03/12/2025
Travelogue: Mayeecha (A Visit to a Mythical Village of the Astore Valley)
Travelogue Writer: Abdul Salam Naz
Research and Critical Analysis: Ayesha Shahzadi
(The Institute of Legal Studies – TILS, Lahore)
Introduction
The travelogue “Mayeecha” is essentially the narrative of a traveler whose journey expresses both internal and external states of being, deeply rooted in his native environment, culture, relationships, and natural surroundings. Unlike conventional geographical exploration, this travelogue is a blend of cultural awareness, social insight, and emotional experience.
Internal textual evidence makes it clear that the author treats travel not as a formal episode but as an emotional journey. Hence, this travelogue is not merely a collection of observations; it is a “three-dimensional” study of civilization, humanity, and nature.
1. Research Context of the Travelogue
1.1 Connection with Classical Travel Writing
The tradition of Urdu travel writing—from Ibn Battuta to Mustansar Hussain Tarar—has always combined observation, dialogue, cultural study, and impressions. “Mayeecha” continues this legacy, but it deepens it with a stronger introspective element.
1.2 Place in Modern Travel Narratives
This travelogue holds a distinctive place in modern Urdu travel writing because:
The author treats nature as the central character of the text
Memory and observation are interwoven
Local culture, language, customs, and personalities are presented as research material
These features bring the book close to modern Ethnographic Travel Writing.
2. Style of Expression — A Scholarly Review
2.1 Narrative Technique
A major strength of the travelogue is the author’s use of first-person narrative along with interior monologue.
Thus the narrative operates on two layers:
The external journey (landscapes, pathways, villages, people)
The internal journey (memories, relationships, grief, fear, affection)
These dual layers distinguish the travelogue from typical travel writings.
2.2 Language and Expression
The author’s language is:
Soft
Emotional
Civilizational
And at times poetic
The use of similes and symbols gives vitality to nature. Some sentences resemble pure poetic prose.
2.3 Local Linguistic Elements
The use of local vocabulary and idioms creates cultural richness and adds linguistic value to the text.
3. Thematic Study
3.1 Cultural Identity and Civilizational Nostalgia
Frequent references to the village, the mother, elders, traditions, and rituals convey a clear message: the author is concerned about the erosion of culture.
Thus, the travelogue becomes a narrative of cultural reclamation.
3.2 The Symbol of the Mother
The central emotional pillar of “Mayeecha” is the mother.
Her mention is not merely as a relation, but as a symbol of:
Home
Identity
Affection
Warmth
Civilization
Her presence generates emotional energy throughout the text.
3.3 Nature Writing
The author treats nature not as scenery but as a living, speaking, meaningful entity.
Mountains, rivers, trees, dusk, sunlight, snow—everything is personified.
3.4 Human and Society
Social realities appear frequently:
Poverty
Migration
Simplicity
Connection
Rural systems
Local people
These elements turn the travelogue into a social document.
4. Aesthetic Analysis
4.1 Descriptive Imagery
Imagery is the most prominent strength of the travelogue.
The author describes natural scenes with:
Colors
Sounds
Scents
Emotions
This technique creates visual immersion for the reader.
4.2 Characterization
Though the book is not a novel, its characters—
the mother, elders, village seniors, children, travelers, friends—
carry symbolic value.
4.3 Poetic Quality
The author’s poetic temperament is evident throughout.
The rhythm of sentences, similes, and structure produces a poetic aura in the prose.
5. Theoretical Background
The travelogue reflects several theoretical elements:
5.1 Nostalgia Theory
The author uses nostalgia as a fundamental emotional framework in comparing past and present.
5.2 Sense of Place
In research terminology this is socio-geographical imagination—
the idea that place becomes a symbol of culture.
5.3 Autoethnography
Much of the text is personal experience, giving it the quality of a personal cultural history.
6. Limitations (Where Improvement Is Possible)
A few points where academic strength could be enhanced:
1. At times the narrative becomes overly emotional, reducing critical distance.
2. Local traditions are mentioned, but historical references are limited.
3. Some passages become overly poetic, slowing the narrative pace.
These weaknesses do not significantly reduce the overall value; sometimes the same poetic tone becomes a strength.
7. Overall Evaluation
The travelogue “Mayeecha” stands out because of:
Literary beauty
Cultural relevance
Research significance
Social observation
Pictorial depiction of nature
Symbolic power of characters
In the landscape of Urdu travel writing, it is a rare addition that unites relationships, memories, culture, and nature to present a complete “human journey.”
