Narrative of domestic violence in Urdu fiction

Abstract

The short story (Afsana) emerged as a prominent genre in Urdu literature, though storytelling had long been a part of the subcontinent's cultural fabric. Ancient texts like Mahabharata, Rigveda, and Arthashastra reflect this tradition. With the arrival of Muslims, the Arabic tradition of storytelling gained momentum and eventually merged into Urdu literature due to the language's expressive capacity. The classical Urdu narrative began with Sab Ras, rich in fantasy, curiosity, and exploration. However, after the 1857 war, societal changes led to the decline of storytelling as a leisure activity, paving the way for the Urdu novel and, eventually, the short story. The modern short story, shaped by the mechanical and scientific spirit of the age, focuses on a single cohesive unit and concludes effectively. It has become one of the most popular genres in Urdu, capturing the realities of domestic struggles, poverty, social injustices, and especially the plight of women forced to step out of their homes. These themes are now powerfully reflected in contemporary Urdu short stories.