The new story lines reflect that approach. In one, an unfamiliar woman suddenly materializes in a village, asking a local resident for food and water. She’s fled her home fearing an outbreak of war, and her family has found shelter in a ruined fort. But the abandoned building is surrounded with land mines, so locals call a team to help clear them away. In the end, the newcomers emerge from the minefield safely.
The drama is entertaining a near-captive nation. There are few sources of recreation in Afghanistan, given that the ruling Taliban regime has banned television, music and dancing (but not radio). Up to 15 million Afghans–about two thirds of the total population–find their escape in “New Home, New Life,” which is aired in Pashto and Dari, the two main Afghan languages. About 600 letters, e-mails and calls pour into the BBC each month in response to the show. One Afghan man credited the drama with saving his life. He was locked in a Taliban jail, ill with diarrhea, when he overheard one character in the drama describe a simple remedy for diarrhea–a bit of flour and salt mixed in water. He tried it, and recovered.
The program shies away from politics. For all the talk of war, none of the characters talks about precisely who is responsible for the bombings–nor why the war is taking place. Which is not to say that it doesn’t deal with sensitive topics. It has shown Afghans that women should not be married off too young, and has even encouraged female teachers to instruct children–including girls–in rural home schools, contrary to the Taliban’s ban.
The program is popular even with the Taliban. Siddiqi speculates that Taliban officials haven’t banned radio because so many of them are avid fans. Participants at a meeting with Taliban health authorities recalled how one official requested a break in the conference–so they could tune in to “New Home, New Life.” But some speculate the Taliban’s affection for radio could become strained; the introduction of U.S. propaganda broadcasts and the imminent arrival of Radio Free Afghanistan could prompt some Taliban militants to view all foreign radio programming with suspicion.
In the meantime, the BBC drama has plenty of new issues to explore: from children’s inoculations to dependence on food assistance. In one scene, a pregnant woman is among the refugees who’ve sought shelter under a bridge. Will she give birth out in the open? “We haven’t come to that yet,” says Siddiqi. “And we’re still looking for a genuine experience to make it feel real.” As the war drags on, such true-life experiences no doubt will multiply–and so will listeners seeking an escape.
