Tashkeel ISSN(Online): 3007-3294 ISSN(Print): 3007-3286 “Tashkeel” is an Urdu research and critical inquiry Journal published by the department of Urdu, University of Jhang. The main theme of the journal is to promote the quality research culture in the field of Urdu language and literature. This journal is double-blind peer reviewed as per HEC Policy with focusing on complete transparency and research ethics. The journal is published bi-annually and issued for the goodwill of the research in the field of Urdu on non-profit bases.
Neo Historicism and Urdu Novel: In Context of Fall of Dhaka
Neo historicism is a literary term coined by Stephen Greenblatt in the United States in the 1980s. He is of the view that along with literary text, non-literary text is also of equal importance to understand the functioning power and sociopolitical dynamics of the society. Moreover, critics of neo-historicism say that history is based on prejudices, while fiction has some truth to it. In the context of neo historicism, in this research article, it is tried to explore the tragedy of Fall of Dhaka through the lens of literary text of Urdu Novels: Khas o Khashak Zamanay, Raakh, Matti Adam Khati hay and Makhota. Each author has described this tragedy in one’s own way in the form of literary texts, so that the emotions and feelings of the people and its real facts become very clear to the reader.
Linguistic Links between Balochi and Urdu Language
The Balochi language holds a significant position among the languages spoken in Pakistan. The accent of the Balochi language is categorized into two variations, Estern Balochi accent and western Balochi accent that is influenced by diverse civilizations, ethnicities and cultures. Geographical, social and cultural differences exist between the both accents of Balochi language. Clear signs of linkage between Urdu and Balochi can be observed by analyzing the sounds of words and scripts. Numerous Balochi words, proverbs and idioms have been borrowed from the Urdu language. There are similarities in the literary genres of both languages as well.
An Analytical and Literary Study of “Misar, Khawab Aur Tabeer”
Dr. Zahid Munir Aamir holds his literary position as a renowned intellectual, critic, poet and teacher. He remaind the Head of Urdu and Pakistan Studies Chair (Masnid) for three years at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt. During this time, he performed many services related to Urdu literature, Pakistan Studies, Iqbal Studies and Islamic Studies. He wrote detailed history of Egypt in his remarkable book “Misr, Khawab Aur Tabeer”. This article presents a detailed review on “Misr, Khawab Aur Tabeer” through a literary and historical analysis of the Egyptian culture and civilization, Situation of Urdu and Iqbal Studies in Egypt referenced in the book.
Naiyar Masud and Translations of Kafkaesque literature
Naiyar Masud is a highly significant and eminent name in Urdu literature specifically in fiction and translation. His writings are often considered deeply influenced by those of Franz Kafka. Naiyar Masud himself maintained that he had begun writing short stories even before reading Kafka; however, Kafka’s works completely transformed his literary world. Masud also translated Kafka’s stories, and this book holds great importance in the realm of translation for its uniqueness and its deep understanding of Kafka’s inner world. This paper aims to explore and analyze Naiyar Masud’s translations of Kafka’s literary works.
Foreign Characters in Novel Khas o Khashak Zamany: An Analytical Study
Mustansar Hussain Tarar is one of the most popular contemporary writers of Urdu literature, best known for his travelogues and novels. In his novel Khas-o-Khashak Zamanay, the foreign characters are portrayed as dynamic, multidimensional, inquisitive, persistent, and self-made individuals. The author has drawn upon his lifetime experiences and deep observations to imaginatively create these characters especially Inam Ullah, Akbar Jahan, Roshan, Richard Jahan, Bakht Jahan (Junior), Seerat Jahan, Shabahat and Mouti. This article examines various tendencies reflected in foreign characters such as their innate instincts, racial pride, cultural interactions and cultrural conflicts.
