A Case of Post-1988 Anglophone Pakistani Fiction Ali Usleem Saleem
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View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by University of Bedfordshire Repository Paracolonialism: A Case of Post-1988 Anglophone Pakistani Fiction Ali Usleem Saleem This is a digitised version of a dissertation submitted to the University of Bedfordshire. It is available to view only. This item is subject to copyright. PARACOLONIALISM: A CASE OF POST-1988 ANGLOPHONE PAKISTANI FICTION By ALI USMAN SALEEM March 2015 UNIVERSITY OF BEDFORDSHIRE PARACOLONIALISM: A CASE OF POST-1988 ANGLOPHONE PAKISTANI FICTION By ALI USMAN SALEEM A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy March 2015 PARACOLONIALISM: A CASE OF POST-1988 ANGLOPHONE PAKISTANI FICTION ALI USMAN SALEEM ABSTRACT Embedded in the socio-political milieu of the country Anglophone Pakistani fiction provides a critical perspective on some of the important contemporary issues facing the country like feminism, class struggle, misuse of religious discourse, sectarianism, terrorism and the fragmentation of the Pakistani society. By contextualizing the works of four Pakistani fiction writers, Sara Suleri, Kamila Shamsie, Mohsin Hamid and Mohammed Hanif, in the theoretical paradigms of modernism, postmodernism and postcolonialism, this research identifies salient facets and characteristics of Pakistani Anglophone fiction produced during the last three decades. This thesis argues that Pakistani Anglophone fiction is Janus-faced in nature. On the one hand it specifically deconstructs various indigenous issues which are destabilizing Pakistani society and politics, while on the other hand it challenges the discursive construction of Pakistan as a terrorist country through international discourse. By doing so, these writers not only adopt the role of political commentators and interveners but also create a counter-narrative to Western hegemonic discourse and represent a case for a liberal and democratic Pakistan. Moreover the textual analysis of this fiction indicates a shift from traditional postcolonial literature. Instead of contextualizing their work in the colonial experience of the British Raj or its aftermath, these writers dissociate themselves from it and use this dissociation as a narrative strategy to hold the political and military leadership accountable for the socio-political chaos in Pakistan. The thesis argues that this characteristic of Anglophone Pakistani fiction indicates the emergence of a new phase, ‘Paracolonialism’ or ‘Paracolonial fiction’ which rejects the influence of colonialism on the socio-economic and political crisis of Third World countries and deconstructs various factors which led to their post- independence unstable economy and social fragmentation. Dedicated to Ammara and Rayan iv Acknowledgements All thanks to Almighty Allah Who provided me with the will and strength first to conceive and then accomplish this research. First of all I would like to thank Professor Alexis Weedon, my Director of Studies, as without her supervision, guidance and continuous support I would have never been able to finish this research project in time. It was her generous and constructive feedback that always steered me in the right direction. Without her guidance and support, I would have never been able to make this endeavour a worthwhile research project. I would also love to extend my gratitude to Dr. Alec Charles, Dr. Michael Faherty, Dr. Gavin Stewart and Professor Garry Whannel who had always given me the confidence and have played a great role in the accomplishment of this project through their valuable guidance and feedback throughout the course of this research. I would also like to thank the Research Graduate School’s staff for their administrative support during my PhD. They had always been very cooperative and kind in providing technical support and arranging training workshops which contributed a great deal in my thesis writing. I would also love to mention the name of my wife, Ammara Ali who has always been there for me even when I used to oscillate between hope and fear. Without her strength, motivation and support I would have never been able to complete this research in time. Muhammad Rayan Ali, my son, was born during the course of this research and made me live the joy that new beginnings carry with them but more than that he taught me the significance of a never-ending pursuit of one’s goals. v I am thankful to all my family and friends in Pakistan whose affection and prayers have always been a source of strength for me. I also extend thanks to all my PhD colleagues, especially Mr. Muhammad Ishtiaq and Mr. Muhammad Shahid Tufial for their continuous encouragement and moral support. I am indebted to Government College University Faisalabad, Pakistan for funding my doctoral studies in the UK and letting me avail a life changing opportunity. Lastly, I would like to thank and extend my gratitude to Mr. Ghulam Ghous who has always supported me through thick and thin and has a great contribution in harnessing my research skills. Without his support and guidance, it would have been an impossible task for me to accomplish this research project. vi DECLARATION I declare that this thesis is my own unaided work. It is being submitted for the degree of PhD at the University of Bedfordshire. It has not been submitted before for any degree or examination in any other University. Name of candidate: Ali UsmanSaleem Signature: Date: 26-03-2015 vii Table of Contents Abstract..................................................................................................................iii Dedication..............................................................................................................iv Acknowledgements................................................................................................v Declaration.............................................................................................................vii Table of Contents...................................................................................................viii Chapter 1: Introduction...........................................................................................1 Chapter 2: Theoretical Contexts.............................................................................44 Chapter 3: Revisiting the Peripheries in Meatless Days: Unveiling Gender and Religious Discourse in Pakistan...................................................87 Chapter 4: Burnt Shadows: A Narrative of Troubled (Hi)stories..........................113 Chapter 5: Mohsin Hamid: An Author of Competing Narratives.........................141 5.1 Moth Smoke: A Socio-Political Allegory of Modern Pakistan...............146 5.2 The Reluctant Fundamentalist: The Terror(ist) Writes Back………….170 Chapter 6: Mohammad Hanif: An Author of Satire..............................................202 6.1 A Case of Exploding Mangoes: A Case of Exploding History...............209 6.2 Our Lady of Alice Bhatti: A Requiem of Modern Pakistan....................232 Chapter 7: Conclusion...........................................................................................248 Bibliography..........................................................................................................262 viii Chapter 1: Paracolonialism: An Intersection of Politics, Religion and Post- 1988 Anglophone Pakistani Fiction Pakistan as a state has struggled to maintain its political control in its northern tribal areas, to cope with terrorist and armed militias run by Taliban and other religio-political groups, religious extremism, sectarian killings and to prevent social and cultural degeneration during the last few decades. Since its independence in 1947 from the British colonial rule Pakistan has seen three periods of martial law, has fought two major wars (1965 and 1971) with its neighbouring country India and has participated in another as a USA ally against Russia when it invaded Afghanistan (1979 – 1989). Such an unstable political culture has resulted in a fragmented and radicalized society and has given rise to a series of social and cultural crisis. In the discourse about war on terror, Pakistan features prominently. Pakistan’s involvement in 9/11 and the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 being the main focus as the Western, particularly US media and film, discourse constructs Pakistan as a nation of religious extremists who are devoid of any progressive social and political agenda. Anglophone Pakistani fiction writers have responded to this chaos through their narratives and have tried to explore and analyze various facets of this Western discourse. 1 I argue through this research that the Anglophone Pakistani fiction writers writing in and after the 1990s show a remarkable shift in terms of both the content and the writing strategies they employ compared to their predecessors. These authors have taken up specific social and political issues through their writings and provide a trenchant commentary on matters of indigenous and international significance. Their fiction offers a rational perspective on various socio-political and cultural factors contributing to the social decay and is, ultimately, an intervention in Western discourse about Pakistan and its people. In this thesis four Anglophone Pakistani fiction writers - Sara Suleri, Kamila Shamsie, Mohsin Hamid and Mohammed Hanif – have been selected to provide in-depth studies of this shift. These Pakistani writers’ narratives