The historical significance of Nowruz is undeniable; it is an ancient celebration that has endured through the ages, providing a platform for joy and festivity for millions of people. One of Nowruz’s social and cultural functions is fostering connections among diverse nations from the Indian subcontinent to China, from the Middle East to Afghanistan, Iran, and Azerbaijan, and from Türkiye to the Balkans. Hence, the geographical term “Nowruz region” has emerged to signify one of the unifying elements among the people of these countries. Cultural phenomena create a common language among nations to showcase their shared understanding of humanity and the world. In a world abundant with causes and factors of conflict, where geopolitical complexities exacerbate tensions and conflicts more than ever, nations need to seek points of convergence to reduce distances and enhance cohesion.
In Afghanistan, the situation is tumultuous. After half-hearted efforts during the republican era to achieve regional convergence and strengthen Afghanistan’s relations with its neighbors, there was hope that the ice created by politics would thaw with the warmth of cultural exchange. However, Afghanistan once again drifted towards isolation, entering a path where its cultural and civilizational ties with the region were gradually severed. Mullah Brother’s speech in Tehran, facilitated by an interpreter, was a clear indication of this rupture, unprecedented in the history of rulers in this region since the time of Ahmad Shah Durrani. This behavior heralded the beginning of a new era in Afghanistan’s history, an era poised to widen rifts and compel a disillusioned nation to swallow the bitter pills of history.
Opposition to Nowruz, though sporadic in the past from certain mullahs and fanatic quarters, remained marginal and couldn’t overshadow the widespread vitality among the people of this region. Systematic opposition to Nowruz and governmental interference in combating this ancient tradition, transforming it into an official policy, only continue the trend initiated by Mullah Brother in Tehran. Mullah Brother’s behavior is not merely a personal preference but rather part of a regime’s approach, signaling to regional countries that there are erected walls and barriers between us, and we only converse with you from behind those walls. Opposing Nowruz is raising higher barriers and drawing borders between people who have coexisted for thousands of years, nurturing a shared civilization.
Opposition to culture and civilization is one of the major characteristics of religious fundamentalism that has gained prominence in the modern era. Olivier Roy, a writer and expert on fundamentalist groups, extensively elaborates on this characteristic in his book “Holy Ignorance: When Religion and Culture Part Ways.” He explains that these groups aim to diminish cultural phenomena by overshadowing them with their religious readings and blurring human civilization’s achievements over millennia. They reduce religion to an identity issue, summarizing identities within religious matters, thereby disregarding various other elements that contribute to human identity. Purging culture and opposing civilization is part of the approach of fundamentalist groups. Whenever these groups gain political power, they utilize all resources in this direction, advancing their project of civilization eradication. It’s not the first time in history that religious zealots have destroyed cultural and civilizational achievements; rather, human history holds numerous bitter experiences of such events, bearing severe consequences.
Afghanistan needs to first adopt a national approach towards convergence to recognize ethnic, religious, and linguistic diversity within it, and then proceed regionally with an approach based on convergence and solidarity, expanding regional cooperation to its highest potential. Subsequently, it should embrace a global convergence approach to become a respected member of the community of nations. Joining the global community of nations requires respecting international codes of conduct, adhering to treaties and conventions, and observing the etiquettes and norms that hold significance in today’s world, thereby providing stability to international relations.
Nowruz, given its significance, has been officially recognized by the United Nations as the International Day of Nowruz, and it has been inscribed as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO. Those who oppose Nowruz in Afghanistan not only break away from the cultural heritage of this region but also defy globally accepted norms of the present era. This approach demonstrates that the rule of an armed fundamentalist group over a country is a multi-dimensional catastrophe, extending beyond the daily struggles of citizens. Such governance, wielding the hammer and chisel, digs fresh chasms every day between Afghanistan, the region, and the world, ultimately erasing its civilizational identity in the long run and uprooting any cultural or civilizational uprising, just as currently, part of Afghanistan’s ancient treasures is being plundered nationwide by the entrenched mafia within the Taliban structure and sold in black markets with no oversight or possibility of objection.
Both Afghanistan and the region require convergence. The ebbs and flows of the political world and tensions cascading into this region due to the competition among global powers can only be managed through wisdom and prudent understanding. What can deter tensions and pave the way for brotherhood among the region’s nations and expand the sphere of cooperation is culture and civilization. Embracing Nowruz and Mehregan, venerating cultural heritage, valuing ancient treasures, and portraying the vibrancy inherent in the history of this region can smooth the path to greater convergence than before and open the way to mutual understanding. Afghanistan’s liberation from the grip of extremist ideologies is not only a fundamental necessity for the Afghan people but also a regional and global imperative. The people of Afghanistan and the region can only prosper in a better world when they tear down the walls of alienation and rediscover their common civilizational language. Common markets must emerge, common cultural institutions must be established, joint visual media must be launched, and many other steps must be taken so that future generations can rise to the civilizational endeavors of their ancestors and contribute to building a better future together. Let us honor Nowruz and wish for a prosperous and blossoming Nowruz geography.