Fearless Pen of Urdu Fiction: Wajida Tabassum

(بے باک قلم کی نمائندہ (واجدہ تبسم

Abstract

Wajida Tabasum stands as a pivotal figure in twentieth-century Urdu fiction, particularly during the 1960s and 1970s, for her bold literary voice and groundbreaking representation of women’s inner lives. Her short stories defied conventional boundaries by exploring socially taboo subjects such as female sexuality, patriarchal hypocrisy, class conflict, and familial oppression. Through a realist yet artistically nuanced lens, Tabasum constructed female characters who were not merely passive recipients of suffering, but emotionally complex, self-aware individuals capable of resistance and assertion.

This paper examines Tabasum’s fiction as a site of feminist resistance within a deeply patriarchal cultural framework. Employing literary and thematic analysis, the study investigates how her narratives—particularly "Thandi Sarak," "Ek Thi Nargis," "Eighteen Hundred and Eighty-Four," and "Billi"—employ symbolism, psychological depth, and cultural idioms to critique social norms and expose gendered oppression. Tabasum’s distinctive use of Hyderabadi dialect, rich imagery, and layered storytelling contributes to a unique feminist aesthetic in Urdu literature.

Despite facing criticism and allegations of obscenity from conservative circles, her work has been increasingly recognized for its literary value, feminist insight, and sociocultural relevance. This research situates Wajida Tabasum within the broader discourse of South Asian feminist literature, arguing that her stories function both as powerful literary texts and as cultural documents that challenge the traditional narratives of womanhood. Her contributions remain vital to understanding the evolution of gender discourse in modern Urdu literature.