Week 11 Context Research Presentation

This week, we are reading ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’ by Mohsin Hamid. This week, we are reading ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’ by Mohsin Hamid. It is a fictional novel in which the plot begins in Lahore’s streets. Changez, a Pakistani man, offers a guide to finding a good cup of tea to an American visitor. As they wait to have tea, Changez starts telling a long tale about his life. In particular, about his time spent living in the United States of America reflecting on Lahore, his hometown that he loves and is proud of. I would therefore like to speak about the social and cultural life of Pakistan.

Family organization is highly patriarchal in Pakistan, as in most agrarian societies; most people live in the same or family compound with large extended families. The eldest male in the family leader and makes all important decisions about the family and its members, whether he is the father, grandfather, or paternal uncle. The position of a woman in society has predominantly been secondary to that of men, and she has been confined to performing household duties and serving the role of a dutiful wife and mother. It is still common to hold women isolated; women are traditionally covered by their heads (purdah) when leaving their houses. The houses of the Purdah people are in front of the house with a men’s section so that the women don’t be bothered by their guests. However, among the richest Pakistanis, western education and ways of life have removed Purdah. In general, even among that population, attitudes towards women are often regarded as old-fashioned in society and the family.

Pakistan’s cultural heritage goes back to the time of Indus civilization, over five thousand years ago. However, emphasis on Islamic philosophy has produced the Islamic culture – not only of the Indian subcontinent but the wider Islamic world – highly romanticized. The richest of all Pakistani forms of art are literature, particularly poetry and music. The country is highly influenced by the northern Indian music tradition. Music has been an important part of Pakistani culture for a long time. There are plenty of conventional and local forms. The ghazal is also musically a kind of romantic poem. Singers like Mehdi Hassan and Ghulam Ali establish an extensive repertoire in their own countries and abroad. Qawwali is also widely practiced and has inspired a variety of modern styles, which implies a devotional singing associated with Sufism. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, one of his biggest followers, was renowned in Pakistan and the wider world. Recently, painting and sculpture have made major strides as a reflection of a highly sophisticated urban culture. Pakistan shares in sculpture, literature, architecture, and manner with other parts of South Asia the great Mughal heritage. The ancient city of Taxila and ruins of Mohenjo Daro are some of the few places that are known to be UNESCO World Heritage sites. Among the architectural gems of the region, there are the Mosque des Pearls, the Badshahi Mosque, and the Shalimar Garden.

 

 

References

The Reluctant Fundamentalist. 26 Oct. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Reluctant_Fundamentalist.

“Culture of Pakistan.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Oct. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Pakistan.

Ziring, Lawrence. “The Arts.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 30 Oct. 2020, www.britannica.com/place/Pakistan/The-arts.

2 thoughts on “Week 11 Context Research Presentation

  1. Thank you for your presentation on “The Reluctant Fundamentalist” by Mohsin Hamid. I look forward to reading this novel this week. The position women have in the society that you stated is true. Even in the United States it’s known that the men are to be for the most part seen as superior to women. It really depends on the situation and your view on the topic. In this culture it’s not even questioned who is more dominant. When I came across when you stated the women traditionally cover their heads it reminded me of the veil in Persepolis. Except for their face weren’t fully covered like the purdah. Something else that reminded me of Persepolis was when you stated that the forms of literature were poetry and music. Marji loved listening to her music. This gives a good representation on how cultures have their similarities and differences.

  2. Thank you for your background research on Pakistani family life. I always find it so fascinating the way other cultures have households with family beyond the immediate family such as uncles and grandparents living with your family. The idea of patriarchy isn’t too farfetched however as within the US the male head of the household typically makes more money and often gets to make a lot of the decisions that come with that. I also find it fascinating that their music is still heavily influenced by their traditional music rather than evolving the way the western world has over the past 70 years. This background information will definitely help me understand “The Reluctant Fundamentalist” better than I otherwise would have.

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