Afghanistan’s Women Storytellers File-22
Researcher: Qawm Shahi
Translator: Shikeb Jaghori
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In this issue of Afghan Women Storytellers, we do not focus on any Afghan woman writer. Instead, we explore how« words» bring women from the margins to the centre. Women writers around the world have used the power of words to bring women from the margins to the centre and one of the clearest examples of this is the women who have won the Nobel Prize in Literature.
The Nobel Prize in Literature, alongside prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Economics and Peace, has always held an important place among the fields that influence human life. The Nobel Prize is one of the measures that establishes writing as a form of power. It has brought women who write short stories and novels to the same level of global influence as winners in scientific fields such as Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, and others, turning them into powerful women who can play a role in bringing about change.
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On 8 October 2026, ten days ago, the Swedish Academy announced that Anne Carson, a Canadian poet and writer, had won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature. Anne Carson’s Nobel Prize win took my thoughts from Stockholm to Kabul. Stockholm and Kabul represent two different pages in the history of the modern world. On one page, a woman stands on the stage of the Swedish Academy to receive an award for her literary achievements and creativity. On the other, women are treated as inferior, marginalised, and impure beings who are denied access to any rights. One is Stockholm؛ the other is Kabul, under the rule of the Taliban Emirate.
The Nobel Prize in Literature prompted me to take a comparative look at these two places: Stockholm and Kabul. Although I tried to make this piece shorter, I could not, as the period covered, from the first Nobel Prize in Literature to this year, spans 117 years. So, if this article is long and tiresome, please kindly forgive us.
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A Comparative Study of Women Nobel Laureates in Literature and Women’s Fiction Writing in Afghanistan
It is worth noting that, from 1901 to 2026, the Nobel Prizes have been awarded to women on 71 occasions: five times in Physics, seven times in Chemistry, 13 times in Physiology or Medicine, 19 times in Literature, 17 times in Peace, and three times in Economic Sciences. But why is the presence of Afghan women missing from these pages of women’s remarkable achievements around the world? Have we ever asked ourselves this question?
Let us remember that the Nobel Prize is more than just an award. It is a recognition that« words» have the power to change the world. Therefore, we must not overlook the role of literature. Literature is not merely a form of entertainment, as many people in Afghanistan believe, where writing and telling stories are often seen as osana-writing and osana-telling. Rather, literature is a powerful tool in the hands of Afghan women writers, one they can use to bring about change in society.
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How« Words» Bring Women from the Margins to the Centre
Let us go back to 1909, 117 years ago. At that time, Afghanistan was under the rule of Amir Habibullah Khan. It was a society worlds apart from the constitutional revolutions taking place in Europe. In this country, constitutionalism was severely suppressed, and women were deprived of even their most basic human rights. It was a place where« women’s fiction» had no meaning or significance, and where nothing was recognised as such.
In this context, the distance between Stockholm and Kabul is astronomical. Afghanistan is under absolute authoritarian rule, and constitutionalism is being suppressed. An absolute monarchy governs the country. There are no elected institutions and no constitution.
However, around this time, the first signs and sparks of the constitutional movement began to emerge in Kabul. Yet, the constitutionalists faced execution and imprisonment. In that same year, 1909, the secret service of the authoritarian government of the time discovered the secret organisation of the constitutionalists. Seven people were executed immediately. In total, more than 85 executions took place in Kabul.
Afghan women, meanwhile, were deprived of all their human and civil rights around this time. Forced marriages and underage marriages were common. Sexual violence against women was widespread. Historical records clearly show that, during this period, women were even given as gifts to princes and government officials.
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Historical Timeline
1909
In a year when Afghanistan was trapped in a dark chapter of its history and women were treated as marginalised, instrumentalised, and enslaved beings, Selma Lagerlöf, a Swedish woman writer, won the Nobel Prize in Literature. Selma was a teacher at a time when women’s education was not even a recognised concept in the dark and oppressive society of Afghanistan.
