The Literary Formation of European Society in the Travelogue "Europe is Europe"

سفر نامہ ”یورپ یورپ ہے “میں یورپی معاشرت کی ادبی تشکیل

Abstract

Travelogues have long occupied a significant place in understanding the social structure, history, and culture of different regions. In his travelogue Europe Is Europe, Yaqoob Nizami presents European society, history, and civilization with clarity and literary elegance, rendering the work valuable for both general readers and scholars of travel literature. During his travels across Italy, France, Belgium, Germany, and Switzerland, the author not only documents historic monuments, cities, streets, lakes, and castles but also offers keen observations of social behavior, human values, and moral attitudes. This travelogue transcends the conventional boundaries of travel writing and emerges as a reflective and analytical account of European culture and society. Through his close engagement with everyday life, Yaqoob Nizami enables readers to experience European social realities, historical consciousness, and civilizational patterns from an intimate perspective. The narrative carefully examines local lifestyles, architectural aesthetics, social norms, and religious traditions, providing a nuanced portrayal of European society. A central argument advanced in the travelogue is that the true essence of civilization does not rest solely on material advancement or technological progress. Rather, it is rooted in human character, social responsibility, moral discipline, and a collective sense of justice. By emphasizing these values, Europe Is Europe offers a critical reflection on modern civilization and invites readers to reassess commonly held assumptions about progress and development. The travelogue thus stands as an insightful contribution to contemporary Urdu travel literature and cultural discourse.