Shahid Nadeem’s Play Dara and the Distortion of the History

Authors

  • Mubashar Altaf Lecturer, Department of English, University of Mianwali, Mianwali, Pakistan
  • Rafia Tassawar M. Phil Scholar, Department of English, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan
  • Munnazza Abbas Malik Instructor English, Government Commerce College Pind Dadan Khan, Punjab, Pakistan
  • Farwa Tehseen Teacher , Beaconhouse School System Punjab, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24113/ijohmn.v6i2.173

Keywords:

Sufism, Distortion of History, Dara, Power-knowledge Nexus.

Abstract

The present research paper explores the text of the play Dara written by Shahid Nadeem from the power-knowledge nexus perspective. The researcher finds that the play depicts that history represented by the ruling class is fabricated, which presents historical heroes as villains and villains as heroes. The researcher analyzes Shahid Nadeem’s play Dara to see how the historical character of Aurangzeb Alamgir is represented in the play. It is a commonplace to look at the emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir as a devoted Muslim who indulges his time to serve Islam. However, the researcher finds that the play questions this representation of Aurangzeb Alamgir in the history books and redefines him as a fanatic and extremist who use religion to take revenge on his brother and who shook the very spirit of Islam. The researcher uses Michael Foucault's concept of history, power, and knowledge. History is not linear, history is not what is told through textbooks and media; history is buried and there is a need to dig the buried truth. The findings of this research show that Shahid Nadeem presents two ideologies by his play, the Sufi image of Islam and the fundamentalist image of Islam. He brings the forgotten hero on the stage of the theatre. Nadeem questions and exposed the nexus of power and knowledge

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References

Aziz, K.K.( 2010): The Murder of History: A Critique of History Textbooks Used in Pakistan: Lahore; Sang-e-Meel Publications

Barry Peter (2009). Beginning theory: An introduction to literary and cultural theory.

Foucault, M., Sheridan, A., & Foucault, M. (1972). The archaeology of knowledge. New York: Pantheon Books.

Foucault, Michel, 1926-1984. (1977). Discipline and punish: the birth of the prison. New York: Pantheon Books,

Nadeem Shahid: Dara‘ January 20-April 4 (in preview until January 26), National Theatre, South Bank, London, SE1 9PX. Tel: 020 7452 3000 Info: http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/dara Gramsci, A. Selections from the Prison Notebooks of Antonio Gramsci, Q. Hoare & G. N. Smith, eds. & trans. London: Lawrence and Wishart. 1971. Print.

Nadeem, Shahid Mehmood. Selected Plays of Shahid Nadeem. Karachi: Oxford University Press, 2008. Print.

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Published

21-04-2020

How to Cite

Altaf, M., Tassawar, R., Malik, M. A., & Tehseen, F. (2020). Shahid Nadeem’s Play Dara and the Distortion of the History. International Journal Online of Humanities, 6(2), 36–59. https://doi.org/10.24113/ijohmn.v6i2.173

Issue

Volume 6, Issue 2, April 2020

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2020 Mubashar Altaf, Rafia Tassawar, Munnazza Abbas Malik, Farwa Tehseen

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