Can South Asian Prison Literature Contribute to the Global Literary Heritage?

Abstract

This study examines the importance of South Asian prison writings by Benazir Bhutto, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with a focus on how they have evolved due to their resistance, psychological resilience, socio-political commentary, and colonial andpostcolonial struggles. According to postcolonial theory, trauma theory and Marxist theory, the research involves a qualitative and comparative thematic approach. The study also compares these South Asian prison literatures with globally accepted writing such as Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela, to examine the global significance of these writings. The findings explore South Asian prison literature is very crucial for global literary canon because of the exploration powerful themes, history and culture. Moreover, it highlights imprisonment as a place for introspection, transformation and enhancing ideologies to resist against oppression.