Makhz (Research Journal)

Abstraction in Hameed Shahid’s Short Stories

Muhammad Qasim — 2026-03-05

Hameed Shahid is famous Urdu short story writer. He belongs to modern era. He portrait the socio-political situation of his era thorough abstraction. His socio-political observation is very vast and deep which provide him awareness about the cultural, social, political and economic situation of the society .He experienced different styles to express his feeling and observations in his short stories. Abstraction is one of them. Through this article an effort has been made to acknowledge the abstract style of his short stories.

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

Muhammad Saleem Sarwar — 2026-03-09

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.

The Influence of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai`s Poetry on the Poetry of Dadu Dayal

Muhammad Rashid Shar — 2026-03-15

Just as every poet is shaped by the social, economic, political, and literary currents of their time, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai similarly evolved by absorbing the minor and major religious, socio-economic, political, and literary influences of both his own period and the periods preceding it. Historically, Dadu Dayal belonged to the Tarkhan period, whereas Shah Latif was a poet of the Kalhora dynasty. Consequently, whenever preceding poets, scholars, or intellectuals disseminated profound philosophical thought, Latif not only praised their lives and ideologies but also demonstrated a deep assimilation of their wisdom. Among the figures whose philosophies Latif integrated into his poetry, Dadu Dayal holds a distinguished position. A comparative study of Dadu Dayal's life and work alongside Latif’s verses reveals a definitive influence of Dayal's poetry on Latif's work. Furthermore, an examination of Dadu Dayal’s philosophy, contextualized with Latif's Sur Ramkali and his extensive travels across the Sindh and Hind regions, indicates that Latif’s profound reverence for jogis and samis is a remarkable reflection of the influence of Dadu Dayal and his ascetic lineage (Panth). It is, therefore, undeniable that while Latif’s poetry reflects the impact of various international and regional intellectual paradigms from Sindh and Hind, Dadu Dayal remains a pivotal figure among these scholars, casting a profound influence on Latif’s art, thought, and life. The primary objective of this thesis is to establish that among the various intellectuals, Sufis, saints, bhagats, samis, and jogis who influenced Latif, Dadu Dayal holds significant prominence. By comparatively analyzing Latif's poetry with Dadu Dayal's ideology, thought, and verses, this research presents substantive examples to conclusively demonstrate the profound impact of Dadu Dayal's philosophy on Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai.

Sexuality and Cultural Repression in the Contemporary Urdu Novel: The Semantic Construction of a Silent Narrative

Khalid Tofeeq — 2026-03-18

This study examines the representation of sexuality within the framework of cultural repression in contemporary Urdu fiction, arguing that sexuality in South Asian societies is less a purely biological phenomenon and more a culturally constructed and regulated discourse. In the context of Urdu novels, cultural norms, religious values, and social conventions play a decisive role in shaping not only the expression of desire but also the limits imposed upon it. Consequently, sexuality often appears in indirect, symbolic, and muted forms, giving rise to what may be termed a “silent narrative.”Drawing on theoretical insights from Michel Foucault, Silvia Federici, and Annamarie Jagose, the paper explores how power structures, economic conditions, and shifting notions of identity intersect with cultural constraints to produce layered meanings in literary texts. Contemporary Urdu novelists transform cultural silence into a creative strategy, where repression itself becomes a site of meaning-making. Characters navigate tensions between personal desire and collective norms, and their silences often signify both constraint and subtle resistance.The study concludes that the “silence” surrounding sexuality in Urdu fiction is not merely an absence of expression but a complex narrative mode that encodes cultural conflict, identity formation, and the negotiation of power within a restrictive social milieu.

Partition of India and Urdu Reportage: An Analytical Study

Ghulam Abbas — 2026-03-21

Urdu reportage written on the partition of India, highlighting how the political, social and cultural upheavals of the 20th century especially the 1947 riots deeply influenced Urdu writers. At discusses how the horrific violence, mass migration, collapse of communal harmony compelled sensitive literary figures to document these events, resulting in significent reportages from both Pakistan and India.Works such as "Delhi ki Bipta", "Kashmir udaas hai", Du Mulk Aik Kahani" in Pakistan. "Aur Insan Mar Gaya", "Aur Khuda dekhta Raha", "Chhatha Darya", in India portray themes of human suffering, the breakdown of civilization, ideology conflicts and the political forces behind communal violence. The article analysis these texts to explore writers prespectives, their literary tendency and their responses to the historical, social and political dimensions of partition era riots.

