Autobiography and Woman Empowerment: Tehmina Durrani’s My Feudal Lord

Abstract

Autobiography has become an ideal vehicle to convey women’s issues and experiences. This genre is also chosen by women to express their deference and resistance. This paper critically examines the autobiography of Tehmina Durrani ‘My feudal Lord’. Durrani’s biography throws light on the institution of marriage and family that are thoroughly embedded in cultural practices. It is a regular biography following a chronological order and the last part brings out the changes occurring in her personality. The author blames patriarchy, feudalism and cultural norms for women’s oppression. Therefore, Durrani acts to discover herself when she decides to reject a life with a husband who mistreats and degrades her. Under terrible pressures, she struggles to become independent and pushes through to regain self-esteem and living fulfilment. By writing about her own life, Durrani has not only challenged the prescribed behavioural patterns but also gives vent to her angered feelings and finally comes out of the long silence indicating that she has an agency to confess and protest.