المرأة الكشميرية بين المعاناة والكفاح في ضوء القصة القصيرة الأردية

Kashmiri Women: Struggle and Suffering in the Context of the Urdu Short Story

Abstract

The Urdu short story is one of the most prominent literary genres that reflect both individual and societal concerns at local and global levels. It has played a significant role in presenting and addressing numerous political, social, cultural, religious, and economic issues. The Kashmir issue, as a case in point, has captured the attention of many Urdu short-story writers, who devoted significant space to it in their works and explored it through diverse and creative approaches. Kashmir remains one of the most complex contemporary issues, particularly in light of the atrocities, extermination campaigns, and human-rights violations endured by Kashmiri Muslims since the British withdrawal from the Indian subcontinent in 1947. These violations still continue to the present day at the hands of Hindu extremists motivated by hostility toward Islam and Muslims. This study examines seven short stories that portray the experiences of Kashmiri women, highlighting both their suffering and their struggle from 1947 through the end of the twentieth century. In selecting these stories, careful attention was given to ensuring diversity in authorship, thematic focus, and temporal coverage, thereby providing a comprehensive view of the literary representation of Kashmiri women’s realities.