The Debates: Khalid Husseni

By:

Ullah, Inam Gul. iukhan233@gmail.com

A thousand Splendid Suns, a remarkable work by the noted novelist Khaled Husseni, is indeed a master piece of his literary output. The novel is set in Afghanistan and Pakistan and the story covers multiple aspects of Afghanistan society. Like The Kite Runner, it also gives an account of the political landscape of Afghanistan, especially the surge of Taliban and the havoc it wreaks in the society. However at times Husseni seems misrepresenting Pashtun culture and Afghan society. The story by most account is pathetic and tears shedding.

The novel opens with Meryam and her Nani , the two live at a home alone with least social interaction, except the casual visits paid by Jalil and Mullah Fazlullah, who administers religion to Meryam. Jalil used to be a wealthy person and Nani once his domestic servant. Meryam turns to be the by-product of their illegitimate relationship. Nani regrets her birth, scolds her and uses the term Harami (illegitimate), while calling her. Whenever Jalil visits them, sits with Meryam and tells her about the things around, and sometimes go to the nearby stream as well. Nani takes exception to their interaction and tries to falsify whatever Jalil tells her. She tries to convince Meryam of the dark side of man’s mind, somewhat resembles Charles Dicken’s Miss Hivisham and Estella.

Meryam one day leaves her home in search of Jalil’s home, after many troubles she reaches there. However she is not allowed to live and is returned to her Nani’s home again. When she returns, she finds Nani already dead. Meryam is now shifted to Jalil’s home.

Jalil has three wives and many sons. Meryam is not welcomed by his wives in a fit of Phallic Jealousy, while she being a product of it. However, her marriage is soon arranged with Rasheed. A man settled in Kabul and runs shoes business. Rasheed is a man who pays least attention to someone’s feelings and never acts scrupulously. He knows how to earn, and for him wife means nothing except a chattel of sexual pleasure. He lives in a separate room form Meryam, and visits her only when the animal desires come over him.

Lalia ,Meryam’s neighbors , born to parents who are much aware of the circumstances around them, her father is much interested in reading, whereas her mother sides with Mujahideen and takes pride in her son who dies in the war. Laila lives a happy life and gets befriended with Tariq. They both get closer to each other, and as they grow up, fall in love dearly with each other. Laila’s father take them on to trips, they once happen to visits the historical site of great Bhudda statues at Bamyan.

The relationship between Laila and Tariq gets deeper, and they have frequent dating, where she finally loses her virginity. The political situations get worse and people have to leave Afghanistan. Tariq family leaves for Peshawar first and Laila’s family has to follow suit. When Laila’s family gathers their luggage, an explosion takes place and Laila’s parents are reduced to ashes, whereas she barely survives. The incident marks the beginning of her long tribulations lying ahead, like Tess of The D’urbervilles.

She is taken to home by Rasheed and looks after her. As she gets recovered, Rasheed wants her to marry him. But Laila still longs for Tariq and feels signs of his presence in her womb and intends to join him in Pakistan. But Rasheed convinces her of Tariq’s death thorough a fabricated story, and Laila thereby gives in. Rasheed treats her tenderly in the beginning which arouses Meryam jealously, however sooner the two women become good friends. Laila gives birth to Aziza and Zalmay and Meryam takes care of them dearly on Laila’s part. The women grow discontented with Rasheed’s behavior and make an attempt of fleeing home, but fail in their bid and are returned to Rasheed again. Rasheed turns more harsh on them and treat them with cruelty, and their plight starts. He subjects them to severe physical punishment and once during such an exercise when Rasheed beats Laila severely, Meryam hits him and he dies.

Liala joins Tariq who works in Muree, and Meryam is imprisoned who finally receives punishment as per the Taliban’s version of capital punishment.

Husseni somewhat seems to have misrepresented Pashtun and Afghan society. The relationship between Tariq and Laila such as their free interaction, dating and freely visiting each other homes as grown up persons , are the things unknown to Pashtun culture and never tolerated

Khaled Husseni's The Kite Runner

Kamila Shamsie's Burnt Shadows.

