Trauma Narrative and Existential Dilemma in Mirza Waheed’s “The Collaborator”: A Study of Traumatic Narratology and Desensitization

Abstract

The Collaborator by Mirza Waheed is a narrative trauma experienced by helpless Indian Kashmiri Muslims who are facing the tyranny of Indian Forces. The Kashmiri Muslims are considered traitors and tortured on and off without any justification. The dramatic disappearance of the Kashmiri youth has created an atmosphere of horror. The Kashmiri are scared and live a life of fear without any hope. The Kashmiris have no choice but to be complicit with the rulers in order to protect their families and avoid death and disappearance. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the trauma narrative and existential dilemma of the Kashmiri people. This will be a qualitative research and Traumatic narratology and Desensitization will be applied as a tool to analyze the text under discussion. By using the concept of Mary Cover Jones and Cathy Caruth the researcher will try to explore horrors and intensity of traumatic events in narration.

Keywords: Trauma narrative, Existential dilemma, Desensitization