One could not count the
moons that shimmer on her roofs
Or the thousand splendid
suns that hide behind her walls
I had no expectation
about the book when I purchased the copy. The familiarity with the author’s
narrative style made me chose this. Many times I began the book but could not
continue it due to some reasons. But this new- year began with the tale of
Laila and Mariam. Their life is symbolic as it narrates the life of a woman in
Kabul, under Taliban.
The Taliban laws are
never acceptable for a person who wishes to be free. Woman has to wear burqa whenever
they step out of the house. They should be accompanied by a male whenever out. If
anybody is caught for stealing their hands will be chopped off. If the same
person is caught again their legs will be chopped off. And the third time
he/she will be put to death. Woman will not be educated; they should stay
inside home all throughout their life. Everybody should pray five times a day;
if anybody is found involved in some other activities during prayer time their
life will end. Taliban claim these rules are the rules of Koran. Are these the
rules prophet recited to his disciples to follow? No individual will love to
live under these rules.
Mariam is married to
Rasheed at the age of fifteen-she was a harami born to Nana, the house maid of
Jalil Khan. Mariam loved Jalil more than Nana and that was the reason why she
lost Nana at an unexpected moment. The death of Nana forced her to stay with
her father and family of three wives who felt Mariam as a burden and they
arranged for her marriage without her consent to Raheed, a man of forty years
who lost his wife and son. Can a girl of fifteen years think about a married
life? Is she strong enough, physically and mentally, to lead a family? Rasheed
insisted for a child but for one or the other reason they never had a child.
The war between Soviets
and USA paved for the tears and painful lives of woman and children. As always
the main losers in all wars are the marginalized people; especially women and
children. People are not safe even inside their house. The bombing and
shelling, the noise of riffles, fear and hunger were their companions. People had
no permission to watch tv or listen to radio. Weekly or monthly checking was
done in every house. People migrated to Pakistan without proper documents. There
had been no assurance to reach their destinations safe and alive. Unexpected firings
and bombings became a terror.
Laila lost her family and lover Tariq. Though she
was severely injured Rasheed and Mariam helped her in recovery stage. But getting
back her life was not good as expected because the next firing in her life was
the proposal put forward by Rasheed,now he is 60 and she is 13,to marry her. I
could not believe my eyes while reading it, I could not even think about a
situation like that-A man who is like your grand-father becoming your husband. Taliban
laws are not against this social evil. How strange? Rasheed convince Mariam
that if they let Laila go out, she will end up in refugee camp or some people
will rape and kill her. Also there is nothing wrong in having more than one
wife. Prophet told a man can have more than one wife; when he said those words
it was the time of war and many men were killed and woman had no one to take
care of them. Under such a situation there is nothing wrong if a man take over
more than one woman. It is a part of protecting the woman. In the present
world, as per the correct scenario it is almost time to amend the Koran and
wordings. Or atleast someone should take initiative to explain the wordings of
Prophet in its correct meaning.
The physical and mental
torture of Rasheed towards his two wives is not against Taliban laws. Where is
gender equality in their laws? Even the hospitals were separated for man and
woman. Malala yousuf is known to the people around the world for her war
against Taliban. She is one among the thousands of girls under Taliban rule. Why
the super power nations can’t bring an end to this illegal and brutal
activities of Taliban.
Sometimes words and
stories are not alone enough to change the attitude and mindset of people. Some
are good, some are evil. The Afghan refugee problem is not unfamiliar to the
world but the release of books makes it more public. The author focuses more on
the life in Kabul as he belongs there.
Towards the end Laila’s
wish to return to Kabul made me remember Kafka who realized the value and
importance of one’s root place. Wherever a person move around the world, one
wish to reach back to his home town where he/she spent their childhood. One cannot
erase the native place from the heart.
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