Between 1996 and 2001, the Taliban banned music in Afghanistan. Shamayita Chakraborty speaks to an Afghan musician concerned about history repeating itself.
Twenty-one-year-old Arson Fahim, pianist, composer and conductor from Kabul, flew to Boston, USA, only a couple of weeks ago, with a scholarship to study Piano and Composition. The talented musician has performed at several prestigious venues around the world, including Bangalore and Ooty and was looking forward to a new chapter in his creative journey. But ever since he landed in the US, he has been anxious and fearful about the safety of his family — parents, sister, grandparents, uncle, aunts and cousins — in Kabul, as the Taliban swept towards the capital. Arson, who has been in constant touch with them, spoke to us about the current situation in his homeland, Afghanistan.
“I speak with them. They (family) are fine as of now. But the situation in Kabul is not good at all. It is like we are returning to the Stone Age once again,” said Arson from Boston. “Taliban are claiming that they have changed. But I don’t believe them. They are like a dark force. There will be restrictions on women, education will stop and there will be a ban on music,” added the musician.
That, for Arson, is one of the biggest threats. Between 1996 and 2001 music was banned in Afghanistan during the Taliban regime... Keep reading on Times of India.
Twenty-one-year-old Arson Fahim, pianist, composer and conductor from Kabul, flew to Boston, USA, only a couple of weeks ago, with a scholarship to study Piano and Composition. The talented musician has performed at several prestigious venues around the world, including Bangalore and Ooty and was looking forward to a new chapter in his creative journey. But ever since he landed in the US, he has been anxious and fearful about the safety of his family — parents, sister, grandparents, uncle, aunts and cousins — in Kabul, as the Taliban swept towards the capital. Arson, who has been in constant touch with them, spoke to us about the current situation in his homeland, Afghanistan.
“I speak with them. They (family) are fine as of now. But the situation in Kabul is not good at all. It is like we are returning to the Stone Age once again,” said Arson from Boston. “Taliban are claiming that they have changed. But I don’t believe them. They are like a dark force. There will be restrictions on women, education will stop and there will be a ban on music,” added the musician.
That, for Arson, is one of the biggest threats. Between 1996 and 2001 music was banned in Afghanistan during the Taliban regime... Keep reading on Times of India.