Necropolitical Trauma in Kamila Shamsie’s Fiction

Kamila Shamsie was born in Karachi, lives London, and has a strong affinity to the United States, having studied at Hamilton College University of Massachusetts Amherst. She is author six novels, each shortlisted for prestigious literary prize; 2018 she won London Hellenic Prize Women’s Fiction.11 For further information about prizes, see entry on The Royal Society Literature web site, https://rsliterature.org/fellow/kamila-shamsie-3/. withdrawal Nelly Sachs award by City Dortmund response Shamsie’s support Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, Alison Flood, “Kamila Book Award Withdrawn over Her Part Israel Boycott,” Guardian, 19 September 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/sep/19/kamila-shamsies-book-award-withdrawn-over-her-part-in-israel-boycott. Accessed 29 January 2021. See published statement response: Shamsie, “The Right Boycott: An Open Letter,” Review Books, 23, 2019. https://www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2019/september/the-right-to-boycott. 29, career continues family tradition writing Urdu English informs cosmopolitan Islamicate cultures that populate her imaginatively representing experiences global multilingual communities through intimate characterizations, historic plotlines romantic connections.22 Muneeza “Sunlight Salt: Literary Landscapes Divided Family’, Journal Commonwealth 44 (2009), 135-153. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021989408101656. On Islamic cosmopolitanism, Bruce B. Lawrence. “Islamicate civilisation: view from Asia,” Brannon M. Wheeler (ed.), Teaching Islam (New York: Oxford Press, 2003), 61-74. trajectory novels begins with interest place ideas home belonging Pakistan. early In Sea (1998), Salt Saffron (2000) Kartography (2002), are centred around Karachi.33 (London: Bloomsbury, 1998), 2000) 2002). This where identities formed relationships forged backdrop traumatic national moments, such as Partition 1947 independence Bangladesh 1971.44 David Waterman, Where World Collide: Pakistani Fiction New Millenium (Karachi: 2011), particular chapters 2 3 Kartography, respectively. These establish aesthetic reflects heritage link culture.55 Salt.” Throughout body work, including non-fiction, there growing cultural divisions society, offered insights informed female perspective.66 Offence: Muslim Case (Calcutta: Seagull 2009). Madeline Clements argues presents “decentred, Muslim, fiction unknowing, suspended judgements intimacy strangers” Broken Verses Burnt Shadows. Clements, Writing South Asian Perspective: Rushdie, Hamid, Islam, York. Palgrave MacMillan, 2016), 123. what follows I develop critical reading interrogating work reference concepts necropolitics, necropower trauma, conceptual framework borrow Achille Mbembe’s Necropolitics. argue narratives offer searching explorations democratic notion sovereignty, citizenship rights. characters negotiate complex emotional journeys navigating unknowable histories, borders militarized securitized worlds convey power powerlessness reader. invites reader reconsider multiple ways which necropolitics traversed perspectives those who margins intersections gender, race class.77 have latterly come across an article developed lens decolonial studies Marcela Santos Brigida Davi Pinho, “Necropolitics National Identity Home Fire,” Interdisciplinar, São Cristóvão, 31 (2019), 153-167. Their (see note 10 below) idea “abyssal thinking” when examining institutionalized violence minorities: Boaventura de Sousa Santos, “Beyond Abyssal Thinking: From Global Lines Ecologies Knowledge,” (Fernand Braudel Center) 30 (2007), 45-89. particular, examine (2005), Shadows Fire (2017), texts specifically illustrate engagement distinct moments demarcate how operate Pakistan, effects globalized securitization its diasporas Britain North America.88 2005), 2009), 2017). At first, doing quite lot wasn’t two-way intermediary. It say England or America, look, here more nuanced truth am from, put different face, suppose, Pakistan than ones they kept printing papers. After while pulled back because didn’t want be pigeonholed either certainly not spokesperson representative [of Pakistan].99 Mushtaq Bilal, Pakistan: Conversations Identity, Nationhood (Delhi: HarperCollins India, Shamsie,” 133-150: 148. Although publicly engaged intellectual, later task being one side focuses art representation. survivors traumas Partition, nuclear attacks Japan end Second War, 9/11 7/7 York London. colonial, postcolonial structures experimenting novel form gendered characterizations. brings into dialogue religious secular political formations America Britain, illustrating divergent views religion nation state. underlines void regarding rights within existing democracies need ethical future planetary justice. structural injustices democracy been conceptualized Mbembe his contemporaneous “necropolitics” (the death), Michel Foucault’s categorization biopolitics.1010 Mbembe, “Necropolitics,” trans. Libby Meintjes, Public Culture 15/1 (2003): 11-40. juxtaposition “necropower” turns populations zombies create “death-worlds.” this analysis, politics sovereignty state anti-terror legislation provided means modern states exercise right kill creating “the exception” siege.”1111 A. 16. As face their everyday lives, conflict “states make them vulnerable determined undemocratic nationalist forces, racism, inequalities. my state, resistance terror shown fictions