Colonial literary Sources and the Image of Pashtuns: A Historical Analysis

Authors

  • Maryam MPhil Candidate, National institute of Pakistan Studies, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.
  • Sadia Saeed Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad
  • Rahat Shah Lecturer of Sociology at Hazara University Mansehra/ PhD Cndidate, Department of Sociology, Quaid-i-Azam University. Islamabad.
  • Qurat ul ain Jafeer MPhil Candidate, National institute of Pakistan Studies, Quaid I Azam University Islamabad

Keywords:

Pashtuns, Colonial Period, Literature

Abstract

Colonialism is the form of the ascendance of individuals or groups on the states and departments of people. In the Indian sub-continent, the cultural domination of colonizers on the minds of the colonized led to the spread of certain perspectives that marked the distinction within society. Hence through the process of reification and codification of history British classified the Indian society: compartmentalized the whole into various groups. By applying the same approach British labeled the Pashtuns of the western frontier as “Pathans” either they were courageous/warriors or they were sinister and corrupt. In this paper, an attempt is made to unveil the difference between the original Pashtun and the Colonial Pathan by utilizing the theory of Orientalism given by Edward Said. Moreover, it is also argued that the true identity of Pashtuns is contradictory with the Colonial image and stereotypes like honoring the Baloch, intimidating the Sindhis, Ruling the Punjabis, and buying the Pashtun.

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Published

02.09.2021

How to Cite

Maryam, Saeed, S. ., Shah , R. ., & Jafeer, Q. ul ain . (2021). Colonial literary Sources and the Image of Pashtuns: A Historical Analysis. Journal of Asian Civilizations, 43(2), 201–213. Retrieved from https://jac.qau.edu.pk/index.php/jac/article/view/38