DefinePK

Abstract

This study explores Khafif Makhfi ki Khwab Beeti, a groundbreaking Urdu novel by Mirza Athar Baig, through the lenses of parapsychology, altered states of consciousness, and postmodern narrative theory. Baig’s experimental narrative blends elements of metafiction, philosophical inquiry, and linguistic hybridity to challenge traditional literary forms. The protagonist, Khafif Makhfi, is not only a researcher of paranormal phenomena but also a narrative agent questioning memory, truth, and authorship. Through the novel’s polyphonic structure, multiple cultural and intellectual discourses intersect, including indigenous wisdom, colonial critique, and scientific skepticism. The study demonstrates how Baig transforms parapsychological experiences—such as lucid dreaming, out-of-body experiences, and hypnagogia—into complex literary devices. Furthermore, the research argues that the novel exemplifies postmodern fiction by dismantling narrative certainty and embracing intertextual ambiguity, thus offering new directions in Urdu fiction.