A feminist study of the short stories of Saadat Hasan Manto and Ismat Chughtai

Abstract

Ismat Chughtai, a prominent Urdu writer from India, gained recognition for her unwavering determination and fervent feminist beliefs. Ismat's work is often regarded as the epitome of Urdu fiction, representing the emergence of a groundbreaking feminist ideology and artistic style in Urdu writing during the twentieth century. This paper undertakes a comparative analysis of several short stories authored by Chughtai and the renowned writer Saadat Hasan Manto. This analysis examines the iconoclastic writings of Chughtai and Manto, focusing on their battle against feudalism, the prevailing feudal patriarchy, and the presence of double standards within Indian society. The works of Chughtai’s Quilt and Other Stories (Penguin) and Manto's stories such as Thanda Gosht, Khol Do have been utilised. This study aims to examine the intricacies of the women's movement that was prominent during the period in which Chughtai and Manto were active writers. Through an analysis of their short stories, researchers will examine the intricacies of the era that influenced the development of their female characters and how they, as forward-thinking writers, reacted to that period.