Book Review: And the Mountains Echoed

Title:          And the Mountains Echoed

Author:       Khaled Hosseini

Publisher:    Bloomsbury India

ISBN:          978-9-3829-5100-1

MRP:           Rs 599

Pages:         402

Finally, I finished reading this book! Ever since I got to know that Khaled Hosseini’s third book is on stands, I was way too excited. His earlier novel, ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’ is one of my favorite books and I was expecting magic this time as well. However, I was left disappointed, rather irritated. Let me get to the point quickly. The book is about many people and their personal lives described in fine details.

In a nutshell, this is the story of two poor siblings, Abdullah and Pari from a small Village in Afghanistan, who get separated in their childhood. Pari is adopted by Nila Wahdati, a rich but depressed half Afghan-half French poet. Her driver Nabi (Pari’s step uncle), plans and arranges all this because of his silent crush on her, for he cannot tolerate the sadness of a childless Nila. She later leaves both, her paralyzed husband and Nabi, to settle in Paris with Pari. Then after many decades, the siblings do meet but by then Abdullah suffers from senile dementia and Pari from rheumatism. The main theme of the book, the union of siblings, has been described in the last part that too in an insipid way.  

No single character can be called a protagonist. It is more like a complex potpourri of their lives and emotions, somewhat like diary entries. Author’s experiment with the time lines only leads to a greater confusion. The story keeps jumping from 1950s to early and late 2000s and every chapter is set in a different year, in a different country. He describes the lives of people living in various continents and countries, joined only by a hair thin relation and sometimes none at all. Various tracks like that of Thalia, Amara, Bashir cousins, Baba Jan, Masooma, etc seem to be superfluous. The author goes on to describe minute details like the colour and specifications of a music system, decor of eateries and so on. Abdullah’s character remains unexplored till the end while that of Pari has been given more than tolerable importance. The portrayal of Thalia’s childhood, her stepfather, her delinquent mother, to Baba Jan, his son Adel etc just adds more pages to the novel. They have nothing much to do with the main plot, (if you find one). Had these not been there, the novel would have been simpler and thinner by at least 100 pages. Many times I felt like leaving the book midway as some parts can really test your patience!

The descriptions of real Afghan life are missing (which is another shortcoming) for most of the time the author keeps shifting time lines and describes the urban lives of developed countries like America, Greece and France. This time, Hosseini has strayed from his typical old school storytelling into a new style that seems to spill only chaos. Also, the narrative is in third person but all of a sudden, last two chapters begin in the first person narrative leaving the readers perplexed.

 

This plot could have been developed really well. It is an example of a great idea poorly executed. I hope in his next novel, Hosseini sticks to what he does best- weaving stories having an old world charm reflecting the real life and culture of Afghanistan. I would give this book 4/10. 

PS: I like the cover page but wonder how the name (And the Mountains Echoed) is related to the plot???  

                                                                    

                                                                                                    

Author's Image From: http://www.schibstedforlag.no/no/Kategorier/Authors/Khaled-Hosseini/

The 'Bhasmasur' Syndrome

Once upon a time, Lord Shiva was pleased with the prayer of a demon (asur) who asked for a boon that he may be able to burn anyone to ashes (bhasm) mere by placing his hand on enemy’s head. As promised, Shiva had to grant it to him. That demon then came to be called as ‘Bhasmasur.’ He later became a threat for he tried to burn Shiva himself.  However, Lord Vishnu rescued Shiva by enticing the demon, posing as the dancer ‘Mohini’. ‘Bhasmasur’ got the taste of his own medicine and was reduced to ashes. We all are quite familiar with the story. Although it is a mythological tale, in history it does repeat itself. There are many such ‘Bhasmasuras’ and we have instances in politics, where creation became life-threatening for the creator itself. Here are a few such examples.

Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and Congress: The urge to rule the land of Punjab led Congress to fuel Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a self proclaimed religious leader to fight the Akalis. Congress used him as a pawn that later became a threat to their throne. Sant Bhindranwale grew too big for the Congress and even dominated the Akalis. Congress now had had to fight a bigger demon of its own making and paid for its folly with the life of Indira Gandhi (then PM) and the blots of Operation Bluestar and anti-Sikh riots on its face. 

HAMAS and PLO: A Palestinian organization, HAMAS, is understood to have been raised and promoted by the Israeli secret agency, MOSSAD to counter PLO (Palestenian Liberation Organisation). However, later HAMAS sided with PLO and turned on Israel itself, creating more troubles for MOSSAD. 

USA and Taliban: We all are aware that Afghanistan was caught in the tussle between the two superpowers, Russia and America. To counter the Russian influence, America and Pakistan covertly promoted Al-Qaida and Taliban, which not only wrought vast destruction in Afghanistan but later went out of hands and turned upon USA. The result was the 9/11 attack on Twin Towers in the USA, and now Pakistan too, on whose land these organizations flourished, is facing the music. 

India and LTTE: Indian Government secretly supported LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) an extremist body of Tamils in Srilanka, against Srilankan Govt. The fight continued till one day Srilanka requested India to come and help them control LTTE. Indians went there proudly thinking their own protégé would readily listen to them. Reality was rather exactly opposite. India lost more than 2000 army men and retracted red-faced. There is no answer for this political blunder. However, LTTE avenged India’s interference by killing Rajiv Gandhi.

What is unique in human race that has taken it so far ahead of other creatures? Intellect, we say. Thinking, analyzing an experience and learning from it, we say. True for all sciences and arts and skills; with that we have attained this present stage of technology. But, does that happen when we take some of the most important decisions of our lives that concern us, or sometimes thousands of others or even full nation’s future? To fight one demon, we often create a bigger one who turns upon us like a boomerang. Leave international matters, in our daily lives too, we create many such long term troubles by behaving irresponsibly and sometimes unethically. 

