1960's typical Kabuli Fashion.
From the Facebook Page of Mohammed Ra.
The Afghanistan that my parents lived in, were Kabul was once called the Paris of central Asia. Once the jewel of Asia, a very progressive and moderately modern country. Kabul once had, cinemas, cafes, formal French gardens, schools, libraries, universities, fine boutiques. Where both women and men had access to education and a better future. A country were women were granted the right to vote in 1963! In many of these pictures is not the clothing nor the style of their clothing that make the women then "liberated" but the fact that those women were able to choose and decipher for themselves what they thought was appropriate to wear. The very fact that they were in a class room to further their education, is what I am proud of most. In Islam, education it is not only stressed but is an obligation, for both women and men. Women are not only our other half of society but they are our mothers, sisters, aunts, and perhaps most importantly our first teachers.True liberation is only possible through education. How is it possible that Kabul went from these photos to the mess that is Kabul and Afghanistan today? I would never blame Islam. I blame lack of education and foreign interference, Afghanistan being a product of the cold war paid the heaviest price.
The Afghanistan that once existed, was the Afghanistan my family experienced. They were highly educated, modern, progressive and cosmopolitan people. My mom and her sisters attended primary school, high school and attended university. Classmates wore mini-jupes, went to the cinemas, went to sporting events, shopped at boutiques, and picnicked at Paghman the city of gardens every Friday near the formal french gardens.
Highly educated, culturally aware and yet religious at the same time, there was never an issue with not having your hair covered or the clothes you wore. Some have described my parents Afghanistan as very "western", but I don't choose to call it that, I describe it as a highly modern and progressive society that flourished. Freedom, equality, and education are not western but in fact universal themes. This progressive peaceful society lasted until foreign interference occurred in the late 1970's plummeting the country to what Afghanistan has become today.
Sarobi hydro-power plant on Kabul River was one of the country's foremost power stations. With German assistance, Afghanistan built its first large hydro-power station, pictured here, in the early 1950s. At the time, it was state of the art.
LWDLIK- I found these, and the rest of Mohammed's pics, fascinating. Thank you for sharing Mohammed. I have read both 'Kite Runner' and 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' and these pics above show it was even more beautiful than I imagined it.
And now..
Heartbreaking..
From the Facebook Page of Mohammed Ra.
The Afghanistan that my parents lived in, were Kabul was once called the Paris of central Asia. Once the jewel of Asia, a very progressive and moderately modern country. Kabul once had, cinemas, cafes, formal French gardens, schools, libraries, universities, fine boutiques. Where both women and men had access to education and a better future. A country were women were granted the right to vote in 1963! In many of these pictures is not the clothing nor the style of their clothing that make the women then "liberated" but the fact that those women were able to choose and decipher for themselves what they thought was appropriate to wear. The very fact that they were in a class room to further their education, is what I am proud of most. In Islam, education it is not only stressed but is an obligation, for both women and men. Women are not only our other half of society but they are our mothers, sisters, aunts, and perhaps most importantly our first teachers.True liberation is only possible through education. How is it possible that Kabul went from these photos to the mess that is Kabul and Afghanistan today? I would never blame Islam. I blame lack of education and foreign interference, Afghanistan being a product of the cold war paid the heaviest price.
The Afghanistan that once existed, was the Afghanistan my family experienced. They were highly educated, modern, progressive and cosmopolitan people. My mom and her sisters attended primary school, high school and attended university. Classmates wore mini-jupes, went to the cinemas, went to sporting events, shopped at boutiques, and picnicked at Paghman the city of gardens every Friday near the formal french gardens.
Highly educated, culturally aware and yet religious at the same time, there was never an issue with not having your hair covered or the clothes you wore. Some have described my parents Afghanistan as very "western", but I don't choose to call it that, I describe it as a highly modern and progressive society that flourished. Freedom, equality, and education are not western but in fact universal themes. This progressive peaceful society lasted until foreign interference occurred in the late 1970's plummeting the country to what Afghanistan has become today.
The Switzerland of Asia.
Girl guides.
Sarobi hydro-power plant on Kabul River was one of the country's foremost power stations. With German assistance, Afghanistan built its first large hydro-power station, pictured here, in the early 1950s. At the time, it was state of the art.
LWDLIK- I found these, and the rest of Mohammed's pics, fascinating. Thank you for sharing Mohammed. I have read both 'Kite Runner' and 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' and these pics above show it was even more beautiful than I imagined it.
And now..
Heartbreaking..
I love the photos from the pre-war era. I am working on a novel. It's based on a true story. I would love to see more of the photos before the war. It would help me greatly.
ReplyDeleteThank you,
M.F
Hi M.F., I found them on Mohammed Ra's Facebook page (the link is in blue at the top of the post) aren't they fabulous! He has plenty more to view. Good luck with the book.
ReplyDeleteWow! Never figured this was a possibility at all.
ReplyDeleteI cant believe this.....its heartbreaking to see where it has reached now!!
ReplyDeleteThese are the things that ISLAM brought to our country. I don't know how long would it take for the people to realize that Isalm is not really what they are thinking...
ReplyDeletei think it wil take more than 2 decades atleast in the present scenario..to reach "afghanistan" which was once very progressive and liberal...when i came to know that Afghanistan had such a progressive society once ..i could not believe it...i hope that changes would come soon in your country.
ReplyDelete