THE KITE RUNNER: ROLE OF MULTICULTURAL FICTION IN FOSTERING CULTURAL COMPETENCE
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Research Journal of English Language and Literature (RJELAL)
A Peer Reviewed (Refereed) International Journal Vol.3.2.2015 (Apr-June)
http://www.rjelal.com
RESEARCH ARTICLE
THE KITE RUNNER: ROLE OF MULTICULTURAL FICTION IN FOSTERING CULTURAL
COMPETENCE
Dr. TARANA PARVEEN
Senior Lecturer in English, Govt. Meera Girls' College, Udaipur, Rajasthan, INDIA
E-mail: taranaparveenk@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
To survive in today’s world of rapid changes in technology, society
and demography, it has become necessary to re-examine the knowledge,
skills and abilities needed. The diversity of class room makes it imperative
for teachers to develop cultural competence which can enable them to
connect with, respond to and interact effectively with students. Students
too should be culturally competent so that they can be responsive and
successful in their communication with the world outside academia. Cultural
competence is not mere awareness and understanding but the ability to
navigate interaction with cultures other than one’s own. An inter-culturally
Article Info: competent person captures and understands the specific concepts of
Article Received:10/05/2015
perception, thinking, acting and feeling of people from foreign cultures
Revised on:20/05/2015
while interacting with them.
Accepted on:08/06/2015 Multicultural literature promotes cultural awareness as it is deeply
engaging and elicits empathy from readers. It can engage the readers in
cultural and societal issues for meaningful reflection and application thus
building sensitiveness for fostering cultural competence. It transcends it’s
literally value and contributes to cultural awareness. The focused study of
multicultural texts not only transfer facts and knowledge but develops new
frameworks for functioning within a diverse society. The Kite Runner by
Khaled Hosseini has such subtle depictions of Afghan Culture which makes it
a powerful tool in shaping cultural understanding. It not only gives a cultural
and historical overview of Afghanistan but also addresses its more recent
events with the Taliban Regime. It helps in breaking through stereo types
and misrepresentations by the media and offers an opportunity to consider
the humanity behind the media hype.
Keywords: Cultural Competence, Multicultural, Diversity, Kite Runner,
Fiction
©KY PUBLICATIONS
160 Dr. TARANA PARVEENResearch Journal of English Language and Literature (RJELAL)
A Peer Reviewed (Refereed) International Journal Vol.3.2.2015 (Apr-June)
http://www.rjelal.com
INTRODUCTION differences and teach students to compete and
The rapid changes in technology, contrast cultural models, ideologies and social
society and demographics have made it practices, adjust to and accommodate
imperative for us to re-examine our knowledge, differences of kinship, gender, language and
skills and abilities necessary to survive and complicated interactions involving race,
develop in the present and future world. ethnicity and inequality (Mary, Reese et al. 98),
Today's world promotes and encourages thus making them culturally competent.
culturally competent and linguistically Cultural Competency
appropriate exchanges and collaborations Cultural Competency has become the
among families, professionals, students and need of the hour, it has become necessary in
communities in order to become responsive our public and private life, because cultures
towards issues such as culture, race, gender, vary not only between continents and nations
social and economic status. It is therefore but within the same work place or even family,
important to understand and develop cultural depending upon geographical, ethical, ethnical,
competence. moral, religious, political or historical
Managing Cultural Differences differences. It helps a person to understand and
Globalization has made the whole interact effectively with people of different
world a global village. This has increased the cultures. By understanding the meaning of
need for interaction with people belonging to culture one can understand Cultural
different cultures. The activities of global Competence .
markets are coordinated by using different Chamberlain (197) represents culture
communication technology media which as "the values, norms and traditions that affect
collaborate virtually. Whether the interaction how individuals of a particular group perceive,
with the outside world and other people is think, interact, behave and make judgments
virtual or real it is important to understand about their world5. Taylor in 1996 defined
cultural differences, the absence of which could culture as, "an integrated pattern of human
have a negative effect on the intervention. Best behaviour including thought, communication,
(Best 1) developed the concept of inclusive ways of interacting, roles and relationships,
democracy and promotes equal participation beliefs, values, practices and customs”
from all groups in the world, which is an (Wikipedia, Competence).
admirable yet utopian vision in the present Cultural Competency is also associated
time. It has become necessary to socialize with diversity, and from an organizational
youth to carry on a societal culture in a global communicational perspective a diverse culture.
