Intizar Hussain and Creative experience of the past: In the Context of “Sheherzad Ke Naam”

انتظار حسین اور ماضی کا تخلیقی تجربہ: ” شہرزاد کے نام” کے تناظر میں

Abstract

This research article critically examines Sheherzad Ke Naam, the last short story collection of Intizar Hussain, published in 2002, comprising seventeen short stories. The study explores how Hussain creatively reimagines the past through the lenses of nostalgia, symbolism, and storytelling traditions. It highlights the interplay of memory, myth, and socio-political commentary in his fiction, showing how past events, cultural heritage, and allegorical narratives intertwine with contemporary realities. The analysis focuses on selected stories such as Daira, Mornama, Sheherzad Ki Maut, Reserve Seat, Hum Nawala, Jabala Ka Putt, and others, illustrating how Hussain address’s migration, cultural identity, environmental degradation, socio-political violence, and moral decline. By blending classical storytelling modes with modern issues, he creates a narrative space where the personal and collective past becomes a lens to interpret present-day crises. This article also underscores Hussain’s mastery of symbolic expression, interwoven narratives, and cultural references, establishing Sheherzad Ke Naam as a significant work in Urdu short story tradition.

Keywords: Intizar Hussain, Sheherzad Ke Naam, Urdu short story, nostalgia, symbolism, migration, environmental degradation, cultural identity, socio-political commentary, allegory, storytelling tradition