DefinePK

Abstract

Daniyal Mueenudeen’s In Other Rooms, Other Wonders has been investigated under the theoretical framework of Re-orientalism presented by Lisa Lau and Ana Christina Mendes. The purpose of this research is to find out re-oriental elements from the text of this book. To investigate and find re-oriental elements from the text, qualitative research has been used. The use of qualitative research in this study serves the objective of providing a comprehensive explanation of the text. Researcher has done textual analysis of the text. Textual analysis of seven short stories from the book has been done through the lens of re-orientalism. It is investigated in this research that how global literary market demands affected this writing? Anglophone Pakistani writers gained importance in global literary market in recent decades for carrying the occidental agenda of orientalism. Diasporic writers aim at repudiating the colonial disparagements and denunciation of colonial representation of South Asia and Pakistan but these writings are exhibiting damaging process of re-orientalism. After investigating Daniyal Mueenudeen’s In Other Rooms, Other Wonders through re-orientalist point of view researcher finds all re-oriental elements in these short stories. Mueenudeen portrays a negative falsified image of Pakistan. He creates a dichotomy between America and Pakistan through implicit and explicit comparisons between America and Pakistan. The writing has been influenced by global themes, narrative techniques, and the rising interest in the global literary market. This research highlights the elements serving imperialistic agenda consciously or unconsciously. This research is valuable for future researchers as it helps them to find occidental agenda in Anglophone Pakistani writing and exposes imperialistic motivation behind these literary productions. This study exposes international propaganda against Pakistan and Islam, promoting a nuanced understanding and presenting a balanced global discourse.
Keywords: Re-Orientalism, Self-Othering, Cultural Marginalization, Diasporic Representation, Pakistani Literature, Orientalism, Postcolonial Critique