Psycho-Social Impact of War on Children in Beast of No Nation and Funny Boy

Abstract

This comparative study examines the physical and psychological status of children in relation to Children's Rights and its violation during and after war. More than other demographics, children are more sensitive enough to be effective. A war seeds abnormal situation in which children are exploited, used and abused. Having physical as well as mental torture, children are unable to socialize from several perspectives. Many children’s rights activists and institutions declare children’s rights is to make their properly grownup and socialized. They enforce their voice against children’s exploitation. Children Being a sensitive section of society they should be kept them away from any kind of conflict. The research argues that children involved in war lose their basic rights as well as become unable to readjust in society due to the adverse effect of war. The argument is developed after a close reading of Uzodinma Iwealas’s Beasts of No Nation and Shyam Selvadurai’s Funny Boy from the perspective of Children’s rights. Both texts present civil war and its impact on children. The texts reinforce the idea that children after involving in war cannot adjust in society because war always corrupts the pure and innocent mind of a child. A war teaches the beast culture and it makes children mind negative development. A war violates Children's Rights to be part of society. Uzodinma Iwealas’s Beasts of No Nation and Shyam Selvadurai’s Funny Boy, both novels’ heroes are children and they are directly and indirectly affected by war and forced to take part in a war. Their involvement in war reshapes their mindset and thought which makes them killers and they are isolated from society due to the uprising culture of war to a child soldier.