As the well-known saying goes,« Only God could bridge the distance between Stockholm and Kabul!»
Selma Lagerlöf was the first woman fiction writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. She left behind 14 literary works, including short stories, travel writing, biographies and plays.
At a time when Afghan women were living in extremely difficult conditions, Selma Lagerlöf managed to secure financial support from the royal family. This enabled her to give up teaching and devote herself to writing full-time, without worrying about her livelihood. Meanwhile, during that same period, women in Afghanistan were being given as gifts to princes.
In addition to the Nobel Prize in Literature, Selma Lagerlöf received the gold medal of the Royal Swedish Academy in 1904. In 1907, she was also awarded an honorary doctorate in literature by Uppsala University. She later became a member of the Swedish Academy in 1914.
In any case, according to the Swedish Academy, Selma Lagerlöf was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in recognition of the lofty idealism, vivid imagination, and spiritual perception that characterise her writing.
1926
Let us turn the pages of history and move a little further forward. The second woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature was Grazia Cosima Deledda, an Italian writer and novelist who received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1926. Seventeen literary works by her have survived, nine of which have been translated into Persian. The Swedish Academy stated that she was awarded the prize for her idealistically inspired writings, which portray life on her native island with depth and sympathy for human problems.
However, Afghanistan was under the rule of Amanullah Khan at this time. This was a highly sensitive period in Afghan history, which could be described as a time of« tense reforms.» During this period, some changes had begun to take place. Afghanistan was caught up in a struggle for change and reform. These changes and reforms were on the edge of the sword, threatened by traditionalists, hardliners, reactionaries and conservative mullahs.
Women in Afghanistan were in a relatively better position at this time, as the country’s first girls’ school, named Masturat, had been established in Kabul five years earlier, in 1921. A total of 290 girls were studying at the primary level and 11 at the secondary level. Women had also begun to take part in journalism and Afghanistan’s first women’s magazine, Irshad al-Niswan, had been published under the management of women. At the time Deledda won the Nobel Prize in Literature, the very idea of women’s fiction writing was still unknown in Afghanistan.
1928
The third woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature was Sigrid Undset, a Norwegian writer who received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1928. In her honour, a volcanic crater on the planet Venus was named after her. Her portrait also appeared on the Norwegian 500-kroner banknote and on a Norwegian postage stamp issued in 1982. In addition, her image was painted on the tail of a Norwegian Air Shuttle Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
As for Afghanistan, in the year Sigrid Undset won the Nobel Prize in Literature, the country was under the rule of Amanullah Khan, a period marked by reforms. However, even at this time, there was no clear sign of a future for women’s fiction writing in Afghanistan. We also have no definitive, verifiable sources to show that even a single short story by an Afghan woman writer had been published anywhere.
1938
The fourth female winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature was Pearl Comfort Sydenstricker Buck, better known as Pearl S. Buck, an American novelist. She received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1938 for her rich and epic descriptions of the lives of Chinese peasants and her biographical masterpieces.
She was a highly productive writer who published 36 novels, eight short-story collections, eight biographies, and several works of nonfiction. Of these, nine of her books have been translated into Persian.
In 1938, Afghanistan was under the reign of King Mohammad Zahir Shah. By this time, the reforms introduced by Amanullah Khan had been halted or restricted. During this period, there was still no sign of women’s fiction writing in Afghanistan. No available evidence shows that a work of fiction by an Afghan woman had been published anywhere..
1945
The fifth female winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature was Lucila Godoy Alcayaga, known by her pen name, Gabriela Mistral. She was a Chilean poet, diplomat, feminist, and teacher who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1945. Ten literary works by her have been preserved. The Swedish Academy stated that her works were filled with powerful emotions and had made her a symbol of the idealistic aspirations of the Latin American world.
