Unveiling the Purdah a critical Study of Imitaz Dharkers Poetry

Abstract

The main aim of this research study is to show that Imtiaz Dharker has newlinetouched the basic issues concerned with the women such as, womenand#8223;s identity, newlineexploitation, harassment etc. After describing and exploring the various themes in the newlineselected poems, an attempt has been made to point out how Imtiaz Dharker is newlinedifferent from the rest of the contemporary women poets in treating sensitive feminine newlineissues. Contemporary poets also have talked about women and their problems but newlineImtiaz Dharker has talked about the same without any hesitation and fear about the newlinesociety. newlineImtiaz Dharker deals with the replication of the female histories, and the newlineportrayal of the female subject as victim agent. She also explores the struggle for newlinefreedom, hope, social change, feminine sensibility, womanhood, religious strife, newlinegender conflict, misinterpretation of religion, hypocrisy practiced in the name of God, newlinea ruthless oppression of women, socio-political unrest, the sufferings of women, newlinechild-marriage, illiteracy, ill-treatment of widows, dowry-deaths, ill-matched newlinemarriages and female foeticide, etc. are some of the common themes that run through newlineher poems. newlineThe most striking concern of her poems is social- in fact it leans very heavily newlineon the religious and spiritual aspects of certain social groups. She expresses a deep newlinesense of disapproval about the malpractices followed in the name of religion. Dharker newlinedisapproves of the practice of wearing a veil which is still observed in the Muslim newlinecommunity. The condition of Muslim women is particularly pathetic because a high newlinedegree of illiteracy, lack of education, widespread poverty, and superstitions mark newlinetheir mode of life. Women are not encouraged to be independent and educated. newlineMarriage is believed to be an ultimate goal and dowry an inescapable bane. newlineAs a corollary, the agents of atrocities and injustice, namely the priests and newlineMaulvies appear frequently in the poems of Dharker. They interpret religion newlineaccording to their whims, cracks, conviction, ignorance and advantage. They are newlinesupposed to be a link between God and man. However, they do not understand the newlinelanguage God and religion speaks. The Maulvies are not holy. They are sly and full of newlinecontempt for women. newline2 newlineThese practices cause disillusionment in the poet. Religion fails to bring any newlinepeace or solace. Dharker is pained by the same enigma: where else can one find true newlinepeace if not in a masjid? Thus, For Dharker, religion is ironically a system that newlinedisappoints, deceives and even desecrates women. Disappointment at finding peace in newlinereligion thus surfaces as a major common concern in her poetry. newline