The Rugmaker of Mazar-e-Sharif

by Najaf Mazari

The Rugmaker of Mazar-e-Sharif traces an Afghani refugees extraordinary journey from his early life as a shepherd boy in the mountains of Northern Afghanistan, to his forced exile after being captured and tortured by the Taliban, to incarceration in an Australian detention centre ... and finally, to freedom.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Book Club, Australia, Autobiography, Audiobook, Asia

352 pages, Paperback

First published July 18, 2008

About the author

A shepherd boy from the mountains of Afghanistan, Najaf became a rugmaker of genius but was forced to flee his homeland under the onslaught of the Taliban. He painstakingly rebuilt his life in Australia and rescued his family from the despair of Pakistan’s refugee camps.

Reviews

[Clare Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring and heartfelt account of what causes a man to leave his homeland and family and the following perilous journey. An antidote to the mindless bigotry I hear regularly in the media and from Australians about this issue. I can only be grateful that someone has had the good sense to make this book required reading for the young people of this country. With any luck this type of literature may slowly bring about a change in the way the general public views the part they can play in the plight of those less fortunate in the world who only ask for a chance in this "lucky country". Just as most residents here were given by their forebears immigration here often for similar reasons.

[Caity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to rad this for school in 2012. I started the book with my own opinions about refugees in Australia. But as I went along, I got to see the terrible devastation in which Najaf was forced to come to Australia by boat. The account was moving and helped me form different opinions of refugees in Australia.

[Jane Odgers · Rating 4 out of 5]

quietly furious about the Howard government's treatment of refugees and determined to put a human face to the hardships endured by refugees, he has found an Afghani rug-maker, Najaf Mazari, and crafted his personal story into a moving tale of courage and tenacity.

This is the story of how Mazari, when confronted with persecution and possible death at the hands of the Taliban, decided to leave his wife and young child, flee across the border to Pakistan, make his way across the Indonesian archipelago, catch a leaky boat, reach Darwin and then be buffeted by the overtly political and less-than-happy experiences of being transported to Adelaide and the refugee camp at Woomera before being recognised as a legitimate refugee, settling in Melbourne, establishing an Afghan carpet and rug shop and finally bringing his wife and child to Australia.

Hillman never strays from Mazari's voice. Thus the story sounds like a monologue, written down verbatim. But there are subtleties.

It is carefully and artistically structured. And it contains lots of criticisms of the war in Afghanistan and the treatment of refugees.

Here, for example, is a careful critique of both Russia and the US in Afghanistan, heavy with understated sarcasm: "We Afghans had the undesired honour of being among the first human beings on earth to be blown to pieces by this state-of-the-art Russian weaponry."

Here, too, is a sense of the overpowering boredom of waiting in the middle of the Australian desert for some bureaucrat in Canberra to make a decision; of the stupidity of the government. It deserves to be read by everyone who was ashamed at the way Australia treated refugees through the Howard years.

[Sam Buttigieg · Rating 1 out of 5]

While the book was well written, I just found it very difficult to finish. This book just simply didn’t peak my interest unfortunately :(

[Mel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an important book that should be read by all who take our safety and peaceful lives for granted. I appreciated reading a more authentic perspective of the experiences of an asylum seeker. Too often people watch stories on the television news and read the articles in the newspaper and label these groups as queue-jumpers or criminals, attaching unfairly negative connotations to them. This book allows readers to understand the motivations and contexts of the lives asylum seekers lead and the circumstances that necessitate their risk taking.
Having said this, I think this book is fairly poorly written and would have been significantly improved has it been written in a chronological manner rather than this disjointed product. Not only would this have been more logical but it would also help the reader appreciate the timeline and events that transpired.

[Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This work is an outstanding achievement. The craftmanship of Hillman's writing ensures an economy of narrative without losing the authentic voice of the Afghani author. There is a growing collection of works by or about refugees in Australia. These are important works, and I struggle to see how anyone can read them and fail to be moved. How can our political leaders ignore stories like Mazari's, with so many well-written books demanding attention in the popular non-fiction market? How can successive Australian governments miss the point entirely, and keep blabbering on about "queue-jumping" and "stopping the boats?"

