ruqaya nazir

"The Book of Gold Leaves" by Mirza Waheed is a heart-wrenching novel that left me in tears. The letters exchanged between Roohi and Faiz, and those from Naseem Aunty to Roohi, were particularly poignant. As like anyone hailing from Kashmir, I couldn't help but relate to the struggles and hardships faced by the characters. The author masterfully portrays the harsh realities of life in Kashmir, where the environment and circumstances can be overwhelming,for people,especially for artists and sensitive souls. Faiz's decision to leave Kashmir is a testament to the difficulties of survival in such a time torn,conflicting and challenging environment,where life has turned tought and has been strangulated by treason,by self interests ,by social , economic and political insecurities. One of the striking aspects of the novel is its beautiful portrayal of Kashmir and its issues, woven through the stories of two families. Where cultural ,social,economic and political bias plays a very powerful role to a very large extent. However, I found the language to be somewhat dense and challenging at times. Overall, "The Book of Gold Leaves" is a powerful and emotional read that sheds light on the complexities of life in Kashmir that has not been easy particularly in the recent decades which author has tried to highlight. It's a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the human cost of conflict and the resilience of the human spirit and human endeavour to live with truth, honour ,freedom and human values that reflect the essence of human societies.

"There's only one, only one skill a woman like you and me needs in life,and they don't teach it in school only one skill. And it's this: Tahamul. Endure." How many times does a woman die before her actual death takes place? In the masterpiece “A Thousand Splendid Suns,” it seems like a thousand times. Mariam indeed faced numerous metaphorical deaths before her physical passing. She died every single day from her childhood when she was waiting for her father, but he did not come. She died when her father told her he would come back and take her with him, but he did not. She died when she visited her father on her own but was not allowed into his house. She died when she returned home to find her mother hanging in front of her eyes. She died when she was forcefully married, when she had to leave her home and her father, when she first met her husband, and when she lost her baby. She died when she endured physical abuse and when her father visited her after a long time, but she did not want to meet him. Mariam died every single day. How many women die like this? How much endurance does a woman have? In colonization, women are doubly colonized. This book gives us a clear picture of the double colonization of women: first, they are suppressed in their own homes, then by society, and finally by external oppressors. Our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) never treated women like this. However, on the basis of religion, women are often treated poorly without understanding the actual meaning of religion. Religion becomes a tool for the male society to oppress and subjugate women. As a woman reader of this book, I am deeply impressed by Khaled Hosseini. How could a man highlight women’s suffering so poignantly? He truly is a gentleman. “Nothing comes without a price tag, and Laila’s life comes with the death of Mariam.” Ruqaya 🌺

"The kite runner" a master piece by "Khaled Hosseine " is full of emotions, feeling, sorrows and childhood memories.No doubt this book deals with the themes of Friendship , Father son relationship , crisis of war, identity crisis,loss and rootlessness but when i go deep into the reading of this book the character of HASSAN fascinate me a Hassan the calm and peaceful by nature despite being tortured since from his childhood till adulthood but he never ever complain to anyone just because of his class , just because being a Hazara. khaled hossiene perfectly discribes the situation of the Hazara community through the character of HASSAN . since from his childhood he has to prove his loyalty every single time . Deep down he knows that Amir is not loyal towards him but he carryon with his disloyalty because all he want to belong all he wants to be accepted in the society. The relationship between Amir and Hassan reminds me the two characters of Adventure of Huckleberry Finn Huck and Jim accept each other at the end of the novel same Amir takes shorab with Him and try to give him a new life . "There is a way to be good again"