Social transformation through literature.

Byline: Dr Zia Ahmed

WRITING, reading, and analyzing literature have multiple dividends, including the solutions to the socio-political situation of a country. The reason is that literature discusses and debates social issues and shows a positive direction where the answer is available. Besides, the literature is an attempt at the freedom of expression and speech, which makes it a platform to present everyone's point of view. When all are given a chance to speak, the voices of dissent are listed, and it helps us understand the reasons and causes working at the back end of the problems. For example, the poetic voices of Faiz and Faraz in modern Pakistan have played a significant role in creating resistance and resilience in the voice of dissent.

The world of literature mainly shapes the world around because it impels the mind to imagine what is difficult in the real world. Not only this, but it also further inspires and urges individuals to realize their dreams. It means the world's beauty and aesthetics are mainly because of the works of literature and art. The poets like Maki Qureshi, Toufiq Rafaat, and Daud Kamal have also contributed to making and shaping a body of literature called Pakistani Literature to give an identity to Pakistan.

The world's great writers wrote their imaginaries and showed their people the path which could lead them to glory and beauty. It has helped shape societies positively, and the world has become more habitable, stable, and worth living. This function of literature should be popularized because it is a vehicle for the social mobility of ideas and discusses societal changes. Consequently, literature becomes the force to depict the social trends and the new acceptable shape of society. It shows and paves the way toward the beautiful world and spreads the message of love among human beings. For example, the novels of Charles Dickens proved instrumental in securing the rights of women and children, and those of George Eliot and Virginia Wools proved women's leading roles, as discussed by these writers.In the modern and postmodern era, the voices of T. S Eliot and Chinua Achebe became significant in the context of voicing and making national imaginaries.

Literature at the national level represents the desires, wishes, and dreams of the people where it is being produced. As such, it becomes a presentation of the people and society. It gives equal chances of representation to all sections of the community. It...