THE FACE BEHIND THE VEIL
By JAYANTA SHAW
After the Taliban's rise to power, women and girls were systematically discriminated against and marginalized, and their human rights were violated. This resulted in the deteriorating economic and social conditions of women and girls in all areas of the country, in particular in areas under Taliban control. Women and girls continued to be severely restricted in their access to education, health care facilities and employment. During the Taliban's rule, only about 3 per cent of girls received some form of primary education. The ban on women's employment also affected boys' education, as the majority of teachers had been women. Poor health conditions and malnutrition made pregnancy and childbirth exceptionally dangerous for Afghan women.
After decades of bloodshed and turmoil, the scarred nation of Afghanistan is facing up to the colossal task of rebuilding. After September 2001, the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women continued to address the situation of women's rights in Afghanistan in meetings with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and other senior officials within the United Nations system, in inter-agency consultations and in meetings with representatives of non-governmental organizations. She also facilitated contacts between Afghan women and women's organizations and the UN system and supported the organization of the Afghan Women's Summit in Brussels, and follow-up meetings with the Secretary-General and members of the Security Council in an area Formula meeting. She also called on Afghan women to return to their country and former jobs, including in the civil service and elsewhere.
I was in Afghanistan on February 2003 for my official assignment .The fresh start that The fall of the Taliban gave to Afghan women and the challenges and the hope that lie ahead for the impoverished nation. For years, the image of the Afghanistan's Muslim woman in photo has been shrouded in secrecy, as mysterious as the face behind the veil.
#1. AN AFGHAN GIRL SITS IN CLASS ON FIRST DAY OF THE SCHOOL YEAR IN KABUL.
An Afghan girl sits in class at Ferdosi High School on the first day of the school year in Kabul March 23, 2003. There are three sessions per day to accommodate the number of students at the school, the biggest girls school in the Afghan capital.
#2.BURQA-CLAD AFGHAN WOMEN LOOK AT VARIOUS REPLICAS OF LANDMINES NEAR KABUL
Burqa-clad Afghan women look at various replicas of landmines during a mine awareness program by the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) at their clinic near Kabul March 5, 2003. Despite massive mine clearance so far, ICRC estimates about 80 to 120 people are maimed or killed by landmines everyday in war-torn Afghanistan, the most mined country in the world.
#3.AN AFGHAN WOMAN BLOWS A BUBBLE NEAR KABUL.
An afghan woman blows a bubble while taking part in a mine awareness program at the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) clinic near Kabul March 5, 2003. Despite massive mine clearance so far, ICRC estimates about 80 to 120 people are maimed or killed by landmines everyday in war-torn Afghanistan, the most mined country in the world.
#4. AN AFGHAN WOMAN WITH HER CHILD IN FRONT OF HER TRADITIONAL MUDDY HOUSE
An Afghan woman with her child in front of her traditional muddy house outside of Kabul March 2003. Since the Taliban were forced from power in Afghanistan, more women's clothing shops have opened in the capital.
#5.AFGHAN WOMEN DRESSED IN BURQA SHOP FOR SHOES IN A MARKET IN CENTRAL KABUL.
Afghan women dressed in burqa shop for shoes in a market in central Kabul on March 29, 2003. Since the Taliban were forced from power in Afghanistan, more women's clothing shops have opened in the capital.
#6.AFGHAN WOMEN WATCH HOLY PROCESSION FROM ROOFTOPS IN KABUL
Afghan women watch a holy procession from rooftops in Kabul on March 13, 2003. The tenth day of the first month (moharam) of the Arabic lunar year, also known as Ashura, is observed with processions and prayers throughout Afghanistan. Ashura commemorates the anniversary of the death of Hazrat Imam Hussain, the grandson of prophet Mohammad, killed along with his 72 companions more than thirteen centuries ago in a battle in Iraq.
#7.AN AFGHAN GIRL IS LOOKING FROM THE BURQA
An Afghan girl is looking from the burqa for mother during monsoon in Kabul March 2003. Since the Taliban were forced from power in Afghanistan, more women's clothing shops have opened in the capital.
#8.AFGHAN GIRLS INSIDE OF THEIR TRADITIONAL MUDDY HOUSE
Afghan girls inside of their traditional muddy house outside of Kabul March 2003. Since the Taliban were forced from power in Afghanistan, more women's clothing shops have opened in the capital.
WITHIN AND WITHOUT
By JUPC (EXHIBIT SECTION)
And out came the nectar of immortality at last, along with the vice of deception that the gods played with their inferior enemies. The churning of the milky ocean was concluded, and probably controversy was the only thing, which was also churned out but still remained unstated in the famous Hindu mythology. The ocean contained it all. In reality, the seed of life first germinated in the sea. The vast expanse of water can be looked upon as the container of life, and so far as the myth goes, all its troubles.
And life has been growing ever since in the lap of mother-nature, just like the enriching soul inside the human body. Quite wonderfully, everything is housed inside some other thing in the universe.
And we were just taken aback on seeing the variety of containers and their respective contents around us. In our everyday life, we come across many things about which the simile of “container” can be drawn aptly. For instance, the large pipes, abandoned by the municipality, giving shelter to innumerable families in the city, or the mirror containing reflection of one’s face, the picture frame enclosing memories of some past moment, and the darkness that contains the light … the essence of something being safely contained is present everywhere. And for the objects which are literally “containers”, their colorful diversity is something very interesting to observe. Their forms and shapes, and the way they are utilized are all fascinating in their own ways. We just could not resist the temptation of taking the picture of a child sleeping comfortably in a bag hanging from its mother’s shoulder, or a bright colored fish in a bowl full of water. The designer pot of “sindur” or vermillion has a cultural and religious significance. Thus we see that all these containers do not merely contain different objects, but have their unique meanings and values in human life.
And look at what the human mind has been containing since the advent of mankind…the power to create and destroy. Creativity is manifested in music, fine arts and in technology to an extent. But along with these, the mind also secures within itself the desire for power and wealth leading to the historical conspiracies, the crusades and the world wars. The churning of intellect will continue, until the elixir of peace is found.
