Two Sikhs Running In Afghanistan Elections

[Gentle Typhoon]

Two Sikhs Running In Afghanistan Elections

A Sikh-Afghan woman, Dr. Anarkali Kaur Honaryar, is contesting election as an independent candidate in the election for the lower house of Afghanistan's parliament.

Anarkali Kaur, a dentist, is fighting the election against a former mujahideen commander. A rights activist, who is known for championing the cause of women, she is a well-known face in the country of her birth [Afghanistan] as well as abroad for her work in the field of education and women's rights.

In addition to her, another Sikh-Afghan, Pritpal Singh, who runs a medical shop, is also in the fray in Kabul.

Anarkali and Pal are running for positions in Afganistan's Wolesi Jirga, the 250-seat lower house of parliament, for which elections are scheduled for September 18, 2010.

The posters of Sikh candidates during election campaign in Kabul speak volumes about the resilience of the local Sikh community.

The Sikh diaspora is an amazing phenomenon and much before other Indian communities, the hardworking and enterprising Sikhs had reached the shores of America, Canada and Britian.

That the Sikhs not just survived the Taliban era and the US-led bombings but also the economically harsh conditions in the war-ravaged country, is no less than a wonder.

Now the Sikhs, despite their small population in the country, are playing an important part in building Afghan society and this is best illustrated by the example of Anarkali Kaur and Pritpal Singh.

All the Sikhs in Afghanistan are not migrants from Indian Punjab. In fact, there are Sikh families who have been here since ages. Till recently, Sikhs ran businesses in Kandahar, Kabul and other major cities.

It is noteworthy that Sikhs have been part of the Afghan landscape for two centuries. Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who ruled large parts of Punjab and Kashmir, had his empire stretching into modern Afghanistan.

Anarkali Kaur wanted to become a pilot but then became a doctor. She was part of the Loya Jirga that elected the interim government after the Taliban-regime in Kabul. Radio Free Europe's Afghanistan chapter gave her the Person of the Year Award in the year 2009.

 

[somebozo]

With the talibani mindset prevalent in Afghan societ i expect little luck for them!

 

[Gentle Typhoon]

^ they know about Taliban threat better than you and me, read article. They are not migrants or anything. Its their country of birth.

 

[GentlemanObserver]

It's Kabul elections, which means they have half a chance of getting some votes, but knowing the Afgan population they always vote for the "old dogs" of power such as the Barakzai, Mohammadzai etc...

What is interesting is Anarkali Kaur has already been part of the US designed Loya Jirga, she may be getting press coverage now, but i have seen her name pop up shortly after the setting up of the interim government.

In the present setting it will be interesting to see what demographics of Afghan Sikhs in and around Kabul. I know winning in Kandahar is impossible but Kabul is a totally different story.

With the elections coming up there are going to be hotly contested seats and th e candidate with the most clout both socially and financially will come on top. Lets see the developments here.

I wish them all the best of luck!

 

[Ahmad]

That the Sikhs not just survived the Taliban era

The taliban didnt treat the Sikhs badly, as a matter of fact they had far better life than the muslims.