اکیسویں صدی کا اردو ناول: عالمی فکری رجحانات اور جدید اسلوب کا تنقیدی جائزہ

The Urdu Novel in the 21st Century: A Critical Study of Global Intellectual Trends and Modern Stylistic Practices

Abstract

This research article critically explores the intellectual currents and stylistic innovations found in 21st-century Urdu novels. The study highlights how contemporary Urdu novelists have moved beyond traditional themes to engage with pressing global and local issues such as identity crises, socio-political instability, migration, gender consciousness, environmental degradation, and the conflict between tradition and modernity. The article analyzes the works of prominent novelists including Akhtar Raza Salimi, Khalid Fateh Muhammad, Muhammad Asim Butt, Khalida Hussain, and others, showcasing how these writers have experimented with narrative techniques such as stream of consciousness, symbolic structure, magical realism, and historical imagination. These novels not only reflect evolving thematic concerns but also display a notable shift in narrative style and literary aesthetics. This study argues that the 21st-century Urdu novel serves as a significant literary mirror of the contemporary human condition and demonstrates a rich interplay of form and thought.