A Colonial Analysis of Hassan Manzar's Short Story "The White Man's World"
The concept of “The White Man's World” is often seen as a myth of beauty that romanticizes colonialism. This perspective highlights the stark divisions created under British colonial rule between “Backward” nations and those considered “Civilized”. Such distinctions served to justify the domination of diverse cultures, framing colonialism as a benevolent endeavor. In the guise of Neo-Democracy, powerful nations pursue the subjugation of weaker ones to exploit their resources and expand their territories. Hassan Manzar illustrates these contrasting worlds of the colonizers and the colonized emphasizing that the beauty associated with the White Man's World often masks the harsh realities of oppression and exploitation that define it. This Article tries to explore the writer’s insights of critical re-evaluation of the narratives shaping our understanding of colonial history.
Manto as a Moral Artist in Mumtaz Shirin's Criticism: Text Based Study
Text Based Criticism is a literary approach that focuses on detailed analysis of a work's qualities, both positive and negative regardless of its external factors. This type of criticism examines the inherent merits and flaws of a text, exploring its virtues and vices and the underlying causes for these characteristics. It establishes a relationship between the work and the reader, helping to interpret the meaning and significance of the text. Mumtaz Shirin is highly regarded, especially among female critics, for her contributions to Urdu literary criticism. Among the prominent critics in Urdu literature, Shirin stands out, particularly for her in-depth studies of Saadat Hassan Manto's works. In her essays, she meticulously analyzed Manto's political, moral, and social ideas, which were central themes in his writings, especially in his short stories. In this article, an attempt is made to draw basic conclusions after text-based study of Shirin’s essays on Manto.
The Narrative of Majeed Amjad’s Late Period Poems: An Artistic and Stylistic Study
Majeed Amjad is known as a trendsetter Urdu Poet of 20th century. He is a multi-dimensional poet who executed many metrical, lexical, lingual and stylistic experiments in his poetry. The poems he wrote in his late period (1968-1974) are in a new narrative closer to prose. This narrative has given him the liberty to enrich his style with poetic tools like Paradox, Oxymoron, Adjectives, Personification, Imagery and the diversity of Expanding Verbs. This article explores the varied modern poetic tools used in his selected poems to shape a new narrative by redefining his poetic style.
A Critical Study of the Failure of Revival and the Degeneration of Essence in Urdu Short Story ‘Kaya Kalap’
Intizar Hussain is one of the most prominent writers in the history of Urdu Literature. His short story, Kaya Kalap, critically examines the cultural and spiritual trauma following the partition. This research article argues that Intizar Hussain deploys mythological and historical allusions as fractured registers reflecting the disintegration of collective memory. Utilizing Postcolonial and Trauma theories, this analysis demonstrates the story’s title “Metamorphosis” is a profound ironic inversion. Instead of spiritual renewal, the narrative delineates communal decay and psychic fragmentation. The culmination of this trauma is narrative ambiguity and complete subjective fragmentation, proving that civilizational memory is incapable of ethical restoration.
The Literary Trajectories of Syed Umaid Ali Shah
Syed Umaid Ali Shah is a distinguished poet and writer of Saraiki and Urdu languages. He has rendered valuable services for the promotion of Urdu literature. His entire life seems to be associated with various literary organizations and the field of journalism. Ali Shah has made efforts to bring the creative literature and writers of his region to the global scene of Urdu literature. The literature, he has created reflects the exploited class of society. His poetry has been adorning local and national magazines from time to time. In this article, it is tried to explain the literary trajectories of Syed Umaid Ali Shah regarding his services related to revival of the poetry of the rural areas and made it famous both domestically and internationally.
