A Comparative Study of Sound Effects in the Short Stories of Manto and Bedi

Abstract

The sensory perception in fiction extends beyond the visual to the auditory, creating a "soundscape" that defines the narrative's psychological and atmospheric depth. This research paper presents a comparative analysis of the "Sound Effects" (Auditory Imagery) in the short stories of Saadat Hasan Manto and Rajinder Singh Bedi, the two pillars of Urdu fiction. While Manto employs sharp, jarring, and industrial sounds—screams, sirens, and staccato dialogues—to depict the trauma of Partition and urban anxiety, Bedi utilizes muted tones, folk songs, domestic noises, and pregnant silences to explore the mythological and psychological undercurrents of human relationships. This study draws upon the theories of "Acoustic Ecology" and "Literary Acoustics" to argue that sound in Manto is a tool of "Shock," whereas in Bedi, it serves as a vehicle for "Resonance" and cultural memory. The paper critically examines selected texts to demonstrate how auditory distinctiveness forms the core of their respective stylistic identities.