Edward Said: A trembler of Western discourse

As the Palestinian authority seeks recognition of its statehood in the UN, the global community commemorates the eighth anniversary of the passing of Edward Said, who Robert Fisk characterized as Palestine's most influential political figure. Said was a staunch advocate of the 'one-state solution'. In 1979, he authored 'The Question of Palestine'. Said's political trajectory transitioned from that of a disinterested observer to an active participant, culminating with the Israeli-Arab War of 1967. From 1977 to 1991, he served as an autonomous member of the Palestine National Council. In 1991, he resigned from the council and continued his advocacy for Palestine as an independent critic. His most powerful tool was his ability to articulate his thoughts and ideas. Dialogue is a crucial and unavoidable component of Palestine's pursuit and endeavour for statehood. On this momentous day of the Palestinian bid, we are commemorating Said.

 

Edward W. Said, a Palestinian-American, was born in Jerusalem on November 1, 1935, and passed away on September 25, at the age of 67, in New York. In the year of Said's death, I encountered my initial encounter with him through an article penned by Prof. Dr. Sirajul Islam Chowdhury in the literary supplement of a Bengali newspaper. Only then did I discover Said's identity as an English literary character rather than being associated with any one language or nation? One year after his demise, I became acquainted with his revolutionary publication 'Orientalism' (1978) for the first time during my first year at the University of Dhaka. Unexpectedly, my pals, including Mujibor Rahman, who is pursuing an M. Phil degree at Delhi University, stumbled into a discreet admirer of Said-Foej Alom, a poet and postcolonial intellectual in Bengali literature.

 

Poet Alom demonstrated his determination to translate Said's highly influential work, 'Orientalism', into Bengali to communicate Said's ideas to audiences in Bangladesh. Following this release, the practices and studies of Said's literature established a strong foundation in this country.

 

Allow me to explain the significance of Said, regardless of any specific language or nation. Said is regarded as a trailblazer in postcolonial thought. Postcolonial philosophy encompasses more than just literature. This philosophical perspective is relevant to various fields of study, such as language, sociology, physics, history, painting, architecture, agriculture, and more. Postcolonial ideology motivates us to thrive based on our cultural heritage. It encourages individuals to overcome the long-standing effects of colonialism. It enables you to ascertain the authenticity of your tradition, literature, culture, and prevailing mindset throughout the pre-colonial era. It reveals how the colonialists caused significant distortions in these areas during colonial control. Postcolonial philosophy emphasizes the need to reclaim and preserve one's traditions from the influence of colonial distortions. Post-colonialism emerged after the publication of Said's 'Orientalism'. This movement delivered another significant impact following the disruption caused by Postmodernism in Western epistemology. However, numerous postcolonial philosophers argue that Said's work 'Orientalism' initiated the initial epistemic rupture in Western discourse.

 

Ngugi wa Thiong'o and Chinua Achebe, both hailing from Africa, as well as Ashis Nandy, Ranajit Guha, and Partha Chatterjee from India, along with Benedict Anderson, Bill Ashcroft, Gareth Griffiths, and Helen Tiffin from Europe, made significant contributions to the field of post-colonialism based on their perspectives and expertise. In Bangladesh, Foej Alom, Saymon Jakaria, Selim Al Deen, and S M Sultan were highly conscious in their use of post-colonialism in poetry, play, and painting, respectively.

 

Said's second significant publication is 'Covering Islam' (1981). This book examines the deliberate portrayal of Islam as a religion associated with terrorism by Western media. This is how Western media portrays Islam. This book also highlights the prevailing friction between the Eastern and Western regions about Islam, fundamental terrorism, and related matters.

 

Said's initial publication, Joseph Conrad and the Fiction of Autobiography (Harvard University Press, 1966), focused on an author with whom he perceived a sense of affinity. Originally from Poland, Conrad embarked on global travels and acquired proficiency in English later in life. In the subsequent year, Israel emerged victorious over the collective military of many Arab nations in the Six-Day War, which catalyzed Said's burgeoning political awareness. His literary works comprise 'The World, the Text, and the Critic' (1983) and 'Culture and Imperialism' (1992). He was said to have expressed strong support for the independence of Palestinians. He has authored several subsequent works on the topic of Palestinians' right to self-determination, including 'The Question of Palestine' (1979), 'The Politics of Dispossession: The Struggle for Palestinian Self-Determination' (1994), and 'End of the Peace Process: Oslo and After' (2000). He expressed strong disapproval of the former US foreign policy towards the Middle East, particularly the policy of 'war on terror'. He was referred to as the 'professor of terror' by a US-based magazine for assuming this role. Explosive devices were deliberately aimed at his office at the institution. Fortunately, Said was able to avoid the situation by being absent. Said exemplifies the archetype of a public intellectual. He authored a book and actively engaged in numerous civic endeavours. On the occasion of the eighth anniversary of his passing, I offer my sincerest homage.

This article was appeared on 26th September, 2011 in the Daily Sun.