IQBAL AS THE VICTIM OF POVERTY PORTRAYED IN FRANCESCO D’ADAMO’S “IQBAL”
A THESIS
BY:
RENATHA SIBARANI REG. NO. 110705051
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH FACULTY OF CULTURAL STUDIES UNIVERSITY OF SUMATERA UTARA
IQBAL AS THE VICTIM OF POVERTY PORTRAYED IN FRANCESCO D’ADAMO’S “IQBAL”
A THESIS
BY
RENATHA SIBARANI REG. NO. 110705051
SUPERVISOR CO-SUPERVISOR
Dr. Siti Norma Nasution,M.Hum. Drs. Siamir Marulafau M.Hum
NIP. 195707201983032001 NIP. 195612141986012001
Submitted to Faculty of Cultural Studies University of Sumatra Utara Medan in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Sarjana Sastra from Department of
English
Approved by the Department of English, Faculty of Cultural Studies University of Sumatra Utara (USU) Medan as thesis for The Sarjana Sastra Examination.
Head, Secretary,
Dr. H. Muhizar Muchtar, MS. Rahmadsyah Rangkuti, M.A., Ph.D.
Accepted by the Board of Examiners in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Sarjana Sastra from the Department of English, Faculty of Cultural Studies University of Sumatra Utara,Medan.
The examination is held in Department of English Faculty of Cultural Studies University of Sumatra Utara on Thursday April 16, 2015
Dean of Faculty of Cultural Studies University of Sumatra Utara
Dr.H.Syahron Lubis, MA NIP.19511013 197603 1 001
Board of Examiners
Dr. H. Muhizar Muchtar, MS. ………..
Rahmadsyah Rangkuti, M.A., Ph.D. ……….. Dr. Siti Norma Nasution, M.Hum. ………..
Dr. Martha Pardede, M.S. ………..
AUTHOR’S DECLARATION
I, RENATHA SIBARANI DECLARE THAT I AM THE SOLE AUTHOR OF THIS THESIS EXCEPT WHERE REFERENCE IS MADE IN THE TEXT OF THIS THESIS. THIS THESIS CONTAINS NO MATERIAL, PUBLISHED ELSEWHERE OR EXTRACTED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FROM A THESIS BY WHICH I HAVE QUALIFIED FOR OR AWARDED ANOTHER DEGREE, NO OTHER’S WORK HAS BEEN USED WITHOUT DUE ACKNOWLWDGMWNTS IN THE MAIN TEXT OF THIS THESIS, THIS THESIS HAS NOT BEEN SUBMITTED FOR THE AWARDS OF ANOTHER DEGREE IN ANY TERTIARY EDUCATION
Signed:
COPYRIGHT DECLARATION
NAME : RENATHA SIBARANI
TITLE OF THESIS : IQBAL AS THE VICTIM OF POVERTY PORTRAYED IN FRANCESCO D’ADAMO’S “IQBAL”
QUALIFICATION : S-1/SARJANA SASTRA
DEPARTMENT : ENGLISH
I AM WILLING THAT MY THESIS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR REPRODUCTION AT THE DISRECTION OF THE LIBRARIAN OF DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH, FACULTY OF CULTURAL STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF SUMATRA UTARA ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT USERS ARE MADE AWARE OF THEIR OBLIGATION UNDER THE LAW OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First and foremost, Praise The Lord, in the name of my saviour Jesus Christ. I would like to thank God for His blessing and His guidance in my life. Thank God for giving me ability, guidance, patience, spirit and wise so I can complete this thesis as one of the requirements to get Scholar Certificate in English Department, Faculty of Cultural Studies, University of Sumatera Utara.
On this occasion, I would like to express my best and deepest gratitude is due to my great family. My beloved father, R. Sibarani and my beloved mother, A.R Ambarita, Spd, who always give me love, care, and support. I love you both Mom and Dad. My special thanks for my lovely grandmother, Alm, Timoria Siregar for all of your motivations to me at the past. My huge thanks for my beloved aunties and uncle, Ir. Bertha Sibarani and Ester Sibarani, Amd, and Lambertus Philips Sibarani, SE, for always giving me love and care during my life. I thank you also to my brother, Andreas Sibarani and my little sister, Cindy Kristania Sibarani. Then, I thank you to all of Ambarita and Sibarani’s family members.
I also would like to express a very special gratitude and high appreciation to my Supervisor, Dr. Siti Norma Nasution, M.Hum, and my Co-Supervisor Drs. Siamir Marulafau, M.Hum for their willingness and assistances to guide me in writing and complete this thesis.
Further, I also would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to the Dean od Faculty of Cultural Studies, University of Sumatera Utara, Dr. Drs. Syahron Lubis, M.A., the Head of English Department, Dr. H. Muhizar Muchtar, M.S., and the Secretary of English Department, Mr. Rahmadsyah Rangkuti, M.A., Ph.D and to all lecturers of English Department for everything they already taught me during my academic years.
I would like to give a heap thank to all my best friends since my childhood, Dian Lingga, Novita Sianipar, Putri Silitonga, Betty Situmorang, and Santi Pakpahan for become my sister and all your prayer to my life. I thank you for your support that never end, I never forget about our sisterhood. I thank you to an auntie, Berliana Siahaan for your motivation and a bible’s verse that always reminds me to give thank to Jesus. I also thank you to my craziest sister, Christin Aurelia for always willing to do some crazies things and listen to all of my problems. I give my thanks to my little family in church, Anita Gultom, Andro Panjaitan, Frans Manullang, Heber Sianipar, Nora Panjaitan, Sabam Sibarani and others. For the last, my huge thanks for my moodbooster, Fedrik Steven Manullang. I am really grateful for being a part all of you.
Finally, I hope this thesis will be beneficial for all the readers. I realize this thesis is still far from being perfect and I welcome constructive criticism and sugestion. May God Almighty bless us all. Amen
Medan, 21 March 2015
The Writer
Renatha Sibarani
ABSTRAK
Skripsi berjudul “Iqbal As The Victim Of Poverty Portrayed In Francesco D’adamo’s Iqbal” berisi kajian mengenai masalah kemiskinan dan eksploitasi anak yang terjadi di Pakistan pada tahun 1980 yang digambarkan oleh Francesco D’adamo didalam novelnya yang berjudul Iqbal. Iqbal merupakan salah satu novel yang menentang exploitasi anak di Pakistan. Tujuan utama dari analisis ini adalah untuk menggambarkan situasi kemiskinan dan eksploitasi anak di Pakistan. Analisis ini juga bertujuan untuk menemukan hubungan antara kemiskinan dan eksploitasi anak yang terjadi di Pakistan. Metode yang digunakan dalam menganalisis masalah adalah metode deskriptif. Buku yang digunakan untuk menganalisis masalah dalam skripsi ini dikutip dari buku Theory of Literature (1956) oleh Wellek dan Warren. Penulis juga menggunakan pendekatan sejarah untuk menemukan beberapa informasi pendukung yang tidak disebutkan didalam novel yang dikutip dari buku Sociology of Literature and Drama: Selected Readings oleh Elizabeth and Tom Burns. Hasil analisis menunjukan bahwa kemiskinan sangat berpengaruh dalam eksploitasi anak. Kemiskinan merupakan akar dari eksploitasi anak.
