The Amir's Homily of Rudyard Kipling: A Binary of Colonial Attitude Towards Afghans

Abstract

This article deals with the analysis of the short story, ‘The Amir’s Homily’ of Rudyard Kipling’. It questions the colonial attitude of the very prominent British poet, short story writer and novelist of 20th century whose depiction of the natives is based on stereotyping. Kipling penned down number of poems, short stories, and novels from the last decade of the 19th century to the third decade of 20th century. The story “Amir’s Homily” mirrors the character of Afghan nations and a subsequent coercion of the iron ruler, Amir Abdul Rahman Khan. Analysis of the contents shows that throughout the story, the author sticks to the binary construct of ‘Self and Other’. His commentary and dialogues in the story show a narrative that determine Afghans the most unruly people under the stars and they deserved to be ruled and subjected to consistent oppression. On one hand, the story conditions Afghans and their Iron Amir (ruler) as dialectical opponents while on the other hand, he discards both parties and compares English Queen and people who are entwined in a human relationship. It reflects how English Queen is praised and honored and presented as a demi-god to be worshiped and idealized. On the other hand, his word choice and vocabulary for Afghan king and natives are completely harsh and dehumanizing. His ideal social and political order is only English order while others are crooked and uncivilized and do not deserve to be respected and valued.