Negotiating Tradition and Modernity: Cultural Conflict and Identity in Munshi Premchand's 'The Shroud' and Albert Camus' 'The Guest

Abstract This paper sees at how culture shapes human experience in two short stories: Munshi Premchand’s “The Shroud” from India and Albert Camus’ “The Guest” from Algeria. Both the stories explore the impact of traditional values and modern challenges on people’s lives. “The Shroud” concentrates on the struggles of poor villagers in India and their connection to death and social customs. “The Guest” focuses on a moral conflict during French colonial rule in Algeria, highlighting cultural tensions and personal responsibility. By comparing these stories, this study considers how culture shapes identity, social values, and human choices. The paper also discusses the clash between tradition and modernity and how people search for meaning in changing times.