Aesthetic Awareness in the Selected Short Stories of Manoj Das and Ruskin Bond
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11105945
Author(s): Pratikshya Mohanty
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11105945
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Volume 15 | Issue 2 | April 2024
Pages: 423-433
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The Criterion: An International Journal in English Vol. 15, Issue-II, April 2024 ISSN: 0976-8165
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https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10448030
Lost Childhood: Trauma and Loss of Identity in the Selected Works of
Khaled Hosseini and Paro Anand
Sakshi Chaturvedi
Ph.D Research Scholar
&
Dr. Sonal Singh
Research Supervisor,
Dayalbagh Educational Institute.
Article History: Submitted-31/03/2024, Revised-16/04/2024, Accepted-23/04/2024, Published-30/04/2024.
Abstract:
Childhood trauma emerges as a crucial problem during contemporary times and, could
result in severe disorders affecting childhood as well as adulthood. The world grapples with the
terrible challenges of terrorism, nuclear war, communal hatred, genocide and the massacre of
many people simply in the name of terrorism and religion. This research paper deliberates on the
severe impact of terrorism and militancy on the mental and emotional health of children in light
of the books The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and Wild Child and Other Stories by Paro
Anand. These two fictional works record the actual events and are filtered through personal
experiences and human emotions.
Keywords: Childhood Trauma, Psychological study, Trauma Studies, Non-fiction.
Since time immemorial, humanity has borne the brunt of several crusades, political
annexation, and other terrorist activities. Despite the teachings of the religious leaders stressing
tolerance, peace and brotherhood, the world has witnessed militancy and terrorism and there has
been no reduction in extremist activities. In the Twentieth century, the world witnessed two
world wars causing unimaginable destruction and damage. Terrorism has affected every nation
in one way or the other. There has been a tremendous escalation in terrorist and fundamentalist
activities all over the world in the twenty-first century.
The goal of these militants is not religious, in the sense of faith, nor cultural, in the sense
of values, but political in a dirty way. They aim to take power from those who control the states
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and want to hold on to that power to cater to their selfish interests. They are enforcing such
practices to strengthen religious orthodoxy and achieve political power. Militancy has emerged
as one of the most pressing concerns of our time. It has become an issue in political, cultural and
social debates both globally and locally. As a result, militancy has become the focus of much
scholarly attention and, has created a significant impact on literature as well. Literature is always
a reflection of social, political and religious conditions and so militancy also created a great
impact on literature. The writers selected for this paper belong to the nations that have witnessed
extremist, fundamentalist and terrorist activities which have left a permanent scar on the psyche
of the people of those nations. Cathy Caruth, a leading trauma studies critic in her book titled,
Unclaimed Experience Trauma, Narrative and History explains trauma and its causes:
In recent years, psychiatry, psychoanalysis, and neurobiology have increasingly insisted
on the direct effects of external violence on psychic disorders. This trend has culminated
in the study of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, which describes an overwhelming
experience of sudden or catastrophic events in which the response to the event occurs in
the often uncontrolled, repetitive appearance of hallucinations and other intrusive
phenomena. (57-58)
The psychological and emotional reaction to an upsetting incident is known as trauma. It
has a profound and inexplicable effect on a person’s life. Post-traumatic stress disorder is the
victim’s mental state after a dreadful event and it occurs in the form of repeated hallucinations,
terrible dreams, disturbing thoughts or behaviors resulting from the event. The writers selected
for the study, Khaled Hosseini and Paro Anand, have been affected by the socio-political
conditions around them. Both of them have expressed their experience regarding terrorism and
militancy and its impact on society in their context. These writers have focused on the disastrous
and devastating impact of such activities on the lives of children.
Childhood trauma is a traumatic experience that causes adverse or an overwhelming
impact on a child and can have a long-lasting impact on the child’s emotional, physical, and
psychological well-being. It changes an individual’s perspective on life and the outside world. It
has a profound effect on the child’s mental health, and experiencing or watching a gruesome
event might even interfere with brain development. A child’s mental health is impacted by
childhood trauma, which also makes it difficult for them to build good connections.
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The wounds inflicted by terrorist activities on the psyche of people are hard to heal and
the scars often remain forever. No amount of palliatives, public announcements of anguish and
symbolic acts of solidarity is likely to wipe out the memory of such traumas from the collective
consciousness of the society. We must learn from the tragic and distressing experiences and
internalize their meanings to build a sane society informed by a democratic and secular ethos.
Both the writers Khaled Hosseini and Paro Anand have attempted to enlighten the readers about
these aspects. The writers have traced the growth of militancy in their respective nations and the
trauma caused thereafter.
Khaled Hosseini was born in Kabul, Afghanistan and lived with his family in the affluent
Wazir Akbar Khan district of the city, in a cultivated, cosmopolitan atmosphere, where women
worked as equals with men. Hosseini liked to watch movies based in India and the United States
and he enjoyed the sport of kite fighting that he portrays so vividly in his novel The Kite Runner.
