Pandemic Narrative in Urdu Fiction: A Comparative and Critical Study of the Novels Waba and Shehr Khali Kocha Khali

اردو فکشن میں وبائی بیانیہ: ناول ”وبا“ اور ”شہر خالی کوچہ خالی“ کا تقابلی و تنقیدی مطالعہ

Abstract

This study presents a comparative critical analysis of two prominent Urdu novels, Waba by Hasan Manzar and Shehr Khali Kocha Khali by Mustansar Hussain Tarar, focusing on their representation of pandemics and their socio-literary implications. Situated within the evolving tradition of Urdu fiction, the research examines how both works portray human behavior, social structures, and psychological responses during epidemic crises. Although unified by the central theme of disease, the novels differ significantly in narrative scope, thematic orientation, and stylistic approach. Waba offers a localized narrative centered on hospital life and the spread of infectious diseases such as smallpox and measles, highlighting institutional responses and collective human suffering. In contrast, Shehr Khali Kocha Khali extends its scope to a global level, depicting existential isolation, emotional dislocation, and cultural disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic through symbolic and experimental techniques. The study analyzes key narrative elements, including plot structure, characterization, dialogue, and technique. Hasan Manzar employs a linear and realistic narrative style, whereas Mustansar Hussain Tarar utilizes symbolism, abstraction, and stream-of-consciousness to express deeper philosophical concerns. The study concludes that both novels significantly contribute to pandemic discourse in Urdu literature, offering complementary perspectives on crisis, resilience, and human existence in the contemporary world.