edward said’s orientalism: is it still alive today in the

International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research Volume 11, Issue 10, October-2020 760

ISSN 2229-5518

IJSER © 2020

http://www.ijser.org

Edward Said’s Orientalism: Is it still alive today in the contemporary world?

Md.Tajul Islam

(Undergraguate Student, Department of Public Administration, Comilla University)

Key Words

Orientalism, Bangladesh, West, East, Western, Eastern, Edward W. Said's

ABSTRACT

The article carries informaton about current situation of Orientalism. Especially in the context of Edward W, Said's book Orientalism, the living conditions in Orientalism are discussed. How the West has been exploiting the East since prehistoric period and clonial period, it has been aptly discussed. Moreever, there is a clear idia that current Orientlism exists. In fact this research article has been written based on book reviews. Although there was a lack of information on Orientalism, attempts have been made to provide more information than others articles.

Introduction

Orientalism is discussed and criticized concept in the world. Perhaps this is one of the most misun-

derstood. Famous scholar Edward W. Sad's write a book about orientalism that books names "Orien-

talism". The book Orientalism first published in the UK, 1978. In this book Edward W. Said's highlight

the difference between Eastern and Western from real life experience. It is one of the most important

works in the intellectual history of Orientalism. Since the colonial period Europeans have thought

that they are better than East and the East inferior to the West. Actually this division policy of the Eu-

ropeans is not limited to imagination. In a far reaching way Europeans spread this partition thought

policy, in the culture of Oriental, literature, state system, political issues and so on sectors. In his book

Orientalism, Edward W Said's tries to show that what the West knows about the East is wrong.

Main Body

The book of Orientalism, Edward Said's said about Orientalism that "Orientalism is a way of seeing

that imagines, emphasizes, exaggerates and distorts differences of Arab peoples and culture as com-

pared to that of Europe and U.S. It often involves seeing Arab culture as toxic, backward, uncivilized,

and at time dangerous." (Said's, 1985). Westerners believe in their minds that they are better than

Eastern so they will rule the East. Depending on the Psychological thought, various scholars have

presented Orientalism in the different ways. Edward W. Said's one of the most. As the West imagined

the Arab-Islamic world with the Oriental system, Edward W. Said's has tried to have an open discus-

IJSER

http://www.ijser.org/


ISSN 2229-5518

IJSER © 2020


sion. Not to prevent the problems of this region, he was extremely aware about it.

There is disagreement among scholar to the origin and structure of Orientalism. During the colonial

period, the Westerners maintained power to rule the East by force. Yet in different countries, places

the East cannot save from the black hand of the West. Someone may or may not be involved in the

debate over the presence of Orintalism. When one part exploits the others parts in a planned manner,

the exploiting class shifts the responsibility of exploitation. When we read a scholar books, basically

we read his mind and thought that he want to establish his thought in the world. Actually Oriental-

ism is a complex equation, domination and power within the East-West. Edward W. Said's mentioned

a perticullar date about primarily origin of Orientalism. Academically or primarily Orientalism start

in 1322, when establish special Chair like Arabic, Hibru, Serio etc, in Vienna Charles Council. (Said's,

1985). They have to try known the East through this. Westerners say they are own entity and they are

able to do everything on their own but the East is different from them. Not only that, in the West they

thought they are hard working, in the East they are so lazy. People in East are black, they are white.

People in the West understand culture, people in the East do not understand. So need to know about

East. It is from this point of view that Orientals originated.

If anyone asks, does Orientalism still exist in the world? The simple answer is that Orientalism still

exists. From time immemorial, the West has spread among us in a way that still exists. Not only that,

the people of the East are so influenced by the Orientalism that they cannot get out of Orientalism.

Having lived with this inequality for a long time, the people of the East have mistakely considered

Orientalism as their own. Orientalism is still alive on the earth through the occupation of Egypt by

the West, the Vietnam Crisis, the Palestine -Israel Crisis, the declaration of Palestine as the province or

capital of Israel by the United States, and so on. One of the most proofs of the existence of Oriental-

ism- the forcible occupation of the eastern lands by the West, their attempts to control them by setting

up military bases.

Edward W. Said's said something about India and the subcontinent in his books Orientalism, but not

much about Bangladesh in Orientalism books. Analyzing from a neutral and subtle point of view, the

existing condition of Orientalism can also be observed in Bangladesh. Not only Bangladesh but also

whole Eastern countries affected by the Orientalism concepts. Once upon a time colonialism was ex-

isted, but now it is dead. Orientalism that was 40 years ago has now changed its form. At one time the

West used to occupy us and exercise power, now they do not occupy us, they do not oppress us, but

we accept their Orientalism concept. From educational institutions to government policy, to academic

IJSER



ISSN 2229-5518

IJSER © 2020


lectures or policy, Western meditation, concepts are alive and well.

If we just look at Bangladesh, we will see that Orientalism is living in healthy way here. Despite the

fact that most of people here are Muslims, in this country, most of the laws, rules, and regulations are

British or Westerns style. But it was supposed to be different, racially or religiously we should have

followed Islamic Sharia. If this continues, the nation will soon face a great crisis. We should come out

of the westerns boundaries. Otherwise the dark path in front of the East.

Conclusion

Orientalism recognizes the dominance of others over oneself by influencing people's worldly thinnking. As a result of this domination, one part is formed by applying pressure, the other part begins to bear the pressure. Respect from Orientalism for Orientalism is growing worlwide. On the others hand, a neutral social system is disappearing from the world. It is difficult to escape the black hand of Orientalism. Edward W. SAid's Oriental-isn can be a solution way in this regard.

Acknowledgment

First of all, I thank my God who has given me the grace to do that article. I got the topic research article from my respected teacher Dr. Mashiur Rahman (PhD) in the subject of "Sociology of Administration" which was part of the academic performance for me. This article is from writing to publication, my onarable teacher Krishna Kumar Saha and elder brother Harun Ar Rashid Mamun has cooperated with utmost sincerity. I'm grateful to them.

References

[1] Said's, E. W. (1985). Orientalism Wester Conceptions of the Orient. New Delhi: The Penguin Group.

[2] "Middle East studies Network in the United States:, MERIP Reports (June 1975: 5.

[3] H. A. R. Gibb "Literature" in The Legacy of Islam, ed. Thomas Arnold and Alfred Guillaume (Oxford: Clarendom Press, Publishers, 1972).

[4] Antonio Gramsci, The Prison Notebooks: Selection, Trans, and ed.

[5] M. H. Abrams, Natural Supernaturalism: Tradition and Revelation in Romantic Literature (New York: W. W. Norton &

Co., 1971). P. 66.

IJSER


edward said’s orientalism: is it still alive today in the

Documents