[Rosanne Hawke · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rugmaker of Mazar-E-Sharif is a beautiful and wise book. I'm not sure from which author comes the magic. Najaf has an amazing story and Robert Hillman has captured the voice and pathos of that story. The combination of these two men is electric, portraying the hope, courage, the endurance and joy of an Afghan refugee fleeing the Taliban. From author Arnold Zable: told with great intelligence, humour, poetry and integrity.

[Cath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of Wills year 12 books. Thought provoking, easy to read and beautifully written. Now all I have to do is convince Will of that

[Debbie Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally changed my mind about the way Australia handles the issue and care of asylum seekers. This should be required reading!

[Baljit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Initially I found it a little slow, but as the story unfolds and alternates between his early life in Afghanistan and his life in detention I was drawn in. As English is not his first language the style is simple and direct. Overall it conveys the desperation of many refugees and the challenges they face.
Achieving a visa is the first stage only; gaining employment, a suitable abode and working through various departments, with language and cultural barriers is a challenge. Using a credit card is commonplace in developed countries but an alien concept for many. It’s little adjustments like this in which immigrants may need support. As Najaf relates here, he practices his faith as he was born into it but he never held extremist views and political ideas, not part of his simple life. We must not tar all Afghans with the same brush.

[Kyla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harrowing yet steadfastly hopeful.

I’m a sucker for the “people in the community helping main characters from the kindness of their hearts” trope. And in this case, it’s even better because it happened in real life.

Faith in humanity restored.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed Najaf’s story. It is well written and his character shines through. He is the same age as me but he only received three years of education before being sent out at 12 years old by his family to work, and true to his spirit, because he didn’t like the first job, he found himself a job that he liked better. That of a rugmaker. His love of his craft comes through in every page.
His story follows a childhood and young adulthood in Afghanistan and his relocation to Australia and the challenges he faced in both countries.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shockingly beautiful. An easy read despite the sheer amount of challenges and brutalities he faced. Especially loved learning about his childhood in the mountains and how ‘when you know what to look for, a mountainside becomes a pharmacy’. When iso is over, I’m going to visit his rug shop.

[Maha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though you know he's going to make it through all the hurdles, because you're holding the book in your hands, you're still captured by his experiences. You find yourself cheering him on, wanting him to finally make it to Australia, the sanctuary from all the hardship he lived through in his own country. This is the first book that has made me cry and laugh - definitely pulled on my heart strings. An incredibly poignant account in its simplicity. I'd love to send copies to our pollies in Canberra to evoke more empathy for people in these predicaments. We shouldn't be locking them up in detention if they manage to get as far as our shores. It's inhumane.

[Jane Milton · Rating 3 out of 5]

The recount of an asylum seeker who has lived through the 'Australian experience'. A few pearls were included about his life in Afghanistan, including one pretty horrific scene where he hides from the Taliban in a claustrophobic hole. However, the book was so badly written I found it frustrating to plough through.

[Pam Tickner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Chosen as a book club book - one man's refugee experience. Najaf is a very likeable character, however his simplistic views of the democratic process of the West frustrated me at times. His experience of the Taliban and the systematic massacre of his people was chilling.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished this great,little book
It is about Najaf’s life growing up in Afghanistan in the 1970’s to now in Australia. This ordinary man was born into I assume was a typical Afghani Muslim family. His childhood and family are depicted with great love and respect, from minding sheep as a 7 year old, to being apprenticed to become a welder at 13, with limited basic schooling. His independence as a growing young man occurs when he, unknown to his family, apprentices himself to a rugmaker, which give him much joy, and a trade for life.
The war, and the return of the Taliban to the area where the family live, brings tragedy, and the eventual capture and torture by the Taliban forces Najaf to escape with the help of his family which includes cousins uncles etc..they pool,their money to pay people smugglers so he can leave Afghanistan for Pakistan with his wife and daughter, from there he leaves for Indonesia, from there
a derelict boat with over 90 other refugees, takes him to WOOMERA detention centre, and a new life
I would like to have this man as a friend. He has a huge heart,
Please read

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deeply moving and beautifully written account of the softly-spoken, level-headed Najaf’s journey through life, love and hardship leading up to, during and and upon arrival to Australia. I was delighted by the intimate and thoughtful observations of life through Najaf’s eyes and loved how he wove his spirituality, heart and gentle humour throughout his incredible story. I am so grateful for the soft, rich and beautiful vision he created of his often treacherous yet beloved life in Afghanistan and for his strength and faith in starting a new life in Australia. The world is a better place for having this man and this book in it!

