The Salient Features of Pakistani Litera

The Salient Features of Pakistani Literature in English
1. Religious Element and Impacts

Pakistan is basically an Islamic state and Islam encompasses the every activity of all the walks of life. No area of the life,
individual of collective, can trespass the boundaries of Islam. Men and women think, do, and say keeping in mind the
stand-point of Islam. Though there are deviation from religious code of conduct yet openly no one dare so, if one may,
he or she does so taking some cover. The stamp of Islam is upheld to be proved valid. So, in this respect, the literature
depicts Islamic values, Islamic culture and civilization etc.
There are other religions in Pakistan like Christian, Hinduism, Sikhism and Parseeism. They have their own beliefs, rites,
traditions and festivals. These are depicted in the literature.
Sectarianism is also a prominent feature of the literature. People are shown feuding with the opposite sect. Sectarianism
causes extremism in the country. Extremism gives way to anarchism and terrorism. Pakistani society is suffering the
deadliest blow of terrorism.
Religious rites, festival, traditions and customs, offerings and days hold their due share in the literature. Eidain are the
very special occasions that are commemorated with full religious zeal and zest. There are number of local festivals and
days too.
The worship-place holds a prominent place in the Muslim community and likewise the Molvi does. The non-Muslim
communities also have their sacred worship-places which are revealed in the literature.
2. Political Scenario
Pakistani Literature in English depicts the Political Scenario of the country. Since 1947, more of the time, Military has
been in power. A time more than forty years, Pakistan sees an army general as the state head. Intra-Pakistan clashes,
based on economy, language, territory, caste, ethnicity, sectarianism and provincialism, have been the root-cutters of
the state. Divide and Rule, the ancient strategy to be in power perpetually, has knocked down the national integrity,
peace and progress. The corrupt leaders extort what they can from the masses by hook and crock. Politics shares a vital
part in the literature because a man of conscience can never close his eyes from this deplorable condition of the
country. Pakistani pen men of English write the decaying political conditions of the state. In Pakistan, there are number
of political parties and every party partakes in election with its own interest. Every party is running a rule-race.
Democracy is a modern term and in Pakistan democracy is the best tool to befool and extort the people. This aspect of
politics is shown in the literature.
3. Family structure and Shift

In Pakistan, traditionally, there is Patriarch cal family structure. A male member of the family runs the family affairs
while others obey him. Most of the families live as joint families and more than one families live in a big house.
Grandfather, Grandmother, Father, Mother, Uncles, Aunts and brothers and sisters live together. The upbringing,
looking after, and schooling thought to be the business of the either Grandpa or Grandma but Father and Mother also
are responsible for that. The matter of the marriage of the children, most of the time, is considered to be the only
business of the Grant-parents where the Grand-parents may please to tie a knot the Grand-children dare not disobey. In
the joint family system the member shares pains and pleasures. The clashes of Bhabi-Nand, Saas-Bahoo and Devar-
Devrani are also the bane of joint family system. Nowadays this system is crumbling down rapidly and the separate
family structure is emerging. The big joint family is now dividing into small and individual fam
ly. People start living in separate houses with their wife and children. These both family structures, joint and separate,
have the one of the main theme of Pakistani Literature in English. The writers have dealt with this shift in their writings.
4. Values
Every society has its dearest values, religious, social, ethical, political, cultural, traditional economical, and geographical.
Pakistani society has its own particular values too. The dominants are Muslims so the dominant values are those that
belong to Islam. There are non-Muslims with their due values. Since Values have relative importance so they are,
sometimes, controversial. The literature reflects these relative values in there due spheres. The pen men present them
from different angles and with new meanings.
5. Caste System
In Indo-Pak, Caste System plays a very vital role in the life of the people. People are judged by their caste or Linage not
by their character or deeds. A high-born has almost all privileges of the world whatever sort of human he or she is. On
the other hand, the world is a hell for a low-born. The low-born is born to serve the high-born. The high-born does not
merry a low-born because the former is Nakami and the latter is Kami. Even the Jatt does not marry the Butt. This
aspect of the society has evoked the writer to writer on caste system prevailed in Pakistan and India.
6. Economical Issues
Unequal distribution of wealth has been one the most major issue of the Pakistani economic system. On the one hand,
there are those who have so much money that they are at loss to find places to spend it. On the other hand, there are
those who starve to death. So the whole strata is divided between ‘’Haves and Have-Nots’’. Land lords, aristocrates, high
official, businessmen, politicians, mill owners, industrialists and capitalists, who are the frictional part of the population,
suppressing the low class, which is the majority of the population. Banks issue loan on high interest rate. Unemployment
eggravates the situation. Jobians are at the stake of their jobs at the hands of upper class’ least displeasure. Earning a
just livelihood is becoming a Hercules’ job. The literature also depicts vividly the economic issues of Pakistan.
7. Female Class
In the Literature, female class is presented dependent upon males. A typical Pakistani female is one who bears the
stamp of the concept of pure Easter Female (Mashraqi Orat). She is confined to the four walls of the house. At other
lever she is dependent on her father, brother, husband and son. She is pictured as weak, humble and indecisive. But she
is also depicted being something else. Someone who can influence and empower men. Chaste as well as seductress. She
is honoured the status of mother, sister, wife, and daughter. People give life for them and kill as others as well. On the
other hand, she is also depicted as victimizer and the male is victimized. Sometimes it is she, not he, who is initiative
taker.
8. Domestic Hobbies and Pastime

The literature shows the domestic hobbies and pastime of the Pakistani folk. People who have no ain in life kill their time
in playing gambling and cards, running races, fighting dogs, drinking wine, flying kites and pigeons, and sittings in bazaars
and on Thharras (Raise platforms) gazing passer-bys. Some people do the practice of Huqqas (Hubble Bubble) daylong
sitting there idle.
9. Marriage and Death