ABSTRACT
The thesis that titled "Iqbal As The Victim Of Poverty Portrayed In Francesco D’adamo’s
Iqbal" examines about the issue of poverty and child labour that occurred in Pakistan in 1980
portrayed in Francesco D'adamo’s Iqbal. Iqbal is one of the novels that opposes child labour
in Pakistan. The main objective of this analysis is to describe the situation of poverty and
child labour in Pakistan. This analysis also aims to find the relationship between poverty and
child labour that happened in Pakistan. The method that used in analyzing the problem is
descriptive method. The book that used to analyze the problem in this thesis is quoted from
the book of Theory of Literature (1956) by Wellek and Warren. The author also uses
historical approach to find some informations that is not mentioned in the novel. It is quoted
from the Sociology of Literature and Drama: Selected Readings by Elizabeth and Tom
Burns. The result of the analysis shows that poverty very affects to the child labour. Poverty
is the root of child labour.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
AUTHOR’S DECLARATION ... v
COPYRIGHT DECLARATION ... vi
ACKNOWLEDGMENT ... vii
ABSTRAK ... viii
ABSTRACT ... ix
TABLE OF CONTENTS ... x
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ... 1
1.1 Background of the Analysis ... 1
1.2 Problems of the Analysis ... 6
1.3 Objectives of the Analysis ... 6
1.4 Scope of the Analysis... 7
1.5 Significance of the Analysis ... 7
CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE ... 8
2.1 Sociology of Literature ... 8
2.2 Novel and Society ... 9
2.3 Historical Approach ... 11
2.4 Poverty ... 12
2.5 Child Labour ... 13
2.6 Socio-Economic Factors Related to Child Labour ... 15
2.7 Relationship between Chilf Labour, Family Income and Education ... 18
2.8.1 Poverty in Pakistan ... 20
2.8.2 Child Labour in Pakistan ... 22
CHAPTER III METHOD OF RESEARCH ... 25
3.1 Research Design... 25
3.2 Data Collection ... 28
3.3 Data Analysis ... 28
CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS AND FINDING ... 29
4.1 The Potrayal of Poverty in Iqbal ... 29
4.2 The Potrayal of Child Labour in Iqbal ... 36
4.2.1 The Exploitation of Children in Iqbal ... 41
4.2.2 The Physical Abuse Suffered by the Children in Iqbal 42 4.2.3 The Mental Abuse Suffered by the Children in Iqbal 43 4.2.4 Isolation in Iqbal ... 44
4.2.5 The Presence of Bonded Labor Liberation Front Pakistan in Iqbal ... 46
4.3 The Connection between Poverty and Child Labour ... 50
4.5 Finding ... 52
CHAPTER V CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION ... 54
5.1 Conclusion ... 54
5.2 Suggestion ... 55
REFERENCES ... 60
APPENDICES: SUMMARY, MALALA YOUSAFAI’S SPEECH Appendix I Francesco D’Adamo’s Biography Summary of Iqbal... xii
ABSTRAK
Skripsi berjudul “Iqbal As The Victim Of Poverty Portrayed In Francesco D’adamo’s Iqbal” berisi kajian mengenai masalah kemiskinan dan eksploitasi anak yang terjadi di Pakistan pada tahun 1980 yang digambarkan oleh Francesco D’adamo didalam novelnya yang berjudul Iqbal. Iqbal merupakan salah satu novel yang menentang exploitasi anak di Pakistan. Tujuan utama dari analisis ini adalah untuk menggambarkan situasi kemiskinan dan eksploitasi anak di Pakistan. Analisis ini juga bertujuan untuk menemukan hubungan antara kemiskinan dan eksploitasi anak yang terjadi di Pakistan. Metode yang digunakan dalam menganalisis masalah adalah metode deskriptif. Buku yang digunakan untuk menganalisis masalah dalam skripsi ini dikutip dari buku Theory of Literature (1956) oleh Wellek dan Warren. Penulis juga menggunakan pendekatan sejarah untuk menemukan beberapa informasi pendukung yang tidak disebutkan didalam novel yang dikutip dari buku Sociology of Literature and Drama: Selected Readings oleh Elizabeth and Tom Burns. Hasil analisis menunjukan bahwa kemiskinan sangat berpengaruh dalam eksploitasi anak. Kemiskinan merupakan akar dari eksploitasi anak.
ABSTRACT
The thesis that titled "Iqbal As The Victim Of Poverty Portrayed In Francesco D’adamo’s
Iqbal" examines about the issue of poverty and child labour that occurred in Pakistan in 1980
portrayed in Francesco D'adamo’s Iqbal. Iqbal is one of the novels that opposes child labour
in Pakistan. The main objective of this analysis is to describe the situation of poverty and
child labour in Pakistan. This analysis also aims to find the relationship between poverty and
child labour that happened in Pakistan. The method that used in analyzing the problem is
descriptive method. The book that used to analyze the problem in this thesis is quoted from
the book of Theory of Literature (1956) by Wellek and Warren. The author also uses
historical approach to find some informations that is not mentioned in the novel. It is quoted
from the Sociology of Literature and Drama: Selected Readings by Elizabeth and Tom
Burns. The result of the analysis shows that poverty very affects to the child labour. Poverty
is the root of child labour.
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Analysis
The problem of child labour or children exploitation are the phenomenon that still
happens until now. The problem of child labour is one of the social problems caused by
poverty. Millions of children, especially in Pakistan and India, work in factories to make
carpets, mud bricks, beedis (cigarettes), jewelry, and clothing. The statistics show that about
250 million child workers exist in the age group of 5-14 all over the world. A recent survey
conducted by International Labour Organization (ILO) states that out of these 61 percent are
in Asia, 32 percent in Africa and 7 percent in Latin America.
India and Pakistan have the largest number of child laboures. It is also true that child
labour in India and Pakistan are more of a rural phenomenon with more than 90 percent
children are working in agricultural and allied activities in the villages. Of those, almost
three-quarters work in hazardous situations or conditions, such as working in mines, working
with chemicals and pesticides in agriculture or working with dangerous machinery. They are
toiling everywhere as domestic servants in homes, laboring behind the walls of workshops,
being hidden from view in plantations. Millions of girls work as domestic servants and
unpaid household help and are especially vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. Millions of
others work under horrific circumstances. They may be trafficked, forced into debt bondage
or other forms of slavery, into prostitution and pornography, into participating in armed
conflict or other illicit activities. Poverty and child labour conditions in Pakistan are clearly
Iqbal is a novel based on the true story of a Pakistan child slave named Iqbal Masih.
