“… a society has no chance of success if its women are uneducated, Laila.” — A Thousand Splendid Suns

The Taliban’s imposition of strict measures in Afghanistan, particularly concerning women’s rights and media freedoms, underscores a contentious backdrop against the centuries-old global struggle of women for equal rights. As per latest reports, the Taliban’s restrictions have intensified, with women barred from significant aspects of public life and girls facing limitations on education beyond the sixth standard. Furthermore, Taliban authorities have issued warnings, exemplified by Mohammad Khaled Hanafi, head of the Taliban’s Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Ministry, signalling stringent enforcement of a dress code for female journalists, restricting visibility solely to their eyes.

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Betwixt this tumultuous backdrop, Khaled Hosseini’s literary oeuvre emerges as a profound mirror reflecting the present society of Afghanistan. The concerning state of affairs amplifies the themes of resilience, gender inequality, and human cost of political and societal upheaval depicted in Hosseini’s novels, prompting a critical examination of their enduring significance amidst evolving geopolitical landscapes. Born in Kabul, Afghanistan, on 4 March 1965, Hosseini’s early life was shaped by his family’s experiences in the thick of political turmoil. His father served as a diplomat in the Afghan Foreign Ministry, while his mother was an educator in Kabul. In 1976, due to his father’s diplomatic postings, the Hosseini family relocated to Paris. However, plans to return to Kabul in 1980 were thwarted by the eruption of a communist coup and the subsequent invasion by the Soviet army. Faced with these events, the Hosseinis sought political asylum in the United States of America, settling in San Jose, California, in 1980.

Earning a bachelor’s degree in biology, Khaled Hosseini pursued a career in medicine, practising as an internist until 2004. In 2003, he published his debut novel, The Kite Runner, which propelled him to literary fame. Building upon this success, he continued to appeal to readers with subsequent emotionally resonant publications, A Thousand Splendid Suns, And The Mountains Echoed, and, later, Sea Prayer. Hosseini’s advocacy for refugees led to his appointment as a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Goodwill Ambassador in 2006, and he established The Khaled Hosseini Foundation to aid the people of Afghanistan. At the core of the narrative of The Kite Runner lies Amir’s relentless pursuit of redemption, a thematic undercurrent that pulses through every facet of the novel. Initially driven by a fervent desire to earn his father’s approval, Amir harbours a profound sense of responsibility for his mother’s death during childbirth, a weighty burden that shapes his yearning for redemption.

His fervent conviction that winning the kite-tournament and retrieving the victorious kite will restore his tarnished honour propels the story’s momentum, serving as significant catalysts for the unfolding events. Yet, the crux of Amir’s quest for redemption lies in the shadows of his guilt-ridden conscience, stemming from his failure to protect his loyal friend, Hassan. This remorse becomes the driving force behind the novel’s climactic moments, propelling Amir on a soul-searching journey back to the war-torn streets of Kabul in search of Hassan’s son, Sohrab, and confronting the demons of his past, embodied by the menacing figure of Assef.

The moral imperatives of redemption, courage and accountability are deftly interwoven into the fabric of the novel. As a boy, Amir falters in asserting himself, but as an adult, redemption hinges on his ability to demonstrate moral fortitude and stand up for what is just. Between guilt and atonement, Hosseini crafts a chronicle of profound resonance, wherein the pursuit of redemption becomes not merely a personal quest, but a universal exploration of the human condition.

The historical landscape of Afghanistan serves not merely as a backdrop in A Thousand Splendid Suns but as an integral thread intricately interwoven into the lives of the characters in the narrative. The ebbs and flows of the plot mirror the volatile shifts in Afghanistan’s political history, demonstrating a profound symbiosis between the characters’ destinies and the nation’s fate. For instance, pivotal moments in Mariam and Laila’s lives coincide with regime changes or the rise of political factions. As violence escalates in the country, so too does the oppression within the confines of their husband Rasheed’s household, where Mariam and Laila find themselves increasingly stifled by his tyranny. The tightening grip of the Taliban regime is mirrored in Rasheed’s escalating control over the lives of the women, imposing ever more stringent restrictions upon them.

Additionally, the characters’ ethnic identities become enmeshed with the political factions, blurring the lines between personal and political affiliations. This is tragically illustrated when Laila and Tariq witness the global ramifications of terrorism, underlining the interconnectedness of their personal struggles with broader geopolitical events. Central to the novel’s exploration of Afghanistan’s history are themes of gender relations, family dynamics, and the symbolism of the burqa. These elements are deeply intertwined with the characters’ experiences, shaping their identities, and influencing their actions.

The obsession with reputation acts as a pervasive force, dictating the characters’ behaviour and inflicting shame upon those who deviate from societal norms. The significance of reputation is keenly felt in Mariam’s plight as a child born out of wedlock, emphasising the societal prejudices and gender inequalities that permeate Afghan society. Despite the oppressive regime and societal constraints, the novel celebrates the resilience of women, depicting their capacity to forge deep bonds of love and support amidst adversity. Khaled Hosseini’s And the Mountains Echoed opens with a fable shared by a father with his two children, encapsulating profound moral dilemmas.

The tale revolves around a farmer who, faced with an impossible choice, surrenders one of his cherished children to an evil giant. Struggling with grief and moral ambiguity, the farmer ultimately relinquishes his son to a life of comfort, aided by a potion that erases his memory of the boy. This allegorical prologue sets the stage for the intricate exploration of ethical complexities that permeates the novel. Hosseini’s narrative unfolds with unparalleled ambition, traversing continents and generations in a richly woven tapestry of interconnected stories. The central thread follows the lives of Abdullah and Pari, siblings separated by circumstance and fate. While Abdullah remains in their Afghan village, Pari is adopted by a wealthy couple and later moves to Paris. Through their divergent paths, Hosseini deftly examines the capricious nature of destiny and the enduring impact of familial bonds.

The novel delves into themes of privilege, sacrifice and the moral obligations of the fortunate towards the less privileged. Characters grapple with the weight of their choices and the blurred boundaries between familial duty and personal agency. Hosseini interrogates the complexities of compassion and the stark realities of inequality, highlighting the disparities between those who hold power and those who are marginalised. In Sea Prayer, Khaled Hosseini offers a poignant response to the tragedy of the refugee crisis.

Crafted as a letter from a father to his son on the eve of their perilous journey, the book provides a compelling glimpse into their life in Homs, Syria, before the onset of war. As the father watches over his sleeping child, he reflects on the harrowing sea voyage that awaits them and vividly depicts the stark contrast between their peaceful past and the devastating realities of conflict that have transformed their homeland into a perilous battleground. Impelled by the haunting image of three-year-old Alan Kurdi, the Syrian boy tragically found washed ashore on a Turkish beach in September 2015, Hosseini was driven to pen this narrative as a tribute. His aim was to honour the countless families, such as Kurdi’s, whose lives have been shattered and uprooted by the ravages of war and persecution.

As we celebrate Khaled Hosseini’s birth anniversary, it is fitting to reflect on the profound impact of his literary contributions. Through his works, Hosseini has not only illuminated the human condition with compassion and empathy but has also served as a voice for those whose stories often go unheard. In the spirit of his works, we shed light on pressing social issues, from the plight of refugees to the complexities of familial relationships in times of adversity.

(The writer is a journalist on the staff of The Statesman.)