Article

2006-05-18 Afghanistan

Indian soap operas addiction in Afghanistan

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Fred 2006-05-18 00:00|| || Front Page|| [9 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 This is excellent. It opens the door, big time, for exploration of social issues that have no other forum in Afghanistan. Suddenly everybody is on the same sheet of music.

Instead of broaching the subject directly, which in such a conservative society would be risky, they can just say, "Did you see the show last night?" If they answer "Yes", the ice is broken.

Just a little more diplomatic niceties to find out if you can talk about it, and most of the time you have a good hour-long discussion or argument about whatever it was. And it's not like it is *your* opinion. It's just something you both saw on TV. And how about that?

Posted by Anonymoose 2006-05-18 00:23|| 2006-05-18 00:23|| Front Page Top

#2 Well said, Anonymoose. Some don't realize that many people have never been exposed to anything but what passes for normal in their village. Ideas, new ideas, amazing ideas, blasphemous ideas, acted out as though normal. 'twill boggle, at first, then be contrasted against wild-eyed raving Holy Mokes and repressive rules... Then the questions come. We should collect donations to buy them popcorn.

Posted by eniac 2006-05-18 02:04|| 2006-05-18 02:04|| Front Page Top

#3 -- Lets pray later, I cant miss Tulsi, a man murmured to his friend recently in a restaurant in the western city of Herat.--

BINGO!

Posted by anonymous2u 2006-05-18 13:51|| 2006-05-18 13:51|| Front Page Top

#4
"...never been exposed to anything but what passes for normal in their village."

Well...in the VAST majority of the "villages" they do not have: full time electricity, running water OR TV's!

So the only places these shows are being watched is in the cities. City folk are a whole different breed from the country bumpkins that live in the villages.

The majority of the village folks that come to the big cities live in slums, no TV there either. What TV the do get exposed to is in the homes of the middle class, where they work as domestics, and have scant time for watching TV.

Kind of shoots your theory down.

How do I know all this? I live in Delhi 6 months a year, I'm married to an Indian.

-M

Posted by Manolo 2006-05-18 18:36|| 2006-05-18 18:36|| Front Page Top

#5 Oops! You're right Manolo - it will be wasted on those jaded Kabulis. I think a couple of things differ between Afghanistan and India, however. There are communal viewing venues in Kabul - for movies and TV - saw it in a NatGeo documentary produced within a month after the fall of the Taliban. And yes, there was a TV station back in operation in a month - with a cache of movies that had been hidden, LOL. They were wildly popular. As for domestic servants, hmmmmmmm. I'd bet only the UN folks would be hiring people who aren't family or trusted members of the Warlord's domain - for security reasons - among those who can afford servants. And I think the "theaters" will stay open for reruns as long as there are paying customers. Commerce is one thing the Afghanis do well.

Ah well, too bad. I guess I let my optimism get the best of me. Thanks for the post - I learn or remember something here every time I drop by. :)

Posted by eniac 2006-05-18 21:59|| 2006-05-18 21:59|| Front Page Top

#6 Delhi ain't Kabul, neh?

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2006-05-18 22:15|| 2006-05-18 22:15|| Front Page Top

#7
Do you really believe there are communal viewing venues in every podunk little village in Afghanistan? Oh, NatGeo, well then it must be true. They have their agenda too.

I've traveled the rural areas in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. Recently. They're pretty much the same, that holds true for the cities for the most part.

The difference between city dwellers and rural folk (villagers) is quite similar. The difference is that in India, 20% of the population is educated. Afghanistan and Pakistan... 10% and 15% respectively.

As for servants, those with money never do their own cooking and cleaning...etc. That is how it is that part of the world. CHEAP labor is plentiful.

In that part of the world, one $hithole is pretty much the same as another. And Delhi is most definitely a $hithole. So is Kabul.

True, Frank G, Kabul isn't Delhi, but the differences are not that great. The majority of the population never gets to see these Soap Operas, and it's the ones that don't get to see them that could benefit the most from them.

Still it is a start.

Both you guy's, I'm not looking to start a flame fest, but until you've been there and seen for yourself, don't read too much into what you read in the Daily Times of Pakistan. It's even less reliable than the NYT! And that ain't sayin' much.

Chalo then.

-M

Posted by Manolo 2006-05-18 22:47|| 2006-05-18 22:47|| Front Page Top

#8 no flame - I just think that whatever the viewing rate, and I have no reason to doubt you, it's a start....just like Iran's edict to remove Sat dishes (roundly disobeyed) - it helps to liberate thought and in Iran's case, delegitimize regime authority

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2006-05-18 22:52|| 2006-05-18 22:52|| Front Page Top

#9 "Do you really believe there are communal viewing venues in every podunk little village in Afghanistan?"

No, I don't - and I didn't say that - I said it would be wasted on the jaded Kabulis. The Nat Geo documentary was filmed in Kabul. It wasn't staged in some studio. So I guess it was real, since the station manager proudly displayed about 500 movie tapes and they showed the audience watching an evening's fare. Yeah, it was real.

We agree a taste of the outside world would do the people out in the sticks a lot of good.

No grief was intended. I hope for the best in Afghanistan and currently have only the performance of their Army and Karzai's growing confidence to speak openly about ISI subversion to be somewhat happy about. Have a nice evening, gentlemen.

Posted by eniac 2006-05-18 23:15|| 2006-05-18 23:15|| Front Page Top

#10
#8: Agreed!

#9: Agreed!

Goodnight gentlemen!

-M

Posted by Manolo 2006-05-18 23:18|| 2006-05-18 23:18|| Front Page Top

00:01 JosephMendiola
23:50 Manolo
23:50 SOP35/Rat
23:45 trailing wife
23:41 bombay
23:33 It Insider
23:29 Gromosh Elminegum5705
23:26 Monsieur Moonbat
23:18 Manolo
23:15 eniac
23:13 JosephMendiola
23:13 Monsieur Moonbat
23:04 Monsieur Moonbat
23:00 Broadhead6
22:55 Manolo
22:52 Frank G
22:51 Broadhead6
22:47 Manolo
22:47 xbalanke
22:46 Broadhead6
22:42 Jules
22:39 Broadhead6
22:39 JosephMendiola
22:37 DMFD