Student Number

25314

Degree

Master of Science in Development Studies

Department

Department of Economics

School

School of Economics and Social Sciences (SESS)

Date of Submission

Fall 12-5-2024

Supervisor

Dr. Sahar Nadeem

Committee Member 1

Dr. Noman Ahmed

Keywords

Migration, Trauma, Post-Colonial, Identity, Resilience

Abstract

The intangible component of history is often removed from the larger narrative, lost in translation, and blurred between the lines of nationhood and ethnicity. Such is the story of the people belonging to the Pakistani Bengali Community. The post-colonial condition of their existence has given them an identity crisis. This exploratory research investigates the navigation of the everyday life of these people within the confines of Machar Colony and Ibrahim Hyderi. The migrant trauma that persists due to their status as undocumented citizens directly impacts their quality of life and access to opportunities, which further plunges them into the cycle of poverty and crime while exposing them to state violence. The intersectional lens identifies the gendered division and highlights the vulnerability of women. Through interviews and field observation of the community, the research scrutinizes the role of culture, and language in shaping the Bengali identity in Pakistan and analyzes the capacity of social mobilization under the framework of resilience. The findings showcase a contextual element of trauma that does not fully adhere to the principles of established literature which focuses on the role of native language and culture in shaping resilience. In contrast, the results advocate their association with the Pakistani culture and the need to be accepted as the rightful citizen of Pakistan.

Submission Type

Thesis

Document Type

Restricted Access

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