Iqbal is written by Francesco D’adamo in french, which takes place in Pakistan. Iqbal is
translated by Ann Leonari into English. Iqbal novel portrays the Pakistan children’s life in
1980 which was occupied with depiction of poverty and commencement to being labours
towards the children themselves.
The novel Iqbal is narrated through the eyes of a young female slave named Fatima,
who works with Iqbal at the carpet factory, which is also known as a carpet weaver. She
reveals the terrible reality of being a child slave in Pakistan, working long hours, crammed
into a dark, dingy and humid room with no fresh air, with dozen of other young child slaves.
The children do not attend school. Instead, they are thrust into the life of an adult, working
more than 12 hours a day in appalling conditions. Children are abused and their childhoods
are lost, imprisoned by cruel sweatshop owners.
Iqbal is the representation of other children who exploited by the moneylender and
industrialist in Pakistan. Fatima, Maria, Salman and others who work together with Iqbal in
the Hussain Khan’s carpet weaver, are also exploited by Hussain Khan in the carpet weaver.
Iqbal’s name become the symbol of the battle to liberate millioms of children throughout the
world from violence and slavery.
Iqbal Masih was sold by his father to the carpet weaver to pay off his family debt.
Iqbal spent 6 years worked in the Hussain Khan’s carpet weaver. He was made to work seven
days a week, at least 14 hours a day, tying millions of knots to make the intricate carpet
designs. His growth was stunted from lack of proper food and his back became permanently
curved from bending to the loom. His hands were scarred and callused, his fingers gnarled
When he was 10 years old, Iqbal was freed by the Bonded Labor Liberation Front.
Then, he went to school, and completed four years of work in just two years. Iqbal became an
outspoken advocate for other child slaves, becoming involved in demonstrations and
speaking at meetings all over the world about his experiences as a child laborer. He even
went undercover, pretended to be a factory worker, so he could interview children about their
working conditions. In 1994, Iqbal won the Reebok Human Rights Award for his efforts to
help free other bonded child laborers. His growing popularity and influence caused him to
receive numerous death threats. In 1995, when he was just 13 years old, Iqbal was shot to
death in the streets, some people think it is caused by his political activities.
Pakistan in the 1980s, in which poverty had struck the Pakistan’s society at the time.
Poverty was able to change the life and morals of Pakistan’s society. There were a lot of
young men who were unemployment. Most people who were trapped in debt to survive.
Children also became victims of poverty as a social problem that was caused by economic
factor. Most of children were sold to some factories by their parents in order to pay off their
debt. Children had to work like men and women. Children could not go to school to get an
education. All of the Pakistan children’s situation and condition are portrayed through Iqbal
life story.
For what happened in Pakistan in 1980, it still continues up to this day. Malala
Yousafzai has proved this through her speech which led her into the Nobel Peace Prize.
Malala Yousafzai is the youngest person who achieves the Nobel Peace Prize. She is a
children and women activist who was shot by someone. She dedicates the award she got for
all children who need education. In her speech, she states that many children in the world do
not have access to gain education because of poverty. She also described the children’s
situation in some countries, like Pakistan. Most of children can not get qualified education
send them into a factory as children worker. Then, Malala speaks up for children and woman
rights. Through Malala’s speech, the writer becomes more confident and believe that poverty
and child labour (children exploitation) are really good topics to discuss.
Phenomenon that occurred in Pakistan during 1980s was portrayed in a novel. A
novel is normally a prose work of quite some length and complexity which attempts to reflect
and express something of the equality or value of human experience or conduct (Taylor
1981:46). Most of novels deal with people and their social life’s problem. Novel is also an
account of life which can be related to mythical stories, historical events, social occurences,
philosophical ideas, biographical elements, or religious doctrines. It is as Elizabeth Burns and
Tom Burns (1973: 35) mention in the Sociology of Literature and Drama: Selected Readings
that:
The form and content of the novel derive more closely from social phenomenon than do those of other arts, except perhaps cinema: novels often seem bound up with particular moments in the history of society.
The problem that is found in Iqbal novel is the social problems of Pakistan children in
1980s. It is about child labour as the impact of poverty on children. Child labour is a kind of
exploitation of children. Child has to work for a long time in order to help their family’s
income. Conconsequently, children are not only deprived of their dignity but also their
freedom to play, and their scope to develop physically, mentally and emotionally is lost. It is
as Pramila H. Bhargava (2003:23) mentions in The Elimination of Chils Labour Whose
Responsibility? that:
The definition of child labour constitutes any act where children between the age of 5 and 14 years are directly or indirectly forced to work at home or outside it. As a consequence, children are not only deprived of their dignity but also their freedom to play, and their scope to develop physically, mentally and emotionally is lost.
As a part of society, children have to grow normally. Children must develop
walking, talking, writing, riding a bicycle and later having sexual relations are physically
children development. Mentally, children become capable of such activities as memorizing
poems, working out problems, imagining love scenes, and acquiring the knowledge necessary
to carry through a job. However, such lines of development in themselves are limited value in
explaining how someone functions in society. A child should also get a good socialization
process. Parents or family have an important role on children development. The family is the
first unit with which the child has continuous contact and the first context in which
socialization patterns develop. Parents should not involve their children into the family’s
economic problem as it is potential to damage the children’s mental and physic
Poverty and child labour are the main problems that will be analyzed in this thesis.
Child labour as the impact of poverty on children is a sociology term that is portrayed
through a novel. It is the reason why this thesis is a sociology of literature study. In order to
analyze all of social problems that occured in the Iqbal novel, Qualitative method is used in
this thesis. The qualitative method consists of research design, data collection and data
analysis. Library research and internet research are also supported in collecting the data. Text
and context approach are applied in data analyzing procedure. The context is historical
approach. The data that will be collected are some quotations. Then, the conclusion can be
made in this thesis.
Iqbal, which is portrayed Iqbal’s life story really influences the Pakistan children right
now. It is the reason why the life story of Iqbal is analyzed in this thesis. This thesis is made
to portray the Pakistan children’s life story as the victim of poverty. The previous line is the
reason which this thesis goes to the title as Iqbal as the Victim of Poverty Portrayed in
1.2 Problem of the Analysis
Problems that the writer would like to analyze are:
1. How poverty among Pakistan’s society is portrayed in Francesco D’Adamo’d novel,
Iqbal?
2. How child labour among Pakistan’s children is portrayed in Francesco D'Adamo’s
novel, Iqbal?
3. What is the connection between poverty with child labour as found in Francesco
D'Adamo’s novel, Iqbal?
