Remembering Buddhas of Bamiyan

The two non-human victims of the Taliban, Salsall & Shahmama

Photo source: here

On this day (March 11), we remember the Buddhas of Bamiyan, the two monumental statues that stood tall and proud for centuries in the Bamiyan valley of central Afghanistan. These statues were a testament to the rich cultural heritage of Afghanistan and the country’s history as a hub of Buddhist thought and art. Tragically, the Buddhas were destroyed in 2001, a senseless act of violence that forever changed the landscape and identity of the region.

The larger of the two Buddhas stood at an impressive height of 55 meters, while the smaller was still a towering 38 meters. Carved into the sandstone cliffs of the Bamiyan valley, these statues were a marvel of engineering and artistry. They were constructed in the 6th century AD, during the time of the Kushan Empire, which controlled large parts of what is now Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. It is believed that the statues were a tribute to the Buddha, who was revered as a spiritual leader by many in the region.

The Buddhas of Bamiyan were more than works of art; they were symbols of Afghanistan’s past, present, and future. They were a reminder of the country’s rich cultural heritage and history as a crossroads of different cultures and religions.

Sadly, this all changed on March 11, 2001, when the Taliban regime, which had seized control of Afghanistan in the mid-1990s, ordered the destruction of the Buddhas. The Taliban, adherents of a strict interpretation of Sunni Islam, considered the Buddhas to be idols and, therefore a violation of Islamic law. Despite international outcry, the Taliban carried out their order, using dynamite, anti-aircraft guns, and tanks to destroy the statues.

The destruction of the Buddhas of Bamiyan was a tragedy on multiple levels. It was a loss for Afghanistan’s cultural heritage, robbing future generations of a priceless piece of their history. It was also a blow to the global community, as the Buddhas were recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and their destruction was a blow to the shared cultural heritage of all humanity.

But perhaps most importantly, the destruction of the Buddhas was a symbol of the Taliban’s narrow, intolerant worldview. By destroying the…