American Students On Campus
Posted on 18 April 2009 by sahmad
By Siddique Ahmad
File Photo Courtesy of AUAF
Ali Babur Ghulam, a 23 year old Afghan, was born in Kabul but left Afghanistan when he was only one and a half years old. He is one of the returnees who came from the United States to live in Kabul and study AUAF.
“There are about five students who came from the States and are enrolled here in AUAF,” says Babur, who is also the past president of the student council at AUAF. His family left Afghanistan to live in India for a few years and then Russia and finally the United States.
Having lived abroad almost his whole life, Babur was always eager to visit his birthplace. In 2005 he visited Kabul and stayed for six months. However, he had a different reason for returning: “When I first came and met my own people, heard them speak my own dialect for the first time, and saw the dire need to work for them, I was inspired. I wanted to have a sense of young people’s thinking because it is always the youth that will make the difference in future.”
Babur was shocked to see the amount of destruction and the number of people living in miserable conditions. However, that served as an inspiration and a determination to make a difference. “Seeing people’s living conditions here, I felt bad about having lived a good life back in the States and yet not appreciating it,” he confesses.
Babur believes that there is a dire need for young professionals to rebuild their homeland. Educated young Afghans have the potential to make a big difference although they do not have the privilege of that many choices in their careers, he suggests. “Students here are sharp and focused,” he says. “But the curtain of tradition prevents us from expressing ourselves freely and not offending anyone at the same time.”
Studying at the AUAF where the future leaders of Afghanistan are being trained is a great opportunity for young Afghans to serve their country, he concludes. “We have to get rid of the current confused Afghan identity and create a unique united national identity regardless of ethnic, religious and other differences which will lead to a prosperous Afghanistan.”
Tags | Ali Babur
“…get rid of the current confused Afghan identity…”? – Our identity is not confused, it might have been darkened as a result of the acts of specific groups in the recent years, and/or because of the long war, even though we have been the victim of the international conflicts, but it is definitely not confused and is one with a very long and proud history.
Welcome back to your country though.
hahahaahha true that true that
mojaddidy you are awesome. hahahah
come back come back
this place sucks without u
ali is……….alright. he’s alright. but definitely not the best, because, well, i’m the best. everyone knows that. pssshhhhh.
I DON’T THINK SO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am just wondering why the author chose the title of “American Students on Campus” while they could simply say the Afghan returnees?
NP is right. lol
Eissar you ask, we will see…
Why every body is voting for him?is it a vote page for Ali?Can’t you guys ask some questions about his opinions and experiences about something?
No doubt Ali got many admirers in the campus …. Good for you Ali …. well Ali is a nice guy (Lying lolz)
is the best?! really??
yeah. Ali is a very nice guy.
@Rashad: yeah, I am one of his fan!
i agree to the millionth power.
<3
ALI IS THE BEST.