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