MODERN SENSIBILITY IN THE SHORT STORIES OF MASOOD ASHAR MASOOD ASHER'S FICTION AND MODERN SENSIBILITY

Abstract

Masood Ashar was a renowned short-story writer, translator, journalist, and columnist. Four (4) collections of short-stories, twelve (12) translations, three (3) edited books, and many columns are on his credit. In recognition of his services, the Government of Pakistan awarded him the “Pride of Performance” and “Sitara-e-Imtiaz”. The short stories written by Masood Ashar cover diverse topics. The political and social issues, national and international trends, mental and physical hierarchy of the nation, heterogeneity of thoughts, internal and external conflicts, confrontation between man and society, discord between religion and intellect, psychological and emotional combat, social disorder, decaying family structure, religious extremism, narrow-mindedness, a tinge of migration, new ideas of nationalism, social strangle, hypocritical attitudes, jealousy, fear, and different shades of love as well as hate are the vibrant features of his writings, which provoke the mental approach of the readers. His short stories are like litmus-paper, which indicate the adversity, cruelty, and stench of society. Masood Ashar's short stories are works of art for modern sensibilities.