1948 – The Beginning of Women’s Fiction Writing in Afghanistan
At this time, Afghanistan was under the reign of King Mohammad Zahir Shah. Girls’ education was limited and largely confined to Kabul. Above all, it was around this time, in 1948, three years after Gabriela Mistral won the Nobel Prize in Literature, that the first short story, titled My Unfortunate Friend, by Maage Rahmani, Afghanistan’s first female fiction writer, was published in the second issue of the literary magazine Ariana. Thus, the year in which a fifth woman won the Nobel Prize in Literature also marks the beginning of women’s fiction writing in Afghanistan.
1966
The sixth female Nobel Prize in Literature laureate was Nelly Sachs, a German-language poet and playwright. In 1966, after Gabriela Mistral, she shared the Nobel Prize in Literature with Shmuel Yosef Agnon, a Hebrew-language writer. The Nobel Committee stated that Sachs was awarded the prize for her outstanding lyrical and dramatic writing, which interprets the fate of Israel with remarkable power and impact.
As for Afghanistan, in this year, corresponding to 1345 in the Solar Hijri calendar, the country was in what is known as the« Decade of Democracy,» a period marked by the expansion of political participation, press activity, and educational opportunities for women. During this time, educated Afghan women gradually began to play a greater role in education, journalism, and social activities. Women’s fiction writing in Afghanistan was still in its early stages, much like a child just beginning to grow.
1991
The seventh woman writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature was Nadine Gordimer, a South African writer and short-story author who received the prize in 1991. The Swedish Academy awarded her the prize in recognition of her outstanding works of fiction and their role in reflecting the realities of human society.
In the year Gordimer won the Nobel Prize, Afghanistan was experiencing one of the darkest periods in its history, marked by civil war. The government led by Dr. Najibullah was standing against what the text describes as the monster of jihad and the mujahideen, who were foreign-backed forces.
The claim that the mujahideen were foreign-backed forces is based on the account of Milton Bearden, a former official responsible for supporting the mujahideen on behalf of the United States in Pakistan. He recounted that« in 1986, William Casey, the CIA director at the time, ordered Milton Bearden to take one billion dollars and Stinger missiles and drive the Soviet Union out of Afghanistan. He added that if more money was needed, Bearden should ask for it…»
During this period, the Soviet Union was in the process of collapsing and its support for Afghanistan was declining. However, despite these circumstances, women were in a better position than before, both in terms of access to human rights and opportunities for employment and education.
As for women’s fiction writing in Afghanistan, it had reached a more serious stage of development around this time. Looking back from the late 1940s, when Maage Rahmani began writing, we can mention writers such as Ruqia Akbar in the 1950s, Malalai Musa in the 1960s, Dunia Ghubar in the 1960s, Mahbooba in the 1960s, and several others who brought women’s fiction writing into a new phase.
From the late 1960s up to 1991, prominent women writers such as Spogmai Zaryab, Maryam Mahboob, and Kamela Habib helped take women’s fiction writing in Afghanistan into a new and more technically developed stage. Each of these writers is an important figure in Afghan fiction.They are women whose voices represent Afghan women, reflect the social conditions of their time, and record their lived experiences.
1993
The eighth woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature was Toni Morrison, a Black American writer, feminist and university professor who received the Nobel Prize in 1993. Over six decades of writing, she produced 11 novels, five children’s books, two plays and one opera. In addition to the Nobel Prize in Literature, she also won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
In Afghanistan, this was a period marked by the dangerous conflict among the mujahideen factions, whom the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan referred to as« rebels.» It was the period when Burhanuddin Rabbani was president. Kabul had been reduced to ruins. Rocket attacks, the destruction of infrastructure, insecurity on the roads, and the planting of landmines had become part of everyday life in the city..
During this period in history, writers, poets, artists and other members of Kabul’s cultural community left the city and were forced into exile abroad. Nevertheless despite these difficult circumstances, women’s literature and Afghan women’s fiction writing were beginning to flourish and take root beyond the country’s borders, particularly among Afghan migrants living in Iran. Providing statistics here would be difficult and would make this article longer.
