May 30,2026
Hussain was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 1962, into a Hazara Ismaili family with ancestral roots in Behsud and Bamiyan. In this oral history interview, he reflects on family history, childhood in Kabul, education, work, migration, religious identity, and the importance of preserving Hazara pride across generations.
Hussain recalls growing up in Kabul, where his father worked hard before gradually establishing himself in trade and shopkeeping. From a young age, Hosain helped in the family shop while also attending school. He studied at Abdul Rahman Khan School and later at a technical institute, while also learning English and playing football for the Maiwand team, which he remembers as a Hazara community team.
The interview documents family and community life among Hazara Ismailis in Afghanistan. Hussain discusses religious celebrations such as Imamat Day, the Imam’s birthday, and the anniversary of the Imam’s accession, as well as broader Afghan and Hazara celebrations including Eid and Nowruz. He describes the importance of collective meals, community gatherings, respect for elders, and the transmission of moral teachings through family and religious life.
A central theme of the interview is Hazara identity and discrimination. Hussain speaks about facing bullying and prejudice because of both Hazara and Ismaili identity, while emphasizing that he resisted humiliation from childhood onward. He reflects on divisions within Hazara communities and argues that Hazara identity must come before sectarian differences. For him, “Hazara being” is a source of dignity, history, and collective responsibility.
Hussain also recounts his migration journey. After completing grade 11, his older brothers decided he should leave Afghanistan because of insecurity during the communist period. He first travelled irregularly to Iran, then Pakistan, then India, where he lived for four years, before arriving in Canada in 1986 through a difficult route that included Kolkata, Thailand, Tashkent, Poland, and Montreal. His testimony documents fear, uncertainty, refugee movement, and the risks many Hazaras faced while seeking safety.
The interview also explores faith, knowledge, and intellectual life. Hussain discusses Ismaili belief, the relationship between religion and science, the importance of education, and his belief that knowledge is essential for survival and progress. He connects Hazara advancement to literacy, technology, political participation, economic awareness, and engagement with artificial intelligence and modern systems.
Looking toward the future, Hussain encourages young Hazaras to take pride in who they are, preserve their culture, pursue education, participate in politics, understand economic systems, and become strong representatives of their community in Canada and beyond. He ends with a powerful call for Hazara unity, arguing that shared language and identity should bring people together rather than divide them by region or religion.
Hazara Heritage. Hazara Heritage Oral History Project. Oral history interview with Hosain conducted by Fatima Faramarz. May 30, 2026.HH-OH-009.
Persian Transcript
Audio Recording
Muslims in Canada Archives (MiCA)
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