The Politics of Non-Traditional Sexual and Gender Identities in Manto'sFiction: An Intellectual Study on Alternative Identity

منٹو کے افسانوں میں غیر روایتی جنسی و صنفی شناختوں کی نمائندگی متبادل شناختوں کے تناظر میں ایک فکری مطالعہ

Abstract

This research explores the representation of non-normative sexual and gender identities in the short stories of Saadat Hasan Manto through the lens of alternative identity frameworks. Manto, known for his fearless literary treatment of taboo themes, often depicted characters that challenge binary understandings of gender and sexuality. By moving beyond the moralistic and traditional interpretations of his work, this study applies a theoretical lens that aligns with modern queer discourse — without directly relying on Western terminology — to examine how fluid, marginal, and transgressive identities are portrayed in his narratives. Stories such as "Thanda Gosht," "Hattak," "Ganje Farishtey," and "Toba Tek Singh" are analyzed to uncover how Manto destabilizes fixed notions of masculinity, femininity, and sexual morality. The paper highlights how Manto’s characters reflect social tensions surrounding identity, desire, and the body, particularly in contexts marked by colonial trauma, patriarchy, and censorship. Ultimately, the study positions Manto as a subversive storyteller whose literary voice prefigures contemporary conversations on gender plurality and identity politics in South Asian literature.