By 1993, the year Morrison won the Nobel Prize in Literature, women’s fiction writing in Afghanistan had reached a more advanced, serious, and significant stage of development. Writers such as Maryam Mahboob, Sharifa Sharif, Forough Bahrami Karimi, Parwin Pazhwak and Fawzia Rahgozar Berlas were among those who had written within Afghanistan and become involved in fiction writing. Meanwhile, beyond the country’s borders a younger generation of Afghan migrants had also begun to take an active part in literary life and fiction writing.
1996
The ninth woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature was Wisława Szymborska, a Polish poet who received the prize in 1996. The Swedish Academy awarded her the prize in recognition of her exceptional precision and her portrayal of human experiences in the light of reality exploring themes such as everyday life, death, war, history and identity.
As for Afghanistan, this period marked the beginning of a dark chapter in the country’s history. On 27 December 1996, the Taliban captured Kabul and declared their government. During this period, women lost all their human rights and privileges. Nevertheless, Afghan women writers living in exile continued to produce works of fiction in Iran, Pakistan, Canada, Germany and other countries.
During this dark period under Taliban rule, women writers produced many literary and fictional works. A detailed account of these works would require extensive statistics and is beyond the scope of this article.
2004
The tenth woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature was Elfriede Jelinek, an Austrian novelist, feminist and playwright who received the prize in 2004. Her works explore gender inequality, power relations and social stereotypes.
In 2004, Afghanistan also entered an important phase in its history, as the Transitional Administration came to power that year. Despite the presence of the international community, Afghanistan continued to face serious security challenges. The country entered a period of reconstruction. Nevertheless, by this point in history, Afghan women’s fiction writing had developed in a more technically advanced and distinctly literary direction. By then, a number of notable novels and short stories by Afghan women writers had been printed and published and it is not possible to list them all individually here.
2007
The eleventh woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature was Doris Lessing, a British writer who received the prize in 2007. In its announcement, the Swedish Academy stated that Lessing was awarded the prize for her portrayal of women’s experiences and her critical examination of society and civilisation.
In this year, Afghanistan experienced several important political developments, including the establishment of a central government and parliament, widespread and uncontrolled administrative corruption, international support for the country, and an increase in Taliban activity and large-scale attacks.
At the same time, the growth of educational institutions, greater opportunities for women to pursue education women’s participation in various political, social and economic structures, improved access to employment, and their unprecedented presence in parliament were among the key factors that brought significant changes to the situation of women in Afghanistan.
By 2007, Afghan women’s fiction writing was no longer limited to writers living inside the country. Instead, it had begun to develop in different settings: one shaped by the experiences of women living in Afghanistan and another by young Afghan migrants who were creating works of fiction abroad.
2009
The twelfth woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature was Herta Müller, a German writer of Romanian origin, essayist and poet. She received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2009. Müller published 18 books, including novels, short stories, poetry and essays. In addition to the Nobel Prize in Literature, she had also received the Konrad Adenauer Foundation Prize and the Franz Kafka Prize. The Nobel Committee recognised her for portraying the lives of people whose lives had been dispossessed.
In Afghanistan, this was a time of hope for the establishment of a democratic system, the expansion of civil liberties and the protection of human rights. At the same time, insecurity and the growing strength of terrorist groups such as the Taliban were undermining the republican political system from both within and outside the country. Efforts were being made during this period to improve gender equality and ensure women’s rights..
In this year, Afghan women’s fiction writing existed in a more favourable environment with women enjoying greater access to human rights, civil, political, and economic freedoms, as well as opportunities to achieve economic independence. However, the publication of fictional works by Afghan women remained very limited, with no more than around three literary books published.
Nevertheless, literary gatherings were held in Kabul and abroad to help create a supportive literary environment for Afghan women writers. Women also had a stronger presence in the media and online spaces during this period. The success of several Afghan women fiction writers in literary competitions and awards, such as the Sadegh Hedayat Literary Award in Tehran, the Nowruz Literary Award and the Qand-e Parsi Festival in Tehran, presented a more promising picture of women’s fiction writing in Afghanistan.
