(Counter)Orientalizing Pakistani Culture in Naqvi’s The Selected Works of Abdullah the Cossack and Haider’s How It Happened

Abstract

The paper aims to examine the (Counter)Orientalism in Pakistani cultural representation through the analysis of two contemporary novels: Husain M. Naqvi’s The Selected Works of Abdullah the Cossack (2019) and Shazaf Fatima Haider’s How it Happened (2012). Drawing from the postcolonial theorists Edward Said and Frantz Fanon, the paper investigates the complex interplay of Orientalism, and the role of native intellectuals in shaping a national culture. Additionally, this paper aims to show the complexities of Pakistani cultural portrayal, emphasizing on these literary voices in redefining and reimagining the nation’s culture. Through a detailed textual analysis, this study seeks to shed light on the way in which these authors navigate the tensions between tradition and modernity, addressing the broader question of identity, in the context of Pakistan’s evolving cultural landscape.