The Rugmaker of Prahran
On Thursday afternoon, six year 11 literature students ventured down High
Street to go and meet not only the author of their book ‘The Rugmaker of Mazare-Sharif’ but the main character. Najaf Mazari was an Afghani refugee, now
Australian citizen, who owns a rug shop down near the corner of Williams and
High. As we walked through the door we were instantly surrounded by rugs
upon rugs upon rugs and Najaf’s smiling face popped out from behind them.
After spending the last several weeks dissecting and analysing his life, we were
able to put a face to a name and a personality to a story. The story that he told in
his book was shocking but after meeting the man behind it, it really hit home
how real it was and by getting to know Najaf, the meaning behind some of his
writing became clear and we walked away with a better understanding of what
was meant in the passages we are about to analyse.
He talked of what his life had become and we took great interest in the life his
daughter lived after immigrating to Australia, as we are the same age. He and the
answers he gave to our questions enthralled us and as we sat shyly on the
ground atop beautiful tribal rugs.
Najaf is a peaceful man and embodies the kind and gentle side of Islam as he
spoke to us about his love for religion in general. He spoke about Judaism and
how he really respected the Jewish people. It was an amazing experience to see
this man who had been persecuted by religious warfare explain how he didn’t
feel religions had conflict but how politics created warfare. For a man who had
experienced such unjust circumstances with the murder of his family and being
tortured by the Taliban, not to mention being imprisoned by the Australian
government, he was so welcoming and embracing of us, being young Jewish
Australians.
He was an inspiration to all of us and we left with new appreciations for our
gifted lives and a new found understanding and respect for Muslims and
refugees.
By Tamsin Goldfeld, Year 11