LANGUAGE POLITICS AND OTHERNESS IN AYESHA MANAZIR’S THE CENTRE

Abstract

This study explores how language shapes the sense of identity, belonging, and power in Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi’s novel The Centre (2023). It examines how language creates discrimination and a feeling of “otherness,” reflecting the lingering effects of colonialism and Orientalist ideas in the postcolonial world. In this context, language is more than a tool for communication; it influences how people think, judge, and navigate society. Through characters such as Anisa, Shiba, and Sweeper, the novel shows how switching between a native language and English reflects both tension and resistance, revealing the challenges of living between cultures. These characters use language to assert themselves, challenge dominance, and maintain a sense of identity in a globalized world. This study argues that Siddiqi’s work highlights the power of language as a means of control, expression, and resistance, showing how deeply it is intertwined with personal and social life. By examining these dynamics, the research offers insight into the ways language shapes thought, identity, and agency in postcolonial literature.