Untold Narratives, a project founded by journalist and producer Lucy Hannah, has been supporting women writers in Afghanistan for the past three and a half years since the Taliban seized Kabul. The group has provided a platform for writers, particularly women, who have been “marginalised by community or conflict”, enabling them to express themselves despite the oppressive and violent regime that has taken hold of their country.
An extraordinary new book, My Dear Kabul, has been composed of the messages posted by the Afghan women’s writing group as their world collapsed around them. Stories of the Taliban’s house-to-house searches, agonizing decisions to hide or continue working or studying, expressing their rights by taking part in protests, threat of violence, and bouts of courage and fear are among the threads of narratives on the pages of this book.
The strength of their stories was reflected in the success of the anthology, My Pen is the Wing of a Bird – New Fiction by Afghan Women. Released in 2022, it was named a Book of the Year by the Financial Times. It took some people by surprise, who, accustomed to the stereotypical view of Afghan women being burqa-clad and submissive, encountered the range and sophistication of its writing.
Despite seeing the Taliban rise to power in her country, Marie, one of the contributors to the book, looks to the future with cautious hope. She believes that, “This regime is not chosen by the people … It cannot last forever.” In the meantime, Marie focuses on writing to express her eagerness to learn and work, empowered to not be dependent on men and sharing her thoughts on ‘the strength and courage of Afghan women, a strength that is tested and shines even brighter through conflict and hardship’.
Through its Paranda network, Untold Narratives enables women who are now in other countries, as well as those who remain in Afghanistan, to connect, share their experiences, and write. Although their hopes and dreams are impressions on the water, at least, the power of their words, witnessed in the book, My Dear Kabul, will remain on the pages, indelible and defiant
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