TRACES OF POSTCOLONIAL ECOFEMINISM IN MOHAMMED HANIF’S OUR LADY OF ALICE BHATTI

Abstract

This study explores the exploitation and commodification of women and nature in Mohammad Hanif's Our Lady of Alice Bhatti (2011) through the lens of postcolonial ecofeminism. This conceptual framework analyzes postcolonial feminism and ecocriticism. Postcolonial ecofeminism is a concept that has existed for some time but is still in its nascent stage of development. It suggests that the exploitation of nature and the oppression of women are deeply interconnected. The novel's protagonist, Alice Bhatti, embodies the experiences of marginalized individuals subjected to the dual oppressions. The study analyzes Alice's narrative and her symbolic connections to the deterioration of Karachi's natural environment. It elucidates how patriarchal systems exploit both women and the environment. The study has used a descriptive qualitative method to analyze the text of the selected novel. Its significance lies in its unique approach by adopting postcolonial ecofeminism as it remains underexplored in current literature.