Although Afghan culture lacked a long tradition of literary fiction, Hosseini enjoyed reading
foreign novels in translation and began to write stories of his own. He also made connections
with his family’s cook, a member of the Hazara ethnic group, a minority that has long suffered
discrimination in Afghanistan. Hosseini taught this man, belonging to the Hazara tribe, how to
read and write and, gained his first insight into the injustices of his society.
After the departure of the Soviets in 1989, the fundamentalist Taliban faction seized
control of Afghanistan, imposing a brutal theocratic rule and providing a base for terrorists.
Hosseini felt compelled to tell the world something about the life he had known before his
country was consumed by war and dictatorship. With the eyes of the world turned on his country,
he completed his tale of two Afghan boys, childhood friends separated by the calamities of
terrorism and the divergent paths their lives take. This story changed into a novel The Kite
Runner, published in the year 2003.
The novel has sold more than twelve million copies and has been published in more than
forty languages. The novel also received the South African Boeke Prize in 2004. The Kite
Runner tells the story of Amir, a well-to-do Pashtun boy, who lives with his father in the Wazir
Akbar Khan district of Kabul, and Hassan, the son of Amir’s father’s servant, Ali, who belongs
to the Hazara clan. Amir’s father, a wealthy Kabul merchant who is generally referred to as
“Baba” in the novel, loves both the boys but seems critical of Amir for not being manly enough.
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Amir feels that Baba does not love him because he blames him for his mother’s death during
childbirth. However, Amir has a kinder father figure in the form of Rahim Khan, Baba’s friend,
who supports Amir for his interest in writing stories and often comes to his rescue against Baba.
They both share a warm friendship. Amir always looks up to Baba while Hassan looks up to
Amir. The boys spent the first twelve years of their childhood playing together. Amir would even
read stories for Hassan as Hassan was illiterate.
Assef is a notoriously mean and violent older boy with sadistic tendencies, and he
frequently mocks Amir for socializing with a Hazara, which is, according to Aseef, an inferior
race that should live in Hazarajat. Assef encounters Amir one day and prepares to attack him
with brass knuckles, but Hassan bravely stands up for him and threatens to shoot out Assef’s left
eye with his slingshot. Aseef spares them but warns them that he will soon seek revenge for this
insult.
The kite-fighting tournament held every winter in Kabul was an old winter tradition in
Afghanistan. Hassan was a successful kite runner and he always reached the spot where the kite
would land before time and had never missed a falling kite. Unfortunately during his chase for
the kite, Hassan runs into Assef and his two friends. Assef wants Amir’s kite but Hassan refuses
to part with it so Assef rapes him. Wondering why Hassan is taking so long, Amir goes out to
search for him but hides when he discovers Assef threatening Hassan. He witnesses the sodomy
but is too scared to intervene, and returns home ashamed, and guilty for not being able to protect
Hassan when he needed him as expressed in the novel, “And that led to another understanding:
Hassan knew he knew I’d seen everything in that alley, that I’d stood there and done nothing. He
knew I had betrayed him and yet he was rescuing me once again, maybe for the last time” (89).
He feels that his cowardice in failing to protect Hassan from this shameful act would destroy all
hopes of gaining Baba’s affection, so he does not say anything to anyone about this matter.
After this incident, Hassan and his father, despite Baba’s constant pleas begging them to
stay, leave the house. Hassan’s departure frees Amir of the constant reminder of his cowardice
and betrayal, but he still lives in their shadow and guilt. Six years later, after a Communist coup
in Afghanistan, Baba uses his wealth and connections to escape with Amir to the United States
through Pakistan. Fifteen years after his marriage, Amir receives a call from Rahim Khan, an old
family friend who is on his deathbed due to an illness. Rahim Khan requests Amir to come to
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Afghanistan. From Khan, Amir gets to know that Hassan had a wife named Farzana, and a son,
named Sohrab, and had returned to Baba’s house as a caretaker at Khan’s request. By this time
the Taliban had taken control of Afghanistan. One day Taliban ordered Hassan to give up the
house and leave, but he refused and as a result, was shot dead by the Taliban, along with
Farzana. Rahim Khan tells Amir that the real reason for which he had called Amir here is, to go
to rescue Hassan’s son Sohrab, from an orphanage. Amir decides to go to Kabul and starts
searching for Sohrab with the help of Farid, a taxi driver. The director of the orphanage tells
Amir that a Taliban official comes often, brings cash, and usually takes a girl child back with
him. Once in a while, however, he takes a boy and he had recently taken Sohrab. Sohrab is being
kept at the Taliban official’s home as a captive, where he is forced to dance and wear girl’s
clothes and is sexually assaulted.
