Shabanu, Daughter of the Wind
Name of text- Shabanu, Daughter of the Wind
Summary
How this relates to issues today
How did Shabanu live her life in the dessert of Afghanistan?
Style of text- Fiction/ Novel
Author- Suzanne Fisher Staples
Setting of text- A Cholistan desert that borders India and Pakistan in fairly modern times
This novel tells the situation of Shabanu, an eleven-year-old girl who is coming of age. Ever since she was a child she was promised marriage, something numerous Cholistan girls are told. She lives a simple yet happy life with her family in the desert.
Basic human rights
In an unfortunate turn of events, Shabanu and older sister Phulan are out alone in the desert when they are confronted by Nazir, their cruel landlord. The girls manage to escape, however, the revenge-seeking Nazir slaughters Phulan's future husband Hamir.
To stop their landlord from cutting off the family's water supplies, Phulan now gets to marry Murad ( who was meant to marry her Shabanu ) while Shabanu has to become a fourth wife to an elderly man.
Shabanu was scared and hesitant. Through a series of events, her auntie Sharma informs her to keep her true happiness and pure personality locked in her heart in order to keep her sanity.
"The secret is keeping your innermost beauty, the secrets of your soul, locked in your heart," Sharma's voice whispers in my ear, "so that he must always reach out to you for it"
" He (Phulan's uncle) said, 'They're going to give Phulan to the man who shoots the most quails" - "Nazir's older brother has asked for Shabanu"
Religious freedom
Shabanu is a Muslim, and she lives a very restricted lifestyle.
Unfortunately, most Women and girls of the Middle East are forced to live like this today. In public it is compulsory for them to have a male escort with them. They are not allowed to drive and must stick to strictly follow Islam
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If citizens of certain countries such as Iran or Syria do not religiously follow Islam every day, it is considered a crime. This can happen in any country with any religion/ culture.
She must obey everything her father tells her to do, and once she is married she must obey her husband. Whenever she rebels from her parents, they confess how worried they are about her future if she continues that behaviour
Women in the Middle East are usually seen as property to their fathers and husbands. This situation is very similar to Shabanu's, as she must obey everything her father says until she is married off.
"'Shabanu, you are as wild as the wind. You must learn to obey. Otherwise... I am afraid for you' She (Shabanu's mother) says, her face serious" - " You must learn to obey even if you disagree"
This makes me feel sorry for Shabanu. She has to live a restricted life while at the same time we are leading such free lives. Just because of her place of birth, she as to withstand discrimination without being able to speak up.
This quote annoyed and irritated me. Shabanu should get to chose who she wants to marry, she shouldn't be set up with an elderly man at such a young age.
I'm glad Shabanu is learning to control the situation to make it more bearable for her.
Shabanu was a Cholistan girl
This meant her family did not have much money and just made it by
Other richer desert residents knew of this low social status, which often meant Shabanu and her family were looked down upon.
Her family made an income by selling camels. Shabanu loved being around and caring for the camels
Sometimes they would not make trades with Shabanu and her family because of their status.
When Shabanu's favourite camel Guluband was sold against her will, it upset her and compelled her to act more rebellious than she already is.
" Tears left my eyes as I saw Dadi (Father) give over Guluband to the masked men"
This quote made me felel sympathy for Shabanu because the camel who has kept her sane over the years is being taken away from her right in front of her eyes, and there is nothing she can do about it.
This meant the only way Shabanu's family made money was by farming animals, mainly camels.
" I look back onto my beloved mud hut, hoping onto Mithoo (Shabanu's camel) as I ride into the infertile land"
Cholistan is a status
It is a low status
This quote talks about how Shabanu has so little, but treasures what she does have.
Student Feedback
I really like the quotes you chose from the book- Bonnie
As Bonnie said, I also really like your quotes and I also like how detailed you have done your reading log - Harshitha
In New Zealand, we have a solid house, a sustainable food source and all the accessories we could want, but we still want more.
Even though we are around the same age as Shabanu (the girl in the book) we live such different lives.