1.3 Objective of the Study
There are three objectives that can be found in this thesis writing, that are:
1. To portray poverty among Pakistan’s society found in Francesco D'Adamo’s
novel, Iqbal
2. To portray child labor among the Pakistan’s children found in Francesco
D'Adamo’s novel, Iqbal
3. To explain the connection between poverty and child labour found in Francesco
D'Adamo’s novel, Iqbal
1.4 Scope of the Analysis
The study of Iqbal Novel will be confined by analyzing poverty and child labour. It
also analyses the connection between poverty and child labour that is found in Iqbal. It focus
on the Iqbal’s life story and other children who work together with Iqbal. Iqbal is badly
forced to work in a factory. Poverty and child labor are two main points which will be
analyzed in this thesis.
This thesis, analyzing novel Iqbal, is very useful for the readers who want to know
more about Pakistan children life in 1980s. There are two benefits of this thesis that are
theoretically benefits and practically benefits.
Theoretically, the study of this novel, Iqbal, is expected can give more informations,
an overview and understanding about poverty and child labor in Pakistan. In addition, the
readers can imagine how cruel the situation and condition at the time. Practically, this thesis
can be as a reference or as an additional reading material for those who are also interested in
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Sociology of Literature
Sociology of Literature is derived from the terms sociology and literature. Sociology
is derived from Greek word socious and logos. Socious means together, united, comrade,
friend and logos meaning word, speech and parable. In other meaning, socious means society
while logos means science or study. Thus, sociology basically means a science or study of
society.
Sociology is the science of associations of minds. It tries to explain the origin of
growth and structure of society. Sociology helps in understanding society, its various
institutions of human relationship and its manifestation of man's social interactions and
socialization. From the definitions above, it can be concluded that there are three views of
what sociology is i.e. sociology is the science of society, a study of social relationships and a
study of the form of social relationships.
Likewise sociology, literature is also dealing with human beings in society. Literature
is an important thing in the world. The word “literature” derives from Latin littera which
means letter. It has a very close relationship with human’ life. It reflects human’ life.
Literature also shows us about the real life without neglecting the nature and environment
which influences the writing. It is as Wellek and Warren (1956:94) mention in Theory of
Literature that:
inner or subjective world of the individual have also been object of literary ‘imitation’.
Sociology of literature is a branch of literary study that examines the relationships
between literary works and their social contexts, including patterns of literacy, kinds of
audience, modes of publication and dramatic presentation, and the social class positions of
authors and readers. It studies the social production of literature and its social implications.
Sociology of literature approach literature is th approach most widely practiced today.
This approach pays great attention to the documentary aspects of literature. Its basis is the
idea that literature is a miror of the time. The view assumes that literature is a direct mirror of
various social structures, familial relations, class conflict and others. In this case, the task of
the sociology of literature links the character’s situation with the historical
Some authors have tried to make the classification of sociology of literature problem
briefly. Wellek and Warren (1986:84) suggest the classification as follows; first, the author’s
sociology that questions the social status, social ideology, and others concerns the literary
work itself; which is the subject of the review that is implied in a literary author as producer.
Second, sociology of literature that questioned the literary work and what its purpose. Third,
the sociology of literature that questioned the readers and social influence of literary works.
2.2 Novel and Society
There are two kinds of writings. Kinds that are likely to be applied are prose and verse
but prose seems to be more typical to be used for it consists of ordinary grammatical
structures and speeches. Prose is also known as the least complicated literary genre. Novel is
one of its forms.
The term novel is a truncation of the Italian wor
prose work of quite some length and complexity which attempts to reflect and express
of novels are dealing with people and their social life’s problem. Novel is also an account of
life which may be related to mythical stories, historical events, social occurences,
philosophical ideas, biographical elements, or religious doctrines.
In the sociology of the novel, sociology is dealing with an art. Novel is really close to
the social phenomenon that happens in the society. It is as what Michel Zeraffa says (in
Burns and Burns 1973: 35), Sociology of Literature and Drama: Selected Readings that:
The form and content of the novel derive more closely from social phenomenon than do those of other arts, except perhaps cinema; novel often seem bound up with particular moments in the history of society.
Novel is a long fictional narrative work which somehow imitates the reality and might
have certain effects to readers. The rise of the novel is in 18th century. Authors at that time
created their literary works without following the traditional way that has been set. Before
18th century, the characters and the stories always came from the aristocrats. Nevertheless,
starting from this period, the characters and the stories started to come from the commoners
who possessed a more unique life.
Iqbal is a novel by Francesco D’adamo. It is based on the true story of a Pakistani
child slave named Iqbal Masih. It takes place in Pakistan in 1980. Iqbal novel portrays the
life of Pakistani children in 1980 which was occupied with depiction of poverty and
commencement to being labours towards the children themselves. There are some social
problems that is found in the Pakistan’s society as reflected in the novel. Poverty and child
labour are two main problems that is found in it. Through Iqbal novel, it is proved that novel
has a connection with society. Novel can reflect the human’ social life.
2.3 Historical Approach
A novel involves several distinct processes, which concerns with a particular human
history, which every novel attempts to interpret. The novel is directly concerned with the
nature of human’ situation in history, and with the direction in which that situation is to
move.
The name Balzac comes to symbolize the novel as the true esxpression of historical
and social reality. The novel’s reign as both representation of, and way of getting to know,
the history of society is soon broken off and contradicted by the novel’s emergence as an
aesthetic fact; it emerges as a work of art just when it is conceived as bound up, in substance
as well as form, with historical and social phenomenon. It is as Elizabeth Burns and Tom
Burns mention in the Sociology of Literature and Drama: Selected Readings (1973: 39),
that:
The historical development of the novel comprises two opposite tendencies:the novel was born and established itself as a genre on account of, and to account for, historical and social phenomena; it attained the status of art when it set it self over against them.
One of the approaches which is used in the analysis of Iqbal is historical approach. A
historical approach analyses literary work according to its history. It is based on the historical
set up of the time the work is done. In other words, historical approach is one of the
approaches to analyze literary work in which the author and the reader comprehend the
message of the literary work by remembering the historic moment along with the literary
work is written.
Historical approach explores the meaning and significance of language as what has
been written by the author. It considers the relevance of literary work as social document. In
other words, literary work is the reflection if the time it is written.
Historical approach is generally more relevant in the framework of the history of
traditional literature, the history of literature with the implication of authors, literary works,
Ratna (2004:66) in Teori, Metode, dan Teknik Penelitian Sastra, there are several objects of
targets of this approach based on the indicator of history and literature, they are:
1. Changes of the language of literary work as the result of republication.
2. The functions and purposes of literary work at the time it is published.
3. The position of author at the time of writing.
4. Literary work as the representation of its era.
2.4 Poverty
Poverty is a hot issue arround the world. According to Oxford Dictionary Fourth
Edition (2008), there are two defenitions of poverty, they are: (1) the state of being poor; (2)
a lack of something; poor quality.
Poverty is not only about having enough money to meet basic needs including food,
clothing and shelter. However, poverty is more, much more than just not having enough
money. The World Bank Organization describes poverty in this way:
“Poverty is hunger. Poverty is lack of shelter. Poverty is being sick and not being able to see a doctor. Poverty is not having access to school and not knowing how to read. Poverty is not having a job, is fear for the future, living one day at a time.