Every addiction and bad habit will sooner or later assume the form of a ‘Bhasmasur’ and we may not get a ‘Mohini’ to rescue us. We feed the devil and then blame our fate. Hence, a little thought and a small long term planning can save us from many a trouble. 

 Those who forget history are condemned to repeat it

(All the images have been taken from the Internet)

Book Review- ‘Dear Zari’

Title:          Dear Zari

By:             Zarguna Kargar

Publisher:    Vintage

ISBN:          978-0-099-54218-6

MRP:           Rs 399/-

  

I am more than happy to present the review of my latest read, ‘Dear Zari’. This book presents the heart rendering cases and real life stories of Afghan women (pre and post war). The book starts with an introduction describing why and how a once beautiful country like Afghanistan has become a victim of war, crushed between two superpowers, the USA and Russia. It has now become a war torn and starving nation, much to the horror of its innocent citizens. The introduction also presents some information regarding the Taliban, Mujahiddin and the Afghan government. The book brings out cases and stories of helpless and hapless women from deep inside the country. The author, Zarguna Kargar has been a victim herself. There are 13 stories in total that throw light on pathetic living conditions and the very culture of Afghanistan that is not at all favorable for women.  

The first story is of the author herself. She describes how despite being an educated and working girl, she was trapped in a bad, violent and loveless marriage at the age of 21 and the kind of shame and opposition she had to face when she decided to call it quits. Also, about her life as a refugee in Peshawar (Pakistan).

 

All the stories will touch the reader somewhere deep inside and I am sure most of us will stop cribbing about our lives and families. These stories were telecast on the BBC’s show ‘Afghan Hour’ that was, interestingly, produced by the author herself. I was surprised to know the limits of a woman's endurance.  (pic: An afghan woman begs in Kabul)

Some of the stories moved my heart and even made me cry, literally. The stories of Sharifa, author’s school friend in Pakistan to Nasreen from Kabul show how the feelings of a girl hold no relevance to the family and society. Both were married to much older men at a very young age (early teenage). Other woman Shireenjan who was interviewed directly by the author, was given away as a payment by her parents to settle a long standing family feud (Dukhmany). That ten year old girl suffered more than most of us can even imagine. From being raped to being forced to live with cattle, her life has been a hellish one. (Pic: an Afgan victim of domestic violence)

Afghan carpets are famous around the world and are sold at exorbitant rates but have you ever wondered how much darkness and suffocation lies behind that lovely design and embroidery. Samira is one such little girl of nine years who lives in a shanty house in Shiberghan province of Afghanistan. Her family is too poor to afford an education for her so the whole day she weaves carpets along with her mother in a dusty room of her small house. Her brother however, goes to school since her parents think he will carry the family name forward unlike Samira. At this age, she is struggling with health issues like cough, joint pains, body aches and headaches. Her life is confined to that loom, many times bigger than her. (Pic: A little one weaves carpets)

Virginity is also quite overhyped in Afghan society. As a custom, the bridegroom visits the bride’s family the next morning with the white blood-stained hanky, as a gesture to thank them for raising a cultured girl who has maintained her ‘purity’. Girls who do not bleed are often given quick ‘Talaq’, branded as sluts or are ill treated by everyone around. Ilaha’s story is one such that will make you wonder about the deep roots of this old and illogical custom in Afghanistani society.

There are many other stories too that makes us ponder about life and society. However, I would like to mention two stories that I can never forget. One is of Layla and another is of Bakhtawara. Layla, a war widow lost the rights of her children after the death of her husband and is now working as a servant in her own house (her brother’s).

Bhaktawara, a Pashtun woman from Khost province, has a sad and peculiar story. She was forced to act and dress like men since she had had only one brother and her family needed the security of a ‘male’ to save their land from scheming relatives. She was not allowed to marry and instead of colourful bangles, a heavy AK 47 gun now adorns her rough hands. Instead of salwar kamiz, Bhaktawara dresses up like a Pathan man and is a part of the village ‘Jirgah’ or ‘Panchayat’. She is the head of her family just as a man would have been. However, there is another aspect of her life too. Whenever she goes out to her farm for work, on streets and especially on weddings and local functions, she is often teased as ‘narkhazak’ or eunuch. Bhaktawara ignores these dirty remarks she is now used to and carries on the duties of a son as usual. Behind her brave front, there is a woman, who wants the care and protection of a man, a mother who wants to bear her own kids, a girl who dreams of her prince to arrive one day and ask for her hand in marriage. Sadly, she knows that her destiny has been sealed and there is no option left but to kill all her girlish dreams and bear this long painful life the way it is going. Unfortunately, like many other girls forced to become the ‘son’ of their families, she too has reached a point of no return.

This book reveals a lot about Afghan traditions and culture particularly with reference to women. I applaud Zarguna Kargar for presenting such a wonderful work. 

(Pic: Zarguna Kargar)

 I cannot agree more with author Khaled Hosseini’s remark on this book

‘A poignant celebration of human resilience’

The Famous Afghan Girl

1. Sharbat Gula, an Afghan lady was photographed by the famous journalist Steve McCurry.
2. Gula was living as a refugee in Pakistan, during the time of the war when she was photographed.
3. This image was featured on the cover of the June 1985 issue of National Geographic Magazine. Gula was then around 12 years old.
4. The team relocated Gula, then around the age of 30, in a remote region of Afghanistan in the year 2002.
5. She had married and returned to Afghanistan from the refugee camp in 1992. She had never seen her famous portrait before it was shown to her in January 2003.
6. She is now living with her husband and three daughters. 

Medium: Pencil color

Info Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghan_Girl