exception, precarious situations marked living dead warfare. representation encompasses histories characterize colonial totalitarian late modernity occupation world. He warfare relies confluence military technological knowledges enforce submission. And contemporary warfare, interests “geographically interwoven,” leading “militia economies” deep groups. world, struggles force, state’s “monopoly violence” interjected autonomous groups also use legitimize counter movements, contributes always enemy home. puts forward beyond “singularities” “integration,” arguing “planetary democracy” “demand justice reparation inescapable.”1212 Necropolitics, Steven Corcoran (Durham London: Duke 2019), 40. canvas argument vast: here, choose underline aspects resonate fiction. writer whose covers offers unique both outside west. wish extend include debates play out psychological conflicts citizenship, identity religion. important consideration alongside therefore, question history. central permanently scarred trauma kinship ties psychologically affected recurring border upheavals associated migration, militarization censorship. interpretation history useful comparative context study historical Partition. “a geography trauma,” Jennifer Yusin suggests smudged collective individual role imagining remembering past. sees storytelling something transcends understanding imaginative quality, can represent unspeakable engendered creation new nations.1313 Yusin, Silence Partition: Borders, Trauma, History,” Social Semiotics 19/4 453-468. Verses, Shadows, Fire, forgetting integral part connect other disconnect formulate own histories. Individual class, gender difference thus manifested subject disempowered modes necropolitical governance seek erase certain bodies. becomes site try way toward social justice, encountering moral dilemmas along way. order situate fiction, it necessary understand constant presence work. Since inception 1947, had embattled relationship rights-based discourse. led disagreements shared values determine upholding nationalism. Constitutionally, judiciary cannot lay direct claim natural must remain observant principles plays parliamentary politics, groups, ulama, judiciary—all stakeholders construction 1980s heralded promulgation Hudood Ordinances judicial reforms under dictatorship General Zia ul-Haq. Those revisions criminal law formalized parallel legal structure Sharia courts. They fulfilled Zia’s ambition validating authentic affirming regime’s anti-Communist Cold War politics.1414 Saadia Toor, State Islam: Politics Pluto 2011); Ayesha Jalal, Martial Rule: Origins Pakistan’s Political Economy Defence (Cambridge: Cambridge 1990). Islamization campaign implementation helped inscribe onto bodies women. Women became symbols helping fulfil ambitions establishing Zina criminalizing adultery rape punishable maximum sentence stoning death. Law Evidence added another layer discrimination halving value women’s testimony compared men, making woman’s word virtually irrelevant witnesses crime rape. meant rapists got away victims were trapped accusations adultery.1515 Studies poor women largely imprisoned these offenses. Fauzia Gardezi, “Nationalism Formation: Struggles Pakistan,” Neelam Hussain, Samiya Mumtaz, Rubina Saigol (eds.), Engendering Nation-State, volume 1 (Lahore: Simorgh Resource Publication Centre, 1997), 79-110. Also Shahnaz Khan, Zina, Transnational Feminism, Moral Regulation (Vancouver: British Columbia 2006). To ensure legacy, introduced constitutional change Eighth Amendment gave President greater powers reduced parliament Prime Minister. Thus, marks exception siege created mechanisms necropower. set post Karachi. Terror, reflecting blowback cementing ul-Haq via appeal beliefs affiliation right-wing party, Jamaat-e Islami, simultaneous development strategic States fight Soviets Afghanistan. juxtaposes stark generational between witnessed rise activism draconian measures hand, local neoliberalization 1990s media revolution corporatization other. potted voice protagonist, Aasmani Inquilab (“Celestial Revolution”), mother, Samina, feminist activist, disappeared fourteen years ago. Samina’s brought participation protest marches 1980s. depicted firebrand beloved poet, Omi, incarcerated several times murdered. Omi modelled Marxist poet Faiz Ahmad left 1950s 1960s landed him prison resulted spending exile Samina separated death Laila-Majnun-style tragic love story.1616 Laila Majnun story folkore Persian Nizami Ganjavi (1141-1209). Nizami, Story Layla Majnun. Translated edited Rudolf Gelpke Lebanon, NY: Omega Publications, 2011). searches drawn Ed, co-worker television studio son mother’s best friend Shehnaz Saeed. Without knowledge, Ed sends coding trail, re-enacting secret communications believe still alive. angered saddened uncovers Ed’s deception. Through brutal awakening comes terms poet’s violent covered up suicide. recovery, peace past decides volunteer researcher documentary twentieth anniversary Ordinances. inability protagonist access Marxist-led resistance, symbolized figure subjugation emphasized references suicide captured heroine embodies movements falters life unable emulate confidence earlier generation. relives newspapers, archives, conversations finally reality archival research uncover truth, sound file mother conversation cleric, Maulana Moin Haq, 1986. gives insight intersectional struggle part. clip, responds inevitable veiling Qur’anic verses challenges Maulana’s perception. uses opportunity