The roles of politicians, military personnel, businessmen, and civil activists are often discussed and their successes and failures are closely examined. Their mistakes, silence, and betrayal are criticized, while their initiative, prudence, and courage are praised. The impact of these groups on crises and their responses to them are evaluated and critiqued. However, in this age of crisis, when literature and art are needed more than ever before, our country’s poets, writers, and artists have been largely silent and ineffective. While some poets and writers have taken a side in a conflict with their pen and even sacrificed their lives, their main focus was not to create lasting works of art and literature, but rather to write political manifestos and storytelling pieces which have not gained popularity or longevity. Another group of them, although they had taken significant steps forward, became victims before reaching maturity, or reached an intellectual dead end and chose isolation.
Despite some taking important technical steps, those who have distanced themselves from politics and society, retreating to small literary circles or isolating themselves, or composing poetry about flowers and nightingales, have not been able to create works that reflect their era. As a result, literature and poetry are not judged and evaluated by society for their service or betrayal, and no one inquires what poets and writers have done in the past twenty years. It is only in small literary or poetry gatherings, or among politicians who are aware of the social responsibility of poets and writers, that one may hear about the destructive or influential role of some individuals among the community of artists and writers. Unlike politicians who are criticized and condemned by name for wasting opportunities due to laziness, selfishness, ignorance, or divisive behavior, poets and artists are not asked about how much cultural and social responsibility they have fulfilled during these years, and fiction writers are not asked about what they have done to uncover the sufferings and backwardness, and to lift the veil of darkness and light up the society.
Some have viewed poets and writers as mere entertainers for the masses, politicians, eulogists, or members of the literary and poetic industry who compose pleasing rhymes and stories without any greater artistic or literary intention due to the passion and emotion they exude.
The return of the Taliban has drastically reduced the political landscape, creating a great opportunity for literature and art to take the lead. Will the silencing and marginalization of Afghan literature and art come to an end, and will our poets, storytellers, writers, and artists rise up to breathe life into the struggle and resilience of our nation? Other nations have achieved much in terms of social change, making the current state of our literature and art seem disappointing in comparison. Some argue that the current lack of literature and art is a result of society’s backwardness, yet we have had great artists and poets in this very land and with all its backwardness in the past. Masterpieces have been created in times of crisis. In the past twenty or so years, literacy has improved relatively, and progress has been made in the fields of education, sports, trade and commerce, media, and transportation services. However, literature and art remain absent. Will this absence come to an end in the near future?