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.
Highlights
Background to the Study (Why)According to K.K
Aurangzeb Alamgir is presented in history as a hero, as a moral man and a tough stone and Dara is presented in history as a villain and a man of disbelief
If we argue that Dara is a hero of his time there is another question that needs to be answered who is villain
Summary
According to K.K. Aziz, Our history textbooks contain myths and distortion of reality (Murder of History). Power controls the production and presentation of history in schools and colleges of the country. That distorted history presents great historical heroes as villains and villains as heroes. Aurangzeb Alamgir is presented in history as a hero, as a moral man and a tough stone and Dara is presented in history as a villain and a man of disbelief. Foucault tells us about the nexus of power and knowledge. Knowledge is produced under the influence of power. Mughal Empire’s history is presented in a distorted form. History is not what is told through textbooks and media; history is buried and there is a need to dig opposite. “Dara” As An Effort To Reclaim Our Heroes and to Rectify the Distortion of Our History
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More From: IJOHMN (International Journal online of Humanities)
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