The Flashback Technique in Mukhtar Masood's Lauh-e-Ayyam: An Artistic and Stylistic Study

Abstract

This article presents a stylistic and artistic study of the flashback technique in Mukhtar Masood’s Lauh-e-Ayyam. The research explores how the writer links present events with memories of the past to create historical continuity, cultural awareness, and psychological depth. Through examples related to the Iranian Revolution, Aligarh, childhood experiences, and political history, the study shows that flashback in Lauh-e-Ayyam is not merely a decorative literary device but an essential part of Masood’s intellectual expression. The technique maintains narrative flow, enriches meaning, and connects personal memories with collective history. The article concludes that Mukhtar Masood employs flashback with remarkable naturalness and artistic balance, making Lauh-e-Ayyam a significant work of reflective and historical Urdu prose.