Fictional Narratives versus State Narratives: A Study of Hussein’s “Karima” as a Fictive Response to the 1971 Partition of Pakistan

Abstract

The paper reads closely Aamer Hussein’s short story “Karima” as a fictional narrative of the 1971 Partition of Pakistan into Bangladesh, previously known as Eastern wing and Pakistan, previously known as the Western wing of the united Pakistan. Utilizing Cara Cilano’s ideas, as projected in her book: National Identities in Pakistan: The 1971 War in Contemporary Pakistani Fiction (2011), as a theoretical framework, the paper explores various elements of this partition and analyzes the theme of oppression in migrants/refugees camps, class difference between the sons of the soil and the Bihari Muhajirs, identity crisis, ideological Muslim nationalism and violence during the 1971 Partition. The paper also looks into slogan of Muslim nationalism in pre-partition subcontinent and shows dedication of Muslims for this rationale during the partitions of 1947 and 1971. The paper explicates that how, in order to address either the absence or paucity of the state owned narratives, the fictional narratives like “Karima” fill the vacuum and explore various dimensions of the historical events like that of the 1971 Partition uninhibitedly. By projecting all dilemmas and pains which fell on titular character of this short story and her family, the paper portrays the 1971 Partition as a tragic event of oppression and violence.