Nisha PurohitContributing Author, Rightantra Catastrophe. Destabilization. Uncertainty. Terror. This is what defines the present status of Afghanistan. As the Taliban gains control over Afghanistan, there lies a grave concern regarding the welfare of civilians of Afghanistan. Human rights breaches are increasing, especially against Afghan women and girls who fear a return to the worst days. The consequences of the Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan are not mere guesses, rather interpretations from the Taliban’s rule past rule in Afghanistan, from 1996 to 2001. Afghanistan; Taliban; Children —this reminds me of Khalid Hosseini, an Afghan-born American author recognised for his evocative representations of Afghanistan from 1990s to early 2000s, i.e. under the Taliban rule.
The story of Pari and his sibling Abdullah, separated at a very young age, reunite in the winter of their lives, incidentally, Abdullah suffers dementia and lost much of his memory. This is the novel ‘And the Mountains Echoed’, and like Hosseini's previous best-sellers, ‘The Kite Runner’ (2003) and ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’ (2007), it focuses on familial relations amidst the political turmoil in Afghanistan. While the earlier novels concentrated on fathers and sons, and mothers and daughters, this one —no surprise— has the tale of siblings at its heart. The story The story begins in the year 1952. Abdullah loves Pari, his younger one, so much so that once he sold his pair of shoes to collect feathers for Pari because she loves feathers. Innocent siblings, unaware of their father’s plan to part them in order to save the rest of the household from starving. The subsequent chapters explain the arrangements to part these little hearts. To know what happens to Pari and how they are separated, you must read the book. Hosseini is particularly interested in how more wealthy people decide what they can and cannot do for those who struggle to make ends meet. Whether the unhappy are members of one's own family is relevant, but not always the most accurate criterion, because it can be tough psychologically to reach out to family members — and we don't always know who our family members are. We also follow the life of two affluent Afghan brothers who grew up near the Kabul house. When they subsequently travel to America, each has to decide how heroic a part to play in their own country's never-ending misery — and how much luxury he can tolerate in his own life, given the contrast to life back home. Throughout this narrative, several lives are wrecked by choices made or not made, where the ultimate desired destiny is the reunion of the separated siblings. Harsh decisions are made under stress, and epiphanies are encountered, often as clichéd one-liners— "A thousand tragedies per square mile," a young Afghan-American visiting Kabul remarks after viewing the destruction caused by his adopted country's political system. This book explores the effect of the Afghan diaspora on identity. The narrative shifts back and forth between the 1940s and the present, providing glimpses of the aftermath of the Soviet invasion as well as a more comprehensive, though not always nuanced view on the Afghan situation. Afghanistan’s tumultuous history ranging from the pre-Soviet era through the years of Mujahedeen’s battle against the Soviet Union, the establishment of the Taliban, and the American invasion following the attack of 9/11. What lies ahead for Afghan children? A report by UNICEF identified Afghanistan as the “worst place to be born in the world”. Child casualties in Afghanistan have reached an all-time high since the U.N. began keeping records in 2009. According to a recent U.N. report, more than 550 children have been killed and an estimated 1400 maimed this year. What lies ahead for Afghan children is no mystery. There lies an uncertain and daunting future for Afghan children, especially girls. Interpretations can be made by analysing the plight of women and girls during the past Taliban regime when it had imposed its draconian interpretation of the Sharia Law and women had to face harsh treatment. Another recent news report states, women are banned from playing sports, the Afghanistan women’s cricket team has also been banned. This oppression has made Afghanistan a pariah state. Where a child needs holistic development, there lies horrific development, and where a child needs love and care, terror and trouble are awaiting. For the generation that grows midst the conflict, lacks access to education, healthcare, water and sanitation, and most importantly, their rights. References:
1 Comment
Varsha Thanvi
9/17/2021 03:52:41 pm
I appreciate your efforts .
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