Formation of Self and Identity Crises in Daughter of the East

Abstract

The study delves into transformation of autobiographical narratives within the realm of postcolonial literature, focusing on Benazir Bhutto’s 1988 autobiography Daughter of the East , an influential figure in Pakistani politics. The work seeks to enrich the discourse on how autobiographical narratives evolved in postcolonial contexts and played a significant role in configuring political discussions on identity, feminism and democracy.  Bhutto’s Daughter of the East serves as the central text, offering a nuanced exploration of her multifaceted identity as a postcolonial Muslim woman, informed by both Eastern and Western influences. The analysis incorporates David Huddart’s insights into the role of autobiography in postcolonial theory and identity formation presented in Postcolonial Theory and Autobiography and Chandra Talpade Mohanty’s critical ideas presented in her essay “Under Western Eyes: Feminist Scholarship and Colonial Discourses”. These theoretical lenses illuminate Bhutto’s assertion of agency and resistance as articulated in her narrative.