In the vast canvas of the night sky, there’s a seemingly timid star that often goes unnoticed. Blinking faintly, it appears feeble against the backdrop of the vast cosmic expanse. Yet, little do we realize that within its gentle twinkle, there lies a silent strength, waiting to unfold. From our earthly vantage point, it may seem diminutive, but the truth is, it possesses the potential to radiate warmth and brilliance akin to the mighty sun. It exists as a quiet reminder that even the seemingly small and distant can harbor immense strength and beauty.
I’m not referring to the vast sky ornamented with twinkling stars; instead, I’m highlighting the impressive young women of Afghanistan, radiating brilliance even in the depths of their darkest hours—yet, regrettably, the world often fails to recognize their shine.
Today, we’re fortunate to have one such remarkable individual with us, inviting her to unravel the tapestry of her extraordinary and challenging life, allowing us a glimpse into the magnificence that resides within.
Welcome and Hello Negah, Hope you are doing well these days, Please tell us about yourself!
Greetings and sincere thanks for giving me this chance. I am genuinely happy to embrace this opportunity to share with you about my life journey and my current challenging situation. Thank you
My name is Negah. I am 17 years old. I come from a family of seven, with six siblings. My dad works as a physician, and my mom, who used to be a university teacher, had to stop teaching after the Taliban came into power. Now, she’s a housewife.
As a kid, I often felt lonely because my mom didn’t allow me to play with other kids. Since both my parents were working, I started going to kindergarten at an early age. Those days were quite challenging as I had to wait for my dad to pick me up, and those long hours felt difficult.
One of my fondest childhood memories revolves around a classmate I met. We could occasionally play together in the schoolyard, providing a joyful escape from the restrictions at home. Despite the challenges, these moments of friendship made my childhood special.
I used to be a top-notch student with excellent grades, and my teachers noticed. They started giving me responsibilities, like organizing events and reciting poems, thinking I had the courage to speak in public.
Poetry and literature fascinated me, and since the age of 10, I began writing poems. There was something romantic inside me that drove me to express my thoughts through poetry. Despite knowing that being a poet wasn’t conventional for a girl, I didn’t care. I delved into heavy books like Masnavi-ye-Ma’navi1. By the time I reached grade 10th, I was reciting poems in Ghazal2, gaining confidence in literature and finding myself through words.
However, the arrival of the Taliban marked the beginning of two disasters for me. First, I couldn’t go to school anymore, and second, our home situation changed dramatically. I was confined to the house, tasked with household responsibilities and taking care of my elderly grandparents. It’s been eight months since I last stepped outside. I miss seeing people, streets, and shops. My family expects me to focus on work and be at their service. Generally, we have guests, and I catch a glimpse of people coming to our place, but that’s about it.
Leaving Afghanistan has become my dream because living here feels like being trapped in a prison. My situation is tough, and even though some girls still go out despite the Taliban, my mom insists I stay home to take care of my grandparents.
One day, while I was in 10th grade, Kabul collapsed, and the Taliban took control. They sent us home for safety, but I had to wait for my family to pick me up. I was alone in the street, realizing how strong I am. I feared being taken by them, and the wait tested my hope and strength. My parents came later than usual, I felt drastically abandoned and that day, I decided to fight for my peace and create my own world.
Life taught me that I shouldn’t be a slave to circumstances. Despite tears and a chaotic home situation, I didn’t give up. I searched for online courses, sent countless emails to schools worldwide, and unexpectedly received an acceptance email. I was granted a scholarship, and I started my online education, a gift I’m profoundly grateful for.
Studying in my situation is challenging. My family believes there’s no benefit in education for girls, but I refuse to give up. Amidst numerous guests and chores, I hide in my room to study. Despite facing resistance and being hit whenever I come out, my goals matter more. I’ve learned to lock the door during online classes, and my performance is improving—I have good grades, my English is getting better, and I’m genuinely happy about my progress.
The Taliban talked about cutting off the internet, and that’s my lifeline. I’m scared to lose this chance, but it only fuels my motivation to find a way out of Afghanistan. I want to reach my highest potential and show everyone that I can achieve anything I set my mind to.
دست از طلب ندارم تا کام من برآید
یا تن رسد به جانان، یا جان ز تن برآید
Never shall I stop seeking till my heart desires come true
My flesh reaches the one and only, or my life is through
- Masnavi-ye-Ma’navi “The Spiritual Couplets” – is an extensive poem by Molana – known as Rumi ↩︎
- Ghazal ; The literary genre of lyric poetry or Ghazals, which is the ideal style for expressing the ecstasy of divine inspiration in the mystical form of love poems. ↩︎
- Hafiz ; Persian lyric poet who has one of the highest pinnacles of Persian literature. ↩︎
- Read the Poem ↩︎
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