Politics of Language and Literature in Pakistan

 Politics of Language and Literature in Pakistan 

Language has always been a tool of not only communication but also that of identity, and so, came the concept of national and regional languages, common to almost all the nations of the world. If they don’t have regional languages different from their national language, they have at least multiple accents and dialects of national language. But in a country like Pakistan this variability has level that demands identity as well as cultural affinity. In a country like Pakistan this linguistic diversity has multiple type of pros and cons. If, on the one hand, this bunch of regional languages lends a rich cultural diversity, on the other hand, these have their sociopolitical repercussions as well. The wide variety of regional languages and their impact is further heightened because Pakistan is postcolonial country and so has English language dominance even over the national language also. This has its own chain of conflicting demands and opportunity of opening multiple debates. 

One of the ways to harmonize the existence and functioning of this linguistic diversity is to write literature and translate it into national language also so that all diversity is harmonized under the umbrella of national language and yet these are represented individually as well. But this sociopolitical duty has not been performed the way it should have been done qualitatively as well as quantitatively. Firstly, in the pre-partition era although literature was produced in Urdu but still English dominated and progressive writers either wrote in English or translated their works into Urdu. Regional languages could not find an ample space to represent themselves. Post Partition Pakistan also could not harmonize the same and in the name of popularizing nationalism, one Urdu language was stressed without caring for the worth of regional languages. Consequently, the speakers of these languages felt threatened about the loss of their linguistic identity. And more stressed individuals took it as an opportunity of regional politics and even demanded small administrative units based on regional languages which further resulted in sociopolitical disintegration and the dream of linguistics harmony remains still to be achieved. 

While there is no harm in creating smaller administrative units in Pakistan for a better and improved management of public affairs in the provinces like Punjab and Baluchistan, but these should not become linguistic units because in this way, people will over stress their linguistic identity instead of stressing their micro-identity within the macro national identity. But in no way, this means that a few regional languages may be done away with; instead a comprehensive dialogue with all stake holders must be held to avoid language based divisions yet the rights and duties of the people in general may be ensured. 

Speaking linguistically, any language would die instead of evolving if it is not spoken by the speakers or no literature is written in this language. So, as a matter of policy, the regional languages of Pakistan should also be equally strengthened along with the national language, otherwise Pakistan is going to get deprived of this diversity of linguistic culture. The promotion of this linguistic diversity will ensure diversity in harmony. Diversity in harmony can impact other areas of our life also in the same way. Intolerance and impatience as a hallmark of frustrated life in this age of technology can also be harmonized to intermingle the diversity into social harmony when all sections of society would be sure of receiving their due share of representation in the national psyche. The celebration of linguistic harmony can therefore become a way for the solution of sociopolitical issues. 

Now, the time has come that regional languages must be given their due share in the representation matters by attempting to incorporate regional content into the national language by writing literature and popularizing the same throughout the country. The initial primary school teaching in regional languages also along with the national language should be enacted so that regional languages in no way feel underrepresented and the political cards of this nature may not be played. Pakistan is rich not only in cultural diversity but also 

literary production in English and Urdu language. Further support can come from the masterpieces produced by the regional language writers which may be further translated into English and Urdu language for the benefit of all. The same should be done with the masterpieces of Urdu and English language that can be translated into multiple regional languages. This will strengthen the linguistic harmony as well as national goal of one national language will also be achieved. English is to remain as a dominant English language, and let it be so but the national and regional languages deserve to he protected, popularized and harmonized as per the psyche, aspirations and culture of Pakistani people. Many countries with cultural and linguistic diversity have practiced this model and have successfully implemented without causing any sociopolitical issues in their country.

SPECULATIVE FICTION: THE MIRROR OF THE POSSIBLE

 Speculative literature represents one of the most potent countermeasures to the oppressive and often disheartening conditions produced by the sociopolitical, ecological, and existential crises of the modern world. From classical Greek texts to contemporary postcolonial and postmodern narratives, literature has consistently performed a didactic and reflective function—helping humanity confront the realities of its own condition. However, such realist or mimetic traditions frequently evoke discomfort, as they mirror the injustices, sufferings, and contradictions of human existence. By foregrounding the “bitterness of reality,” realist and naturalist literature often intensifies the reader’s awareness of despair rather than providing imaginative escape or hope.

In contrast, speculative literature—encompassing science fiction, fantasy, dystopia, and magical realism—transcends empirical reality to explore alternative worlds, future possibilities, and reimagined modes of being. As theorists such as Darko Suvin have argued, speculative literature operates through the principle of cognitive estrangement, whereby readers are simultaneously distanced from and intellectually engaged with alternative realities that reflect upon their own. It invites both writer and reader to engage in acts of imagination that challenge the deterministic boundaries of the material world. Through such imaginative exercises, speculative literature not only enlivens creative potential but also serves as a psychological and philosophical remedy against the existential weight of contemporary crises.

The genre’s dual benefits are evident. First, speculative literature activates and extends the human imagination, inspiring readers to envision realities that transcend earthly limitations—exploring possibilities of life beyond human and terrestrial constraints. Second, it creates a participatory imaginative space where readers co-construct meaning, empathizing with and reinterpreting the visionary worlds offered by the author. Thus, the foundation of speculative writing lies in a dialectic between human experience and human imagination: it draws from lived reality only to reimagine and transcend it.

A number of canonical works illustrate the transformative potential of speculative literature. George Orwell’s 1984 stands as one of the most significant examples of dystopian speculation. Through his construction of a totalitarian regime governed by surveillance, propaganda, and the erasure of truth, Orwell speculates on the trajectory of modern political power. As per views of theorists such as Michel Foucault, 1984 dramatizes the mechanisms of biopower and disciplinary control, exposing how language and ideology shape subjectivity. In today’s neoliberal climate—where meritocracy is often supplanted by market-driven competitiveness—Orwell’s vision resonates more than ever, serving as both prophecy and warning.

Similarly, Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale deconstructs patriarchal utopias and projects a feminist dystopia in which technology and religious fundamentalism converge to suppress autonomy. Atwood’s speculative feminism anticipates a world where technological advancement paradoxically re-inscribes gender hierarchies, a theme explored by theorists such as Haraway in her Cyborg Manifesto. Through her narrative, Atwood speculates not only on the dangers of authoritarian control but also on the fragility of feminist progress in an age dominated by technocapitalism.

A third major example, Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude, illustrates another dimension of speculation through magical realism, a mode that collapses the boundaries between the real and the fantastical. In creating the fictional town of Macondo, Márquez reconstructs a mythic history of humanity—one where time, memory, and destiny intertwine. His narrative suggests that human beings continually attempt to build utopias, yet remain trapped by cyclical failures born of history and experience. As Fredric Jameson observes, such magical-realist works offer a “symbolic resolution to real contradictions,” allowing readers to engage with the dream of an alternative order while recognizing the inevitability of human limitation.

In essence, speculative literature functions as both imaginative liberation and critical reflection. It provides an aesthetic escape from the oppressive realities of the world, while simultaneously inviting readers to critique those very realities through estranged, visionary perspectives. By transporting human consciousness from the confines of empirical experience into the expansive realm of possibility, speculative literature restores to the reader a sense of agency and wonder. Ultimately, it is not merely a literary genre but a philosophical act of resistance—a creative assertion that imagination remains the most powerful antidote to despair.