Voices from the Periphery: Sindh, Internal Colonialism, and Literary Resistance in Pakistan (1947)

Abstract

The masses coalesced around the Muslim League, placing their faith in a new Muslim state of Pakistan, assuming that once it materialized into reality, they would experience freedom for all intents and purposes after protracted decades of victimization and alienation suffered during colonial rule. However, while the heard melodies proved not sweet, the unheard ones were never sweeter. Freedom tropes fell short of coming to fruition, as the state was dominated by a coterie of seigneurs (landed aristocrats), mandarins (bureaucrats), and praetorians (military elites). The poor endured the brunt of this troika’s oppression, under whose dominance the system generated novel modes of exploitation, culminating in what may painfully be described as “internal colonialism” and “structural oppression.” This state of affairs occasioned dismay and demoralization among the Sindhi intelligentsia. Abdul Karim Gadai, occupying a singular rank in the pantheon of Sindhi poetry, embraced resistance poetry to express his disenchantment with the system. His poems move readers’ heartstrings. This study explored post-colonial Sindh and the milieu in which Gadai crafted his poetry. The study demonstrated that Gadai was profoundly affected by disappointment with freedom, Pakistan, and state institutions. The application of deductive thematic analysis allowed the study to remain focused on predetermined research objectives and questions, ensured a value-free and objective enquiry, and supported the development of a coherent and well-substantiated conclusion.

Keywords: Independence; Postcolonial Pakistan; Sindh; Internal Colonialism; Structural oppression; Disillusionment; Resistance.