منٹو،عسکری اور ترقی پسندی:تنقیدی جائزہ

Abstract

Saadat Hasan Manto is famous writer whose art is recognized by everyone today, but he faced various controversies in his life one of which is the debate of being progressive or regressive.

Manto proved his uniqueness and progressiveness by his literary work, but the progressive writers’ movement labelled him “A Reactionary”. Progressive writers passed a resolution to boycott Manto. There is a mentionable role of Hassan Askari in this decision;Hassan Askari is renowned for criticism more than fiction writing and his work and efforts to introduce “Pakistani Literature” is unforgettable.

This study examines the situation of literary conflict raised in result of Manto and Hassan Askari’s friendship and reaction of progressive writers. It discusses the major events to understand this situation that are; Askari’s appreciation for Manto’s short story “  "بابو گوپی ناتھ, preface of “سیاہ خاشیے” written by Hassan Askari and Publication of literary magazine “اردو ادب”. This literary conflict reveals the narrow-mindedness and extremism of progressive writers and also revels the aim of movement at that time which were more political than literary. Study reveals that a writer’s progressiveness does not depend on belonging to a movement.