Orientalism, Hegemony and Postcolonial Resistance in Hanif Kureishi’s Red Birds

Abstract

This research analyzes Hanif Qureshi’s Red Birds from the perspective of Postcolonial literary Resistance. It utilizes  theoretical  framework of  Edward  Said’s  Orientalism  and  Antonio  Gramsci’s  theory  of  hegemony. Said  is  highly  critical  of  the  Eurocentric  notions  of  the  western  world  for  such  notions  have  provided  the  pretext  for   a  reign  of  violence  and  terror  loosened  upon  the  natives for centuries. The theory of  hegemony  is  the  geo-political  method to  gain  indirect  imperial  dominance, maintained by ideology  instead  of  using  means  like  economic  force, violence or  coercive  strategies. The  selected  literary  text  was  analyzed  by  using   the  technique  of  close reading.  Hanif  keeps  pricking  the  conscience  of  the  society  by  writing about  postcolonial resistance of his contemporaries. He  highlights  the  plight  of  the marginalized people  and also throws  light  on  the  fervor  of  resistance  burning  in  the  hearts  of  ‘Periphery’ in literature. The  work  also  offers  a  bitter  criticism  of  the  western  academia  who  treat  the  native  world  as  a  laboratory  to  test  their  hypothesis. This research would be helpful in understanding Postcolonial Resistance from the perspective of ‘Periphery’. Briefly  speaking, it  will  contribute  to  the  larger  body  of  Postcolonialism  in  general.