DefinePK

Abstract

Jaun Elia was a multifaceted and paradoxical figure in Urdu literature, widely recognized for his poetry, yet his prose writings have received comparatively little critical attention. This study explores his prose through its intellectual, philosophical, aesthetic, and cultural dimensions. Elia’s prose exhibits not only intellectual depth and intensity but also a unique stylistic identity and deep cultural consciousness. His essays, written across multiple decades, reflect a powerful blend of internal anguish, philosophical analysis, and socio-political awareness. His use of irony, rhetorical questioning, symbolism, and poetic rhythm introduces a new aesthetic to Urdu prose. The aim of this paper is to position Jaun Elia’s prose not merely as a literary artifact but as a representative of a broader intellectual movement that infused Urdu prose with new meaning and philosophical richness.