Sunday 28 April 2019

Kite runner: Topics for Exploration


Cultural setting
·       Shia-Sunni clash
·       The Afghan identity
·       Pashtun- Hazara Divide
·       Kite running as a symbol of Afghan culture before 1975
·       Place of religion
·       End of Monarchy and new regime

Thematic Focus
·       Guilt
·       Father-Son
·       Redemption
·       Search for identity(Amir, Rahim Khan)
·       Assimilation & integration
§  -Amir        
§  -Soraya
§  -Baba
§  -General
·       Power and abuse of power
·       Emotional turmoil
·       Change in perception of women
·       Betrayal
·       Honor
·       Disgrace


2 comments:

  1. Aditi...I am simply posting your comment under the relevant post:)

    The Pashtuns make up the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan, comprising about 38 to 42 percent of the country’s population.
    They have a distinct language called Pashto (an official language since 1936) but also speak Pakhto, which are both Iranian dialects that fall within the Indo-European group of languages. They are generally able to speak Farsi when necessary, often relying on the language in the context of trade dealings in the region.
    Pashtuns are Sunni Muslims. They are seen as the historic founders of the Afghan Kingdom, with an apparent predominance in administration power until recently.
    The social structure of the Pashtuns is based on the Pashtunwali (or Pukhtunwali) code, which is a mixture of a tribal code of honour and local interpretations of Shari’a law.
    This requires the speaking of Pashtu and the adherence to established customs. Hospitality, protection of their guests, defence of property, family honour and protection of the female relatives are some of the most important principles for Pashtuns.
    They rely on the tribal council jirga for the enforcement of disputes and local decision-making, as well as the seclusion of women from all affairs outside the home. A major aspect of the Pashtunwali code emphasizes personal authority and freedom.
    Women are required to wear full-face and full-length garments known as the burka. Pashtun culture is celebrated for its traditional music, dancing, poetry and storytelling.

    [ Afghanistan has been unstable for decades with rival armed groups vying for control. In the late 1970s, the Soviet Union deployed tens of thousands of troops in support of pro-Communist governments, but the conflict left 15,000 Soviet soldiers dead forcing the Moscow to withdraw.

    In the 1980s, Muslim Afghan fighters (mujahideen) stepped up their campaign for the control of the country but were unable to unite the country.
    By the mid-1990s, Afghanistan became divided into spheres of control. These divisions set the stage for the rise of the Taliban who seized control of Afghanistan.]
    A predominantly Pashtun movement, the Taliban came to prominence in Afghanistan in the autumn of 1994.
    It is commonly believed that they first appeared in religious seminaries - mostly paid for by money from Saudi Arabia - which preached a hard line form of Sunni Islam.
    The Taliban's promise - in Pashtun areas straddling Pakistan and Afghanistan - was to restore peace and security and enforce their own austere version of Sharia, or Islamic law, once in power.
    They introduced or supported Islamic punishments - such as public executions of convicted murderers and adulterers and amputations of those found guilty of theft.
    Men were required to grow beards and women had to wear the all-covering burka.
    The Taliban banned television, music and cinema and disapproved of girls aged 10 and over from going to school.
    The Taliban have also threatened to destabilise Pakistan, where they have controlled areas in the north-west in recent years. Despite a major military offensive against them since 2014, they continue to mount frequent suicide bombings and other attacks across the country.
    Many observers now believe that future peace in Afghanistan can only come if the government in Kabul negotiates with the Taliban.

    Shia sunni differences
    https://www.ranker.com/list/sunni-and-shia-differences/lindsayweglarz?page=3
    hazara pashtun conflict https://prezi.com/grdt3y_olg83/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share

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  2. Again reposting for Aditi: excellent Prezi. Also sharing in Google classroom

    https://prezi.com/grdt3y_olg83/hazara-pashtun-conflict/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

    ReplyDelete