Artistic portrayal of the rats of Shah-Daula in Pakistan: a visual analysis through portrait painting

Abstract

This research aims to explore microcephaly disorder which is an abnormality that is treated as a taboo in Gujrat, a city in Punjab province in Pakistan. The making of Shah Daula rats is a Taboo in which new-born babies are abused with an iron cap placed on their heads to stop their natural development. Their physical growth is manipulated, and they are unable to spend life like a normal person. All of this is done for the purpose of begging, and this ritual abuse in Pakistan has humiliated humanity for ages and is still practiced under the name of religion. This research is descriptive and qualitative in its nature. The study investigates the survival strategies as well as the living conditions of Shah Daula. The findings of the study show that microcephalic children suffer from alienation, child abuse, lack of fundamental rights, self-respect, and various disappointments. The study concludes that Shah Daula, in Pakistani society, is compelled to live as an abnormal human being.