Development Discourse and Womens Empowerment in Sindh

This research paper investigates and introduces the idea of development discourse and women empowerment question in Sindh. Based on the investigation and analysis of the writings by Sindhi intelligentsia in the Sindhi print media and book publications that present the discourse of development, progress, prosperity, and social change in Sindh, in this paper we engage with and call attention to the question of women empowerment. By integrating women empowerment and rights in this paper, we aim to set the research agenda and draw attention to gender and development theory and practice. In a way, this paper takes up and supports the gender-sensitive research approach to development discourse, public policy, and planning in Pakistan. It prioritizes gender and women's empowerment framework in research, teaching, and development practice.

اردو افسانے میں پشتون تہذیب-و- ثقافت کا تجزیاتی مطالعہ

Fiction is a well-known genre of urdu literature. For urdu prose writers, fiction has been a potent means of expression both quantitatively and qualitatively. Fiction was on its highest during the Second World War in the sub-continent. During these forty years, till independence fiction along with technical experimentations experienced a variety in its subject matters as well. Fiction writers showed mental maturity and adherence with ideology and before independence fiction writing exhibited a maturity in which the complicated social realities were presented in a highest aesthetic form. Beside other subjects, in view of western cultural dominance Urdu fiction writing had an inclination of showing the local culture and civilization . Along with ground realities, the social and cultural aspects were given vend in fiction, especially by the Pakistani fiction writers, which resulted in the formation of a new nation in the new homeland and the mutual interaction among its different units. For the presentation of indigenous culture in getting out of the dominance of the western, all the creative struggles of 69 years resulted in such a scenario where the culture and civilization of the sub-continent become visible with all its vibrancy in aesthetic beauties. Pakhtoon cultures have five to six thousand old histories. The inhabitant of this area and the Pashto language itself have a very great diffusion ability , which in spite of all geographical odds and population variability have sustained its identity. Before the advent of Islam, The culture that progressed at the juncture of central eastern and south Asia kept its unity on the basis of values like bravery, courage and hospitality. The Pakistani aspect of Pakhtoon culture and civilization is very attractive and grand, where one the one hand this cultural unit contributed a lot in the creation of the new homeland, while on the other hand the brave spirits of it contributed to the treasure of Arts and literature. in Urdu fiction, the depiction of Pakhtoon culture and civilization can be found in the United India as well, but in the fiction after independence the presentation of Pakhtoon culture and civilization is not only been done by the Pakhtoon literariness but the non Pakhtoon writers have also expressed about it in their writings. The study of Pakhtoon culture and civilization in Urdu fiction is not mere adding titles limited to the purpose of telling something about the Pakhtoon civilization, but is a part of the general hypothesis that literature gives expression to the mutual interaction of the civilization of different nations and how this interaction have the power to affect their coexistence. For degree research before this, the study of Urdu fiction has been related to different subject elements. Nevertheless, this proposed research relating Pakistani literature to Pakistani society is a unique study of its type in the field of social and anthropological studies. Besides, cultural mixed up and challenge of universalism is sufficient grounds for the justification of this study. The fiction writings include in this Research thesis contains the cultural aspects of life in Khyber Pakhtoon Khwa these stories gives a mixed expression of passions which have innocence as well as violence , love with hate and revenge. Rules and regulations as well as a mindful eye for the environment and socio cultural values as well. The chained enmities of the social life, spirit of revenge , superstition , ethical values , living old traditions and finally all the manifestations of the pakhtoon society a visible in these fiction stories.