Ordinary Afghanis inspired me to write the book: Sandeep Kumar

Writer-cum-diplomat Sandeep Kumar’s book, ‘On Edge: The Afghan Passage’ was launched by Deputy Minister of External Affairs, Shashi Tharoor on December 30th at the National Museum, Janpath, New Delhi. Conspicuous by their presence at the dais were Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan Jayant Prasad and parliamentarian Manvendra Singh.Sandeep Kumar has served as the Deputy Chief of the Indian Mission in Kabul from 2005-08 and is currently serving at the UNDP on a short-term assignment there, while also acting as an advisor to the Interior Minister of Afghanistan on expanding their national police force. An ex-IFS officer, Sandeep Kumar is a multi-talented individual with poetry, painting and body-building among his other interests. What is noteworthy is that the author has made a mark in all three. His painting on an Afghan woman, who was also the first female cop of the country working in Kandahar is especially worth mentioning. The woman is shown as draped in a burqa and pointing a gun with a fading kite in the background. And the other amidst many other eye-catching portraits shows a woman’s half covered face signifying that Afghan women have started moving ahead on the path of evolution. Deputy Minister of External Affairs, Shashi Tharoor while delivering a speech at the ceremony asserted, “We will not be intimidated. We will not be cowed down by these terrorists. This book is an affirmation of that spirit.” Afghanistan is the well-known hotbed of global terrorism. This is an oft-repeated statement. But, Sandeep Kumar has explored different dimensions of the restive nation. His book focuses on the lives of people amidst the chaos created by bomb explosions. Sandeep Kumar shared his views with Zeenews.com Correspondent Ritam Banati on his debut effort, ‘On Edge: The Afghan Passage’ as well as the general situation in Afghanistan. Ritam: What inspired you to write this book which seems to be an extraordinary way of looking at a country which has been reduced to less than ordinary? Sandeep Kumar: They were these Afghan actors on the ground, who were my source of inspiration. Normal, ordinary women, children and men made me love the country. Ordinary people leading ordinary lives, having ordinary dreams about their families and country inspired me. Ritam: In your daily interaction with the people there, what would you say about the perceptions that they hold for us Indians? Sandeep Kumar: They have enormous love, warmth and affection for Indians. I have served in many countries of the world, but nowhere else would people greet me with so much love and passion, as the Afghans just because I am an Indian. Ritam: But the social scenario now is no better than it was when Taliban ruled. Perhaps it has worsened. Does your book also mention that US invasion has had a drastically negative impact on the country? Sandeep Kumar: My book does not delve into political aspects. It just gives a backdrop of the politico-security aspects. I am very positive about Afghanistan. I think a lot of development has taken place since the time of the exit of the Taliban in terms of the number of school-going children, kilometers of roads; 82% of the populace is now covered by healthcare and also in terms of the number of women joining the workforce. This instills in me great hope for Afghanistan. Ritam: Afghanistan has a flourishing opium trade. This also is a primary reason which has led to the present day chaos the country finds itself in. In terms of blocking the passage of Afghanistan and putting it on an edge, would you say that the opium trade is the root cause? Sandeep Kumar: No. That is one cause. There has to be an integrated approach linking together the political aspects, the security aspects, the diplomatic aspects as well as the development aspects. All these need to come together hand in hand and only then can there be some concrete progress on the ground. Ritam: Thank you for your time Mr Kumar. Sandeep Kumar: Thank you! Ritam: Children are the most vulnerable strata of any society. It is said that when the Afghan kid wakes up he looks for his gun. What you like to say about the Afghan children who live in a state of perpetual fear? Sandeep Kumar: It is not true at all that children live in a state of perpetual fear. In fact, there is a new beginning for the children in Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban, with all the development work that is being undertaken. Now around 6 million children go to school, one third being girls, which is very encouraging. India has the largest humanitarian assistance programme in the country that of distribution of high protein biscuits to 1.6 million kids throughout the country daily, as encouragement to attend school. It is also offering 750 scholarships annually for graduate and post-graduate courses in various Universities in India. Indian doctors are providing free medical services at the Indira Gandhi Children’s Hospital. There are various other programmes by other countries, including those for street kids and orphans. I am hopeful that the children will make a real difference to the future of the country and hence I have dedicated the book to the children of Afghanistan, together with the women of Afghanistan. Ritam: Since your book talks about the evolving woman of that country, can you highlight any achievement made by the Afghan woman? Sandeep Kumar: Although a lot of challenges remain, there has at the same time been real progress towards the empowerment of women. Today, there are 25% of women in the Afghan Parliament, which is possibly a higher percentage than in any other county in the world. The Head of the Human Rights Commission is a woman. There is also a woman Cabinet Minister. More and more women are coming out to join the work force in various fields, including the private sector, and are making very significant contributions to the reconstruction efforts in the country. The Indian government also has a significant project for skills’ development of widows and destitute women in food processing, fashion designing, business development and floriculture, which is being undertaken by the Self Employed Women’s Group (SEWA) from Gujarat. I am confident that the Afghan woman will find her new dawn, her new tomorrow, her new Afghanistan, as also portrayed in the series of paintings on women, (“I am Only a Woman”) that I have done to complement the book. Ritam: The reader would certainly feel optimistic about Afghanistan on reading your book. Yet one cannot help thinking about the many innocent lives that are lost there almost everyday. Amidst this set-up, how can one still be hopeful? Sandeep Kumar: The book goes beyond the security-political paradigm. The endeavour is precisely to project that despite the security constraints, the country has taken off in many development sectors, including education, health, road construction, power, human resource development, sports, private sector, etc which gives me hope for Afghanistan. These positives cannot and should not be underestimated. Ritam: Talking about the plus points, your book makes a mention about the “travails and triumphs” of the people of Afghanistan. Can you please throw some light on it against the backdrop of the bomb explosions? Sandeep Kumar: Despite the bombs and rockets, my heroes and heroines are the brave women and men and children of Afghanistan who go about their daily lives with courage, fortitude and perseverance, even in the face of all hardships. My actors are ordinary people on the ground, leading ordinary lives, having ordinary dreams for themselves, their families and their country, but whose stories don’t get told. This is an effort to pay tribute to them. Ritam: On a lighter vein, tell us about any event that led to the successful launch of the book by the Deputy Minister for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor? Sandeep Kumar: Well, I thought Dr Tharoor would be the best person to launch the book considering his background with the UN and as the Deputy Minister of State for External Affairs. I have the highest respect for him. However, I wasn’t sure whether his busy schedule would permit that. Last week, I just barged into his room unceremoniously to request him to officiate and was quite certain that I would be shooed off almost immediately, but to my most pleasant surprise and encouragement, he accepted very graciously. So my message to those who think that Ministers of State are inaccessible is: please think again! Ritam: The avid reader would of course want to know about your plans of writing another book and what theme would it revolve around? Sandeep Kumar: No such plans as yet!