What do you think when you think of Afghanistan and its people? For most of us the image consists of burqa-clad women confined to homes, children living in fear and deprived of education. But the country was not like this always.
The war-torn nation was once peaceful, women could roam freely in dresses and short skirts and roads were adorned with nice cars.
These pictures from the 1950s-1980s show a different Afghanistan altogether and it hurts to see how war has ravaged the nation in every sense.
Most of these pictures were clicked by university professor Dr. Bill Podlich who was in Afghanistan on a 2-year assignment with the UNESCO along with his family.
1. Afghanistan had girls scouts in the 1950s and ’60s where students learned about nature trails, camping and public safety.
2. The country once had strong and functional defence forces.
3. Women used to take their children to playgrounds without fear before it was considered unsafe.
4. Women had the freedom to venture out to record stores to buy the music of their choice.
5. Scenes from outside movie theatres that screened Hollywood movies.
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6. This is how the infant ward in a Kabul hospital looked like in the 1960s.
7. Kindergarten dance was a thing.
8. Shopping scenes in Afghan villages.
9. Co-education was normal.
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10. Picnics were all about fun and music with no fear.
11. Afghan villages had outdoor schools and education wasn’t far-fetched.
12. Girls attended schools as well as college.
13. Women could roam around freely in public spaces like gardens.
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14. Students studied in colleges with no restrictions.
15. Bus trip from Kabul to Peshawar.
16. An Afghani miltary band.
17. Looks like a chemistry lecture in a mud classroom.
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18. Afghani men walking home.
19. Afghani people protesting for civil rights.
Unbelievable, right?
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