Urdu Sketch Writing in the Literary Tradition of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
This article briefly reviews the origin, evolution and literary significance of Urdu Sketch Writing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK). The province of KPK is of particular importance in the history of Urdu literature. Sketch Writing in Urdu had begun before the emergence of Pakistan, but in KPK, it gained recognition after independence. The Sketch Writings of Raza Hamdani, Allah Bux Yousufi, Anwar Khan Dewana, Dr. Shair Bahadur, Dr Amjad Hussain, Taj Saeed, Ayub Sabir, Alam Zaib Zafar, Farigh Bukhari, Raheem Gul, Zahoor Ahamd Awan and many more are mentioned preferably marinating the sequence to overviewe the tradion of the particular genere. This article, specifically examines the history, trends and tradition of Urdu sketch Writing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Revival of Lucknow’s Culture in Anees Ashfaq’s Novel “Pari Naz Aur Parinday”
Anees Ashfaq is a versatile literary figure of our time. At once a novelist, short story writer, travelogue author, poet, translator, sketch writer, researcher, and critic, he embodies the richness of modern Urdu literature. Among his notable novels are “Dukhiyare”, “Pari Naz aur Parinday”, “Khawab Sarab”, and the recently published “Haich”. His fiction, particularly his novels, vividly reflect the cultural and social echoes of Lucknawi civilization. Before the narrative unfolds, a one-page summary of Naiyar Masud’s celebrated short story “Taus Chaman ki Maina” is presented serving as the very foundation upon which Anees Ashfaq expands his own narrative. In this way, “Pari Naz aur Parinday” may be read as a continuation and re-imagination of that seminal tale. In this article, it is explored that the novel offers a striking reflection of the subtle grace and cultural essence of Lucknawi civilization, an enduring hallmark of Anees Ashfaq’s literary vision.
The Duality of Edgar Allan Poe’s Psychological Narrative and Urdu Short Fiction
This article examines the psychological duality at the core of Edgar Allan Poe’s creative vision and traces how this duality oscillating between heightened emotion and analytical clarity forms a consistent artistic pattern. Poe’s narrative imagination emerges from an inward tension where fear, memory, guilt and isolation are processed through structured expression, resulting in an aesthetic that merges disorder with discipline. In this study, the focus is also directed toward the emergence of such tendencies within modern Urdu short fiction, where internal crises, fragmented identities and existential uncertainty gradually replace external narrative motives. Through comparison, it is observed that Urdu fiction assimilates psychological intensity in culturally distinct contexts, producing narratives in which human consciousness, silence, trauma and internal collapse become central. The article concludes that Poe’s influence does not reach Urdu literature merely through thematic resemblance, but through a deeper aesthetic paradigm in which inward disturbance becomes a coherent artistic experience, reflecting maturity of narrative vision in modern Urdu fiction.
Feminist Elements in Khalida Hussain's Short Stories: An Analytical Study
Khalida Hussain is a unique and distinguished short story writer of this era. She is considered one of the pioneers of modern Urdu Short Stories. Materialism, existentialism, feminism, fear, nostalgia, terror, psychological issues and human inner complexes, concepts of time and death and social issues are main themes of her stories. She has a variety of dimensions in her concept of feminism. It contains child marriage, mismatched marriage, a woman’s love for a man, a man’s infidelity to a woman, a woman’s disrespect, and disinheritance from property, women exploitation, gender discrimination etc. This article tends to explore her opinion regarding mentioned feminist elements in her short stories.
Marxist Critical Perspective of Farhat Parveen's Short Story
This paper critically examines Farhat Parveen’s short story “Aankhein Na Kholna” through the lens of Marxist literary theory. It explores how Karl Marx’s foundational concepts such as class struggle, alienation, materialism, and dialectical thinking can be applied to literary texts to reveal the underlying socio-economic structures and power dynamics. The story is analyzed as a reflection of a class divided society, where the ruling bourgeoisie exploits the labor and dignity of the proletariat. The narrative shows how systemic injustice is internalized by the oppressed, often justified as fate, which Marx termed "ideological conditioning." Thinkers like Engels, Althusser, Lenin, and Gramsci are referenced to explain how literature serves as a tool of both resistance and control. The article argues that Marxist criticism demands literature to side with the marginalized and portray the lived realities of the working class. Farhat Parveen's story, through the tragic depiction of class disparity and societal apathy, becomes a powerful critique of capitalist ideology and a call for awareness and change. Thus, literature is not viewed merely as an artistic endeavor but as an active participant in social transformation.
