خوشیوں کا باغ“ ایک وجودی ناول

Abstract

The construct of ‘Existentialism’ is characterized by different theoretical underpinnings such as pertaining to existence, or in logic, predicating existence. From philosophical perspective, it denotes a vision of the condition and existence of man, his place and function in the world, and his relationship, or lack of relationship with world and God. Modern existentialism is mainly attributed to the pertinent notions of Seren Kierkegaard (1813-55), a Danish philosopher; its main emphasis lies in the existence of individual as free and self-determining agent. The influence of Existentialism can be seen in different disciplines, including literature. In the genre of novel and drama for instance, the impact of modern existentialism became obvious in the writing of Jean-Paul Sartre. In Urdu literature, particularly in fiction, its impact can be seen in the writing of Dr. Anwar Sajad. If on one hand, he is recognized for symbolism and modern tendencies, his fiction is equally characterized by modern existentialism. The present study critically analyzes his novel ۔  Findings reveal the influence of the philosophical wave of modern Existentialism. Since the existentialist can be characterized through his/her capacity of facing anxiety, pursuing authenticity and recuperation of death, similar tendencies are evident in the novel. The study explored motifs such as alienation, quest for self-discovery, portrayal of naked realities of life, uncertainties in life, over-reliance on science and information technology as the dilemma of modern era, and colonial hegemony and otherness as global realities confronting human in different forms. These components of modern Existentialism greatly question the existence of human and make him question his own existence in the modern era. The study offers novel and deep insights of modern existentialism before readers. Finally, this attempt of critically appreciating Anwar Sajad’s ---- through the lens of existentialism and discussing the inwards and subjective aspects of human can greatly enhance and enrich the comprehension of readers and make a worthy contribution to the body of research on Urdu fiction, criticism and Urdu literature at large.