Feminisim in Nazar Sajjad Haider's Novel "Mazhab aur Ishq"

Abstract

Nazar Sajjad Haider's novel, "Mazhab aur Ishq", is a significant academic and research document of feminist consciousness and awakening in early twentieth-century Urdu literature. Challenging the traditional male-dominated society of that era, the author does not present women merely as oppressed and helpless beings, but rather elevates them as autonomous entities with their own decisions and emotions. The novel's highly educated heroine, Susheela, questions traditional social bonds and religious interpretations. Upon learning about women’s true rights in Islam such as the right to choose marriage and achieve equal status through dialogues with a young Muslim man named Shabbir, she completely rejects traditional family pressure and chooses a life of her own volition. The feminist fabric of the novel clarifies the social distinction between gender and sex. The author demonstrates how society suppresses women under false assumptions of being "sensitive and weak-minded." This is evident in the subplot of Nirmala, whose father sells her to an old man without her consent. Through her characters, Haider criticizes the prevailing strict veil as an obstacle to women's development, emphasizing that a woman's discretion and free will must be included in crucial decisions like marriage; otherwise, human lives become torment. Ultimately, instead of reducing "love" to a superficial romantic trope, this novel uses it as a vehicle for women's intellectual freedom and autonomy. Concurrently, it presents "religion" in its true, progressive form, using it as a shield against social oppression. Although Susheela's seemingly enlightened parents cast her out for her interfaith marriage, she remains content with her choice. This narrative proves that the struggle for women's liberation is about establishing a dignified balance between social values and personal rights, where women are independent creators of their own destiny.