مشتاق احمد یوسفی کے ہاں فلیش بیک تکنیک: ایک مطالعہ

MUSHTAQ AHMAD YOUSUFI’S FLASHBACK TECHNIQUE: A STUDY

Abstract

This study examines the use of the flashback technique in the writings of Mushtaq Ahmad Yousufi, one of Urdu’s most celebrated humorists. In Yousufi’s prose, flashback does not merely interrupt the chronological flow of narration; rather, it functions as a deliberate artistic strategy that deepens characterization and enriches thematic expression. His frequent return to past events, personal memories, and cultural experiences lends his narrative a distinctly non-linear structure, allowing humor and reflection to coexist seamlessly. Through a close reading of his major works, this paper explores how Yousufi skillfully integrates flashback with satire, dialogue, anecdotal storytelling, and social observation. The analysis reveals that the flashback technique is a fundamental component of Yousufi’s narrative craft, enhancing the emotional resonance, intellectual depth, and comic vitality of his prose. Ultimately, the study demonstrates that flashback in Yousufi’s writing serves not only as a structural device but as a vital conduit for capturing the richness of South Asian life, memory, and humor.