شه سر بلتی زبان کے پہلے ناول کا تجزیاتی مطالعہ

Sha-sar: An Analytical Study of the First Novel in Balti Language

Abstract

This paper is a critical analysis of the first-ever novel in the Balti language, “Sha-sar” by Afzal Rawish, published in early 2024. Balti is a language spoken in Pakistan's Baltistan region and India's Ladakh, which belongs to the western branch of Tibetan languages with strong Muslim identity since it parted ways with Tibet and the advent of Islam. Traditionally, Balti literature has always been poetic; there have been no remarkable literary works in prose. However, “Sha-sar” represents the initiation of Balti novel writing, comprising eight chapters that present the social and historical experiences of three generations in Baltistan. This paper looks at the narrative structure, language, and literary features of the novel, which attempts to identify and perceive the literary legacy of the Balti language. Since it is a relatively new subject, research throws light on the background of Balti language, its prose writing and its evolution in the sphere of literature. This research is of prime importance in focusing on and discovering Balti's literary contributions and for fostering an understanding of regional literature in Pakistan.