Poverty has many faces, changing from place to place and across time, and has been described in many ways. Most often, poverty is a situation people want to escape. So poverty is a call to action -- for the poor and the wealthy alike -- a call to change the world so that many more may have enough to eat, adequate shelter, access to education and health, protection from violence, and a voice in what happens in their communities.” (The World Bank 2010:1)
From the defenition of The World Bank Organization above, poverty is described as
the situation where there is no enough food and no place to live in. Poverty is also a situation
where there are many unemployment people and uneducated people. All people want to get
out of the poverty’s cycle. it is the reason why poverty needs action. An action that can
Poverty creates many problems such as child labour, prostitution, corruption, robbery,
increased unemployment, poor living conditions, malnutrition. Poverty influences children in
many social ways, for instance that malnutrition can affect health and education which in turn
may impact a child’s long term development.
The consequences of poverty and inequality are very significant for children. Children experience poverty differently from adults; they have specific and different needs. While an adult may fall into poverty temporarily, falling into poverty in childhood can last a lifetime – rarely does a child get a second chance at an education or a healthy start in life. Even short periods of food deprivation can impact children’s long-term development. If children do not receive adequate nutrition, they grow smaller in size and intellectual capacity, are more vulnerable to life threatening diseases, perform worse in school, and ultimately, are less likely to be productive adults. Child poverty threatens not only the individual child, but is likely to be passed on to future generations, entrenching and even exacerbating inequality in society. (Ortiz et al.2012:1)
Practically, poor people faces inadequate basic needs such as food, clothing, health
facilities etc. People who live below poverty line, live in sever housing conditions and poor
sanitary and hygienic conditions. Many of them live in slums or poor residential areas and
some of them lack hosing, health care and nutrition sufficiency. Although illiteracy is far
more prevalent among poor people, many of them lack education or they drop out of school
because of high cost of schooling. In general, poor people earn little and in such cases parents
are not able to take care of all the responsibilities of their children and they oblige their
children to work to increase household’s income.
2.5 Child Labour
Child labour has been a complex rural problem, as well with children helping out in
the farm with their families. The vast majority of child labour is involved in agriculture.
Generally, throughout the world rural children were more likely to be engaged in economic
labour activities compared to urban children, because poverty is more prevalent in rural areas
their children work in farms, may increase household’s income. It is as a recent survey
conducted by the International Labour Organisation in The Elimination of Chils Labour
Whose Responsibility? (2003) that:
Out of these 61 per cent are in Asia, 32 percent in Africa and 7 per cent, India has the largest number of child labourers. It is also true that child labour in India is more of a rural phenomenon with more than 90 per cent children working in agricultural and allied activities in the village.
Child labour is a kind of child worker who work hard something difficult or do some
hard physical work. Child labour refers to the employment of children in any work that
deprives children of their childhood, interferes with their ability to attend regular school, and
that is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful. It is as Pramila H.
Bhargava (2003:23) mentions in The Elimination of Chils Labour Whose Responsibility?
that:
The definition of child labour constitutes any act where children between the age of 5 and 14 years are directly or indirectly forced to work at home or outside it. As a consequence, children are not only deprived of their dignity but also their freedom to play, and their scope to develop physically, mentally and emotionally is lost.
Not all work are done by children should be classified as child labour that is to be
targeted for elimination. Children’s or adolescents’ participation in work that does not affect
their health and personal development or interfere with their schooling, is generally regarded
as being something positive. This includes activities such as helping their parents around the
home, assisting in a family business or earning pocket money outside school hours and
during school holidays. These kinds of activities contribute to children’s development and to
the welfare of their families; they provide them with skills and experience, and help to
2.6 Socio-economic factors related to child labour
Child labour is a complex socio-economic issue that does not only violate the basic
human rights of individual children by hindering their educational, physical and
psychological development, but also impedes the development and equitable growth of
economies by generating an uneducated and relatively unskilled labor force in the long run
and thus helping to perpetuate poverty. This part presents the theoretical framework, which is
based on the socio -economic factors that causes child labour.
There are several circumstances that affect child labour. Poverty is the first aspect
which causes child labour. If the family live below the poverty line, parents see children as
part of contributor in their families’s income. The only reason parents send children to labour
is because of their low income. Consequently poor parents cannot afford schooling for their
children. Thus, mainly poor households are to send forced their children to labour instead of
sending to school. Rena in Osment (2014:24) shows that poverty and underdevelopment
drives child labour. She found that the high prevalence of poverty amongst countries,
including India, China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, Ethiopia,
Uganda, Mozambique, Malawi, Sudan, and Chad increases the child labour. Therefore, child
labour is widespread throughout Africa, and Asia. Beside poverty, many factors influence the
incidence of child labour which can be listed in the following points.
Second, large poor households usually have more children involved in child labour
than children from smaller households, which demonstrates family size have an effect on
child labour. Parents oblige their children to work because they are not able to manage the
demands of a large size family. There is also gender differences among household size. Not
child’s age and gender, for example boys are more likely to attended to school than girls.
Older siblings often contribute more to the family income.
Thirdly, family condition is also a factor of child labour. A poor family condition
0forces children to work in order to help their family income. A growing number of children
who have either lost one or both the parents and those impacted by HIV/ADIS in the family,
are forced to work in order to support themselves and their siblings.
Culture is the fourth factor which is driving children into labour market. Different
cultures of many societies make children start to work at very young age which are related to
traditions and cultural factors. They assumed that children need to learn skills that can be
good for their future. According to Tauson in Osment (2014:20) in rural Guatemala; parents
prefer their children to work because they consider it beneficial for them as they learn work
skills.
Corruption is the fifth child labour’s factor. According to United Nations
Development Programme(UNDP) in Osment (2014: 21) “Corruption exacerbates poverty and
inequality, undermines human development and stability, encourages and sustains conflict,
violates human rights, and erodes the democratic functioning of countries.” Corruption
among government officials is another reason that increases poverty. Corruption can have
hugely negative effect on children’s right that deprives basic services such as health care,
education and infrastructure. Corruption can diminish children’s ability to escape poverty.
Moreover, the civil war is another factor contributing to child labour. The war
destroys the economy of the country, people become much poor and all resources go to the
war. The victiom of war is childre who are exposed to exploitation. Wars burn all good things
that any country could have. It brings diseases, poverty, damages, and many other horrible
Urban migration is the seventh factor of child labour. Many rural families migrate to
urban areas because of rural push and urban pull factors. As a consequence of that, they are
often forced to live and work in the street as they lack access to basic requirements such as
food, and shelter. The children become street workers as vendors. Mostly street workers are
vulnerable to violence and become more susceptible to illegal works, such as stealing,
trafficking drugs and prostitution. These children live in urban poverty, many child labourers
live in unhealthy poor conditions slum areas and work in poor environment such as domestic
work, or work in hotels and restaurants.
