WESTERN MODES OF REPRESENTATION IN URDU SHORT FICTION: A JOURNEY FROM IMITATION TO CREATIVE DIALOGUE

Abstract:

This Study critically examines the dynamic influence of Western literary styles and theories on the evolution of the Urdu short story. It argues that this relationship evolved from initial imitation to a mature, creative dialogue, where external forms were actively adapted to express local realities. This study analysis literary movements from Progressivism and Modernism to Postmodernism and 21st-century trends. It investigates the works of key figures like Intizar Husain, Mansha Yaad, and contemporary writers to trace this transformative engagement. The core findings reveal that the interaction was never one-sided. While Western modes provided new tools, Urdu fiction consistently filtered them through indigenous narrative traditions (like the Dastan) and socio-cultural contexts. The trajectory shows a move from borrowing towards creative appropriation, where writers use global techniques as critical instruments to deconstruct local histories, politics, and identities. Ultimately, the contemporary Urdu short story emerges as a hybrid, self-assured tradition capable of engaging in equitable dialogue with world literature, having forged its unique voice through a sustained process of cultural negotiation and creative adaptation.

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