SUBALTERN AGENCY IN A PASSAGE TO INDIA AND MURDER OF AZIZKHAN: A DECONSTRUCTIONIST STUDY

Abstract

The significance of subaltern agency is central when it comes to intercept the rooted inequalities and historical wrongs that continue in marginalizing groups. By shedding light on subaltern agency we not only give a voice back to those who have been silenced but also struggle for a society that is more comprehensive and just. This empowers marginalized individuals to articulate their identities and push back against systems developing a feeling of independence and self-determination. Moreover, acknowledging and amplifying subaltern agency is fundamental in breaking down the lasting impacts of colonialism and colonial practices ensuring that everyone contributions and perspectives are respected and included in conversations. This research delved into how subaltern agency depicted in E.M. Forster A Passage to India (1924) and Ghose’s The Murder of Aziz Khan (1967) investigating the representation and empowerment of marginalized groups in literature. Subaltern agency refers to the ability of oppressed individuals or groups to challenge power structures and assert their identities and stories. In Forster novel it explored the connections, between subalterns and British colonizers while Ghose work focused on the marginalized community in post-independence India. Both texts depict the struggles of communities to establish agency within societies that marginalize them touching on themes of power dynamics, resistance and cultural conflicts. By taking these texts, this research tried to find the hidden beliefs and silenced voices of those not in powers, questioning the usual stories that make their unjust treatment seem acceptable. It also provides insights into how postcolonial literature critiques and strengthens underprivileged people by investigating the power dynamics in A Passage to India (1924) and The Murder of Aziz Khan (1967). It draws concentration to the ongoing struggles that subaltern groups rally in colonial and modern environments, highlighting the necessity of all-encompassing laws and fair procedures to acknowledge and strengthen subaltern agency. This thesis promotes the awareness and empowerment of subaltern groups and advances our knowledge of how literature may be used as a vehicle for social justice.