IDENTITY CRISIS AND URDU FICTION IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Abstract:

Identity holds special significance in human life. This is why, in the desire to keep their identity alive, individuals continuously make various efforts on different levels. Elements such as home, family, nation, tribe, civilization, culture, homeland, religion, and language each have a particular significance for every person in their generality. Whether it is the collective concept of civilization and culture or the individual reference of gender identity, its significance cannot be denied in any era or region. This most crucial topic of identity has always been important across all schools of thought. Since literature plays a crucial role in stimulating collective consciousness at the social level, efforts to highlight various aspects of human identity have been evident from the beginning. In Urdu fiction, the intensity of this reality has been more pronounced especially after the establishment of Pakistan. When discussions began about being Pakistani, Indian, Muslim, or Hindu, every major Urdu fiction writer produced high-quality stories addressing the crisis of identity. Writers such as Premchand, Manto, Qasmi, Intizar Hussain, Khadija Mastoor, Hajra Masroor, and Ismat Chughtai made identity and recognition their central themes. This crisis of identity has taken on various forms over time and has given rise to numerous tragedies. Today, it remains an important theme among 21st-century fiction writers as well.

Keywords:

Identity, Crisis, 21st Century, Society, Civilization, Culture, Fiction, Third Gender, Feminism

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