Amal Unbound

In Amal Unbound, Saeed calls attention to several contemporary social crises impacting people in Pakistan and around the world. Class stratification and gender inequality are forms of inequity that disproportionately affect people in lower economic classes and countries. Both keep Amal and the villagers in submissive positions where they do not have the freedom to achieve their full potential. Amal’s struggles against these injustices reflect similar plights of people around the world.

The wealthy Khan family rules Amal’s village. This situation is an example of class stratification, where society is separated into groups with different access to power and resources. The Khans feel removed from and superior to the villagers. Their home is a walled, guarded estate, in contrast to Amal’s village home with its concrete floor. Unlike the villagers, the Khans are all educated. They have access to the finest goods money can buy and have political influence in other cities. The Khans use their privilege to act as feudal landlords. They demand respect and require submission to their will. The Khans act with impunity, disregarding basic human rights, knowing that the villagers do not have the power to stop them.