An Analytical Study of the Novel "A Drift on the Nile " in the Light of Bauman’s Theory of Liquid Modernity

باؤمن کے نظریۂ سیال جدیدیت کی روشنی میں ناول "آبِ نیل پہ آوارگی" کا تجزیاتی مطالعہ

Abstract

This study offers an analytical reading of the novel ‘Aab-e-Neel Pe Aawargi’ through Zygmunt Bauman’s concept of liquid modernity. It examines how contemporary social and individual experiences are shaped by instability, transience, fragmented identities, and fragile relationships, as reflected in the novel’s characters, events, and thematic structure. The houseboat, as a central symbolic space, functions as a temporary refuge that reflects the impermanence and rootlessness characteristic of modern life. The research adopts an interpretive and analytical methodology, focusing on narrative structure, character development, and key events in relation to Bauman’s theoretical framework. By applying this contemporary sociological lens to an Urdu novel, the study highlights new interpretive possibilities within Urdu literary criticism. The findings indicate a continuous transformation in human relationships and social values under the pressures of modernity. The novel reflects the psychological uncertainty and existential fluidity of contemporary existence, where stability is increasingly replaced by change and insecurity. Ultimately, the study demonstrates how literary texts can effectively represent the complexities of life in a rapidly shifting social order.

Conflict of Interest: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest related to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article, and that the data presented have not been fabricated or falsified.

Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant or financial support from public, commercial, or not-for profit funding agencies.

Participant Consent: The authors confirm that Informed consent was obtained from all participants, and confidentiality was duly maintained.