era in order to engage them in an ever-growing Diversity initiatives encourage the process of
world of diversity and complexity. Globalization including the perspectives of under
has changed the ways we experience national represented, non dominant groups in
identity and cultural belonging. Identity is organizations to ensure they have a voice. The
becoming increasingly fluid according to word competence is used because it implies
Ivanova (209). Globalization has blurred possessing the capacity and capability to
political and cultural borders that once function within the context of culturally
separated nations and states along with people integrated patterns of human behaviour
who reside in them (Suarez-Orozco 209). defined by a group. In this context being
Modern nations are trying their best to manage competitive means learning new patterns of
161 Dr. TARANA PARVEENResearch Journal of English Language and Literature (RJELAL)
A Peer Reviewed (Refereed) International Journal Vol.3.2.2015 (Apr-June)
http://www.rjelal.com
behaviour and effectively applying them in the effectively with them. It is possible to attain
appropriate settings. cultural competence through reading
Cultural Competence, thus refers to an multicultural literature as it promotes cultural
ability to interact effectively with people of sensitivity through building awareness. It holds
different cultures, particularly in the context of a context that is immediately relevant to
human resources, non profit organizations and reader's lives. It elicits an empathetic response
government agencies whose employees work by actively engaging its audience. A person
with persons from different cultural/ethnic learns about his attitude towards other
backgrounds ((Wikipedia, Competence). cultures, by analyzing and examining has own
Psychologist - Paul Peterson used the culture, beliefs, biases and behaviours. He
term multicultural competence in a mental discovers his own attitudes and actions which
health publication almost a decade before the are shaped by the culture in which he is
term cultural competence became popular. He brought up.
gave a multicultural model emphasizing its After studying a variety of Multicultural
three components as awareness, knowledge works a person achieves heightened levels of
and skills. Diversity training university cultural understanding, awareness of one's own
International DTUI added a fourth cognitive self and the larger world, all these form the
component for developing cultural competence fundamental concept for developing the
and that is the attitude of a person. attitudes and acquiring the skills necessary for
Components of Cultural Competency interacting effectively with people belonging to
Awareness. A person should be other cultures.
conscious of his own personal reactions to The Novel is an ideal means to build
people who are different. cultural competence and has a real role to play
Attitude - A person should carefully in producing global citizens. The dynamics of
examine his own attitude towards cultural society and culture are changing and there is a
differences, whether it is biased or unbiased. need to equip students with a modernized and
People should carefully examine their own culturally broadened framework for developing
beliefs and values about cultural differences. an understanding of the world. Multicultural
Knowledge - One should have literature helps in attaining cultural
knowledge of different cultural practices and competency by promoting cultural sensitivity
worldviews. Our values and beliefs about through building awareness. Such books
equality may be inconsistent with our transcend their literacy value and stimulate the
behaviours and we may be ironically unaware growth of skills of cultural competence.
of it. Multicultural Literature exposes people
Skills - Focuses on practicing cultural to history, geography, social conditions, class
competence to perfection. Communication is conflicts and violations of the human rights of
fundamental tool by which we can interact with an individual or group of the people of a
different people (Wikipedia, Competence). particular class, creed, sex, religion or
Role of Multicultural Fiction nationality. Through meaningful textual
A culturally competent person interaction and discourse they expose readers
understands the specific concepts in to cultural values of place along with its
perception, thinking, feeling and acting of physical conditions, which the readers
people from foreign cultures and interacts,
162 Dr. TARANA PARVEENResearch Journal of English Language and Literature (RJELAL)
A Peer Reviewed (Refereed) International Journal Vol.3.2.2015 (Apr-June)
http://www.rjelal.com
otherwise do not have a chance to access and The Kite Runner by Khaled Husseini as a
explore. multicultural novel
These books have the power of The Kite Runner has the power of
absorbing the reader. Readers are so much exiting emotions, provoking thoughts and
engaged in the novels that they not only touching the hearts of the readers of diverse
witness the story and encounter the cultures. Khaled Husseini subtly describes
happenings, but begin experiencing the culture, Afghan culture along with giving us an insight
sorrows, atrocities and happiness of the into the personal gains and losses of individual
characters. Students experience the unfamiliar characters. He writes about large scale global
world and find similarities or differences to sufferings and assaults on the human rights,
their own experiences irrespective of their own intricately weaving it with small painful
background. They connect themselves with moments in the life of the victims. In the novel
culture, characters and incidents and thus he incorporates a large number of themes of
respond to them emotionally as well as invasion, adventure, intrigue, rivalry, betrayal,
intellectually. Multicultural Fiction has the friendship and escape.
power to elicit responses from the readers after Husseini gives a pathetic picture of war
linking them with the stories. These books help torn Afghanistan and while reading, readers
in developing an understanding of the diverse become spectators viewing streets thronged
cultures of the world. with baggers, old men, widows, orphaned
Multicultural novels can build the children suffering from utter poverty and
sensitivity necessary for respectful and hunger, living in an atmosphere of constant
effective interaction with individuals from fear of bombing and shelling. The narrative is so
cultural groups other than one's own. Not only powerful that readers can breathe the dust,
this, they help in affirming cultural identities for smell the sewers and hear the gunshots and
minority students, who can find connections to rattle of military trucks. Husseini engages
their own experiences. Thus multicultural readers and makes people witness the
literature helps in producing harmony amongst atrocities of war. This helps in developing and
global citizens. When the teacher combines the eliciting the empathy of the readers, and thus
understanding of the students with purposeful an understanding of the people of Afghanistan.
