ادب، تہذیب اور شعور: پاکستانی اردو افسانے کا سماجی و تنقیدی جائزہ

LITERATURE, CULTURE, AND CONSCIOUSNESS: A SOCIO-CRITICAL STUDY OF THE PAKISTANI URDU SHORT STORY

Abstract

This study explores the intricate relationship between literature, culture, and social consciousness as reflected in the Pakistani Urdu short story. Language and literature serve not only as tools of artistic expression but also as vehicles for shaping and reflecting cultural identity. The short story, as a literary form, captures the emotional and psychological depth of individual and collective experiences, embedded within a structured socio-cultural context. Through dialect, symbolism, and narrative style, Urdu fiction becomes a lens through which the evolving identity of Pakistani society is examined. This paper investigates how selected Pakistani Urdu short stories articulate cultural and civilizational awareness, unraveling layers of social and cultural consciousness. By analyzing these narratives critically, the research offers insights into the role of fiction in expressing, shaping, and preserving cultural identity in a transforming society.