Afghan Boys Don’t Just Fight
Afghanistan is synonymous with a battlefield for the Taliban and the United States. Afghan men are seen as those alpha males with broad built, smoking cigars, ready to grab a machine gun and watch young boys, dressed as women, dancing. These boys don’t just dance.
It is an ordinary day for 13 years old Gulab. He along with his friends is busy playing cricket in the late afternoon. He comes from a poor family who hardly manages for two meals a day. A sedan stops near to the boys and catches everyone’s attention. For the boys, it wasn’t an everyday luxury they often see. A middle-aged man followed by his driver steps out and asks if he can play with them as well. The boys get excited and agree. The man isn’t interested in the game, but in knowing the boys. The man is being addressed as ‘Boss’ by his driver. Boss asks Gulab, “how are things going at home?” “Not financially good, sir!” — Gulab says. Boss offers a job to Gulab — $10 per day. Gulab goes speechless, he is awestruck and has no other option than accepting the offer. The kid says, “Of course, I will do anything.”.
This is a common way to hunt young boys in Afghanistan. The ‘Boss’ was a retired government worker and passes his time partying. He is a wealthy man and for the poor, money sounds like a solution to all their problems. Coming back to the hunt, what it is for? Let’s get back to the story of Gulab.
Gulab goes with the Boss in his lavish car to his lavish house. He was delighted to have such multi-course food and all set to get to the work. Now enters a bit older man in his twenties. “He’s your dance trainer, Learn as he teaches”, says the Boss. Gulab nods positively while feeling a bit weird. The trainer starts, BUT WAIT!!! Why is he dancing like a female? Why is he using a dupatta? His hands, his waist look so fragile and feminine. I can’t do that — thinks little Gulab. “Your turn, do as I did”, trainer shouts. Boss is standing at the back, encouraging Gulab to initiate. Gulab compromises because he doesn’t have any other option. A week-long intensive crash course is all Gulab experiences for now. The Boss is very happy to see the progress and Gulab also gains a sense of pride being such a great student. He now wears a ‘salwar-kameez’ (Afghan attire for females) and dances like a soft, fragile and young woman. Gulab sees it as a sort of game, learn and earn. Being in a closed room with his trainer, it isn’t bad to dance like this, Gulab thinks.
This is what happens after the hunt. The young boys are being taught to dance for? They are being taught to dance to dance in the parties. The parties of wealthy men where they bring their own “Bachhas”. Bachha, literally means boy in Afghani, is a term used for these young boys. In the party, all the Bachhas similar to Gulab dance for the wealthy men. Afghan has been a world by men for men. One can hardly notice any girl outside their home. Afghans accept the fact that their culture is very discriminating and hope for a future where girls and boys would be treated equally. But in the present time, with almost zero female on the streets, the Afghan men have started directing their sexuality towards young boys. They are not homosexual, thus they just make the boys look like women. To learn more, let’s get back to Gulab.
Gulab is now ready for the performance. He goes to a party with his boss. The boss is proud to present his new Bachha in front of the guests. About 5 men, with drinks and food set for them, are waiting for the performance to start. Gulab is not dressed up by the servants along with 4 other Bachhas who no longer look like a Bachha. All of them are older than Gulab and a couple of them are even 25. Bachha Boys begins and as the night moves ahead, the bosses join the dance and choose a Bachha for them. Gulab is also picked by a boss, unknown to him. The boss then took him to a private room and the rest is a nightmare for Gulab.
The young Afghan boys don’t just dance. They fulfill every sexual desire of the bosses. The wealthy men support these boys financially in exchange for their body. They even get them married after a certain age. Marriage is a big deal for the families of Bachhas. Bachhas join at the age of 13–14 and serve their Boss till 25–27. They hardly resist to what is happening with them. Many adult Bachhas take pride in being popular and desired among men. While being on the camera, one Bachha even admitted the pain and disgust related to it but he also told us the love he felt as well. The absence of females affect these young boys as well. After being a Bachha for 14–15 years they often face many problems in their married life. Their masculinity is already stolen and now forced to be a man of their house.
For the first time, you will agree with the Taliban. Along with the Afghanistan government, the Taliban also opposes this inhuman practice. If caught by the government, you’ll be imprisoned. If caught by the Taliban, you’ll be killed. But it is difficult to catch such parties, you can’t tell if the man is a Bachha or not. This issue is much bigger than the US-Taliban War and needs the attention of the world. The involvement of native population makes it even more difficult to stop such practices. For the Bachha, we can just hope that these boys get educated to contribute to their country.