Pandemics Through the Ages: History, Impacts, and a Literary Review of Mirza Hamid Baig’s Novel “Corona Nama”

Muhammad Afzal — 2026-03-27

This article explores the historical trajectory of pandemics, tracing their origins from ancient civilizations to the modern era. Starting from the Plague of Athens (430 BCE) and moving through the Black Death of the Middle Ages, the Smallpox outbreaks of the Mughal era, and the Spanish Flu of 1918, the study highlights how infectious diseases have consistently reshaped human societies. The discourse categorizes the primary causes of these outbreaks into environmental pollution, zoonotic transmission, and human negligence. Furthermore, the article analyzes the profound socio-economic and psychological impacts of pandemics, emphasizing how they breed isolation, economic instability, and existential dread. A significant portion of the study is dedicated to a literary review of Mirza Hamid Baig’s Urdu novel, **"Corona Nama"**. The novel is examined as a "psychological elegy" of the COVID-19 era, capturing the transformation of human relationships, the erosion of social fabric, and the fragility of human pride in the face of a microscopic pathogen. Through selected excerpts, the study illustrates how Baig masterfully portrays the shift from physical illness to psychological trauma.

An Overview of Ayesha Jalal’s Book Self and Sovereignty

Imtiaz Hussain Baloch — 2026-03-28

This article critically examines the book Self and Sovereignty by Ayesha Jalal, focusing on its historical, political, linguistic, and ideological interpretations regarding Muslim identity, nationalism, and the creation of Pakistan. The study highlights Jalal’s analytical and critical historiography while also identifying several areas where the reviewer fundamentally disagrees with her interpretations, particularly concerning the Two-Nation Theory, Muslim nationalism, the role of religion in politics, and the ideological foundations of Pakistan. The article discusses the book’s treatment of Hindu-Muslim relations, the Urdu-Hindi controversy, the role of the press, the politics of Punjab, the Khilafat Movement, and Muslim political consciousness in colonial India. It further evaluates Jalal’s views on Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Allama Muhammad Iqbal, secularism, and Islamic identity, arguing that her secular perspective overlooks the ideological and religious motivations behind the Pakistan Movement. Despite these disagreements, the paper acknowledges Jalal’s scholarly style, intellectual depth, and powerful prose, concluding that her work remains an important contribution to South Asian historiography and debates on Muslim identity and sovereignty.

Ameer Minai as a Naat Poet

Sajjad Haider — 2026-04-01

Naat Poetry is a revered and ancient genre of Urdu Literature, beginning in with Hassan bin Thabit originating from the time of the Holy Prophetﷺ. Emerging through Arabic and Persian traditions, it entered Urdu with poets like Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah and later flourished with great poets including Iqbal. Among them, Ameer Minai holds a distinguished position. He elevated Naat beynod mere praise to encompass devotion, love, mysticism, and spiritual reflection. His Naat collection Mohamid Khatam-un-Nabiyin is considered a milestone in Urdu literature. Ameer Minai’s, with their intellectual, artistic, and spiritual depth, influenced later poets and enriched the Urdu literature tradition. Amir Minai’s Naatiya poetry reflects both the traditional reverence of prophetic praise and a deeper intellectual and spiritual engagement, presenting Naat as an act of worship as well as literary art form. Thus, Amir Minai’s Naatiya works remain an enduring testament to the integration of faith, art and literary excellence in Urdu literature.

The Decline of Urdu Literature and Societal Values: In the Context of the 21st Century

Zeenat Aman — 2026-04-04

This Article presents a critical analysis of the profound organic relationship between Urdu fiction and societal values. Literature and society are interdependent, with the writer serving as a mirror to the collective conscience and moral fluctuations of their time. This research employs the character dynamics in contemporary Urdu novels such as Najeeb, Rukhsana, Javed, Zarina, Mohsin, and Gul Meena as case studies to highlight the socio-moral factors threatening the sanctity of family systems, human relationships, and social integrity.The paper demonstrates that when materialism, greed for property, and ostentation overshadow higher values such as the sanctity of life and altruism, society inevitably suffers from moral bankruptcy. The study concludes that the decline of these literary characters is not merely a personal failure; rather, it reflects a transforming social structure where virtues like modesty, fear of God (Khauf-e-Khuda), and benevolence are gradually eroding. This paper emphasizes that the fundamental role of literature is not just to depict societal decay, but to confront society with its inner malaise and steer it toward moral reformation.

A Critical Study of Effects of Indo-Pak War 1971 on Urdu Short Story

Samia Kousar — 2026-04-05

Far or less, war always affects every genre of literature in every part of the world. This study critically examines the effects of the Indo-Pak War of 1971 on Urdu short stories. The war, which led to the separation of East Pakistan and the creation of Bangladesh, deeply influenced the social, political and psychological conditions of the subcontinent. Urdu short story writers reflected these realities through themes such as loss, displacement, identity crisis, nationalism, trauma and human suffering. The research analyzes selected short stories by prominent Urdu writers to explore how the war shaped literary expression and narrative style. It highlights the portrayal of violence, political disillusionment and emotional conflict in post-1971 Urdu fiction. The study also discusses the use of realism and psychological narration in representing the effects of war. This research concludes that the 1971 war brought significant thematic and stylistic changes to Urdu short stories and strengthened the role of literature as a reflection of historical and social realities.