Ismat Chughtai idea of womanhood and identity analysed in the ‘The quilt’ (Lihaaf)

Abstract

Ismat Chughtai is regarded as a cultural critic who discarded the set traditions unsuited to the modern life and challenged the societal norms set not only womanhood but on an individual’s identity in a multicultural society. She spoke with an authenticity that eluded many and her writings are representative of the quest for personhood to delve into the depths of what it means to be a woman. This paper explores the two modes of identity, gendered and religious, to present a nuanced and inclusive reading of multiculturalism and feminism. Taking Chughtai’s path-breaking story, The Quilt (Lihaaf) into consideration, the paper seeks to analyse the idea of womanhood and the female identity as portrayed by her.