air involvement war Afghanistan, aftermath will Mujahideen, recruited internationally Pak-American alliance blessings clergy. position amplifies responded clerical diktats, speaks hindsight War. clear colluded ideology emergency overlook bloodshed. clip allows review recognise collusion time some kind cognizance resistance. never seeing body, however. job remind continued film act narrate it. character we find novel’s troubling outlook, mental disassociation, broken body. witness crisis haunted enacted bodies, narrator intersperses Aasmani’s memory resistance-led pronounced inclusion famous case Safia bibi. underscores injustice law: spite Safia’s father filed complaint rape, punished blind peasant woman fornication but allowed employers, landlord son, walk free. event 1980s, why activists galvanized action, wrangling challenging so-called zina ordinance.1717 Shireen Khan Burki, Misogyny: Zia-ul-Haq Legal System,” Contemporary Justice 19/1 (2016), 103-119. https://doi.org/10.1080/10282580.2015.1101683. archive memory, “celestial revolution” promised protagonist’s name subdued death-worlds inhabits. retreats abject self, absorbing silences trauma. While address neurosis actively reclaiming story, reconstructing draws sea drowned herself: “I bend lower cupped hands just below surface sea. sand stream fingers, dissolve waves, carried away.”1818 K. 338. life. colors imagination; waves calm living, tries narrates pessimistic analysis showing little recourse if did experience fate similar poet’s, given associations. conveys well unknown next generation, contend cycles outside. expresses visceral critique Musharraf’s “enlightened moderation” programme democratize opening industry ideological re-appropriation “youth culture, progressive thought perspectives.”1919 4. grew precursors noughties does echo nostalgia encapsulated Omi’s relationship. Instead, unbridgeable gap curtailed futures, webs deceit, untrustworthiness, dysfunctionality. … recollect every shadow, everything earth losing, think lost, all would lose, losing.2020 Agha Shahid Ali, “Snow Desert,” A Nostalgist’s Map W. Norton & Company, 1991), 100-101, quoted epigraph full poem available https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43275/snow-on-the-desert. 24 November 2020. mood nostalgic symbolism loss, conveyed coming together Japanese Hiroko Indian Sajjad. present, absent accountability even leadership, reformulated stories articulating changed vision Asia. novel, connections nationalism, unlikely pairings friendship Harry, Ilse James, Raza, Sajjad Hiroko. Harry CIA operative runs private security firm after leaving service. Raza gifted translator languages moves continents families. promises help applications American colleges hires America. commissioned go Afghanistan 9/11. shot blame Raza. meantime, contacted Abdullah, now illegal immigrant Abdullah run FBI wishes return Events unfold manages escape Abdullah’s contacts, arrange passage Canada. Harry’s daughter, Kim, agrees drive Canada bring safely favor, smuggle trunk car. When Kim arrives Canada, gets cold feet calls police. Kim’s actions inadvertently doom mistakenly identifying Afghan taxi driver Abdullah. believes favour innocent, father’s exonerated goodwill nation. What doesn’t anticipate lack racialized landscape.2121 Aroosa Kanwal’s perceptive close discussion reiterates misunderstanding stigmatization ethnicity coloured attitude Muslims Kanwal, “After 9/11: Islamophobia Shadows,” Claire Chambers Caroline Herbert, Imagining Asia Diaspora: Secularism, Religion, Representations, (London Routledge, 2015), 185-197. first introduces prologue, prisoner bound Guantanamo Bay, donning orange jumpsuit pondering question, “How this?”2222 3. stage told nothing him. attempt explain unpack image until very end. America’s imperial adventures rule territory democracy. conflicts, values, personal bonds community push aggressively reaffirmed Peter Morey mode inequalities Otherness flourish eschewing mastery it.”2323 Morey, Novel 2018), 201. suggest asked underlining mixing people locations drawing attention unequal forced migration. inattentive details therefore migrants refugees pay price uncritical patriots. By book, positive characterizations freer possible self distance other, envisaged Hiroko’s Families nowhere strikingly Fire. Necropolitics storyline young excluded Britain. Globally, since 7/7, faced increased problem defned terrorism illiberal thought. Framing Muslims, “A flipside Other reinvigoration desire among ‘host’ nations define contain parameters belonging: move frequently do delimiting questions practice.”2424 Amina Yaqin, Muslims: Stereotyping Representation (Boston, MA, Harvard engages changes made 2002 2014 allow Isis, “jihadi brides,” families “problem.” op-ed, writes alarmed authoritarian wielded Secretary 9/11, authorizing decide unBritish.2525 “Exiled: disturbing citizen unBritish’, Guardian (November 17, 2018). “casting out” suspends protect Sherene Razack argued casting thinking western categorize backward, non-secular irrational.2626 Building Giorgio Agamben’s analogy homo sacer, traces sovereign used justify ‘disobedient’ dissenting H. Razack, Casting Out: Eviction Western (Toronto: Toronto 2008). Razack’s complements observation boundaries redemption sacrifice, “martyrdom freedom,” become blurred responses subjugation.2727 precursor unfolded Shamima Begum, 15-year-old East schoolgirl travelled Syria join Isis. Two Sajid Javid Secretary. 2019 Begum’s revoked