Tehseen Sabai Walvi: An Unsung Poet of Urdu and Saraiki Literature
Tehseen Sabai Walvi, a significant yet underrecognized poet, contributed extensively to Urdu and Saraiki literature, establishing a distinctive position among his contemporaries. His upcoming collection, Hadisa e Wafa, symbolizes his dedication to Urdu poetry, which, though revered for its quality, remains largely unpublished. Walvi explored nearly all literary genres, enriching both Urdu and Saraiki traditions. His work reflects themes of national identity intertwined with cultural heritage, particularly in the Saraiki language's legendary capital. Financial constraints impeded the publication of his complete Urdu works, creating a gap in literary history. Further research into his unpublished works could provide critical insights into his contributions and the development of regional literature.
Kishwar Naheed's Literary Columns: An Analytical Study
Kishwar Naheed, a prominent Pakistani poetess, writer, and literary columnist, is known for her profound contributions to Urdu literature. Her work often explores themes of feminism, social justice, and resistance, reflecting her commitment to giving voice to the marginalized, especially women. As a literary columnist, Naheed brings a unique perspective, blending her poetic sensibility with a fierce critical eye. Her columns address contemporary socio-political issues, examining the complexities of Pakistani society with a focus on cultural and literary traditions. Through her writing, Naheed not only critiques societal norms but also celebrates resilience, drawing from personal experiences and cultural heritage to advocate for progressive change. This article attempts to analyze the central themes of her literary columns, which she regards as addressing the pressing needs of the present time.
Cultural Resurgence in Novel Khas o Khashak Zamanay
In the 20th century, Urdu literature embraced new genres and themes, with the novel emerging as a powerful medium to depict contemporary life and socio-cultural realities. While cultural discourse in Urdu literature is relatively recent, evolving political and social conditions made its inclusion essential. Literature, both prose and poetry, began reflecting cultural concerns tied closely to civilization and the individual. Civilization stems from collective needs and structured living, while culture arises from aesthetic pursuits that define identity. Culture plays a vital role in shaping national recognition through customs, values, and traditions. Khas-o-Khashak Zamana, a novel by Mustansar Hussain Tarar, serves as a significant example of cultural recovery. It portrays a society in flux, undergoing intense socio-political and cultural transformations. The narrative explores how individuals either cling to their cultural roots or abandon tradition and identity for survival. The novel becomes a lens to study cultural preservation and erosion in modern contexts.
The Novel and Social Awareness: An Analytical Study of Child Rights in Ali Arshad Rana's Novel
Ali Arshad Rana is a modern novelist who reflects the changing trends and techniques in different literary periods, while also addressing social issues through imagery, which is becoming increasingly important in literature. In his novel Jalta Raha Charag Yaqeen-o-Guman Ka, Rana exposes the facade and so-called "doctors" of society, highlighting the crucial role that parents, teachers, and educational institutions play in the education of children. He emphasizes the importance of well trained teachers, who are vital in shaping a nation’s future. In this article it is tried to explore that how author identified the problems and shortcomings in children's education and suggested the solutions to these issues, showcasing the maturity of his social consciousness throughout the novel.
Enlightened Islamic Thought in Urdu Writings of Dr. Manzoor Ahmad
Dr. Manzoor Ahmad Khan is a prominent rationalist Islamic scholar who strives to understand religious beliefs, traditions, and teachings through a modern intellectual and rational lens. He believes that the current interpretations of Islam are no longer beneficial for today’s modern society. According to him, Muslims lag behind other nations primarily because they have distanced themselves from reason and intellect. Dr. Manzoor advocates for a new interpretation of Islamic thought and emphasizes the need for fresh methodologies to explore new intellectual avenues within Islam. He is critical of blind conformity (taqlid) and seeks to awaken public consciousness through enlightened thinking. He also stresses the importance of religious tolerance and interfaith dialogue for building a harmonious society. Although he faces criticism from various quarters, Dr. Manzoor boldly points out the flaws present in Islamic societies and also offers constructive solutions. In his view, true enlightenment lies in making Islamic teachings practically relevant and effective in addressing contemporary social issues.
