their overall language proficiency and broaden their horizons.

लेखक जिन दिनों बेरोजगार थे उन दिनों शायद किसी ने उन्हें कटु बातें की होगीं जिसे वे बर्दाश्त नहीं कर पाए होगे और दिल्ली चले आए ।बेरोजगारी के दिनों में व्यंग बाणों को झेलना पड़ता था। लेखक को अपने प्रारम्भ के दिनों में आर्थिक समस्याओं से जूझना पड़ा था ।साइन बोर्ड पेंट करके अपना गुजारा चलाना पड़ता था ।लेखक की पत्नी का टी.बी. के कारण देहांत हो गया था, और वे युवावस्था में ही विधुर हो गए | इसलिए उन्हें पत्नी - वियोग की पीड़ा को भी झेलना पड़ा।बच्चनजी आग्रह पर जब वे इलाहाबाद आए तब भी वे आर्थिक समस्या से जूझ रहे थे ।बच्चनजी ने उनकी पढ़ाई का सारा खर्चा उठाया था । इस प्रकार उनके प्रारम्भ के दिन आर्थिक कठिनाईयों में बीते ।मित्रों के सहयोग, इलाहाबाद का संस्कार तथा हिन्दी कविता का वातावरण और प्रोत्साहन पाकर लेखक हिन्दी में रचनाएँ करने लगे ।सन १९३३ में लेखक की कुछ कविताएँ 'सरस्वती' व 'चाँद' पत्रिका में छपीं | १९३७ में लेखक ने बच्चन जी के बताए अनुसार १४ पंक्तियों की कविता को लिखने का प्रयास किया | लेखक ने 'निशा निमंत्रण के कवि के प्रति' एक कविता लिखी जिस पर पंत जी के कुछ संशोधन भी हुए, पर अप्रकाशित रही |फिर लेखक 'रूपाभ' के आफिस में प्रशिक्षण लेकर बनारस से प्रकाशित 'हंस' के कार्यालय में काम सँभाला।