Pakistan is a Heaven for Minority: Myth or Reality?

Abstract

This study focuses on analyzing Pakistan’s political and social approaches toward its Christian minority in the light of “The Golden Legend” (2017) – a novel by Nadeem Aslam. Aslam is a member of a Pakistani diaspora community, this novel seems to posit that the government of Pakistan cannot safeguard the rights of religious minorities, and they are vulnerable socially, economically, and politically. Textual and contextual analysis shows that religious extremism of certain groups of people and the politics of identity that discriminates non-Muslims against Muslims has led to severe oppression of these people in the country. The study identifies social and political practices through which Christian minorities have been discriminated against. It also highlights their prevailing unfortunate situation in Pakistan and presents a deeper understanding of how the members of the Christian community are treated as subalterns who do not have a voice in Pakistan and how the rights of Christian minorities are violated, and the role politics play in the marginalization of these minorities. Nevertheless, it also points out how the novel provides a ray of hope for humanity to move forward; as Nadeem Aslam, commenting on the novel, quotes Shelley:

“Hope creates from its own wreck, the thing it contemplates”

Therefore, this study through the textual analysis of the novel and the contextual investigation serves as a contemplation of the mess created by religiopolitical activities.