A sole Treaching Saga

Admist all the time crunch and project submissions reading Khalid Hosseini  debut novel was a welcome change. It is a poignant saga of  the lives of  two Afghan children articulately different in all aspects with a childhood drowned amidst  a rigid caste system, love, betrayal, relationships and fantasy. The author’s reference to picturesque locations and intense situations catches the imagination of the readers.

Afghanistan’s transformation from an abode of culture and heritage in the 1970s to Taliban’s gory battleground in the 1990s makes us think about the consequences of power play.  The brunt of  a  rat race for retention and acquisition of power is faced by the poor, the unprivileged and the neglected. Guided by arrogance which is approved as a hallmark of the superior caste, Amir’s betrayal creates a void in him. In an alien land in the future it is this scar of disloyalty which during introspection brings him back to his homeland, torn amidst the atrocities of the oppressors and a constant cry for freedom. This makes us delve into our own pasts where a second chance of self redemption is all we ask for. On the other hand the author portrays Hassan with a life of only odds, as an ultimate epitome of sacrifice, loyalty and magnanimity. The dearth of such noble souls now, is rather disheartening.

The title of the novel aptly and beautifully retains the essence of the story of Hassan the kite runner and Amir the bearer of all brightly flying opportunities. However the author too justifies the dilemma of an adult Amir too who leaves behind the comforts of a luxurious life to redeem his tainted soul. Simple words and a moving storyline make this novel a complete favorite. The unique friendship between the two makes the tragedy befalling on Hassan even more powerful.

However sarcastic, manipulative and pessimistic the novel may seem, it also ends on a positive note ,where the author revives the hope of a future free of oppression and anarchism rightfully justifying  the words of  P.B. Shelly, “if winter is here can spring be far behind?”