Phases of Decolonization: A Postcolonial Analysis of The Reluctant Fundamentalist

Abstract

This study aims to examine Mohsin Hamid’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2009) in the light of Frantz Fanon’s theory of decolonization from his The Wretched of the Earth (1963). The paper specifically focuses on the phases of decolonization mentioned in Fanon’s essay On National Culture. The research is qualitative in nature, dealing with interpretive practices. Catherine Belsey’s Textual Analysis is used to collect and interpret the data. Additionally, closed reading technique outlined by Fisher and Frey (2013) is also utilized. It is found that the colonized intellectual plays a crucial role in decolonization. The protagonist of the selected novel, Changez, goes through three phases to decolonize himself. Initially, he assimilates in the culture of colonizers. After some time, he is shown some indicators due to which he becomes conscious of his status. Finally, he turns against the colonizers by showing some resistance. The study holds significance in the area of post- colonialism, by exploring the role of colonized intellectuals in the process of decolonization.