Publication date: October 25, 2026
From Historical Memory to Class Consciousness and the Struggle for Freedom and Social Justice
Introduction
October 25, 1965, corresponding to the 3rd of Aqrab 1344 in the Afghan Solar Hijri calendar, stands as a significant date in the history of Afghanistan’s political and student movements. On that day, protests by students and a number of Kabul residents against political restrictions and government policies escalated into a bloody confrontation with state forces. Remembered in Afghanistan’s political history as the Third of Aqrab demonstrations, the event exposed the contradiction between the political system’s promises of freedom and the restrictive realities of state power.
Remembering this day is not merely an exercise in revisiting the past. It provides an opportunity to examine the roots of social discontent, the role of younger generations in political transformation, and the responsibilities confronting Afghanistan’s generation today.
Historical Background: Democratic Promises and the Limits of Power
Following the adoption of the 1964 Constitution, Afghanistan entered a period widely known as the “Decade of Democracy.” The new constitution created certain opportunities for parliamentary activity and broader political participation. Nevertheless, the monarchy retained substantial power, and a significant gap remained between constitutional promises and the practical realization of political freedoms.
On the eve of the vote of confidence in Prime Minister Mohammad Yusuf’s cabinet, students and some members of the public faced restrictions on their access to parliament. The announcement that the parliamentary session would be closed to the public provoked discontent and helped trigger wider protests. These tensions demonstrated that legal openings alone could not fulfil the people’s demand for meaningful participation without political accountability and the effective protection of civil liberties.
October 25: Student Protest and the Government’s Violent Response
On October 25, 1965, protests by students and a number of Kabul residents intensified. Demonstrators marched through different parts of the city, demanding that their voices be heard. As the confrontation escalated, government forces opened fire on the protesters.
According to the official government figures cited in Fred Halliday’s historical study, three people were killed in the incident, although accounts differ regarding the precise number of casualties. These deaths represented a heavy price paid during a political and student protest and became part of the historical memory of modern Afghanistan.
The incident demonstrated how the gap between formally declared rights and their practical realization can develop into a political crisis. When protests are met with force, the issue extends beyond a disagreement between the government and students. It becomes a question of freedom of expression, political participation, and the accountability of those who exercise state power.
At the same time, a careful historical understanding requires acknowledging that the demonstrators did not all share identical political motivations or ideological commitments. The significance of the Third of Aqrab demonstrations lies partly in the fact that different groups of students and citizens mobilized against the prevailing conditions, making the event a notable episode in Afghanistan’s modern political history.
Political Consequences: The Government’s Resignation and the Continuation of Demands
Several days after the demonstrations, on October 29, 1965, Mohammad Yusuf’s government resigned, and Mohammad Hashim Maiwandwal became prime minister. After forming his government, Maiwandwal visited Kabul University and met students who had gathered to commemorate the victims. Historical accounts describe his expression of sympathy and his commitment to hearing the students’ concerns.
Nevertheless, the change of prime minister did not mean that all the demonstrators’ demands were fulfilled. One of their central demands was that those responsible for firing on protesters be held accountable. This demand placed justice and governmental responsibility at the centre of the political debate.
From this perspective, the Third of Aqrab was more than a street protest. It exposed the limitations of the political structure of the time and influenced the political memory and student activism of subsequent years.
Historical Lessons of the Third of Aqrab for Today’s Generation
From the perspective of historical materialism, political events cannot be understood in isolation from structures of power, social relations, economic conditions, and the contradictions within society. Political discontent does not emerge in a vacuum. It is connected to people’s living conditions, their opportunities to participate in decision-making, and the extent to which their rights and freedoms are respected.
The experience of the Third of Aqrab teaches us that political freedoms cannot be guaranteed by promises and slogans alone. They require social awareness, public participation, accountable institutions, and sustained efforts to defend citizens’ rights.
These lessons are particularly important for Afghanistan’s generation today. A society in which education is inaccessible to large sections of the population, women are denied equal participation, and freedom of thought and expression is restricted cannot fully realize its human potential. Afghanistan’s future requires a society in which knowledge, equality, social justice, and the conscious participation of the people occupy a central place.
Awareness, however essential, is not sufficient on its own. Social consciousness can become an effective force for change when it is connected with responsibility, solidarity, civic and political organization, and a clear programme for social transformation. The struggle for freedom and justice becomes more sustainable when it is grounded in an accurate understanding of reality, the genuine demands of the people, and their informed participation.
From Historical Remembrance to Revolutionary Responsibility
The Third of Aqrab should not be remembered merely as a page in a history book or as a day commemorating the victims. It reminds us that no society can achieve lasting progress without the conscious participation of its people, accountable political power, and the defence of human rights.
Afghanistan’s generation today faces a profound responsibility: to examine history critically, defend the right to education and freedom of thought, oppose discrimination and exploitation, and work towards a society in which every person has opportunities for development and participation, regardless of gender or social position.
History must not merely be remembered; it must be transformed into consciousness, and consciousness into an organized force for freedom, social justice, and human emancipation. The Third of Aqrab reminds us that the future is not built through passive waiting, but through an understanding of reality, conscious solidarity, and a sustained struggle for social transformation.
Sources and References
- Fred Halliday, Revolution in Afghanistan, New Left Review, 1978.
- Kabul Times, “Schools Closed for Weeks After Demonstrations,” October 26, 1965.
- Historical studies concerning the Third of Aqrab demonstrations and Afghanistan’s political and student movements.