Depiction of Colonial Trauma in Shahnaz Bashir’s collection of short stories Scattered Souls

Abstract

This research article aims to analyze "Scattered Souls," a collection of short stories by Shahnaz Bashir, through the lens of Frantz Omar Fanon's theory of colonial trauma as presented in his book "The Wretched of the Earth." The paper's primary objective is to explore the portrayal of trauma within the short stories of the book "Scattered Souls." Additionally, the article delves into how colonial violence profoundly impacts the lives of innocent Kashmiri individuals and serves as a catalyst for trauma. Notably, characters like Sakeena, who exhibit symptoms resembling post-traumatic stress disorder, are highlighted to illustrate the consequences of colonial violence on the Kashmiri population. Furthermore, the paper examines the broader context of the short story collection and other literary works that echo the struggles experienced by Kashmiris. Ultimately, the research concludes that trauma is an inevitable outcome of the colonial violence inflicted by the colonizers upon the colonized. Addressing and healing colonial trauma necessitates the decolonization of Kashmir, as the region remains under colonization. The lingering effects of the trauma above are evident among native Kashmiris. The research follows a qualitative approach, specifically employing a naturalistic inquiry methodology that seeks to investigate social phenomena within their natural settings deeply.