Naguib Mahfouz and Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay: Society, Moral Values, and the Life of Ordinary People — A Comparative Study of Arabic and Bengali Literature

This article presents a comparative literary study of Naguib Mahfouz, the Nobel Prize–winning Egyptian novelist, and Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, one of the most influential figures in modern Bengali literature. Focusing on society, morality, and the lived experiences of ordinary people, the study explores how both writers employed realist narrative techniques to depict social injustice, ethical dilemmas, and the inner struggles of marginalized individuals. Despite differences in cultural and historical contexts, Mahfouz and Chattopadhyay share a deep humanistic vision that places the common man at the center of literary discourse. Using a socio-historical and comparative methodology, this article argues that both authors transformed the novel into a moral and social instrument, exposing structural inequalities while questioning dominant ethical norms. The study highlights the universal relevance of their works and emphasizes the importance of cross-cultural comparative research between Arabic and Bengali literary traditions.