Conclusion
“Mayeecha” is not only a literary achievement but also a cultural document and a poetics of human emotion.
Its reading teaches that the journey itself holds more meaning than the destination.
One feels, after reading, that the true journey is the one that takes place within.
Distinctive Stylistic Analysis of the Author
Introduction
The style of the author of “Mayeecha” is simultaneously emotional, symbolic, poetic, imagistic, and cultural. This style is not merely descriptive narration but a reflection of the writer’s mental structure, literary temperament, depth of observation, linguistic awareness, and cultural attachment.
It occupies a distinguished place among modern trends in Urdu travel writing.
This analysis examines the following aspects:
1. Linguistic and syntactic structure
2. Poetic quality of expression
3. Imagery and descriptive technique
4. Personal and interior narrative
5. Cultural and civilizational elements
6. Symbolic and metaphorical expression
7. Strengths and weaknesses of the style
1. Linguistic and Syntactic Structure
The author’s language has three notable features:
(1) Flow and Smoothness
The sentence structure resembles sahl-e-mumtani‘: simple yet layered with deeper meaning.
The syntax is easily accessible to general readers while retaining literary depth.
(2) Phonetic Harmony
The choice of words reflects musicality.
In descriptions of natural scenes, the sound of words creates an acoustic image.
(3) Use of Local Vocabulary
Local idioms, cultural terms, and regional linguistic elements give the text ethnolinguistic importance.
2. Poetic Dimension of the Style
Since the author is a poet, the prose carries poetic color.
(1) Similes and Metaphors
Nature and human experience are expressed through rich imagery, e.g.:
sunlight as “a mother’s lap”
paths as “silent travelers”
the river as “a silky line of time”
(2) Aesthetic Sensibility
Aesthetics emerge through color, light, movement, and emotion.
The writer creates not just scenes but aesthetic experiences.
(3) Emotional Intensity
The flow of emotions creates rhythm and wave-like movement in the prose.
3. Imagery and Descriptive Technique
Imagery is the fundamental pillar of the author’s style.
(1) Visual Imagery
Mountains, rivers, fog, evening, trails, old houses—
all appear like a camera slowly zooming in.
(2) Sensory Imagery
Not only sights but:
the chill of the wind
the smell of rain
the rustling of leaves
the dampness of the morning
are vividly evoked.
(3) Emotional Imagery
Landscapes reflect inner emotions—
a technique known as symbolic landscape.
4. Personal and Interior Narrative
The author’s style is deeply introspective.
The journey includes:
memories
fears
affection
relationships
regrets
hopes
Characteristics of this interior narrative:
1. Spontaneity
2. Confessional tone
3. Psychological depth
4. Spiritual undertones
This transforms “Mayeecha” from a travelogue into a psychological document of personal experience.
5. Cultural and Civilizational Dimension
The author does not merely describe culture; he animates it.
Elements include:
rural simplicity
rituals and traditions
folklore
wisdom of elders
the image of the mother and family
the temperament of the local language
He preserves cultural expressions through symbolic and linguistic representation.
6. Symbolic and Metaphorical Expression
The entire style rests on symbols.
The most powerful symbol is the Mother, representing:
home
love
protection
civilization
existence
identity
Other symbolic associations include:
path = life
journey = experience
valley = peace
river of time = change
This gives the style a philosophical dimension.
7. Strengths of the Author’s Style
1. Ability to transform emotions into poetic imagery
2. Exceptional mastery of nature-writing
3. Translation of sound, color, touch, and scent into language
4. Preservation of local culture in linguistic and symbolic form
5. Simplicity of language with depth of meaning
6. Strong interior narrative
8. Stylistic Weaknesses (Where Refinement Is Possible)
1. Overemphasis on emotions in some passages
2. Poetic prose sometimes slows the narrative
3. Occasional thematic repetition
These weaknesses do not diminish the beauty of the style; they contribute to its individuality.
9. Conclusion
The style of “Mayeecha” is a distinguished literary mode marked by:
imagery
emotion
symbolism
poetic rhythm
cultural essence
introspective depth
It introduces a new trend in Urdu travel literature, which may be termed “Affective Travel Writing.”
The author’s language does not merely create scenes—
it transforms the essence of life into words.