Gender Discrimination in Urdu Short Stories: An Analysis of Collection "Adha Insan"
Humans are inherently equal, with no innate superiority or inferiority between men and women. However, society has constructed gender discrimination based on biological differences. In Pakistani society, this discrimination has led to male dominance and the subjugation of women. Urdu fiction often reflects these gender disparities, and Rishi Khan's short story collection Aadha Insan holds significant relevance in this regard. These stories aim to expose the true nature of gender discrimination within Pakistani society, highlighting its presence in various aspects of life. Through themes of education, economics, violence, survival, insecurity, and sexual exploitation, the author vividly portrays the pervasive gender biases. Beyond merely depicting these injustices, the stories also serve as a catalyst for challenging male dominance and advocating for gender equality.
The 1971 tragedy is a significant and painful chapter in Pakistan's history, marked by the involvement of global powers with ulterior motives. Wars devastate not only the physical landscape but also the human psyche, leaving individuals helpless and scarred. Literature serves as a crucial medium to articulate these impacts, capturing the internal and external dimensions of war. Among literary forms, the novel stands out for its role in documenting the fall of Dhaka. These novels vividly portray the historical, political, and cultural complexities of the era, offering narratives of disaster, displacement, and human suffering. Through these works, the profound tragedies of war are preserved and explored in their full depth and nuance.
Fiction and Magical Realism: An Analysis of a Story by Mazhar ul Islam
Magical realism is a technique that presents the fusion of reality and magic in such a way that the fantasy and real worlds are indistinguishable and that surprising transcendental elements appear to be connected to everyday affairs. In this technique, the elemental, paranormal world fuse reality with magic seamlessly. The concepts of the paranormal and supernatural are found in cultural and political contexts. This article tends to analyse the elements of magical realism and its uses in the story. This study will be based on the ideas presented in Magical Realism: Theory, History, Community by Parkinson Zamora, and Wendy B. Faris. This analysis will also cover how Mazhar-ul-Islam performed the task of conveying meanings by combining the traditional concept of reality and transcendence using this technique.
Transformative Translation of Paulo Coelho’s novel: "By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept": An Analytical Review
In this article, pragmatic adaptation in Urdu translation by Saeed Ahmad, entitled “Girya bar kinar-e-darya” from the source text of Paulo Coelho’s novel: “by the River Piedra I sat down and wept” has been analyzed and discussed. There is a lot of difference in territorial myths, religious beliefs, social norms and other thinking patterns of the locality of this Brazilian novel then that of Pakistani people. This translated version of the said creative masterpiece is more suitable than any other in the market due to its need-based co-textual changes and particularly coined diction in order to make it acceptable for the target text readers. In spite of all the pragmatic skills and craftsmanship employed, there are some gray areas to be noticed, but ironically which offer a special jouissance to its reader as well. The purpose of this article is to further enhance the interest in harnessing pragmatic adoptations as well as adaptations in translation work more effectively to entertain lexicographical documentations and meet the needs of ideological state like ours.
Tradition of Manuscript Studies in East and West and Contemporary Trends
In this research article, the tradition of identifying the Manuscript and its importance is discussed critically, and in future prospective. A manuscript or Makhtoota’s role is very significant in Literary research. Makhtoota is usually a piece of paper, but this paper depicts untold stories of ancient literature. The western tradition started with the compilation of Holy Bible, in Greek and Latin languages and then to other western languages. There are some famous names including, Dr. Moheen Uddin Qadri Zaoor, Moulvi Abdul Haq, Hafiz Mahmood Sherani, Mushfiq Khawaja, Moulana Imtiaz Ali Arshi, Kalique Anjum, Rasheed Hassan Khan and Dr. Jamil Jalbi.This important academic activity of Manuscript identifying, is as much as relevant to the research scholars as it was relevant in the past.