The punishments given by the Taliban to people all in the name of religion, show how
brutally the people of Afghanistan were exploited. The scene of hurling stones at the adulterers
by the crowd in open ground, the brutal massacre of the Hazaras, and the raping of women and
children, all these descriptions in the novel depict the hypocrisy of these terrorists. The activities
that they banned outside were all practised by them inside their houses. So it is evident how the
terrorist activities in Afghanistan ruined the lives of people and created a deep impact even on
the psyche of children. Sohrab repeatedly tells Amir that he wants his old life back and that he is
tired of everything. People like Aseef are responsible for taking the happiness from the lives of
children and making them orphans. Amir tried his best to save Sohrab from the clutches of
terrorists because he wanted to redeem himself for what he did to Hassan.
Amir and Soraya adopt Sohrab and try to provide him with all the facilities. But, Sohrab
takes time to recover from all the mental trauma that he has undergone at such a young age. The
novel gives a true picture of the atrocities committed by the Taliban on the people of
Afghanistan. Hosseini has depicted the impact of terrorism on child psychology. All the
hardships that Sohrab endured at such a young age forced him to attempt suicide. Even in the US
Sohrab is not able to adjust soon though Amir tries his best to make him comfortable. Sohrab had
detached himself from the world and stopped talking. The novel brings out the adverse effects of
terrorism and how it has ruined the future of many children causing severe trauma. The mental
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trauma that Sohrab undergoes at such a young age shows how the children were exploited both
physically and mentally during these times.
Born in Delhi on February 4, 1957, Paro Anand gained international recognition for her
contributions to children’s literature shortly after completing her formal schooling. She is well-
known for her plays, picture books, short story collections, and novels. She has authored
numerous works for adults, youth, and kids. She writes to reach out to Indian youth. For her
critically acclaimed book Wild Child and Other Stories, she was awarded the esteemed Sahitya
Akademi Bal Sahitya Puruskar in 2017. Paro Anand has made a significant contribution to
children’s literature, which is indicative of her decades-long expertise in this area. She works
with young people who are facing difficult situations, particularly with Kashmiri orphans whose
lives have been destroyed by extremists. Her creations give damaged teens and children a voice
to communicate their anguish and pain. The protracted strife that has wracked Kashmir for
decades has had a terrible toll on the lives of those who call it home. Children who have
experienced extreme trauma in the form of parent loss, violence, displacement, and bloodshed,
have been more affected. The chosen works have highlighted the importance of addressing the
mental and psychological health of Kashmiri children while also shedding light on the traumatic
experiences that have primarily affected youngsters.
Paro Anand’s collection of short stories, Wild Child and Other Stories, delves deeply into
several topics relevant to modern culture. Renowned Indian author, Anand offers a wide range of
stories that appeal to readers’ emotions and intellect in equal measure. Her writings tackle the
complexity of human experiences. Anand’s collection covers a wide range of thematic grounds,
the most important of which is the trauma children suffer in surroundings rife with conflict. With
stories like Wild Child, Breaking Free and Voices in the Dark, Anand eloquently illustrates the
physical, psychological, and emotional effects of militancy on developing brains. She sheds light
on how children deal with fear, worry, and uncertainty when there is violence, showing the
serious implications of trauma on children.
Anand also explores the nuances of identity and belonging in the face of social upheaval
and exile. Stories such as Generations and Family Matters depict characters balancing their
cultural legacy against the destabilizing effects of war, emphasizing the deep sense of
displacement that children feel when caught in the crossfire of militancy. Anand brought up the
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subject of militancy and terrorism and how seriously it affects youngsters. The persistent
bloodshed, fighting, and political unrest in Kashmir have caused various types of trauma in
children. Children are enticed into terrorism and denied access to fundamental rights like food,
shelter, and education. Terrorist organizations and extremists take advantage of innocent kids
and young people. The family are compelled to relocate from their Kashmiri homes to other
cities.
Although Like Smoke is a short narrative, it is gut-wrenching. It forces one to consider the
true measures taken to address the situation in Kashmir. The cost of the turmoil is being borne by
the civilian population, as militancy is taking so many lives and making them easy targets
because they won’t leave their country. The tale presents a stark contrast between Kashmir’s
current situation and life before the arrival of militants. Before the advent of terrorism, there used
to be no fear in the Kashmir Valley, and people coexisted peacefully. Children from all
communities played together, and women felt safe. There was a sense of respect and care for
everyone, regardless of their religion—Hindu, Muslim, or Sikh. Because there were no
boundaries, everyone enjoyed festivals together. People coexisted fearlessly in Kashmir, a place
known for peace and harmony. By inciting instability in the name of religion, the radicals are
only furthering their agendas. They instil false notions of bravery and heroism in children in an
attempt to entice them to join them. There is perpetual fear in the minds of children in Kashmir.
