Khuda Ki Basti Urdu Novel Review – Summary, Themes & Impact
In this page you can get Khuda Ki Basti Urdu Novel Review – Summary, Themes & Impact. This novel is written by Shaukat Sidddiqui. He was a Pakistani writer of fiction who wrote in Urdu language. He is best known for his novels Khuda ki Basti and Jangloos, the former of which won the Adamjee Literary Award in 1960.
His first short sotry, “Kaun Kisi Ka”, appeared in weekly khayyanm in Lahore. His first collection of short stories, Teesra Admi, was published and proved to be a great success. Subsequently, other collections of short stories followed: Andhere Dur Andhere (1955), Raaton Ka Shehar (1956) and keemya Gar (1984).
His magnum opus is Khuda Ki Basti , which has appeared in 50 editions and has been transalated into 26 languages. It has been dramatized time and again. Its Englsih translation was by David Mathews of London University.
Introduction- what is Khuda Ki Basti About
Khuda Ki Bast is a legendary Urdu novel written by Shaukat Siddiqui first published in 1957. It is widely considered one of the best Urdu novels of all time, especially in the genre of social realism. This timeless story captures the brutal realities of post-partition society –poverty, corruption, exploitation, and surviaval. Shaukat Siddiqui’s writing is raw, direct, and emotionally charged, he doesn’t use flowery or poetic language-instead, he focused on realistic dialogue and gripping scenes. Every character feels authentic, every injustice hits hard.
Book Details
- Title: Khuda Ki Basti
- Author: Shaukat Siddiqui
- Genre: Social Realism/Fiction
- First Published:1957
- Setting: Karachi, paksitn
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Sumary of the Novel
The story follows a poverty-stricken family living in the slums of Karachi shortly after the creation of Pakistan. The central characters, including a young girl Sultana, her mother, and their neighbors, struggle to survine amid unemployment, betrayal, and the breakdown of moral values.
As tragedy after tragedy unfolds, the novel exposes how the elite and religious manipulators exploit the poor, while corrupt lanlords, thugs, and so-called guardians of morality prey on the helpless. It is not just a story-it’s a social mirror.
Khuda Ki Basti was adapted as a serial produced by Paksitan Televisio in 1969 and 1974. In 1974, prime Minister ZulfIkar Ali Bhutto asked for the re-telecast of the Novel.
Why Khuda Ki Basti is a Msterpiece
- Realistic portrayal of life in Karachi’s lower-class areas
- Social conscious narrative that remains relevant today
- Adapted into famous PTV dramas in the 1970s and 1980s
- Cited in academic discussions on post-colonial Urdu literature
Shaukat Siddiqui’s Literary Works
- Short stories Collections
- Teesra Admi (1952)
- Andhera Dur Andhere (1955)
- Raaton Ka Shehar (1956)
- Keemyagar (1984)
- Major Novels
- Khuda ki Basti (1975)
- Kamingah (1956)
- Jangloos (1987-88)
- Char Deewari (1990)
Final verdict
Khuda ki Basti is a landmark Urdu novel that every serious reader should experience at least once. Its relevance, septh, and truth-telling power remain unmatched, even decades after it was written.
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