Aesthetic Value of the Novel The Kite Runner of Khaled Hosseini: Putting It to the Test of Bharata’s Theory of Rasa

Abstract

According to Bharata, each of us is fitted with a built-in structure of sthayibhavas(the permanent emotional state), modified forms of basic drives or instincts due to centuries of evolutionary humanization and social living processes. These sthayibhavas, chiefly eight in number, are heightened to rasadasa (a relishable state) by the writer so that we have one rasa corresponding to each. Bharata defines it as “Vibhava-anubhava-vyabhichari-samyogad rasa nispattih” (the savoring of the emotion is possible through the combination or integration of these elements: Vibhava-anubhava-vyabhicharibhavas.The aesthetic value of Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner is explored through the lens of Bharata’s theory of Rasa, a classical framework for understanding emotions in literature and performance. This study investigates how the novel evokes pathetic emotions (rasas) outlined in Bharata’s Natya Shastra and how these emotional responses contribute to the overall aesthetic experience. By analysing some important events in the novel (the friendship and betrayal between Amir and Hassan, and the backdrop of war-torn Afghanistan), the paper illustrates how Hosseini’s narrative techniques, character development, and thematic elements align with the traditional Indian concept of rasa. This interdisciplinary approach highlights the universality of Bharata’s emotional theory and its applicability to modern literary works, demonstrating the cross-cultural resonance of Hosseini’s storytelling.