To arouse empathy and compassion for the experiences of traumatized children, Hosseini
and Anand use a range of narrative strategies. Readers can deeply connect with the inner lives of
Hosseini’s protagonists through the use of flashbacks and first-person narration, which immerses
them in the physical immediacy of their trauma and resilience. Similar to this, Anand’s vivid
imagery and deep characterizations enable readers to identify with the setbacks and victories of
her youthful heroes. Anand emphasizes the transformational potential of art in healing and
resilience-building for children traumatized by conflict through the power of narrative and
artistic expression.
There is an autobiographical note in the works of both writers. In Hosseini’s house, there
was a cook, an illiterate man who belonged to the Hazara clan. Hosseini has portrayed the
character of a similar servant in his novel The Kite Runner. In Amir’s character, some traits that
Hosseini himself possesses are reflected. He has portrayed all the sufferings that he and his
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family witnessed while living in Afghanistan and after leaving it. His novels end on a relatively
more optimistic note because he has still this hope that one day the conditions will change and he
will happily return to his native country. Anand holds the world record for making the world’s
longest newspaper along with, 3000 children in eleven Indian states and written in thirteen
languages. The intention behind this project was to provide a medium for children to speak, to
express what they feel and, to encourage them to share their own stories and experiences. She
has worked closely with children in Kashmir and, all of them want peace to prevail around them.
In both the selected works, characters are caught in the crossfire and overwhelmed by
external forces. Their inner lives are influenced by an often brutal and unforgiving world, and the
decisions they make about their lives are influenced by things over which they have no control:
terrorism, violence, extremism and oppression. Both works serve a strong message by explaining
the trauma caused due to militancy and terrorism. In a similar vein, both authors have revealed
the innermost feelings and ideas of their characters through reflective contemplation. Characters
are given life by Hosseini and Anand, who vividly capture the inner turmoil, feelings,
experiences, and thoughts of their subjects.
These writers teach the lesson that humanity dominates over various distinctions of caste,
creed, nationality, gender and colour prevalent in the society. The message is more or less the
same, humanity comes first before any religious, political, and social concern. They have
attempted to create awareness and consciousness among people to tackle the issue of terrorism
and militancy. Such events cast a disastrous effect on the social structure of the society where the
feelings of harmony, cordiality and brotherhood give place to bickering, fragmentation, jealousy
and enmity. Both the writers have picked the same theme and their main concern is to give a
message that people should develop the feeling of love, affection and brotherhood which are the
essential traits of humanity.
In conclusion, the selected works of Paro Anand and Khaled Hosseini provide
compelling testaments to the bravery, resiliency, and humanity of children who grow up in the
shadow of bloodshed and strife. Both writers elucidate the universal themes of loss, resiliency,
and optimism in the face of hardship via their nuanced examination of childhood trauma,
challenging readers to consider the intricacies of conflict and to imagine solutions to promote
empathy and humanity.
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Works Cited:
Hosseini, Khaled. The Kite Runner. Delhi: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2003.
Anand, Paro. Wild Child and Other Stories. Penguin India, 2011.
Ahmed Rehana, Peter Morey and Amina Yaqin, editors. Culture, Diaspora, and Modernity
in Muslim Writing. New York and London: Routledge Publishing, 2012.
Armstrong, Karen. The Battle for God: A History of Fundamentalism. New York: Random
House Publishing Group, 2011.
C. Sanga, Jaina. South Asian Literature in English: An Encyclopedia. Delhi: Greenwood
Press, 2004.
Chambers, Claire. British Muslim Fiction Interviews with Contemporary Writers. London:
Palgrave Macmillan, 2013.
Caruth, Cathy. Unclaimed Experience Trauma, Narratives and History. John Hopkins University
Press, 2016.
Herman, Judith. Trauma and Recovery The Aftermath of Violence- From Domestic Abuse to
Political Terror. New York: Basic Books,2015.Print
Sree, S Prassana. Indian Women Writing in English: New Perspective. Sarup and Sons, 2005.
Tal, Kali. Worlds of Hurt: Reading the Literatures of Trauma. Cambridge University Press,
1996.
Trotter, David. The Uses of Phobia: Essays on Literature and Film. Wiley–Blackwell, 2010.
Van der Kolk, Bassel. “Developmental Trauma Disorder: Towards a Rational Diagnosis for
Children with Complex Trauma Histories”. Psychiatric Annals. 2005, pp.3-7
Anand, Paro. “Kashmir: The Other Side of Childhood.” India International Centre Quarterly,
vol. 32, no. 1, 2005, pp. 54–64. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/23005958. Accessed 26
January. 2022.
Anand, Paro. “When Paro writes a story.” Interview by R. Krithika. The Hindu, 25th July 2019.
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children/article28708445.ece
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