2013
The thirteenth woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature was Alice Munro, a Canadian writer who received the prize in 2013. In addition to the Nobel Prize, she won several other literary awards, including the Giller Prize, the Man Booker International Prize and the O. Henry Award. The Nobel Committee described her as a« master of the contemporary short story.» Fourteen books by Munro have been published, including 13 short-story collections and one novel, and 13 of these titles have been translated into Persian.
In Afghanistan, this was a period filled with uncertainty and concern. The country was approaching the withdrawal of most international combat forces and the transfer of security responsibilities. During this period, writing became a tool for Afghan women to turn their personal experiences and social criticism into subjects that could be discussed publicly and to make their voices heard in the public sphere.
During this year, a significant part of Afghan women’s literary activity took the form of short stories, personal narratives, memoirs and writing shared online. Some Afghan women also published their work in English through the Afghan Women’s Writing Project, an initiative launched in 2009 by Masha Hamilton.
That same year, the project published works by Afghan teenage girls aged 12 to 15 who had taken part in online creative writing workshops. These works included six pieces about childhood, the experience of growing up as a girl, family and life in Afghanistan.
In the same year, five literary titles containing five personal narratives were published in English as part of the Oral History Project of Afghan Widows.
2015
The fourteenth woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature was Svetlana Alexandrovna Alexievich, a Belarusian writer and journalist who received the award in 2015. The Swedish Academy stated that she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for her« polyphonic writings, a monument to suffering and courage in our time.»
This author has six published literary works. In addition to the Nobel Prize in Literature, she has received several other literary awards, including the German Book Trade Peace Prize and the Prix Médicis.
However, in 2015, Afghanistan was facing a political crisis and tensions arising from the 2014 election dispute between the two presidential candidates. The security situation was deteriorating, the war was spreading, and the Taliban, a terrorist group, was visibly strengthening. Civilian casualties that year reached 11,002. The country’s economic situation was also worsening as international assistance declined.
Meanwhile, women’s rights and human rights faced numerous challenges. Despite insecurity, women continued to participate in education and political and social life.
Regarding the publication of novels and short-story collections, no notable works in either category appear to have been published that year, within the scope of this research.
2019
The fifteenth woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature was Olga Tokarczuk, a Polish novelist, writer, poet, screenwriter and psychologist. She received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2019. Five of her literary works have been published. In addition to the Nobel Prize in Literature, she has received other awards, including the Vilenica International Literary Festival Award and the Man Booker International Prize.
Afghanistan faced numerous challenges that year, including political disputes over the election results, weak governance, widespread administrative corruption, and concerns about the country’s future following the withdrawal of international forces. The economy also faced structural problems. Above all, the ongoing war between government forces and the Taliban, along with the displacement of people, remained major concerns. The emergence of peace negotiations between the United States and the Taliban was one of the most prominent developments in Afghanistan that year..
During this period, the publication of short fiction by Afghan women writers remained limited. One example was the collection Under the Kabul Sky, which was published in French, followed by an English edition containing 12 stories. The collection brought together short stories by Afghan women writers who had established a presence in the field of fiction.
The collection featured works by writers such as Wasima Badghisi, Batool Sayed Haidari, Alia Ataei, Sediqa Kazemi, Khaleda Khorsand, Masouma Kowsari, Maryam Mahboob, Torpekai Qayum, Manizha Bakhtari, Homaira Qaderi, Parwin Pazhwak and Homaira Raafat Iqbal.
One notable development during this period was the publication of Afghan women writers’ fiction in English and French. Publishing literary works in other widely read languages helps bring the voices of Afghan women writers to a global audience.
That same year, a collection of stories by women was published in French, while the Write Afghanistan project provided an opportunity for participants to write stories in Persian and Pashto. In addition, digital workshops for Afghan women created opportunities to strengthen their writing skills and develop their literary creativity.
