Class+Identification

Class Identification in Afghanistan



Hazara

 LOCATION: Afghanistan LANGUAGE: Persain  POPULATION: 2,685,000-5,370,000 RELIGION: Shia Muslims

DESCRIPTION: The Hazara make up about 20% of the population of Afghanistan. Their Asian features immediately distinguish them from other peoples of Afghanistan.

DIFFERENCE: The Hazara are visually, linguistically and religiously different from all the other peoples around them. Because of these differences, they have long been despised and persecuted by majority groups. Persecution of the Hazara continues today.



Pashtun

 LOCATION: Southeastern Afghanistan; northwestern Pakistan  LANGUAGE: Pashtu POPULATION: approximately 35 million  RELIGION: Islam (Sunni Muslim)

DESCRIPTION: Pashtun are traditionally pastoral nomads with a strong tribal organization. Each tribe, consisting of kinsmen who trace descent in male bloodlines from a common tribal ancestor, is divided into clans, subclans, and patriarchal families. Tribal genealogies establish rights of succession and inheritance, the right to use tribal lands, and the right to speak in tribal council. Disputes over property, women, and personal injury often result in blood feuds between families and whole clans; these may be inherited unless settled by the intervention of clan chiefs or by tribal council.

DIFFERENCE: Pashtun are traditionally pastoral nomads with a strong tribal organization. Each tribe, consisting of kinsmen who trace descent in male bloodlines from a common tribal ancestor, is divided into clans, subclans, and patriarchal families. Trib famalies establish rights of succession and inheritance, the right to use tribal lands, and the right to speak in tribal council. Disputes over property, women, and personal injury often result in harmful fights.



Tajik

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> LOCATION: Tajikistan <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> POPULATION: 7.6 million <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> LANGUAGE: Tajiki; Russian; Uzbeki <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"> RELIGION: Islam; Judaism; Orthodox Christianity

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">DESCRIPTION: The Tajiks are an Indo-European people who settled the upper reaches of the Amu River. During the latter part of the 19th century, the Tajiks were divided. Most of the population occupied what would become the republic of Tajikistan in the former Soviet Union (USSR). The rest became a large minority in Afghanistan. On December 5, 1929, Tajikistan became an independent republic in the USSR.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">DIFFERENCE: The nation gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 but clashes among Muslims and communists resulted. During the five-year civil war (1992–97) in Tajikistan, tens of thousands lost their lives. More than 100,000 people fled to Afghanistan and more than 35,000 homes were destroyed, either in battle or as a result of ethnic-cleansing actions. Sporadic fighting still occurs, although the situation has calmed considerably. However, the political situation remains tense.



<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Connections to the Text

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">1.) Hassan: Flat, broad nose slanting, narrow eyes like bamboo leaves, eyes that looked, depending on the light, gold, even sapphire. (pg.3) <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">2.) Ali and Sanaubar- Shi'a Muslim and an ethic Hazara. (pg. 7-8) <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">3.) Hazaras- Mongual descendents, and looked like Chinese people. (pg.9) <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">4.) Hazaras had tried to rise agianest the Pashtuns in the late 19th century. (pg. 9)

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;"> Socratic Seminar Questions

1.) Do you think that Amir and Hassan, are not as close as friends due to their different class? How would you describe their relationship? 2.) How do Amir and Hassan represent the divisions in Afghan society, and how do these divisions affect the courses their lives take? 3.) If you lived in Afghanistan would you rather be a Pashtun, Hazara, or a Tajik? Why?

Sources

Gannon, K. (2004). Afghanistan Unbound. //Foreign Affairs//, //83//(3), 35. Retrieved from [] //Pashtun//. (2009). Retrieved from [] Tajiks. (2012). //Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cultures.// Detroit:Retrieved from []