The Kite RunnerThe Kite Runner

by by Khaled Hosseini Khaled Hosseini

Historical, Political and Cultural ContextsHistorical, Political and Cultural Contexts

A presentation byA presentation by

N. ShamnadN. Shamnad Department of Arabic Department of Arabic

University College University College Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram

E mail: shamnadmail@gmail.com E mail: shamnadmail@gmail.com

The Kite Runner The Kite Runner First novel to be written in English by an Afghan National

By the Afghan-American writer Khaled Hosseini

Published in 2003, USA

Sold over 3 million copies worldwide

South African Boeke Prize in 2004

A No. 1 New York Times Best seller for 2005

Voted the Penguin Reading Group Book of the year for 2007

Adapted in to a highly acclaimed feature film in 2007 by Marc Forster

American Library Association: one of its most challenged books of 2008

Khaled HosseiniKhaled Hosseini

Afghan-American writerAfghan-American writer

Born in 1965 in Kabul, AfghanistanBorn in 1965 in Kabul, Afghanistan

His father was an Afghan diplomat in Iran and FranceHis father was an Afghan diplomat in Iran and France

Following the 1979 Russian invasion, the family emmigrated to the Following the 1979 Russian invasion, the family emmigrated to the United StatesUnited States

Political asylum in 1980, Settled in California, US Political asylum in 1980, Settled in California, US

Hosseini is now a physicianHosseini is now a physician

Novels: Novels: The Kite Runner The Kite Runner (2003), (2003), A Thousand Splendid Suns A Thousand Splendid Suns (2007)(2007)

The Kite RunnerThe Kite Runner

The story takes place in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the United States from 1975 to 2003

The novel maps the journey of Amir, the narrator

Amir belongs to a wealthy family whose father is a businessmanAmir belongs to a wealthy family whose father is a businessman

Amir tells the story of his friendship with Hassan.Amir tells the story of his friendship with Hassan.

Hassan and his father, Ali, are Amir’s servantsHassan and his father, Ali, are Amir’s servants

Hassan is the victim of discrimination due to his ethnic identity Hassan is the victim of discrimination due to his ethnic identity

Ironically, Hassan is also Amir’s half brotherIronically, Hassan is also Amir’s half brother

The Separation

Amir desires his father’s approval, and with the help of Hassan, enters a kite running tournament

Violent events occur after the tournament, which have an impact upon the lives of Hassan and Amir

Amir overwhelms with guilt when allows Hassan to be beaten by the neighborhood boys and Watch him being assaulted

Hassan and his father leave Kabul

After Russian invasion Amir and his father flee Afghanistan for Pakistan and then end up in the US

AMIR PAYS HIS DEBT TO HASSAN Amir continues his education, marries and becomes a writer

He returns to Afghanistan in search of Hassan

While in Pakistan, Amir finds out that Hassan and his wife

were killed by the Taliban regime

They left a son, Sohrab

Amir arrives at Kabul to rescue Sohrab from Assef, a Taliban

leader

Assef was the boy who molested Hassan during their childhood

Amir must defeat Assef in a physical battle in order to take

Sohrab out of Afghanistan and try to help repair his spirit.

The Kite RunnerThe Kite Runner (Film)(Film) A 2007 Hollywood film directed by Marc Forster Based on the novel by Khaled Hosseini. A DreamWorks and Paramount Vintage production Mostly shot in China, Pakistan and US Dialogue is in Afghan Persian (Dari) and English

Nomination for the Golden Globe award for the best foreign language film in 2007 5th best film of 2007: Chicago Sun-Times Banned in Afghanistan from theatres and DVD stores

.

The Kite Runner (2007) : a Marc Forster film

“ ….“ ….and there is a way to be good againand there is a way to be good again !” !”

The Kite RunnerThe Kite Runner : : Historical and Political Historical and Political ContextsContexts

The story takes place in Afghanistan, Pakistan and America

Tells the collapse of Afghan civil society and violations of fundamental

human rights

1.5 Million people lost their lives

5 Million people went in exile

Picturisation of the Soviet invasion of 1979 and the tyranny of Taliban

War crimes and the plight of refugees

Novel leaves one feeling, a terrible Sadness for the Afghan people.

The power game between the U.S.A. and the former Soviet Union

brought death and utter destruction to the country.

The Kite Runner : Soviet Invasion of 1979 and Refugees

The Kite Runner : Plight of Refugees

The Novel showsThe Novel shows Ethnic and religious diversities in Afghanistan and Ethnic and religious diversities in Afghanistan and

ccultural clash / prejudiceultural clash / prejudice Racial discrimination, religious intolerance, oppression of Racial discrimination, religious intolerance, oppression of

women and persecution of childrenwomen and persecution of children Influence of tribalism and disintegration of societyInfluence of tribalism and disintegration of society Friction between Pashtuns and Hazaras: various ethnic groupsFriction between Pashtuns and Hazaras: various ethnic groups Religious extremism Religious extremism and secularismand secularism Friendship, between childhood friends / brothersFriendship, between childhood friends / brothers Parent/child relationships, paternal expectations and the need for Parent/child relationships, paternal expectations and the need for

approvalapproval Kite runningKite running

The Kite RunnerThe Kite Runner : : Cultural ContextsCultural Contexts

Afghan EthnicityAfghan Ethnicity

► Hazaras consists of about10 to 15 percent► Uzbaks consists of about 9 percent► Others (Turkmen, Aimaq, Baluch, Nuristani)

Tajik Pashtun Hazara

Uzbak

Baluch

Pashtun

The Kite Runner The Kite Runner : : desperate childrendesperate children