Restructuring Belief System for Environmental Harmony: An Ecological study of Banu Mushtaq’s The Heart Lamp

Abstract

The present article shed lights on how the framed belief system in society threatens the ecological sustainability. There is a necessity to collapse and rebuild the belief system which disguised as tradition and moral value to dominate the others. Despite of technological advancements and scientific revolution, the age old oppression still exists to the minorities. In Heart lamp Banu Mushtaq exposes how the rigidly constructed society disrupts the hormonal structure of sustainable future. The short story Heart lamp illuminates the hidden gapes that create the disparity between oppressed victim and dominating society. It reflects the ways of belief system that suppress women in terms of religion, caste and gender. With reference to Althusser’s Ideological apparatus, people tend to be cooperated with belief system by the fear of social rejection, ridicule and isolation. When it comes for the environmental concerns, the belief system paves the way for disharmonies and restless society. The protagonist of the short story resemble the womanhood of Muslim minority and the ecological collapse that occurs through the belief system which exploits nature. When care and compassion are being the root of human nature, the framed ideologies act in favour of powerful group that neglects the vulnerable group remains silent. The inequality among the minorities especially among Muslim Women disrupts the union and rhythm of life which is the base for ecological sustainability. Neglecting potential and freedom of women using the imposed rules reflects the reality of the broken society that questions the sustainability. To maintain the ecological balance in a society, people should critique and challenge the existing narrow principles which lays the foundation for powerful versus powerless, voiced versus voiceless. Here, the author speaks for the silenced women of her community.