Symposium on “Afghanistan: From Medieval to Modern” Held
Aligarh: The Centre for Afghan Studies (CAS), Department of History, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) organized a one-day national symposium on Afghanistan’s historical evolution from Medieval to Modern – history, polity, society and culture.
Welcoming the guests, Professor Gulfishan Khan, Chairperson, and Coordinator, CAS Department of History highlighted Kabul’s historical significance, the role of Babur in shaping the region’s culture, and the importance of Bagh-I Wafa, Bagh-I Safa, and the poet Saib.
Eminent historian Professor Irfan Habib, Professor Emeritus, provided insights into Afghanistan’s history, tribal dynamics, languages, Gandhara art, and its historical context. He underscored Afghanistan’s role in the compilation of the Avesta, one of the world’s earliest monotheistic texts, emphasizing its significance as a cradle of religious and philosophical thought.
In his presidential remarks, Professor Mirza Asmar Beg, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, discussed Afghanistan’s historical importance and contemporary human rights issues concerning women and children, as well as its complex political landscape.
In the academic sessions of the seminar, Professor Mohd Sohrab from the MMAJ Academy of International Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia delivered a presentation titled “Afghanistan: An Undying Pawn in Old and Contemporary Imperialistic Thinking.”
Dr. Fazlur Rahman Siddiqui from the ICWA, New Delhi discussed “Two Years of Taliban 2.0: Its Past and Present”, while Professor M. Waseem Raja explored the theme “Afghanistan’s Journey from Medievalism to Modernism: A Study in Tribalism, Reform, and Resistance.”
Dr. Farah Saif Abidin, presented a paper on “Tribal Communities and the Mughal State: Contestations, Alliances, and Imperial Sovereignty in Kabul, while Dr. Saifullah Saifi, delivered a presentation titled “Bolshevik Revolution in Bukhara, Amir Alim Khan, and the Role of Amir of Afghanistan.”
Professor Nasir Raza Khan, the Director of the India Arab Cultural Centre at JMI, New Delhi, shared his expertise in a presentation titled “History of Timurid Architecture of Iran and Afghanistan.”
Prof. Gulfishan Khan delivered concluding remarks and expressed gratitude to all participants for their valuable contributions.