Impacts of Extraneous Social Trends on Urdu Fiction; under Colonialism

Abstract

Each society possesses its unique history, which is not only a puzzle of happenings, but it circumscribes the changes occurring in its political, cultural, civilizational environment and absorb variations in traditions, behaviors, and revolutions. Literature reflects the society, so it has a better interpretation of those changes and elements which affect the society positively or vice versa. Literature encompasses the views and thoughts flourishing in a society. When Indian society turned into an industrial society after being a feudal society and as a result changes occurred in cultural and traditional norms, a mental restlessness took place not only in minds of individuals but also in Urdu literature. These cultural, traditional, and political alterations made notable impressions on the vast canvas of Urdu Novel. Urdu novel, which was introduced in the colonial era, from its very beginning, reflected the western imitation and regulations under the colonialism, with a mindset that Indians are inferior, and they should be a replica of their western masters. An elite class was flourished in British India under colonialism. This elite class was imitated the western masters and their lifestyle. This article reflects these imitations and its effects on Urdu novel and the Indian society through this medium.