اردو ناول میں جنوبی پنجاب کی معاشرت کی عکاسی

The tradition of urdu novel is very old. Urdu novelists have been taking interest in culture of South Punjab since the dawn of twentieth century. This aspect of Urdu novel was almost neglected by researchers. I discuss it by examining writing of numerous urdu novelist i.e. Lala Doulat Roy, Quratulain Haider, Shoukat Sidiquei, Syed Shabir Hussain, Bano Qudsia, Imran Iqbal and Mustansar Hussain Tarar. Old urdu novelist Lala Doulat Roy, in "Mujhey Zaror Parrho", criticizes some old customs and conventions that are exploiting inhabitants of South Punjab. Mysticism is one of basic elements in early Urdu novelists. I shed light on narration of rites and religious activities on several tombs of Muslim saints in Multan and Uch Shareef. People enthusiastically participate in festival of Urs on tombs. In "Seeta Hirn", famous novelist Quratul Ain Haider describes the ways of living of people of Bahawalpur desert and she is highly critical of their customs. Shoukat Sidiquei becomes most important novelist in context of my research. The third volume of novel "Jangloos" deals with feudal culture of Siraiki region. He effectively pointes out the crualties of feudals in south punjab. I argue that Imran Iqbal and Syed Shabir Hussain are in agreement with Shoukat Sidiquei. They are critical of tradition Peer Parassti to improve social conditions in South Punjab. Mustansar Hussain Tarar writes about Siraiki people living on the bank of Sindh river. He points out moral corruption in the families of these fishermen. I opine, in this paper, that all urdu novelists writing about South punjab can be divided into two groups. One group, Quratul Ain Haider, Mustansar Hussain Tara, Bano Qudsia, negatively depicts culture of South Punjab and they talk about moral weaknesses and social ills of South Punjab. Second group, Shoukat Sidiquei, Imran Iqbal, Syed Shabir Hussain, has been showing positive side of South Punjab in their novels. They are sympathetic to Siraiki people and their criticism is intended to improve living conditions of Siraiki people.