Gulabuddin Sukhanwar

My article about Afghanistan  presidential run-off election,  2014.  Source: http://www.afghanistan.no/Artikler/2508.html “The President shall be elected by receiving more than fifty percent of votes cast by voters through free, general, secret and direct voting. … If in the first round none of the candidates gets more than fifty percent of the votes, elections for the second round shall be held within two weeks from the date election results are proclaimed, and, in this round, only two candidates who have received the highest number of votes in the first round shall participate. In case one of the presidential candidates dies during the first or second round of voting or after elections, but prior to the declaration of results, re-election shall be held according to provisions of the law.” (Utdrag fra den afghanske grunnloven )1  Afghanistan is experiencing a presidential run-off election for the first time. This means that in the initial April election, no...

I was very optimist when I drafted this post about 2014 election but turns out that still a long way to a democratic, fair and free election. ----------- The Afghan nation voted on 5th April to say NO to terror, extremists, war, and violence and proved that we are a nation of peace. Afghans voted for democracy, for a better Afghanistan, for a peaceful country, for equality and prosperity and voted to show for the world that we are a nation seeking peace and wanting democracy. Despite all the difficulties and security challenges, the Afghans very bravely participated in the election nationwide and changed the history by with the power of votes. This election has been incredibly important because it is the first time in the history of Afghanistan that power is being transferred through a democratic process from one elected president to another one. Indeed, it was a successful day for the Afghan nation and citizens used social media networks to widely celebrate the day despi...

My blog post from July 2014,  Traditionally, after a month of fasting known as the holy month of Ramadan, the Muslim community celebrates EID days. Normally EID days are for visiting family, relatives, and friends and sharing happiness and forgiveness while forgetting any sadness or conflicts. For the preparation of EID people make new clothes for themselves, especially for their children and prepare traditional EID food (dry and fresh fruit, etc). But this year, just like last, how will poverty-stricken Afghans celebrate? Can we have a real Eid or given our current economic and political situation? Unfortunately, during the month of Ramadan, the price of groceries, clothes and other essential stuff gets expensive and it makes life difficult for people who live below the poverty line. The World Bank report for 2013, shows that 36% of Afghanistan’s population find themselves in this situation. This year, Afghans are suffering more than ever, with fewer job opportunitie...

A blog by professor  Lesley Gale,  In his office at the Literature House, Sukhanwar is surrounded by books, some new ones like  Hillbilly Elegy  and many from past centuries. The Literature House itself is just a year old, having opened October 15, 2016. Just a few feet away is the Sellanraa Book & Bar where residents of all ages come to eat, drink, read and socialize and where Sukkhanwar bought me my very first lingonberry juice. A nearby museum and public library make this a dynamic cultural hub on Kongens Street. Read more; https://grammargalabroad.wordpress.com/2017/10/11/flyktning-one-who-fled-now-soars/

Introduction to English Literature: Some Reflections This autumn 2016, the first semester of the Masters ’  in English Literature  at NTNU  focuses on travel and immigration with the title ‘Of Borders and Travellers’. Photo: Adressa.no The course aims to look at the experience of immigrants, tourists, prisoners, trespassers and other migration of people and things from a literary perspective. Hanna Musiol, our lecturer, gave a remarkable presentation introducing the course which created an inspiring image of the whole first term in my mind. During the lecture she kept us engaged by talking in such a way that each and every single word was delivered with enthusiasm and as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I would say it was one of best lectures I have ever attended. We will be challenged to learn how to be a good reader and to enhance our knowledge and understanding of the issues raised to ensure productive reflection/feedback on the texts we go through. T...

Afghanistan - ingen fred å få er en historisk/dokumentarisk bok skrevet av Elisabeth Eide og Terje Skaufjord , kjente norske forfattere og analytikere som har flere tiårs erfaring med forholdene i Afghanistan. I april 2014 var jeg invitert til Oslo av Afghanistankomiteen for å delta på boklanseringen for Afghanistan - ingen fred å få . Jeg fikk ikke til å reise dit, men interessert var jeg absolutt. Så ivrig var jeg etter å lese denne viktige publikasjonen at jeg neste dag spurte Vadsø bibliotek om den engelske versjonen, siden norskferdighetene mine på denne tida ikke var gode nok til å lese boka i sin opprinnelige form. Skuffet måtte jeg innse at den ikke var oversatt, foreløpig. Jeg er glad for å kunne rapportere at nå, etter mange måneders studier av mitt vertslands språk, er jeg i stand til å lese den norske versjonen. Utmerket historisk oversikt Jeg var desperat etter å lese denne viktige boka fordi forfatterne er anerkjente og de er ikke afghanere. Derfor tror jeg at...

As a political refugee from war-torn Afghanistan, I was moved and inspired by the ideas shared at this year´s Nansen Seminar on peace building. This four-day seminar focusing on peace building and dialogue took place on June 12-15th. We were 75 participants ranging from university students, PhD researchers and teachers to peace workers, social activists, writers and politicians. Here, in the Nansen Centre for Peace and Dialogue, we have been sharing experiences from countries as diverse as Afghanistan, the Balkans, Somalia and Kashmir; from Europe to Africa, and all under one roof to discuss our common goal of peace building. The seminar’s schedule included workshops, group discussions and panel sessions that were a chance for everyone to tell their stories and learn from one another’s ideas. “ From my experience over the last 20 years, dialogue is a powerful way of communicating, because it challenges the very perceptions we have of reality. When you have a debate, a d...

Green, red, blue ; a novel written by Afghan writer and novelist  Arif Farman , describing customs, traditions, love, difficulties and struggle in life. Mr. Farman is well-known for his previous novel AFGHANI, which is written with a very clear and simple language style and talks in a fascinating way about the true experience of Afghan refugees’ lives and suffering in Iran. The Green, Red and Blue, is a story of life in the east and west (Afghanistan and Sweden), two dramatically different countries, cultures and climates. The main characters of the book are a man from Afghanistan,  Shah Wali,  and a woman from Sweden called  Anna Karin . Shah Wali works as a driving instructor in Sweden, having left Afghanistan because of internal family conflicts and the traditional culture. He reflects on his past while teaching Anna Karin, who reminds him of his old girlfriend Angriz  “Just   looking at her face, when I saw her yesterday, it was like s...

A beautiful summer morning, with colourful flowers and the evergreen nature of Trondheim, makes a day as memorable as could be. I always take advantage of my solitary state by going out to find a beautiful place where I can be alone but surrounded by trees, flowers, and nature; where the birds sing. It’s where I am able to talk and more importantly listen to myself. This summer in Trondheim, I explored Lian and Grønlia, luxuriating in its greenery. A round tour from Lian to Grønlia and Skistua is 10 kilometers. I really enjoy walking this beautiful distance along the forest, taking the fresh air and a breathtaking view of the city from Lian hill. Lian is a summer recreation area which on sunny days is crowded with fun-loving families swimming, grilling food outside and exploring the surroundings. The last week of July, I decided to immerse myself in nature more deeply, to intensify the experience. This time I left my mobile at home, spending time away from the int...