Globalization is the last cause of child labour. Globalization has positive and negative
impacts, nevertheless; globalization might give developing countries the opportunity to
increase their gross domestic production (GDP) per capita via new trade possibilities and
ascend their foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows. Globalization also has brought adverse
impacts on child labour in developing countries. In recent years, many international
companies moved their production abroad. These companies often indulge in hiring children
as cheap labours as they are endurable, and carry out commands given by their employers
even if they’re abused and exploited (Mapaure 2009: 23).
2.7 Relationship between Child Labour, Family income and Education
There are the relationship between child labour, famiy income and education. Lack of
education or poor quality education is another factors that contribute to high incidence of
child labour. Education is considered one of the main alternatives to abolish child labour.
Practically family income affects children's education and poor parents cannot afford to pay
for children however, children are compel to work and are less enrolled. In the following
section provides an overview between education and child labour and how education is most
school. Third, how children combining work and school. Finally the impacts of child labour
on education.
Education can make children develop and learn resulting in intelligent societies in the
future, besides education can provide skilled workers. Also, education can improve children’s
life both for themselves and their families. Besides, well educated children can learn how to
be grateful to society and be likely to are charitable in the future when they grow up.
Children who lack education or drop out of their school, usually lack knowledge and
are more vulnerable to exploitation. As a result they become uneducated or unskilled labour.
The cost of education is another problem amongst poor households. This has contributed to
the exploitation of children. Schools need to be affordable and accessible. Schools available
in developing countries may help to increase school enrollment but may not reduce the
incidence of child labour.
2. 8 Poverty and Child Labour in Pakistan 2.8.1 Poverty in Pakistan
Poverty in Pakistan is caused by several number of factors. Some of these may be
general in that they may serve to create or intensify privation across all sectors of the
economy, and across different population groups. Other causes of poverty may be more
specific or localized, and their effects may be more apparent in particular population groups,
or in populations associated with specific sectors of the economy. The factors or causes of
poverty can, furthermore, be grouped into categories based on the channels through which
they affect poverty levels. Thus, for example, they may originate from issues of governance
and the structure of institutions or be economic or social in nature.
The first factor is the poor governance. Governance is defined as the manner in which
development. Good governance implies a capacity to turn public income into human
development outcomes. Good governance is an essential pre-condition for pro-poor growth as
it establishes the enabling regulatory and legal framework essential for the sound functioning
of land, labor, capital and other factor markets. Poor governance is happened in pakistan. It
is as Yoshihiro Iwasaki (2002:33) in the Poverty In Pakistan Issue, Causes And Institutional
Responses:
Poor governance is the key underlying cause of poverty in Pakistan. However, economic and social factors such as the slowdown in GDP growth in the last decade, and the persistence of a regressive social structure, stemming from the highly unequal distribution of land, have also contributed to the increase in poverty witnessed in the 1990s.
The second factor is vulnerability. Vulnerability is the second factor in the rise of
poverty in Pakistan, vulnerability also arises from social powerlessness, political
disenfranchisement, and ill-functioning and distortionary institutions, and these also are
important causes of the persistence of vulnerability among the poor. Other causes of
vulnerability in Pakistan are the everyday harassment by corrupt government officials, as
well as their underperformance, exclusion and denial of basic rights to many in Pakistan. It is
as Yoshihiro Iwasaki (2002:36) in the Poverty In Pakistan Issue, Causes And Institutional
Responses:
The slowdown in economic growth in Pakistan during the 1990s was a key factor in rising poverty during the period. Growth declined in all sectors in the 1990s and there was also much greater volatility in the growth rate, particularly in agriculture. In addition, growth was slower than the average in labor intensive sectors, such as construction and wholesale and retail trade, and faster than the average in capital intensive sectors, such as electricity and gas distribution. Thus not only was growth slow, but was also not pro-poor.
The third factor is feodalism system. Pakistan is home to a large
system where landholding families hold thousands of acres and do little work on the
land.51% of poor tenants owe money to the landlords. The landlords' position of power
allows them to exploit the only resource the poor can possibly provide: their own labor.
Social condition is also the factor of poverty in Pakistan. The increasingly strong
nexus between economic and social factors, and the importance of the latter as determinants
of growth was apparent in Pakistan for the period from 1985 onwards, when Pakistan's
largest city and industrial center, Karachi, intermittently remained in the grip of civil strife.
The continued unrest in the city, which is the country's financial capital, only seaport, and
houses the bulk of Pakistan's manufacturing capacity, has been cited as at least one of the
factors prompting the average annual growth rate of large scale manufacturing to slump to
3.5 percent in the 1990s, from an average of over 6 percent in the previous decade.
In general, ethnic and sectarian divisions had exploited for political purposes over the
last twenty years, which led to an increase in ethnic and sectarian tensions, and recurring
episodes of violence. The violence extended to sections of society who have not traditionally
been targeted in such conflicts. Thus the city of Karachi, for example, has witnessed the
targeted killings of over 200 doctors belonging to the Shia community in the last two to three
years, prompting many members of the medical community to migrate either to other cities,
or out of the country altogether. Similarly, incidents of random attacks on church
congregations and worshippers in mosques, shootings of prominent (and often apolitical)
members of society and bomb blasts had occurred all over the country. Such incidents were a
major symptom of the deteriorating law and order situation in the country, and heighten the
sense of uncertainty and lack of security that pervades big cities. This uncertainty was an
important factor in the declining private investment and economic growth rates witnessed in
the last decade. Ethnic and sectarian conflicts had thus served to stifle growth and
employment opportunities and may have significantly contributed to poverty, particularly in
such as tourism which is a potentially high foreign exchange earning sector, and can generate
considerable employment opportunities in remote areas.
2.8.2 Child Labour in Pakistan
Child labour is a big problem all around the world, which accounted for
approximately 250 million child workers exist in the age group of 5-14 all over the world.
Generally speaking, child labour is exploited in some way (physically, mentally or morally
by blocking the access of education and normal healthy growth).
The main cause of child labour in Pakistan is poverty. It is about 30% of the
population live below the poverty line; which is resulted in the coercion of the children to
enter the labour market in order to earn a livelihood for their own survival and to support the
incomes of their families. These children being deprived of educational opportunities, live in
a stressful situation through out their life and give birth to a generation which later might
experience the same situation with them when they grow up. Hence, the chains of poverty
and darkness are never ended.
According to the National Survey of Child Labour conducted in 1996 by the Federal
Bureau of Statistics with the collaboration of ILO in Kiani (2010:2), the total number of
children in Pakistan aged 5-14 years is 40 million. The total number of children found were
3.3 million (or 8.3% of the total children) in the country. About 73% of the child workers
were found to be boys, while 27% were girls. Majority of the child workers (58.6% or 1.94
million) were found in Punjab. It was also found that children involved in work were about 8
times in the rural areas witch may be greater than in urban areas. About one third of the
working children were literate, boys being more educated than girls and urban children were
educated more than the rural children. Employment status by broad categories indicated that
Significant urban rural differentials were observed under the broad category of
employment status. In rural areas, three fourth of the child labour were working as unpaid
family members, while in the urban areas it was one third. About 46% of the child labour
worked more than 35 hours per week, worked 56 hours or more.