Nevertheless, what remains missing is the creation and publication of significant novels and short stories by Afghan women writers that could be recognised as pioneering works of literary and technical merit.
2020
The sixteenth woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature was Louise Elisabeth Glück, an American poet and professor. She received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2020. She had also received other literary awards, including the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan was facing an intensifying conflict as the Taliban, a terrorist group, continued to grow in strength. People were deeply concerned about the country’s future. Anxiety about what lay ahead weighed heavily on the minds of Afghans, leaving little room for creativity, reflection, or writing.
The same year also saw the signing of the agreement between the United States and the Taliban, which paved the way for the eventual collapse of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, a system in which many Afghans had placed their hopes.
Afghan women’s fiction in 2020 was largely oriented toward publication outside the country, with works appearing mainly in foreign languages and in publications issued abroad. In total, 18 Afghan women writers published a joint collection that year, while the stories of four other writers were published in literary magazines.
2022
The seventeenth woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature was Annie Ernaux, a French writer and university professor who received the award in 2022. The Swedish Academy stated that she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for« the courage and clinical acuity with which she uncovers the roots, estrangements and collective restraints of personal memory.»
In addition to the Nobel Prize in Literature, Ernaux has received other literary awards, including the Renaudot Prize, the François Mauriac Prize and the Marguerite Duras Prize. Around 20 books by this author have been published, and at least five of them have been translated into Persian.
In 2022, when Annie Ernaux received the Nobel Prize in Literature in Stockholm, Afghanistan was still grappling with the fall of the republic in August 2021 and the Taliban’s return to power following the agreement between the United States and the Taliban. With the Taliban’s takeover, Afghanistan experienced what the author describes as a return to a time of severe restrictions on women’s lives.
It was a frightening regression to an era reminiscent of the rule of Amir Habibullah Khan. While a woman was receiving the Nobel Prize in Literature in Stockholm, women in Afghanistan were facing restrictions so severe that even basic opportunities for literacy were limited. That year, women were increasingly excluded from public life. Many Afghan women writers were also forced to leave their country and seek refuge in foreign lands.
With the fall of the republic and the Taliban’s return to power, Afghanistan was pushed back to a time resembling 1909, the year associated with Selma Lagerlöf, when Afghan women were denied even the basic right to learn to read and write.
The Taliban have inflicted profound harm on human society. They have dried up words, broken pens and silenced women’s voices.
2024
The eighteenth woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature was Han Kang, a South Korean writer who received the award in 2024. She became the first Asian woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. She was honoured for her intensely poetic prose, which confronts historical suffering and portrays the fragility of human life.
In addition to the Nobel Prize in Literature, Han Kang has received 15 other awards. This prolific writer has 35 published book titles, including eight novels and two short-story collections. At least seven of her books have been translated into Persian.
Meanwhile, in the year Han Kang won the Nobel Prize in Literature, Afghanistan remained under Taliban rule. It was as if everything had been struck by frost and the fields had been ravaged by ants and locusts. Afghan women writers who had been forced to leave their homes and seek refuge in other countries seemed withdrawn into themselves, while those who had already been living abroad appeared to have had their pens dried up by the conditions prevailing in their homeland.
2026
Meanwhile, the nineteenth Nobel Prize in Literature laureate, Anne Carson, is said to have received the award this year (2026). During this period, Afghanistan has been pushed back into the depths of history. The country’s history seems to run in reverse, moving backwards rather than forward. It is a journey into regression, in contrast to the passage of time and the progress and development taking place in other countries.
Beyond the fact that writing is considered forbidden under the Taliban’s ideology, women are treated as marginal members of society, denied the right to access education and to engage in artistic and literary creativity.
In conclusion, Afghanistan has now been pushed to the very bottom of history under the rule of the Taliban, a terrorist group, and its authoritarian political system. Perhaps this situation could be described as the« end of history»—a history marked by shame, hatred and humiliation for the people of Afghanistan.
Photo credited: Internet
