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Zahir Shah becomes King of Afghanistan
Zahir Shah became king in 1933, and continued to rule for the next forty years. His rule ended in 1973. He brought "a semblance of stability to the country and ruled for the next 40 years" (News Desk). -
Pakistan is created
After Britain withdrew from India, Pakistan was formed from the remaining land. It shared a long border with Afghanistan, which was largely out of control. When Britain withdrew, India became a "predominantly Hindu but secular state of India, and the Islamic state of Pakistan" (News Desk). -
Afghanistan Allies with Soviet Union
Nikita Khrushchev, a Soviet Premier from Russia "agrees to help Afghanistan, and the two countries become close allies" (News Desk). -
Amir is born
In 1963, Sofia Akrami gave birth to Amir. Baba married "Sofia Akrami, a highly educated woman universally regarded as one of Kabul's most respected, beautiful, and virtuous ladies" (15). Baba married a wonderful woman, but she had died in childbirth while birthing Amir. Amir had always felt that his father was distant to him because he stole the love of his life from him. Baba always told Amir that the greatest sin was stealing, and Amir took this wisdom to heart a little too seriously. -
Hassan is Born
Hassan is born to Sanaubar in 1964, who took one look at him and said "'now you have your own idiot child to do all your smiling for you!'" (10). She refused to hold him, and left five days later. This didn't hurt Hassan in his upbringing, although his race did. He was properly taken care for by Baba and Ali, who had also taken care of Amir. Essentially, Hassan grew up with Amir's family. They could be seen as brothers. -
Afghan Communist Party
The Afghan Communist Party secretly formed in 1965, led by the "group's principal leaders, [who] are Babrak Karmal and Nur Mohammad Taraki" (News Desk). -
Republic of Afghanistan
The Republic of Afghanistan is created when Amir Amanullah Khan (socioeconomic reform activist) overthrows the king Mohammad Zahir Shah, and the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan comes to power. Khan then named himself president. This marked the beginning of "The Republic of Afghanistan, which [had been] established with firm ties to the USSR" (News Desk). -
Amir wins the Kite Running Tournament
Amir had just won first place in the Kite Running Tournament. He hoped that if he won, his father would appreciate him. As Amir ran his kite, he thought of how he would impress Baba once he won. Amir hoped for "salvation. Redemption. And then? Well...happily ever after, of course. What else?" (67). The one thing Amir truly wanted was love and affection from his father. He believed the only way of gaining this was winning a tournament, and impressing him with his skills. -
Assef Rapes Hassan
After the Kite Running Tournament, Hassan tries to find Amir so he can return the blue kite to him. However, he is intercepted and assaulted by Assef and his 'friends'. Amir watches Hassan get raped, but does nothing about it. Eventually, Amir "stopped watching, turned away from the alley. In the end, [he] ran" (77). This action, or lack thereof, haunts Amir for the rest of his life. -
Amir Turns 13
Amir's thirteenth birthday falls shortly after Hassan's rape, and his guilt is still fresh. Amir had "gone back to... gnawing [his] nails down to the cuticles, writing stories" (93). Amir is still traumatized from what he witnessed, and is very guilty for his inaction. All Amir wanted to do was impress his father, but even at his own birthday party he failed to do this. However, he received many presents from his friends and family. -
Amir and Baba Travel to Pakistan
In 1981, Baba decides it is no longer safe for their family to remain in Afghanistan. They emigrate to Pakistan illegally, using the country as a bridge to allow them to move to America. Most of the truck ride is "scattered bits and pieces of memory that come and go, most of it sounds and smells... the stench of gasoline, vomit, and shit" (123). Amir and Baba needed to escape, but the means of doing so were very dire and unsanitary. They rode with other Afghans in a soldier's truck. -
Baba and Amir move to America
By 1983, Baba and Amir had moved to America. Although "Baba loved the idea of America [,] it was living in America that gave him an ulcer" (125). They had to escape Afghanistan to escape warfare and lawlessness, and moved to Fremont, CA. However, Baba is not recognized as the man he is in America. He most likely missed his homeland, and his entire life he had lived there. Amir seemed to have enjoyed America far more than Baba. -
Baba is Diagnosed with Cancer
In 1985, Baba was diagnosed with lung cancer. Amir recalls "it started with a hacking cough and the sniffles" (153). Eventually, Amir decided to take Baba to the doctor. This quote had already foreshadowed more sickness to come, and implied that things weren't going to end well for Baba. Baba was a regular smoker, and had fallen ill because of it. -
Amir and Soraya Get Married
In 1986, Amir asks for Soraya's hand in marriage. He caught feelings for her after he met her at the flea market. After several months of talking with and watching her, he asked Baba to ask General Taheri for her hand in marriage. At the wedding, "slowly, Soraya came to [Amir]... she kissed [his] father's hands...[and] the applause swelled" (169). Even though Amir was weighed down by guilt most of his life, he still managed to find happiness. This shows that he grew to be a kind and loving man. -
Baba Dies
In 1987, sadly, Baba died. Soraya and Amir took care of him in his late years, until one morning, "Baba never woke up" (173). Soraya was a kind and loving woman, and helped Amir through difficult times. As well, Baba's death marks the end of an era for Amir. He no longer has anybody to guide him; he's on his own. -
Hassan Dies
Amir finds out about Hassan's fate from Rahim Khan. Hassan had settled down with his wife in a small predominantly Hazara community in Kabul. All of a sudden, the Talibs tried to take Hassan's home from him, calling him a thief and a liar. When he protested, "'[they] order[ed] him to kneel... and shot him in the back of the head'" (219). Staying in Kabul hadn't been safe for Hassan, and the Taliban soon killed him because of his race. Hassan, however, had remained true to his father (Baba). -
Amir Receives Call From Rahim Khan
Amir had received a call from Rahim Khan after living many years in America. Rahim Khan had been living in Pakistan when he called. However, when Amir picked up the phone, he knew "it wasn't just Rahim Khan on the line. It was [his] past of unatoned sins" (1). Rahim had told Amir that there was a way to be good again, and that Amir should come visit him. Of course, Amir had tried to forget everything he had done, but going back to Afghanistan would bring all his memories and sins back. -
Amir Travels to Pakistan and Afghanistan
After receiving the phone call from Rahim Khan, Amir decides to visit him in Pakistan. Right before leaving for Pakistan, he dreamed of "Hassan running in the snow, the hem of his green chapan dragging behind him, snow crunching under his black rubber boots. He was yelling over his shoulder: For you, a thousand times over!" (194). Even after more than 20 years, Amir immediately thought of Hassan. This shows how much he cared for him, and how much he ultimately needed him. -
Amir Finds out that he and Hassan are Brothers
During his visit to Rahim Khan, Amir discovers that he and Hassan had been brothers, sharing a common father, Baba. After hearing this, Amir was quite upset. he had told Rahim Khan "'I'm thirty-eight years old and I've just found out my whole life is one big f*cking lie!'" (223). Amir is not only upset because this has been kept from him so long, but also because it strengthens his sense of betrayal of Hassan. Baba taught him that it was a sin to lie, yet he had lied to Amir his whole life. -
Assef Beats Amir Up
After tracking Sohrab (Hassan's orphaned son)'s location, Amir tries to take Sohrab away from Assef.. However, Assef tells him "'we have some unfinished business, you and I'" (286). Asse wants revenge on Amir for standing up to him all those years ago, in exchange for taking Sohrab somewhere safe. Assef then beats him up, until Sohrab intervenes with his slingshot. This shows that Assef held a grudge for many years. However, it also shows that Amir and Sohrab already have a kinship and bond. -
Sohrab Attempts Suicide
Amir had mostly healed from his injuries, and unfortunately, had to inform Sohrab of the news that he might need to stay in another orphanage. Sohrab then attempts suicide, right before Amir tells him that he would adopt him. When Amir finds Sohrab, he "was on [his] knees, screaming" (343). This shows how much Amir cared about him, but also how traumatized Sohrab was. Amir called an ambulance, but was afraid it would be too late. Sohrab simply didn't have a will to live any longer. -
Amir and Soraya Adopt Sohrab
After attempting suicide, Sohrab barely survived. He was never the same as he was before, but Amir managed to get him into America and adopt him. Sohrab is still traumatized and has severe depression, but just once, Amir saw "a smile. Lopsided. Hardly there. But there. It didn't make anything all right. But I'll take it" (371). After Sohrab's attempt at suicide, a smile was a milestone. Again, this shows that Amir very much cared for Sohrab and was, after all, for him a thousand times over.
