Sehrish Maqbool
Dr. Khurshid Alam
(Religion as a Political Force in Pakistani Cultural Setting:
A Foucauldian Study of Black is My Robe)
Keywords
Power, Religion, Political Force, Foucault, Resistance, Politics.
Abstract
This paper examines religion as a political force in Black is My Robe “Kalay Mainday Kapray” by Shahid Nadeem. In this paper, the researchers argue that religious power which is also termed pastoral power demonstrates itself by subjugating the individuals, but it is resisted and opposed by the same individuals pursuing its counter-force. The researchers have drawn upon Michel Foucault’s notion of pastoral power borrowed from his lectures and Jeremy Carrette’s analysis of Foucault’s work to argue that religion has political imperatives embedded within. Although Foucauldian analysis of pastoral power is replete with references to Western Christianity, the researchers have integrated it as a theoretical framework to observe Islam as a political force in the Pakistani cultural setting. This paper concludes that pastoral power encounters its opposing force and in this conflict new forms of expression, discourses and behaviours emerge. Therefore, power, whether it is religious or political, is not oppressive or repressive, instead, it is productive as it opens new avenues and new worlds for the marginalized or subjugated members of a social body.