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1. Representation of Muslims in Bollywood Cinema: A Study of ‘Padmaavat’ and ‘Bajirao Mastani’

Author:
Sarvat Iqbal and Saira Iqbal
Publication Date:
01-2024
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
South Asian Studies
Institution:
Department of Political Science, University of the Punjab
Abstract:
With the rise of Hindutva in India, Muslim representation has become a serious concern. ―Muslims‖ have often been dubbed as foreigners, bigoted, militant and terrorists. Medieval period has been depicted as a period of persecution of Hindus by the Muslims rulers. In India, film (Bollywood) is recognised as a powerful medium with a large local audience. Following the emergence of Hindutva, there was a significant increase in what we referred to as anti-Muslim films. These films often perpetuate negative stereotypes and fuel religious tensions in the country. This paper will examine the portrayal of mediaeval Muslim rulers in the Bollywood period drama films Padmaavat and Bajirao Mastani. Bollywood began in the 1930s and has since evolved into an enormous film empire. It produces movies primarily in the Hindi language and has a global audience. Bollywood produces a wide variety of films, including romantic dramas, action thrillers, comedies musicals and historical epics. Bollywood cinema has indeed portrayed medieval society in various films, often romanticizing or stereotyping certain aspects. In this paper two Bollywood movies-Padmaavat and Bajirao Mastani-are selected for detailed analysis of their stories and particularly their representation of the Muslims. Padmaavat movie is based on the Urdu epic poem by Malik Muhammad Jayasi in 13th century. Padmaavati was a Rajput Queen and Sultan Alauddin Khilji hearing of her beauty invaded her kingdom to claim her as his prize.Second movie is Bajirao Mastani which highlights the story of Maratha Peshwa, Bajirao and his relationship with his second wife, daughter of Rajput King Chhatrasal and Ruhani Bai.By examining the ways in which Bollywood cinema negotiates the complexities of the medieval past, particularly Hindu-Muslim relations, this research highlights the need for a more nuanced understanding of India‘s rich cultural history and its ongoing representation in popular culture. It will examine the representation of Muslims in these two movies and by comparative analysis, explore the ways and means by which the present concerns influence our representation of the past.
Topic:
Representation, Muslims, Hindutva, and Bollywood
Political Geography:
South Asia and India

2. Representation of Women in Postcolonial Literature in Pakistan

Author:
Rukhsana Yasmeen and Muhammad Iqbal Chawla
Publication Date:
07-2019
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
South Asian Studies
Institution:
Department of Political Science, University of the Punjab
Abstract:
This article attempts to explores, investigate and analyzes the postcolonial Urdu writings on the Pakistani women‟s participation in the socio-economic, religious and political arena. Urdu literature is spread all over the subcontinent and there are no borders in literature that can split it into two. This article would like to discuss literature mainly produced by Pakistani writers. However, while arguing that most literature has been written from a patriarchal viewpoint throughout the history, two main themes dominated the postcolonial literature firstly, role of women in the patriarchal society and other, the trauma of migration and its impact on the Muslim women in Pakistan. Islamic influence enforced purdah on Muslim women and purdahless women were regarded as infidel and shameless in literature. Nineteenth century Muslim writers advocated modern education for women not with the idea of emancipation but with a view to creating the modern wife, sister and mother. In this context, we can see that Allama Rashid-ulKhairi's modernist writings which were apparently sympathetic to women, were in fact meant to strengthen existing gender arrangements. The Progressive Writers‟ Movement brought about some change in the representation of women and the family, for example, Sajjad Haider Yaldram, Azeem Baig Chughtai and Ismat Chughtai depicted the negative side of the patriarchal society in which women were being exploited. The horror and trauma of partition enabled writers like Saadat Hasan Manto to highlight contradictions within the apparently monolithic institution of the family. Aziz Ahmad and Qurat-ul-Ain Haider also poignantly painted the picture of disintegrated lives and the anguish of exile. This article also demonstrates that male domination is consolidated through binary constructions of good women and bad women in society. This has been a continuation of nineteenth century notions of Muslim womanhood most clearly portrayed in Deputy Nazeer Ahmad's novel Mirat-ul-Uroos. The article will encompass the representation of women in Urdu literature during post-independence Pakistan. The influence of patriarchal mindset of the society on literature will also be discussed
Topic:
Post Colonialism, Arts, Women, Representation, and Literature
Political Geography:
Pakistan, South Asia, and Punjab

3. Exploring the Image of Muslims in India

Author:
Salma Umber, Muhammad Junaid Ghauri, and Hassan Nawaz
Publication Date:
07-2018
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
South Asian Studies
Institution:
Department of Political Science, University of the Punjab
Abstract:
Indian film industry is one of the biggest film industries in the world which produces highest number of movies every year. Indian media and film industry overwhelmingly link Islam and Muslims with terrorism. Especially since 9/11 attacks, the Bollywood have portrayed the Muslims in stereotypically negative way. After the 9/11 incident, Muslims have been constructed as distrustful people, terrorists, and antagonists. The study at hand was set out to identify the overall dimension and nature of portrayal of Indian Muslims in the Bollywood. For the purpose the researcher opted convenient sampling as a tool of data collection and quantitative content analysis along with SPSS was used as data analysis technique. Bollywood movies, released during the year 2016 with Muslims as prominent characters in it, were selected as ample to be studied. The results indicated that majority of the movie contents contained negative and stereotypical image of Indian Muslims. Overall findings evidenced that the Muslims were assigned non-patriotic and antagonistic characters more than the patriotic and protagonist characters.
Topic:
Islam, Mass Media, Media, Film, Representation, and 9/11
Political Geography:
Pakistan, South Asia, India, and Punjab

4. Issues of Under-Representation: Mapping Women in Indian Politics

Author:
David Lal, Abhiruchi Ojha, and Nidhi Sadana Sabharwal
Publication Date:
01-2015
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
South Asian Studies
Institution:
Department of Political Science, University of the Punjab
Abstract:
This article highlights the perpetual under-representation of women in Indian parliament. As the recently held 14th General elections in India situated a stable government at the centre, however, it still has lesser women representatives. The election commission reports from 1957 to the recently held general elections in 2014 highlights emancipation of women from mere absent electorate to active voters. Further, the data also underlines a shift from mere active voters to vibrant candidates, as the number of women candidates is increased manifold. Despite these positive shift from becoming ‘active voters’ and ‘vibrant candidates’, women are unable to capitalise the increase in number of candidates to members of parliament. Undoubtedly, the traditionally placed patriarchical society in India is still unwelcoming when it comes to elect women as the political representatives. Apart from patriarchy as the important reason other various political and nonpolitical reasons is also responsible for this democratic deficit. The substantial representation of women is missing in proportion to their population. While we celebrate the vibrancy of Indian democracy, the issue of under-representation of women continue to be a major challenge for Indian democracy.
Topic:
Gender Issues, Politics, Elections, Women, Inequality, and Representation
Political Geography:
South Asia and India