Hazarans In The Kite Runner

In the novel, “The Kite Runner,” by Khaled Hosseini, the Hazara tribe is explained as an ethnic group that is lower in society and caste. While most of Afghanistan is Sunni Muslim and Pashtun dominant, the Hazaras are known to experience racial discrimination and punishment for their different Shia and Shi’ite beliefs. This plays a significant role in the novel, “The Kite Runner,” because the character, Hassan, experiences a lot of discrimination, bullying, and racism for being a Hazara, this eventually helps create the plot of the novel. Hazaras are considered different from Pashtuns not only for their different beliefs, but for their facial features as well. They are known to have distinct Asian facial features. A widely accepted theory for this is that Hazaras are a mixed race, where Mongol tribes used to live near Afghanistan and to later end up creating a community called the Hazara, mainly located in Hazarajat, Afghanistan.

As people started creating communities, they named themselves, such as, “Hazara,” which is the Persian word for thousand, meaning a thousand people.

As this community grew bigger, a language developed called Hazaragi, this is now the main language spoken by the Hazara. The Hazara are semi-nomadic, meaning move from time to time depending on season. Housing varies on location and season, where houses can be made of different materials such as sun-dried bricks, mud and straw, stone, and timber. Before the 19th century, Hazaras were 67% of Afghanistan’s population, but this all changed when nearly half of them were killed in 1863 by political action. Later, groups like the Taliban tried to even further rid of them, and now the Hazara are less than 10% of Afghanistan’s population. For the last 200 years, the Hazaras still face racial discrimination and attacks from people. Even though they still face discrimination, they thrive on religion and

family.
Although Hazaras try to manage, there is never enough food. The food is mainly bread, some vegetables and inadequate dairy products. During droughts or dry seasons malnutrition, starvation, and death is common. With no insufficient medical care, the Hazara are at risks of serious health problems and diseases while living in these conditions. Diseases such dysentery, tuberculosis, and leprosy can be caused. The atmospheric conditions are also not good, muggy, smoky areas, and dust storms can cause eye disease.
On a good note, the Hazara are commonly described as hardworking, friendly, and committed. They are quite talented people that are great rug weavers and embroiders. The Hazara also love poetry, cultural music, and storytelling. Often times, they like to memorize poetry and teach it to their children. The Hazara also enjoy physical activities such as a game similar to basketball and wrestling. The Hazara women are honored in the culture, where they wear floral dresses and burkas. Unlike other women from Afghanistan, it is common for Women to be more educated and fight with Hazara men in battle.