Abstract
In this paper, I have analyzed The Heart Divided by Mumtaz Shah
Nawaz through the postcolonial lens to trace the trajectory of the
resistance of Muslim woman in the public sphere. The story
revolves around three female characters Zohra, Sughra (the
siblings) and a Hindu girl Mohni. The domestic space in Muslim
household is divided into Zenana( the space specified for women )
and Mardana ( the space for men). Muslim women cannot cross
this border line in the practice of daily life. And if ever, they go
out, they have to veil their faces. My argument is that through the
removal of the veil, Shah Nawaz explores the possibility of the
participation of Muslim women in the public sphere. The trope of
marriage serves as the site of contestation between the traditional
Muslim patriarchal demands and the feminine desire to subvert it.
Sughra, in the beginning of the novel, cherishes the ideals of a
traditional Muslim woman who finds fulfillment through marriage.
But the experience of a loveless marriage changes her views
regarding the traditional gender roles in Muslim family structure.
As an estranged wife, she finds refuge in the political struggle of
the Muslim League. Zohra also refuses to accept the proposal of
an arranged marriage. The veil is lifted both in the literal and
metaphorical sense. Both the sisters are agreed to resist the
patriarchal demands of conformity and decide to participate in the
public sphere. Thus, the lifting of veil becomes symbolic of
feminist resistance against patriarchal oppression which insists on
confining women only to the private sphere of their lives.
Khurshid Alam. (2020) Un/Veiling and the Politics of Resistance in the Public Sphere: A Critical Study of Mumtaz Shah Nawaz The Heart Divided, Journal of Pakistan Vision, Volume 21, Issue 1.
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