This document defines post-colonialism and discusses some of its main concepts. Post-colonialism emerged in the 1970s in response to Western colonial subjugation in the Third and Fourth World. It examines the effects of colonial practices on literary productions in formerly colonized societies. Some key post-colonial concepts discussed include mimicry, hybridity, orientalism, and universalism. The document also analyzes power dynamics between colonizers and colonized groups as depicted in the novel A Passage to India.

1. ARRANGED BY:
BEENISH GILL
M.PHIL. ENGLISH
UNIVERSITY OF SARGODHA
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POST-COLONIALISM

2. DEFINITION
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 Post-colonialism (or Postcolonialism) is the outlook and studies as
responses to colonial subjugation of European or Western to Third
and Fourth-world that emerged in 70’s.
 However, it’s not only talking about Western colonial subjugation but
also various reality of injustice, culture and gender domination, sexual
orientation issues, social class, subaltern people experiences, etc.
 Thus in literature, it is an interaction and reaction in colonial
societies and the effects of colonial practices on literary
productions.

3. POST-COLONIAL MAIN CONCEPTS
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MIMICRY
“The copying of the colonizing culture, behavior, manners and values by the colonized contains both
mockery and a certain ‘menace’, ‘so that mimicry is at once resemblance and menace”.
(Bhabha 1994:86).
 From the theory of Homi K. Bhabha, mimicry is a concept of imitating
coloniser’s behaviors intended to mock which can appear as a parody
in literature. It’s a sort of anti-colonial movement in literature that
producing social-political works.
 Mimicry is a severe criticism as an implement to resist colonization.
The most radical anti-colonial writers often called the “mimic men”.

4. HYBRIDITY
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HYBRIDITY
 The fusion of two traditions to which create new trans-cultural
elements and produce a double identity that contradicted, as a
colonizer and colonized at the same time.
 In literature, it causes ambivalency and confusing whether it is
oppossing or supporting colonialism. Because for whatever,
post-colonial texts suppose to uncontaminated by the
colonialist's concepts.

5. ORIENTALISM
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ORIENTALISM
“...It is, rather than expresses, a certain will or intention to understand, in some cases to control,
manipulate, even incorporate, what is a manifestly different world”
(Said 1978: 12).
 In Edward Said’s book “Orientalism” it is clear that orientalism is the
project of European/Western for having authority over the orient and
reconstruct in European thinking. In another word, it’s the concept for
dominating, manipulating, exploiting the orient. An interestedness in
Orient world recorded in so many Western texts.

6. UNIVERSALISM / UNIVERSALITY
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 Universalism is Eurocentric view that claims their civilizations in
experiences and values are the standard for all humanity.
 In literature, we are often told that what makes Shakespeare
‘great’ is his ability to reveal something of ‘the universal human
condition’. Universalism gives assumption that ‘European’ equals
‘universal’. It’s the way of European to elevate their status. That is
why universalism rejected by post-colonialism.
 Universalism is a strategy of imperialism and colonialism by
saying the ‘universal’ features of humanity are the characteristics
of those who occupy positions of political dominance in this case,
European/Western.

7. 6
 Post-colonial is synonym with “post-independence” or the era after
the independence when the colonialists had left the country.
However, their concepts still remain and their practices are still
used up to now.
 The concept of ruling class is significant in colonialism. As we see
today in our community, for it is a fact that concept still exists. There
are gaps between the Rich and Poor, the Superior and Inferior, the
Lord and Servant, the Aristocrat and Commoner, or the hegemony
and subaltern. They are two contradict aspects to play the roles as
the “colonizer” and “colonized” just like in colonial era. These are
the reasons that gave birth to post-colonial literary productions in
purpose to reject that concept and meant to be the theme of many
post-colonial literary works.

8. METHODS OF ANALYSIS
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In analysis of post-colonial literature is examined:
 Historical aspect
Trace the history of colonialism and subjugation during the colonial
period. In this case, there’s always the subject and the object of
colonialism.
 Physical and psychological aspect
Oppression and intimidation, are the ways to make colonized feel weak,
frightened, devaluate pride, submissive, and obedient to the colonizer.
 Ideological aspect
In whose perspective it is narrated , colonizer or colonized?
 Gender aspect
man as colonizer, woman as colonized.
 Cultural aspect
Domination of a certain culture, including ethnicity, race and religion.

9. Power, Distance, and Stereotyping
Between Colonizer and Colonized in
A Passage to India

10. The colonial occupation of India is significant in
terms of the background of the novel
Indian nationalism began to foment around 1885
with the first meeting of the Indian National
Congress

11. Social distance
 Ronny does not have faith in the Indian subjects who
come before him in the court of law:
 “Everyday he worked hard in the court trying to decide
which of two untrue accounts was the less untrue […]”
(A Passage to India 46).

12.  (Bhabha 83) Ronny’s attitude towards the Indian
subjects he comes across in his job shows a combination
of distance and patronization. He does not seem
interested in truly getting involved, and seems to view
the cases that are brought before him as a silly waste of
his time.

13. Another way in which power is gained in A Passage to
India is through social distancing,which denotes a
difference in customs and practices between the
Westerners and Easterners. For example, Indians are not
allowed on the Club premises, which serve as a mini-
England socially and culturally. Although the British live
in India, they do not live with the Indians.

14. Emotional distance
Emotional distancing and the lack of interest in cross-cultural
relations on the British characters’ side can be seen over and over
again in A Passage to India and is made explicit through the words
of Mr. Turton in a conversation he has with Fielding just after Mr
Turton informs Fielding of Aziz’s alleged assault on Adela:
“‘I have had twenty-five years' experience of this country […] and
during those twenty-five years I have never known anything but
disaster result when English people and Indians attempt to be
intimate socially.
Intercourse, yes. Courtesy, by all means. Intimacy – never, never’”
(A Passage to India 153).

15. Distance and Power in A Passage to India
In A Passage to India this is exemplified when Mrs Turton
displays a distanced, detached attitude at the Bridge Party
upon realizing that some, if not all, of the Indians in her
company speak English: “‘They pass Paris on the way, no
doubt,’ said Mrs Turton, as if she was describing the
movements of migratory birds. Her manner had grown
more distant since she had discovered that some of the
group was westernized, and might apply her own
standards to her” (A Passage to India 38).

16. In A Passage to India the British create a “scene”,
which is that of a dominant, superior West ruling
over a weak, submissive East. They carry this
“scene” so far as to prosecute Aziz in a court of law
simply because a British woman has made an
accusation against him. The Brit’s assumption that
Aziz is guilty is based on their notions that the West
is civilized and the East is barbaric and uncivilized
When Adela confesses that she was not assaulted by
Aziz and drops her charges against him, her British
compatriots are shocked.

17. Power Hierarchies in A Passage to India
 Turton states to Mrs Moore and Adela at the bridge
party; “‘You’re superior to them,anyway. Don’t forget
that. You’re superior to everyone in India except one
or two of the ranis, and they’re on an equality’” (A
Passage to India 38).

18. CONCLUSION
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Post-colonialism realized that even though the colonial era has finished
yet, but the practices have not come to an end and now has turned it face
into neo-colonialism.
In post-colonial perspective, literary works emerged to unveil subjugation,
injustice, violence, discrimination, inequality, to sound the marginal and
subaltern people, so that from post-colonial productions yielded social and
political products.

19. Thank You