The Kite Runner, a critical review

Ullah, Inam Gul.

The kite runner is a beautifully written piece of prose by the noted novelist Khaled Husseni. The novel, mainly set in Afghanistan, though for brief moments the setting shifts to Pakistan and then America. The novels depicts the social structure, a cursory history, political scenario and the change of regimes which took place in Afghanistan. The novel portrays how the lives of the masses and routine life changed when the political changes occurred in the country. Husseni shows how Afghanistan from a monarchic state transformed into a republic, Russian invasion, communist rule, the civil war and infightings among the various splinter groups and warlords, and finally the emergence of Taliban on the seat of power. Loyalty, faithfulness, betrayal and marginalization of the small denominations and ethnic communities run as recurrent the themes of the novel.

The novel begins with the friendship between Amir and Hassan; they maintain close ties with one another. But the relationship is not based on the terms of equality and fair deal. Although Amir likes Hassan very much, yet Hassan is inferior to him in social rank and serves Amir in his daily needs, just like Hassan father’s Ali serves Amir’s father Baba. All of them live in the same house. Amir and Hassan are close friends they play sit and walk outside together. Although Hassan is not educated yet he shows great skills and aptitude for doing things which warrant deft and education.

Both Ali and his son Hassan when go outside, they are made fun of by the people around them. it is due to the fact that they belong to the Hazara community and the dominant ethnic group around them are Pashtuns. They are treated by the outside people with quite unfairly and are never welcomed anywhere in their vicinity. Among the people who bother them, the noted one is Assif, who don’t tolerate them and teases and bothers them whenever he finds them outside on the streets. He even once sexually abuses Hassan when the latter, while showing his loyalty, catches an adrift kite for Amir.

Ali and Hassan both are symbol of loyalty and faithfulness. Ali serves Baba and Hassan serves Amir. But their masters are not that much loyal as they ought to be. Amir hatches a plan of hiding money under the carpet in Hassan room so that to blame him for theft and make Baba order them to leave his home. Hassan without having done the theft accepts it and they are finally decide to leave the house.

As long as Afghanistan remains politically stable, the novel shows, people are economically prosperous and have had a sense of security and maintain their cultural practices. They seem to celebrate their traditional game of kite running and other cultural festivals. But when changes occur in the political landscape of the country, it do tell upon lives of the people. The worst days start when the Russian forces invade Afghanistan. Political and social structure is disturbed and people are made to leave their country for the security of life and limbs. Baba and Amir leave for Pakistan and then for America.

The character of Bhaba is reflective of patriotism, loyalty to his land and people. He is liberal in views and rarely believes in divinity and religion. In the wake of the Russian invasion when he leaves Afghanistan, he fills his snuff box with the soil of his native country. It is again Baba who stands in opposition to the demand of a Russian soldier who wants to have sex with one of women on the truck in exchange for allowing them pass the check post. None but Baba stands against him at the cost of his own life and the soldier finally goes away.

When Amir and Baba shifts to America they come into contact with other Afghans, notable among them is General Tahiri, his wife and his daughter Surraya. The General is a conservative minded and his thoughts are always fixed on his return to Afghanistan and assuming his position once again. He punishes his daughter like a conservative father for her having been eloped with an Afghan boy in America. Baba arranges marriage between Amir and Surraya. She confesses her lost of virginity and Amir accepts the marriage and Baba finally dies.

Amir returns to Afghanistan in search of Hassan’s son Sohrab, who lives in an orphanage under the Taliban’s control. Amir finds that Sohrab has been taken by Talib commander who sexually abuses and use Sohrab for dancing. In search for Sohrab Amir learns that it is Assif who has taken the child. After a fight with Assif, Ami releases Sohrab and takes him to America.

A new yet a boring world.

Can't we be human beings?

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