TOWARDS POSTCOLONIAL ECOCRITICISM: REVIVING SELECT INDIGNEOUS NARRATIVES OF UZMA ASLAM KHAN

Abstract

This thesis contributes significantly to the growing field of postcolonial ecocriticism by elucidating how indigenous narratives foreground the experiences and ecological knowledge rooted in colonial contexts by highlighting non-Western epistemologies’ importance in addressing pressing contemporary environmental issues. Postcolonial ecocriticism, as a discipline, has recently begun to incorporate indigenous voices to counteract the effects of imperialism and globalisation on environmental perceptions. Indigenous narratives often emphasise the symbiotic relationship between human beings and the environment, underscoring the importance of community, sustainability, and respect for natural resources values that stand in contrast to the capitalist, profit-driven approaches frequently promoted in Western environmental discourse. This thesis addresses a significant gap in postcolonial and ecocritical literary studies by exploring the intersection of indigenous narratives and ecological consciousness within postcolonial literature. It presents an in-depth study of Uzma Aslam Khan’s select novels: The Miraculous True History of Nomi Ali (2019), Thinner Than Skin (2012), Trespassing (2003), and The Story of Noble Rot (2001), which exemplify the convergence of postcolonial ecocriticism and indigenous narratives. Khan’s works offer a complex and nuanced understanding of ecological issues within postcolonial contexts, framing them through local, indigenous perspectives that challenge dominant Western environmental discourses. The select novels of Khan embody these principles, as her narratives link ecological awareness with postcolonial experiences of resistance, survival, and resilience. By centring indigenous perspectives, this thesis argues that Khan’s works depict environmental degradation as a backdrop and situate ecological issues at the heart of her characters’ lives, weaving them into the fabric of their cultural identities and collective memories.