There are different reasons of child labour. Poverty is one of the basic reason. The
incidence of poverty in Pakistan is not decreasing over time due to political uncertainty, poor
law and order condition, low economic growth, high income inequality, corruption,
unemployment paucity of resources and trade deficits. Further, Pakistan’s high population
growth rate of 2.22% posses multiple challenges, problems and threatens to constrain the
limit resources and economic development of the country (Kiani, 2010:8). As a result of high
rate of population growth, a large work force seeking employment is regularly being inducted
into labour market of the country. It is very difficult for parents from poor families to provide
the primary education of their children.
A large number of children are seen working in the streets: The next category of child
labour is seen in auto repair workshops. The third major employment for boys is road side
hotels. A large number of children work in agriculture sector. One of the most difficult child
labours is working in brick kilns. The children are generally paid with low wages or
sometimes only paid with food.
Schooling problems further add to the child labour. Many times, children aged
(10-14) years seek employment because there is no access to schools for them. In rural areas of
Pakistan, most of the schools are either without teachers or inadequate staff. As a result,
parents may not send their children to schools when they could be helpful in supporting the
family income by working. Sometimes, parents send their children to vocational school so
In Pakistan, there has been a decrease in the proportion of child labour over the 1990s
and therefore, it is important to investigate how this deflation has been affected by the
Employment of Children Act 1991 (ECA) (Kiani 2010:4). It aims to do so by exploiting a
quasi-experimental approach to analyze the extent to which the ECA 1991 affected the
decrease in child labour in Pakistan. Since the ECA specifies a minimum age of 14 years for
work. It is expected that it would affect employment rates primarily of children less than 14
years old. This paper used regression discontinuity data design, which is used the
difference-in-difference estimator to isolate the effect of legislation from the effects of other factors
CHAPTER III
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research Design
The analysis of poverty and child labour sounded as the understanding of social
problems. It is because poverty happens in the society and it is also the root of other social
problems. This matter can be found in literature such as novel. A literary work is written by
an author that is also a part of society. It is also addressed to society as the reader. In other
words, an literary work connects to the society
The method which is going to be used in analyzing Iqbal novel is qualitative method.
This method is being used in order to understand how and why something is occured.
Qualitative method is a method which concludes the data and the results by words. Bogdan
and Taylor (1975:5) explain that qualitative method is a research procedure that descriptive
data such as written word or verbal expression from the people and their behavior that have
been observed. There are six characteristics of a qualitative research:
1. The importance of context. Qualitative researchers emphasize the importance of
social context for understanding the social world. they hold that the meaning of a
social action or statement depends, in an important way, on the context in which it
appears. When a researcher removes an event, social action, answer to a question, or
conversation from the social context in which it appears, or ignore the context, social
meaning and significance are distorted.
2. The case study method. The researchers might gather a large amount of information
on one or a few cases, go into greater depth, and get more details on the cases being
3. The researcher’s integrity. The researchers ensure that their research accurately
reflects the evidence and have checks on their evidence
4. Grounded theory. A qualitative researcher begins with a research question and little
else. Theory develops during the data collection processs. This more inductive
method means that the theory is built from data or grounded the data.
5. Process. Qualitative researchers look at the sequence of events and pay attention to
what happens first, second and so on. Because qualitative researcher examine the
same case overtime, they can see an issue involve, a conflict emerge, or a social
relationship develop. The researcher can detect process and casual relations
6. Interpretation. The data are in the form of word, including quotes or descriptions of
particular events. The researcher interprets data by giving them meaning, translatin
them, or making understandable.
In this thesis, library research and internet research are also applied to support and to
enlarge the researcher’s ideas as well as to get materials and insights that are needed. The
primary source of data acquires from the novel entitled Iqbal. The writer reads the novel as
the source of data of Pakistan society’s social problems firstly. The secondary data are drawn
from other books as references which are concerned about the social problems in the novel.
Researcher Source of the Data Iqbal
Conclusion
Data:
Quotations from the text of novel
Iqbal
Data Selected – Interpreted
- Analysis
Method
Qualitative Method
Sociology of Literature Theory
3.2 Data Collection
In order to collect the data of Iqbal novel, there are two kinds of techniques that are
going to be applied; library research and internet research. There are also several steps that
are used in completing this thesis. First, the novel is read for several times in order to get
deep understanding about the novel. Then, identifying the data about poverty and child labor.
In selecting data, the important data must be selected in order to support the analysis of
poverty and child labor.
Secondary data are gathered from several books that is related to the the topic of this
thesis. Some of data also are found from internet which are also used as the supporting
references. All the data and information related to the topic of this thesis are collected them
the data will be selected and used in the process of finishing this thesis.
3.3 Data Analysis
Iqbal is a novel in the form of texts that consists of many data. There are several steps
in order to analyze the data. In analyzing the data, socio literature theory and historical
approach are applied. Firstly, data are identified from statements which lead to the social
problems in novel. It means that statements which refer to the poverty and child labor that are
going to be identified. Then, the statements are presented in the form of. Secondly, those
quotations will be analyzed to give interpretation about the problems of novel. The
interpretation will be supported by quotations from some other books and some informations
CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS AND FINDING
Iqbal is a fictional novel about a real person, Iqbal Masih, and his crusade to liberate
bonded laborers. Iqbal is written by Francesco D’adamo. It is written through the perspective
of fatima. Fatima is a young girl, whose life was forever changed by Iqbal’s courage.
Iqbal is the representation of children who exploited by the moneylender and
industrialist in Pakistan. Fatima, Maria, Salman and others who work together with Iqbal in
the Hussain Khan’s carpet weaver, are also exploited by Hussain Khan in the carpet weaver.
Iqbal’s name become the symbol of the battle to liberate millioms of children throughout the
world from violence and slavery.
Poverty and child labour are the social problems which are undergone by Pakistan’s
children in Iqbal. By analyzing this novel, the connection between poverty and child labour is
found. The sociology of literature theory and historical approach are used in finding the
potrayal of poverty, child labour and the connection between poverty and child labour.
4.1 The Potrayal of Poverty in Iqbal
Iqbal is a novel that potrays the Pakistan’s condition at the past time. Iqbal potrays
the history of Pakistan’s children life in 1980s. Iqbal is the representation of child labour that
caused by poverty. Hunger, lack of education, corruption, crime and child labour are some
characters of poverty that happened in Pakistan.
