Sexuality and Urdu Novel: Formation, Transformation and Evolution of Narrative Discoirse

Abstract

This article explores the evolution of sexuality in the Urdu novel, beginning with its conceptual meanings and interpretive dimensions within literary and cultural contexts. In early Urdu fiction, sexuality is expressed through symbolic and allusive modes, often mediated by the figure of the courtesan (tawaif), who embodies the intersection of art, desire, and commodified intimacy. In the twentieth century, sexual discourse gradually moves beyond the confines of the kotha into the lives of ordinary individuals, marking a significant shift in narrative representation. The latter half of the century witnesses further expansion under the influence of Western cultural paradigms, creating a dynamic interplay with Eastern traditions. Subsequently, sexuality enters a purposive phase, becoming a means of thematic and ideological expression. In contemporary Urdu fiction, it assumes the form of a socio-economic force, functioning as a kind of currency within structures of power, social relations, and material interests.