Quest for Self in Tehmina Durrani’s My Feudal Lord

Abstract

Tehmina Durrrani’s autobiography, My Feudal Lord (1991) isthe voice of a slave breaking from her bondage. It is the story of a woman who refuses to suffer in silence for the sins committed by others. It deals with the themes of domestic violence, lust, rape, extramarital sex and betrayal which are similar to the problems that women face across cultures.The major issue in Tehmina Durrani’s My Feudal Lord is the suppression of the marginal self by repressive patriarchal society.  Here Durrani exposes Mustafa Khar, a powerful feudal politician who was the chief minister of the Punjab province at the time of their affair. Durrani has succeeded in changing her position from being a victim to someone who is in control of her destiny. Her experiences are of paramount importance, as they eventually paved the way for her liberation enabling her to become a political, social and feminist activist. The present paper analyzes several factors that promote the subjugation of women and examines the numerous ways by which TehminaDurrani takes control of her own life and destiny.