Author(s): Dr. Parul Saxena, Dr. Shaloo Manocha, Prof. Ayesha Shiekh

Abstract: Ismat Chughtai’s Lihaaf (The Quilt, 1942) holds a radical place in the literary canon. Lihaaf explains beyond its description of hidden sexual desires to function as an essential linguistic and cultural text that challenges and undermines the patriarchal society and systems of its historical period while maintaining relevance for modern society. The work functions as a social artefact that showcases both the power of spoken language and the significance of silence. The combination of metaphors and social codes reveals the hidden desires and gender-based power structures present in Muslim upper-class families during the time of British rule in India. Chughtai’s deliberate choice of a child narrator, together with her use of silence codes from different cultures, enables readers to explore hidden material which transforms Lihaaf into a work that reveals and defines itself. The study examines how Chughtai's story reveals the limitations of acceptable speech that people considered acceptable, leading to a powerful yet concealed feminine desire in a society where language functions as both a weapon and a limiting force.

Keywords: Ismat Chughtai, Lihaaf, Feminine Desire, Patriarchal Society, Silence and Language

Article Info: Received: 27 Feb 2026; Received in revised form: 30 Mar 2026; Accepted: 04 Apr 2026; Available online: 07 Apr 2026

DOI: 10.22161/ijels.112.58