Religion and tradition The Social Condition of Pakistani Society in the 20
especially peasant, to plough his lands. Landlords did not give any contributions and everything was done by peasants. This situation is represented in the citation
below where the setting of the village is depicted. The hawali, the large house belonging to Habib Khan’s father, Siraj
Din, the feudal landlord, was located near the mosque and this enjoyed the most central position in the village. With its ample
grounds and a very large square shaped courtyard, it took up one quarter of the land occupied by the whole village Qaisra: 58.
Summarising, feudalist signifies authority, power, wealth and status. Because of those pleasures, people in Pakistan esteemed landlords and admitted
them as lord and master who influenced over the area or village as influencing policies in that area. They were the centre of that village.
Siraj Din and Khawar are the representations of this condition. Because of their status and their wealth, they become the school committee who determine
everything related to school in that place. Whenever the school has to change their headmistress, they are who determine the next headmistress.
Like Baba Siraj Din, in where footsteps Khawar was eagerly following and liked to follow, he had in the last year or so begun to
play a prominent role in the village management committee, overseeing and governing the school….As a founding member of
the school, he too, like Khawar, took a keen interest in the issue of Madam’s replacement. He wanted no ‘flighty’ miss from the city to
corrupt impressionable young girls in her care. Apart from Firdaus, there is no one else, is there? Siraj Din continued Qaisra: 61
However, because of power and wealth they had, landlords became conceited and selfish. They forgot about justice and love. Habib and Siraj Din are
characters who embody this condition in Pakistan. Siraj Din represents landlord who loves his lands more than anything. He puts his land above all he has, lands
are his life. He always chases after his lands and does not want to be separated PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
from his land. When his son asks him to live with him in town, he completely rebuffs that idea. He prefers to live alone in the village with his lands.
“Land is my life. My eyes need to gaze over and feast on the smell of fresh green and vegetables growing in the fields….You were
always chasing after your land and bent on showing her who was master in your home Qaisra: 127-129.”
Likewise Siraj Din, Habib also loves his land more than his family. When his only son passes away Habib should determine to maintain his lands or to give
up his lands. Maintaining his lands means that he should sacrifice his daughter’s happiness. Loosing his lands means that he will lose his pride, wealth and status.
Though he knows that his daughter disagrees to marry to Quran and his lands, Habib keeps realising his decision to retain his lands by holding the Holy Woman
tradition and sacrificing his daughter. He believes that lands could furnish happiness to her daughter instead of marrying a man.
A sigh of utter self satisfaction escaped his lips. Yes Wealthiest of all land owners, nobody could rival his fortune or his influence.
Yes All this will be my Zarri Bano’s hers to inherit. As my belovd child, my princess, she deserves it all Qaisra: 43.
Based conflict experienced by habib and Siraj Din, it can be concluded that they, as feudalists, ignore love and love their lands more than anything
even their family. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI