Humaira: Do you like listening to audio books? To bring a little personal touch to this post, I am pleased that Khaled was able to take time out of his busy month to "chime" in, as he puts it, and share his thoughts about audio books and food…Ĭonversation with Khaled Hosseini, the author of " And the Mountains Echoed."
For many years, TKHF has been a generous supporter of my non-profit, Afghan Friends Network.
TKHF also provides support to organizations focused on education, and healthcare for women and children of Afghanistan. The Khaled Hosseini Foundation (TKHF), brainchild of Khaled's lovely wife Roya, works with UNHCR to build shelters for refugee families who are still suffering. Khaled makes me proud by using his celebrity to highlight important issues plaguing our world today. Remembering when our families barely had enough money to eat, Khaled’s success is a testament to achieving "the American dream" through hard work, and in his case exceptional talent. As newly arrived refugees, cut off from our roots, living in low-income neighborhoods of San Jose, our families flocked together for familiarity and support. I have known Khaled since the early 80's, long before it was fashionable to be Afghan. I must admit that the actors’ mispronunciation of Afghan names and Dari words annoyed me.
The audio book is well directed with haunting Middle Eastern inspired music, which creates a charming ambiance for the listener. In this audio book, Khaled only reads two chapters Iranian actors Navid Negahban and Oscar nominee Shohreh Aghdashloo skillfully read the rest of the story. I love books read by the author, especially if I know them. Yup! I said, “listening” not “reading.” You see, I walk for exercise so I always have a book or two loaded on my iPhone to keep me company. Every major publication, media outlet, literary site, bookstore and online vendor has written about Khaled's third and much anticipated novel. I have to agree with them, it is a must read with rich characters and exotic setting - a multi-generation saga which leaves you wanting wanting more. "So, what is left to say?" I pondered this question when I was listening to the audiobook of my friend and fellow Afghan American's latest fiction best seller. If your answer is "No," then you have either been in a coma or off the grid. In addition, the books written in this regard from 2016 to 2018 were also approved for the 2019 competition.įederal Secretary for National Heritage and Culture Division Ms Nosheen Javed, Academy of Letters Chairman Prof Yousuf Kushk, Allama Iqbal Open University Faculty of Social Sciences Dean Prof Dr Shahid Iqbal participated in the meeting via video link while Prof Dr Zia-ul-Haq, Raja Muhammad Akhtar Iqbal and Dr Humaira Shahbaz were present on the occasion."And the Mountains Echoed" by Khaled Hosseini, have you heard of it? According to the recommendations, not only the awards conferred by the judges up to 2015 ratified, but the award was also approved for the year 2019 in the light of the new rules.
In this connection, the sub-committee constituted by the president of Iqbal Academy Pakistan, Federal Minister for Education, National Heritage and Culture Shafqat Mehmood, in the last meeting of the selection committee, had presented the recommendations for Iqbal Award. The meeting decided that the suspended Presidential Iqbal Award will be re-launched in line with the new rules approved by the President of Pakistan in 2019. Iqbal Academy Pakistan Vice-President Dr Shehzad Qaiser chaired the meeting. The practice of conferring Presidential Iqbal Award every year for Urdu books, whereas, for the books written in English and other languages every three years will remain intact.Īccording to a statement issued by Iqbal Academy Pakistan Director Prof Dr Baseera Ambreen, the decision was taken in the meeting of the Presidential Iqbal Award Selection Committee held at Aiwan-e-Iqbal on Sunday. According to the decision of the selection committee for Iqbal Award, along with the books written in 2019, books written in Urdu, English and other languages on the life and thoughts of Allama Iqbal, his personality and Kalam, from 2016 to 2018 would also be able to contest for the award.