The Carpet Weaver — A Book Review
My family, friends and perhaps even the entire societal atmosphere that we live in, are all against the very notion of homosexuality and do not acknowledge the LGBTQ community. Fortunately, I have not been brought up in such a manner and I am not ingrained with the idea that homosexuality is a "sin". Amongst the principles that I live by, the main is liberation for all beings. Although I had seen several documentaries and a lot of cinema on the subject of homosexuality, I wasn’t particularly moved by any of them. In an attempt to expand my horizon of knowledge into the domain of LGBT literature and feel the story from within, I came across a book called The Carpet Weaver by Nemat Sadat. As soon as I read that the book was set in Afghanistan, I couldn’t stop myself from reading it.
This book is about the journey of Kanishka, a 16-year old boy, exploring his gay love story and the prospect of moving from Afghanistan to America, through Pakistan, as an Afghan refugee. Kanishka falls in love with his best friend, Maihan, who is bisexual and they try to keep their relationship confidential, as "gay" is a disrespectful word in Islamic countries like Afghanistan and should their secret come out, they would be shunned from society. The two boys receive threats from unknown people as their love for each other grows and goes on. They are beaten up mercilessly and sexually assaulted by other boys from their school who discover them together, indulging in romance.
With the passage of time, the situation worsens as the political conflicts reach a zenith. Kanishka's father is taken away and arrested as he belongs to the Maoist community. He disappears into the prison and never comes back. Kanishka takes up the responsibilities of both his mother and sister. To be rid of all the political conflicts staring them in the eye, they want to get to America, a place they perceive to be nothing less than a dreamland. To travel to America, however, they must go through Pakistan, where Afghan refugees have to face brutality and slavery. Kanishka's heart is exhausted and his sister's health worsens while staying in the Pakistani camps.
He shows exceptional bravery in these testing times through the journey from Pakistan to America. Whenever Kanishka feels happy or disheartened, he muses over the works of Rumi and other poets. This is something in the story that touches my heart the most, as the importance and significance of literature is duly acknowledged.
This story is not just about a forbidden relationship, but also about the suffering, the struggles and the splendid bravery of Kanishka. It's also a treatise on the political conflicts, religious intolerance, taboo of homosexuality in Afghanistan and the beauty of life and hope amidst the surrounding ugliness.
This book will leave a scar on your heart and in your mind with it’s heart-wrenching and vivid descriptions. The writer’s fine and lyrical style of writing leave the reader with an accurate picture of the traditions, cultures, environment, the struggles of homosexuals and the significant art of carpet weaving in Afghanistan.