A Deconstructive Study of Urdu Short Story"Aanandi"
Ghulam Abbas is an important Urdu fiction writer of the 20th century. “Anandi” is one of his representative short stories. This story shows the double standards of society and exploitive behaviors prevailing in society. However, a close study of the text reveals that it revolves around the settlement of a new city and related details. There are many technical gaps in the story. In this paper, the textual and deconstructive study of Anandi will bring out all the gaps in it, which will present a new understanding of this short story.
Existentialism, Environmentalism and Maut ki Kitaab
Khalid Javed is a prominent name in modern Urdu fiction. His work holds unique and distinct significance in Urdu literature. His novel Maut ki Kitab was first published in 2011. Although it is a short novel, it is considered a masterpiece due to its theme, language and philosophical depth. According to critics, Khalid Javed presents the existential crisis of contemporary man in this novel. This article presents a study of this novel in the context of Existentialism and Ecological crisis. The writer argues that the extential crisis in Khalid Javed’s work is not isolated, it is interwined with environmental crisis and corporate culture.
Social and Literary Perspectives of Feminism: An Expository Study
This article deals with the multifaceted landscape of contemporary feminism, examining its evolution, challenges and triumphs in the 21st century. Sacrifice, mercy, selfness and loyalty are the jewels of a women. Through a socio-literary lens, it explores the intersectionality of feminism, addressing issues of race, class, sexuality, and gender identity. By analyzing the diverse voices within the feminist movement, from grassroots activism to academic discourse, this study aims to highlight a comprehensive explaination of feminism's relevance and impact in today's society. Through nuanced exploration, it seeks to contribute to ongoing conversations surrounding gender equality and social justice.
Urdu literature, Feminism, Socio-cultural, Socio-literary, analysis, Expository study, gender equality, sexuality, social jistice
The War Frenzy of Global Power in the Context of Novel “Pagal Khana”: An Analytical Study
By the end of the 20th century, the world had evolved into a rudimentary form of a global village. With the beginning of the 21st century, the world turned upside down, and everything took on an artificial form. The narratives of caste, colour, race, politics, society, culture, civilization, and the entire way of life are changing. The obsession with border-bound power ran rampant, and the desire for global power fueled the madness of global wars, destroying everything in their path. Hijab Imtiaz Ali Taj's novel "Pagal Khana" gives a detailed analysis of the above situation. This novel shows the entire social culture of the late 20th century changing completely in the 21st century. This article consists of a special study of the political, cultural, and social narratives of the novel "Pagal khana" in the face of the narrative of global power. This article is a lamentation for the decline of the social situation that is ready to fall due to the decline of political chaos, and it is also a rich lesson that encourages the reader to read and think.
Global Village, 21st Century, Social Decay, 9/11, Democracy, Politics, America, Japan, Pakistan, Social media, Peasant, Third World, World Frame Order, Atomic Bomb, Depression, Hiroshima, Poland, Scientific Inventions.
“Mir Shanasi” in Histories of Urdu Literature: A Research Study
In this article it has been analyzed that how Urdu historians and researchers explored the poetic horizons of Mir Taqi Mir by studying his life through his books. All the historians gave Proper significance to Mir's autobiography and evaluated his theories and ideas. They basically got information from the early memoir ''Zikr e Mir''. When we minutely study this historical analysis, we come to know that the influences of Mir cannot be denied on Sauda and his contemporaries. Ghalib and all poets have acknowledged his mastery and perfection. A number of historians also realized the worth of Mir's poetry. They compared Mir's poetic diction with his contemporaries and proved Mir's superiority. Urdu history revealed Mir's criticism trends. Although literature of Urdu history started in 20th century yet a parallel Mir criticism can be seen obviously. History of Urdu literature is considered the primary source of Mir’s criticism. In this regard, it has been thoroughly studied historians’ remarks on Mir's life and poetry that may be much fruitful to comprehend the real stature of Mir Taqi Mir.
Mir criticism, history of Urdu literature, tradition and trend, History of Urdu Literature, Zikr e Mir, Mir's autobiography.