Poverty changes the Pakistan’s society life. There are so many employment. They
can not support their lives. They fall into debt. Children work in order to their families’s
income. Most of them are sent to the factory because of their families debts, “We had all
been bonded to Hussain Khan to pay off debts our families had contracted with local
By using historical approach, there are informations that have a connection to the
thesis problem such as poverty and child labour. Historically, poverty in Pakistan was caused
by some factors. The poor governance, vulnerability, feudalism, and social condition were
the causes of poverty in Pakistan. Pakistan’s social condition was about the war and ethnic
conflicts that happened in Pakistan.
Now, Pakistan’s children are still not able to get qualified education because they
have to work all day. Some of them lose their childhood and their rights. Many Pakistan’s
children fight for their right. They fight for their rights to get proper education. It is proved
through the Malala Yousafzai’s speech that focuses on education for children. In her speech,
Malala states that children can not get access to education because of poverty.
Many children in Africa and Pakistan do not have access to education because of poverty. And as I said, we still see, we still see girls who have no freedom to go to school in the north of Nigeria.
Many children in countries like Pakistan and India, as Kailash Satyarthi mentioned, many children, especially in India an
d Pakistan are deprived of their right to education because of social taboos, or they have been forced into child marriage or into child labour. (Malala Yousafzai’s speech 2014)
In Iqbal, Iqbal is shot to death because of his political activity. Most of people
assumes that Iqbal is killed by Taliban or factory’s owner. Malala Yousafzai have also the
same story like Iqbal. Malala is also known as a girl who shot by Taliban, “Some people call
me the girl who was shot by the Taliban (Malala Yousafzai’s speech 2014).” Malala always
fights for children, especially girl’s education.
Iqbal’s family is a symbol of poverty in Pakistan. Iqbal comes from a poor family in
Muridke, a small village in Pakistan. His father works as a farmer. Iqbal's mother, Inayat,
works as a housecleaner, but it is difficult to earn enough money to feed all of their children,
"My father used to go out early in the morning, when the first rays of sun appeared, and
harness our buffalo to the light plow (Leonori 2003:15).” While Iqbal’s mother works, his
Fatima also comes from a poor familly. Fatima’s family also has debt to the
moneylender. Her family send her to the Hussain Khan’s carpet weaver in order to pay off
their family’s debt. It is as mentioned in the quotation below:
"My father had a debt, too," I whispered in the dark, "after the embankment broke and he lost everything. A man came to talk to him, and then Hussain came and brought me here."(Leonori 2003:19)
In Iqbal, Maria is a girl who works together with Iqbal in the Hussain Khan’s carpet
weaver. Maria’s father is a school teacher. Her mother die when she is very young. In Iqbal,
Maria’s father is described as poor as farmers. Her father never wants to go to the rich. It
makes her father borrow somemoney to the village moneylender. Maria’s family are also
trapped in debt like Iqbal’s family, “That is, until he finally had to ask for help from the
village moneylender” (Leonori 2003: 77). The quotation below explains about the Maria’s
family condition.
Maria's father was a schoolteacher in Faisalabad province. Her mother died when she was very young, and she had always played with dusty old illustrated books. She had learned to read almost by herself. Her father was almost as poor as the poor farmers who sporadically sent their sons to him. ."(Leonori 2003:76)
Poverty is firstly potrayed by the presence of moneylender who lend some money to
the poor family with certain requirements. In Pakistan, the moneylender have a power at that
time. The moneylender and the people who are rich, have a power to exploit children. As
shown in the statement below:
We have to be careful, "because they, the moneylenders and the people who get rich by exploiting children, won't give in so easily. The more children we liberate, the more exploiters we accuse, the more they will try to silence us. That's what they're afraid of our voice. They get rich and fatten where there's silence and ignorance. (Leonori 2003:96)
In Iqbal, the carpet merchants and the kiln owners are also have a power. The
moneylenders are very influental. They are also protected by the police in Pakistan. As shown
"It's too dangerous. The carpet merchants and the kiln owners are very powerful. The moneylenders are influential. The police tend to protect them, you've already seen that. And the magistrates just look the other way. All of us here have been threatened and persecuted. No, we can't allow it." (Leonori 2003:93)
In Iqbal, Iqbal’s father borrows some money from the moneylender. Iqbal’s father
does it in order to survive until the next harvest and buy some medicines for his brother. The
moneylender lend twenty-six dollars to the Iqbal’s family. As in the statement below:
He didn't even eat dinner, but called me over and told me that a man would lend him a large sum of money, `Twenty-six dollars,` he said. I tried to figure it out in rupees but couldn't. With that money the family would be able to survive until the next harvest, and my brother would receive more medicine and God willing, get well. (Leonori 2003:19)
The poverty in Pakistan can also be seen through the potrait of hunger as potrayed in
the novel. The situation of starvation forced most of Pakistan’s children to work in hazardous
areas. In Iqbal, there is never enough food in Iqbal’s familly. It makes them are attacked by
some diseases. As shown in the quotation below:
`Yes, Father,` I would answer. But there was never abundance in our house. There was never enough food and my older brother was often ill. Once I asked my father why this was so. Why were all the wheat and oats and vegetables that we cultivated loaded onto carts the same day they were picked? Why in our hut was there only a sack of broken grain and another of dried chickpeas next to the fireplace? `Because all this belongs to the master,` my father had replied. (Leonori 2003:16)
In Iqbal, Iqbal has an experience outside the carpet weaver which can potray the
hunger condition in Pakistan at that time. Iqbal has to unload the trucks and carry the crates.
Iqbal works because he does not have money to buys some food. As explained in the
conversation below
“And I was hungry."
"And so? What did you do?" "I worked. They're there, too." "Who? Who's there?"
Education is one of the most important aspect in the human’s life. The lack of
education or poor quality of education is another factor that contributes to high incidence of
child labour. Education is considered as one of the main alternatives to abolish child labour.
Children who are lack of education or dropped out of their school, usually have lack of
knowledge and are more vulnerable to exploitation. As a result, they become uneducated or
unskilled labour.
The children in Iqbal are lack of education. They are not able to go to school because
of poverty. Most of children who work in Hussain Khan’s carpet weaver never go to school
and can not read. However, Iqbal and Maria can read. Maria teaches another children about
how to read in the carpet weaver.
Maria taught us how to read. She wouldn't stand for any nonsense. Even reluctant Salman and lazy Karim were subject to her drive to teach. Our blackboard was the dirt floor, smoothed over with our hands. Our pencil was a pointed stick that we used to draw the letters of the alphabet, which we then had to repeat over and over. She taught us how to read, and we taught her how to speak again. (Leonori. 2003:76)
Pakistan’s children do not get qualified education. It causes them to be utilized by the
rich people. On the other hand, the stupidity of Pakistan’s children that is found in Iqbal
caused by lack of education. The line below explains about the stupidity that was found in
Iqbal.
“And every day at sunset, I'll erase one of these lines, right in front of your eyes. You'll feel proud, and your parents will feel proud, because it will be the fruit of your work. Do you understand?"
"When a
