The depiction of the decline of arts and sciences in Nayyer Masood's stories

Abstract

This study examines the depiction of the decline of scholarly and artistic traditions in Nayyar Masood’s short stories. His works capture the fading intellectual and cultural heritage of Lucknow, where once-flourishing sciences and arts succumbed to socio-political and economic shifts. Through symbolism and layered narratives, Masood illustrates the erosion of traditions such as Unani medicine, perfumery, embroidery, and architecture, portraying them as both cultural losses and civilizational tragedies. Masood’s engagement with these themes is deeply personal, reflecting his awareness of Lucknow’s changing artistic and scholarly landscape. His fiction serves as both a lament and a preservation of cultural memory, highlighting the fragility of indigenous knowledge and artistic heritage. By portraying this decline, his stories prompt reflection on the importance of cultural preservation in contemporary times.