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading the first chapter - it says it all. Truly, sadly, deeply.
Najaf Mazari somehow kept his humanity and his spirit through the most devastating of times, both in his home country of Afghanistan and as an imprisoned refugee in Australia.
He weaves a thread of humour and goodwill throughout his epic but agonizing story.

There are some books that every Australian should read. This is one of them.

Similarly:
The Happiest Refugee by Anh Do
The Happiest Man on Earth by Eddie Jaku
Maybe Tomorrow by Monty Boori Pryor

[Tundra · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars. This is one man's story but is obviously representative of many. It doesn't delve deeply into the politics and history of Afghanistan but is a messaged conveyed using allegories and and a simple recount style of narration about life for many displaced and threatened people. I'm not sure there is anything new or striking about this book but it is obviously a cathartic process to recollect and come to terms with ones past.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

As is probably obvious in the fact I slowly read this book over 2 months, it failed to hold my interest for long. Such a shame because I really admire this man and while his actual story was incredibly interesting to me, this book somehow didn’t quite do it justice. I’m so happy to have this insight into the life of a refugee and feel better informed and more compassionate as a result. I wish I’d been able to focus on the book a bit better because I did really like it and Najaf.

[Patricia Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Najaf opens his story with a description of the despair he feels in the Australian detention centre at Woomera. Seeking a place to be alone, he remembers the Spring in his homeland, Afghanistan, and – remarkably - begins to sing. In the darkest times he never loses hope. I was lucky enough to meet Najaf when I bought two rugs (and this book) from his shop. Walking on the rugs as I do every day, I often think of him and his story.

[Jessica Mikayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book because of Najaf’s positive attitude towards life. It also helped me to learn some of the history of Afghanistan and about different groups of people in Afghanistan.

It had me laughing at some points too. A woman in Woomera has a crush on him, but he is faithful to his wife. The woman is crying because of the heartbreak and so he offers her an apple that he has in his hand and doesn’t know why that makes her cry more!

Overall, a good read.

[Philippa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think everyone should read this fascinating and eye opening true story of a refugee from Afghanistan who seeks asylum in Australia at the time of the Taliban. The pace of the story is just right as it alternates between the two countries, and the full extent of the horrors Najaf has had to face are revealed.

[Davey Slavey · Rating 4 out of 5]

An insight into where Afghan refugees really come from . Desperate, from a world literally foreign to us in the western world. I read this book as it was on my sons curriculum , initially thinking “ why” , but as the book progressed it became more obvious . Never take life, love and peace for granted .

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delighful and easy read of a wide eyed 'innocent' of Western culture telling his story from a small village in Afghanistan to his Rug shop in Melbourne. More Politicians should read this positive story instead if vilifying refugees.

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, this is an insight into the life of a refugee through the eyes of an Afghani man. Forced to flee Afghan and spend time at Woomera he tells his story, shares his thoughts and feelings on the war, processing etc
It is heart warming and at the same time heart breaking.

[Nicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can't help not to be affected by this man's determination and faith that life will get better. When he said to stay in Afghanistan, was to commit suicide due to danger he was in, made you understand why he left his homeland. This man can not be an asset to Australia.

[Izzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the simple and humble way in which it was written and in which horrific events were portrayed... I have so much respect and admiration for the author. This is a survivor and a man of faith. I'm so glad all ended well for him!

[Aphrodite Chamos · Rating 2 out of 5]

Have to admit that I couldn't quite make it to the end. Found the writing style a little irritating...