Pakistani Literature in English brings both the aspect of life namely happy and tragic. Marriage is a special event for the
Pakistani families which brings them close and happiness for them as well. It is the time when the newly-weds are
starting a new life. Most of the cases the marriage is an arranged one but sometimes a love marriage is also acceptable.
Firing, firework, Bhangarra, Luddi is favourite part of the marriage-celebrations. Mehandi, being a high priority, is a
special event of the marriage. Nikah and Vallema, from Muslim viewpoint, is very sacred event. Other communities
celebrate marriage according to their norms and customs.
On the contrary, death is also the part and parcel of life. When someone, near and dear, departs for good the relatives
and the family members of the aggrieved and other acquaintance offer the religious ceremonies for the redemption of
the dead.
10. A Mixed Society

Pakistan Literature in English exhibits the society of Pakistan as a mixed society. This societical diversity is prominent in
every walk of life. The society is an amalgamation of the Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Parsees, Buddhas etc.
Religious sects are also there to exercise their power on the society. The society is also divided on the bases of economy,
politics, territory, ethnicity, language, caste, family-system and the high-born and the low-born. It is a male dominant
society where females have lesser power of decision making and taking as well. But the female class is not altogether a
submissive one. The literature also presents the initiative females in it.
A Brief Overview of Pakistani Literature in English
Pakistani Literature in English refers to the literature produced in Pakistan written in the English Language.
Ever since 1947; the Independence of Pakistan, the influence of the English language is seen as dominant as
there had been, and are many literary figures who use the English Language for expressing their ideas and to
satisfy their aesthetic pleasure. Later in the 20th century, it was observed that after the imitation of this
literature from the west, the people of the subcontinent started to develop their literature in the English
language highlighting the themes of colonization and the need for freedom. In the later part of the century,
after the independence of Pakistan and the division of the subcontinent, the themes presented by the literati
were different. The major theme presented was the miseries due to partition. Other than these miseries, the
themes included identity crisis and feminism also highlighting the socio-political, ideological, religious, and
ethnic problems of the newly established Pakistani society.
(1) Poetry:
The most significant genre of Pakistani literature in English is poetry. Taufiq Rafat was the pioneer of Pakistani
poetry and he in his works mostly dealt with the theme of nature; presenting the constructive and destructive
nature of it. His major works include Wedding in the Flood(Read Analysis) Kitchen (Summary and Analysis) and
Arrival of the Monsoon. The second most prominent figure in Pakistani poetry in the English language is Daud
Kamal who is known for his imagist poetry. The poems such as Resilence and Prayer Beads (Summary and
Analysis) incorporates different images of nature by presenting the connection of humans with this universe.
The third most significant figure and last of the ‘Big Three’ of Pakistani Poetry is Alamgir Hashmi (born 1951-
present). His poetical works include Eid (Summary and Analysis), Snow (Summary and Analysis), Encounter
with the Sirens (Summary and Analysis)and many more. Other significant poets include Omer Tarin, Hanif
Koreshi, Waqas Ahmed Khwaja, Moniza Alvi, and Zulfikar Ghose.
(2) Novel:
The second most important genre of Pakistani Literature in the English language is the Novel. The very first
novel written in the subcontinent in the English language was Ahmad Ali’s “Twilight in Delhi” (1940). After
partition novelists like Zulfiqar Ghose, Bapsi Sidhwa, Sara Sulehri, Kamila Shamsie, and Mohsin Hamid made
significant contributions in the field of the novel by presenting their unique ideas and themes. Ice-Candy Man
by Bapsi Sidhwa presents realism and political tension in the contemporary. Realism was the most significant
feature of Pakistani Novels, especially modern age novels. Mohsin Hamid is one of the most significant writers
of the new age depicts this realism in his novel The Reluctant Fundamentalist (Summary and Themes) and the
discrimination Muslims had to face after the destruction of the Twin Tower on September 11, 2002. Murder of
Aziz Khan by Zulfiqar Ghose is one of the famous novels of this period.
(3) Short Stories:
The third most significant genre is the short stories. It traces its origin from Saadat Hassan Manto (1912–1955)
and Syed Waliullah’s time. The most significant short stories include Zulfiqar Ghose’s ‘The Zoo’ dealing with
existential nihilism, “A Pair of Jeans” by Qaisra Sheraz (Summary)dealing with the significance of clothing in
Pakistani society and how it determines one’s modesty, “Nawabdin Electrician” by Daniyal Mueenudin
(Summary)dealing with the evil of corruption and “The Gatekeeper’s Wife” (Summary) by Ruskhsana Ahmed
highlighting one of the biggest social evil of Pakistani society i.e. poverty. These short stories present the
problems of society and also serve as a means of teaching values.
Drama: In Pakistan, English drama has had a limited tradition as an art form. The very few significant
dramatists include Rukhsana Ahmad, Tariq Ali, and Hanif Kureishi. One of the most significant dramas includes
“The Last Metaphor” (Summary and Themes) by Usman Ali. This drama not only represents Pakistani culture
by highlighting many social evils but also incorporates many features of a modernistic text. The reason for this
limited scope of Pakistani Dramatists and drama was because of less scope of English language in Pakistan.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, one may say that these writers in the English language depict the accurate and true picture of
Pakistani society as they present before us the flesh and blood of Pakistani society in the most realistic ways.

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The Salient Features of Pakistani Literature in English

1. Religious Element and Impacts

3. Family structure and Shift

8. Domestic Hobbies and Pastime

9. Marriage and Death

10. A Mixed Society

(3) Short Stories:

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