ڈیجیٹل عہد میں اردو نثری نظم کی ادبی حیثیت: روایتی ادبی اداروں سے سوشل میڈیا تک ایک تحقیقی مطالعہ

DIGITAL AGE AND THE LITERARY STATUS OF THE URDU PROSE POEM: A RESEARCH STUDY FROM TRADITIONAL LITERARY INSTITUTIONS TO SOCIAL MEDIA

Abstract

This study examines the literary status of the contemporary Urdu prose poem in the context of the digital age. Traditionally, debates on the Urdu prose poem revolved around its poetic legitimacy, formal structure, and aesthetic validity. However, this article argues that in the twenty-first century these debates have largely shifted from questions of legitimacy to questions of literary acceptance, creative productivity, and contemporary relevance. The study explores this transformation by analyzing literary journals, literary circles, prominent poets, online literary platforms, social media communities, and the creative practices of the younger generation of poets.

The research adopts a qualitative and analytical approach based on textual analysis as well as the examination of contemporary literary institutions and digital literary spaces. It argues that while traditional literary institutions continue to play an important role in shaping literary discourse, the emergence of digital platforms has fundamentally altered the mechanisms of literary production, publication, reception, and criticism. Facebook literary groups, online journals, digital archives, and literary websites have significantly expanded the readership and creative reach of Urdu prose poetry.

The findings suggest that contemporary Urdu prose poetry has moved beyond the stage of defending its literary legitimacy and has established itself as a recognized and evolving literary genre. Its thematic diversity—including existential anxiety, identity, memory, migration, urban life, psychological experience, feminine consciousness, and digital existence—along with its distinctive aesthetic features, demonstrates its ability to represent the complexities of modern human experience.

The originality of this study lies in its argument that the literary status of the Urdu prose poem should no longer be evaluated solely through traditional literary institutions but also through the changing dynamics of digital literary culture. The study concludes that digital literary spaces have become an essential factor in understanding the contemporary evolution, reception, and literary significance of Urdu prose poetry.