Narrative of Climate Change in Selected Urdu Novels

Abstract

This research paper examines the narrative of climate and environmental change in selected contemporary Urdu novels: Paani Mar Raha Hai (Amna Mufti), Bhaag Bhari (Safdar Zaidi), Koh-e-Garan (Khalid Fateh Muhammad), and Mushk Puri Ki Malika (Muhammad Atif Aleem). It explores how these novelists employ narrative technique, symbolism, and characterization to depict water scarcity, deforestation, wildlife displacement, and the human cost of ecological collapse. The study foregrounds eco-critical theory to show how contemporary Urdu fiction has moved beyond traditional romantic and social themes to engage with the planet's gravest crisis. By analyzing plot, character, and imagery, this research demonstrates that Urdu fiction has emerged as a powerful medium of ecological consciousness in the twenty-first century.