A Thousand Splendid Suns

 

Recently I have read a book ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’ written by Khaled Hosseini. After reading this book I felt really disturbed. I was in a desperate mood. This book made me cry. This is a story of hope. The author shows as the harsh realities of women’s in countries like Afghanisthan. A thought provoking and mind blowing , only hardest of hearts could fail to be moved. The saga of two women fighting against all odds. The plot of the novel is set in the time of Soviet invasion and Taliban tyranny in Afghanistan from early 1960 to the early 2000s.

Mariam and Laila are main Characters of this book. Mariam was much older than Laila. Both them were forced to marry at an early age. Mariam was married to Rasheed. He was very older than her. Laila was his second wife. Their life was pathetic under him. Mariam failed to give him a boy child so he don’t like her. He treated her like a slave. Her life was horrible under Rasheed. She was beaten up by him.  Before getting married Laila had relationship with her childhood friend Tariq. She got pregnant. During that time Tariq and his family shifted to Pakisthan. Then there was Taliban attack. Laila’s parents got killed. Then she was under the care of Rasheed, her neighbour. She heard the news Tariq and his family died in a conflict in Pakisthan. Rasheed was crooked. He want to marry her. He married her forcefully. But he don’t know that there was a life growing in her womb. Later he thought that it was his baby. He expected a boy but turned out to be a girl. He blamed Laila for this and beaten her up.

Later, friendship grows between Mariam and Laila, as strong as the ties between mother and daughter. They both lived under Rasheed’s brutality. They used to console each other.

When the Taliban take over, life becomes a desperate struggle against starvation, brutality and fear. During Taliban’s rule Singing, Dancing, Drawing, Playing cards, chess, Kite flying, Writing books, Watching movies, were forbidden. Women should stay inside home all the time. They should not walk on the streets unless they are accompanied by a male relative. If not they will be beaten severely. Their face should be covered by burqa when outside. Cosmetics, Jewelry, Charming cloths , laughing, were also forbidden. If they paint their nails, their fingers will be cut. Girls were forbidden from attending school. All schools for girls were closed. If they disobey these rules, they were executed.

  One day unexpectedly Tariq came. Laila was shocked. They spoke to each other. Later Rasheed came to know about this and he beaten up Laila and tried to kill her. Mariam took a metal rod and beat him on his head. Rasheed died at that spot. Laila asked Mariam let us both escape. But Mariam refused, She decided to stay back. Mariam urged Laila to escape with Tariq along with their daughter. Laila half heartedly obeyed her. Laila escaped with Tariq from Kabul. Mariam surrendered to the Taliban. And she was put to death.

One year later when very thing settled down in Kabul, Laila returned back. Along with Tariq they started to reconstruct the schools. When the children’s were playing Laila thought about Mariam. She knew Mariam was death. She don’t know where the Taliban had buried her. She wished she could visit Mariam’s grave, to sit with her for a while, leave a flower. But Laila sees now that it doesn’t matter. Mariam is never very far. She is here, in these walls they painted, in the trees they have planted, in the blankets that keep the children warm, in the children’s laughter. Mariam is in Laila’s heart, where she shines with bursting radiance of a thousand sun.

                                           This is the life of every women who are leading a dreadful life under Taliban also in our own societies also. They are oppressed and denied from raising their voice. Even our own mother is working very hard for us. More over this book tells us the importance of relationship.

This Book is Unforgettable and heart breaking. Hats off to the Author.