instruction and critical analysis it helps in He writes about Afghanistan his
developing cultural competency skills. Inger country during peace times in order to show
Bierschink writes that "literature is a necessary that Afghans are a peace loving people who
instrument for perceiving the disparity of a have a rich cultural heritage. He describes the
society and for developing competence" boyhood days of Amir the protagonist of the
(Bierschenk 12). According to Banks it is novel, who had a mania for kite flying and spent
important to break people out of the 'ethnic days and months for this passion. "Winter was
encapsulation' to learn cultural competency every kid's favorite season in Kabul, at least
(Banks 29). According to Bartol and Richardson those whose fathers could afford to buy a good
building cultural competence requires people iron stove. The reason was simple: They shut
to step “outside one's traditional value down school the icy season... And kites, of
orientation” (Bartol, Lenora 12). Cultural course. And running them loved winter line in
competence has become a necessary skill for Kabul (Husseini 49) His boyhood friend and
navigating societal interactions. servant Hassan, whom he betrays later is a
163 Dr. TARANA PARVEENResearch Journal of English Language and Literature (RJELAL)
A Peer Reviewed (Refereed) International Journal Vol.3.2.2015 (Apr-June)
http://www.rjelal.com
story with which a reader can make to the privileged Pashtun class, whereas his
connections with his own childhood days. He servant Hassan and his father Ali belong to the
writes in detail about the traditions of marginalized Hazara Class. Amir's father Baba
Afghanistan, like the Khastegari tradition, the betrays Ali and Amir too betrays Hassan by not
marriage of Amir with Soriya in a traditional helping Hassan when he is molested by other
Afghan manner, suffering the relationship of boys, while kite running for Amir. Ali and his
Amir with his strong father Baba, his sufferings son Hassan show their loyalty and respect
and expectations from his father and loss of towards their masters even after this betrayal,
identity at the death of Baba who was a proud, but both make amends later on. Amir gets rid
bold and powerful man; and the ceremonies at of his childhood guilt by finding a way to be
the death of Baba. All these descriptions help in good again by adopting Hassan's son and
developing on understanding of Afghan Culture, becoming a kite runner for him, a boy
as readers are absorbed in this realistic belonging to Hazara class. Thus he himself
imagery. develops cultural tolerance. His act signifies the
We can witness Afghan culture even rectification of the injustices committed by
when Husseini writes about his country's Pashtuns against the Hazaras. Husseini traces
geography, ancient history and recent events the forefathers of the Hazara class who were
with the Taliban regime. He writes about the considered to be of a Mongol descent. He also
seasons and celebrations, and about the Afghan writes about the historic fact of 1998 when
summers and winters, the high mountain hundreds of Hazaras were massacred in Mazar-
ranges, the harsh snow of winters and hot dry e-Sharif by the Talibans.
winds of summers which bring dust storms. The Kite Runner draws the attention of
When readers learn about Afghanistan's the world towards the horrible condition of the
geography what they gain is a sense of majesty children of Afghanistan during war. They are
and remoteness. This is the message which victims of the war, living in a state of poverty,
Khaled Husseini wishes to convey about as they have lost their fathers and their
Afghanistan's culture too that his country has a mothers are not allowed to go and work
majestic culture but it is remote as people of outside. They have not seen schools; they do
the world are unaware of it. Physical geography not have proper food, clothing and shelter.
of Afghanistan has landlocked the country. It Husseini also refers to the tradition of bachha
was embattled and ravaged by powerful baazi in Afghanistan where adult males harass
military forces from both West and East, Russia young boys and dress them up as females.
and USA. Khaled Husseini along with writing Husseini (227) writes "There are many children
about the rugged terrain of the country, not but little childhood in Afghanistan". Readers
only describes the physical beauty of his can not neglect children forced into adulthood
motherland but also writes about the spiritual prematurely. Mary F. Agnillo and Reese H. Todd
beauty of the people. Though his country has write – “We frame this discussion with in the
faced wars and internal disturbances, but this macro concept of place - the global village now
has not affected the dignity and pride of the united and requiring communication skills in
people. interpersonal intercultural interactions to be
Husseini has written about the ethnic taught and learned in classrooms as technology
struggle in Afghanistan. He tells us about facts mediated environments and at the micro level
through fiction. The protagonist Amir belongs of Husseini's sense of loss and destruction of
164 Dr. TARANA PARVEENResearch Journal of English Language and Literature (RJELAL)
A Peer Reviewed (Refereed) International Journal Vol.3.2.2015 (Apr-June)
http://www.rjelal.com
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A Peer Reviewed (Refereed) International Journal Vol.3.2.2015 (Apr-June)
http://www.rjelal.com
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