Knowing and 'Feeling' the Past

‘‘I feel like the Emperor Babur.’’  [133]

And so begins one of the passages discussed in class. The passage which I am referring to (which spans from the very end of 133 to page 134) was discussed in relation to its bearing on Aziz’s affiliation with a larger Muslim-Mughal identity. However, there is much more to be extracted from this verbal exchange between Aziz and Adela; especially their differing perceptions of (and connections to) historical knowledge.

Adela inquires why Aziz feels like Babur in reply to which he narratives a historical account of his family – ‘’Because my ancestors came down with him from Afghanistan’’ [133]. Aziz forges a connection with the Mughal past that is highly personal – through the family. His familial lineage and its supposed association with the very first of the Mughal emperor allow him enough legitimacy to ‘feel’ like the Emperor himself. It also allows him to speak with confidence on these historical personalities; listing characteristics and examples of these traits. There is an indication that Aziz has received this knowledge through oral accounts of the aforementioned ancestors.    

Adela’s reply is equally interesting and I will replicate it here in the fullest;

"I thought another Emperor is your favourite – I forget the name – you mentioned him at Mr Fielding’s: what my book calls Aurgangzebe.’’ [134]

Adela, at once, contradicts and challenges this very personal connection that Aziz has made by questioning 

his choice of a ‘favourite’.  Instead, she invokes the best friend of the liberal colonial – the book.  For Adela, the source of knowledge is the history book which represents the standardization and rationalization of knowledge. It has none of the intimacy and affiliation with the past that is typical of the oral story-telling tradition that Aziz subscribes to. Adela’s reply can be seen under the larger framework of the colonial encounter; an attempt to challenge and replace personal narratives of native history and identity with a standardized history. Their differing sources of historical knowledge also impact their very connection with the past – Aziz’s personal sources allow him to ‘feel’ at one with historical personalities. Adela, meanwhile, has trouble remembering the name of the Emperor and seems hesitant when she invokes figures of the past – ‘‘what my book calls’’ [134].