بشرٰی رحمٰن کا نمائندہ تانیثی کردار”خانم“

The representative feminist character of Bushra Rehman: “Khanam”

Abstract

Feminism is a powerful social and political movement that aims to subvert the patriarchal concepts. Urdu literature also focuses on feminist themes. Female writers, who hail from progressive movement, emphatically advocate for equal social, political and educational rights for women. Through their works and characters, they challenge the existing chauvinistic hierarchy which deprives women from their rights and presents them on the one hand as an embodiment of evil and on the other hand, an object lacking real identity. Bushra Rehman in her novel, “La-Zawaal”, highlights the deplorable condition of women in our society through the portrait of female characters. The present article discusses how the character of “Khanum” in “La-Zawaal” is a progressive feminist figure that is feminine, yet strong entity and empowered enough to survive independently in a patriarchal society.