THE COST OF AUTONOMY: DECONSTRUCTING PATRIARCHAL SURVEILLANCE AND HONOUR KILLINGS IN THE CASE OF CHANDA AND JUGNU

Abstract

This research paper tends to investigate that despite a geographical shift and a more enlightened culture of the Global North, the culture of honour killings continued in the fictional community of Pakistani immigrants in Nadeem Aslam’s Maps for Lost Lovers(2004). Besides other social elements patriarchy has been the active element behind the killings of the couple Chanda and Jugnu in the novel. Using the method of content analysis, this study tends to investigate a deeper understanding of how patriarchy paved its way to the Pakistani immigrant community and instigated the honour killings of Chanda and Jugnu. The researcher will draw their conclusions based on a Betty Friedan’s critique of patriarchal structural functionalism to throw light on how the female body and autonomy are seen as collective family status leading to the murders of the Chanda and Jugnu. This study may provide awareness against honour killings and may prove helpful in understanding and accepting the choices that people, especially girls and women make for themselves. It spreads forth the message that certainly there is no ‘honour’ in killing.