Volume VI Special Issue VII October 2026

Name of Author : V. Sherine Janet, Dr. M. Mahesh

Title of the paper : The Impact of War on Innocent Lives: A Critical Study of Earth and Ashes by Atiq Rahimi

Abstract: Atiq Rahimi is an outstanding modern writer, filmmaker and academic known for his dynamic presentation of war, exile and human suffering. His novel Earth and Ashes 2000 is one of his most well known works and illustrates the devastating consequences of war on innocent civilians in Afghanistan. He was raised during the time of political concern, and his early life experiences in a society scarred by conflict greatly influenced his perception on violence, brutality, trauma, human suffering and the challenges faced by the ordinary citizens in Afghanistan. The novel focuses on the sorrowful journey of an elderly man, Dastaguir and his young grandson Yassin, following their devastation of their village by a military attack. The bombing not only kills the entire villagers but also destroy the greater part of Dastaguirs family. His grandson survives but he loses his hearing caused by the explosion. Reflecting the quiet and voiceless pain caused by war, this journey becomes both a literal and emotional burdens felt by those who suffers in the impact of war. This novel stands as a striking reflection of constant suffering and unflinching determination of those who are entangled in the chaos of war. The silence illustrated through the characters, particularly yassins deafness, becomes a poignant metaphor for civilians whose deep suffering remains unseen in dominant war narratives.

Keywords : War Trauma, Civilian Suffering, Innocent Victims, Memory, psychological Trauma.

DOI :

Page Number : 73-78