"The Use of the Flashback Technique in Mukhtar Masood's Awaz-e-Dost: An Artistic and Stylistic Study"

Abstract

The flashback technique in Mukhtar Masood's celebrated prose work Awaz-e-Dost, with particular emphasis on its artistic, stylistic, and intellectual dimensions. The research explores how the author employs flashback as a narrative strategy to establish a meaningful relationship between the past and the present, thereby enriching historical consciousness, cultural identity, and national thought. Through a close textual analysis of selected essays, including Minar-e-Pakistan, Aligarh ka Sang-e-Bunyad, Koh-e-Noor, Marshal Tito, and Tokyo Bazaar, the study demonstrates that flashback in Awaz-e-Dost extends beyond a conventional narrative device and functions as a medium for historical interpretation and civilizational reflection. Mukhtar Masood integrates personal memories, historical events, religious symbols, and cultural references to produce a coherent literary discourse that enhances both the aesthetic appeal and intellectual depth of his prose. The study further highlights that the author's distinctive style transforms historical narratives into living experiences, enabling readers to interpret contemporary realities through the lens of the past. It concludes that the flashback technique constitutes one of the defining characteristics of Mukhtar Masood's prose style and significantly contributes to the literary, historical, and ideological richness of Awaz-e-Dost, securing its position as a landmark work in modern Urdu prose.