Afghan Diaries 1976-1980

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To understand today's Afghanistan and the terror struck world, we must know how it started, what were the factors that changed the course of history. How a weak, underdeveloped country like Afghanistan was turned into battlefield by big powers to assert themselves and to outwit each other.

Pratibha Ranade happened to be in Kabul, when all this started. She appreciates the natural beauty of Afghanistan, watches the history, culture and character of the people. She is the witness of Saur Revolution which set off the ball rolling to subsequent Russian occupation. This is the first person account of the beginning of what set forth the momentum to what the world has come today.

My architect husband, Mr. P. G. Ranade was deputed by Govt.of India to Afghanistan as Town planner-architect for Kabul Municipality. We stayed in Kabul from May 1976 to May 1980, along with our school going children.

The overwhelming political upheavals started with Sour Revolution on 27 April 1978. That was the beginning of what Afghanistan has come today. Right from the day one, I was fully aware of the significance, uniqness of what was happening. As a habitual diary writer, I noted down everything that was happening; events, people, my own perception. My husband's Afghan collegues, his Afghan assistants, people we met, were my source of information. I regularly contributed to Marathi news papers, periodicals about the turmoil in Afghanistan, and about my own experiences.v In 1981 I published my 'Afghan Diary' in Marathi, after coming back from Kabul to Mumbai. I am very happy that after a gap for 30 years, my Afghan Dairy will be reaching to wider readership. I want to thank my friend Asha Damale. She took great pains to translate my Marathi 'Afgan Dairy into English 'Afghan Diaries'. I am grateful to Mr. Madhav Joshi of Param Mitra Publications for helping me to share my 'Afghan' experience, perception to extended readership.

Thanks to my son Mr. Saumitra Ranade for this impressive cover design. He was twelve years old student then witnessing the happening in Afghanistan and was emotionally involved too.