The boy who fled Afghanistan and endured a terrifying journey in the hands of people smugglers is now a young man intent on changing the world. His story is a deeply harrowing and incredibly inspiring tale of our times.
Gulwali Passarlay Books
Gulwali Passarlay is an author whose life journey has profoundly shaped his writing. His work often explores themes of displacement, resilience, and the search for belonging. Drawing from his personal experience of fleeing conflict and undertaking a arduous journey to a new land, Passarlay offers a unique perspective on human endurance. His prose is insightful and reflective, inviting readers to contemplate the complexities of identity and the meaning of home.
'To risk my life had to mean something. Otherwise what was it all for?' Gulwali Passarlay was sent away from Afghanistan at the age of twelve, after his father was killed in a gun battle with the US army. Smuggled into Iran, Gulwali embarked on a twelve-month odyssey across Europe, spending time in prisons, suffering hunger, cruelty, and violence. Like so many of the migrants we hear about, he endured a terrifying, life-threatening journey on a tiny boat in the Mediterranean, braved the brutality of those who should care for children, and spent a desolate month in the camp at Calais. Somehow he survived, and made it to Britain, no longer an innocent child but still a young boy alone. Here in Britain he was fostered, sent to a good school, worked hard and won a place at a top university. Gulwali was chosen to carry the Olympic torch in 2012. He wants to tell his story - to bring to life the plight of the thousands of men, women and children who risk their lives to leave behind the troubles of their homelands. Many die along the way, some are sent back to face imprisonment and possible death, some survive and make it here, to a country which offers them the chance of a life of freedom and opportunity. One boy's experience is the central story of our times. This memoir celebrates the triumph of courage and determination over adversity.
The Lightless Sky
A Twelve-Year-Old Refugee's Harrowing Escape from Afghanistan and His Extraordinary Journey Across Half the World
- 368 pages
- 13 hours of reading
The harrowing journey of a twelve-year-old boy unfolds as Gulwali Passarlay escapes Afghanistan after the tragic loss of his father and grandfather at the hands of U.S. troops. Accompanied by his brother, he embarks on a perilous adventure filled with challenges and resilience, armed only with a small amount of money and a rucksack. This poignant narrative highlights themes of survival, the impact of war, and the quest for safety amidst chaos.