National anthem of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
song
The national anthem of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan was the official anthem used during the period of one-party socialist rule from 1978 to 1992.
History
The lyrics were written by Sulaiman Laiq on behalf of the government of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) headed by Nur Muhammad Taraki, who decided to change the national symbols after the Saur Revolution of 1978. The music was composed by Jalil Ghahland and was arranged by Ustad Salim Sarmad. Like many national anthems, it was sometimes sung abbreviated with only the chorus and the first stanza. In 1987, Afghanistan officially abandoned communism but this song was kept as the national anthem until 1992, when it was discontinued.
Lyrics
The national anthem consisted of three stanzas and refrains, beginning with the refrain. On many occasions, just the first chorus and verse is performed.
The public source identifies “National anthem of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan” as song. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around National, anthem and Democratic.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “National anthem of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan”, the useful work is to connect “song” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
Object files, edition statements, performance records and contemporary criticism preserve different stages of the work’s history. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jul 25, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q1493871. 1 of 1 selected statements include explicit references; 0 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank. The first chronological checks are 1978, 1992 and 1987.
Later fame can flatten the distinction between original context, subsequent adaptation and institutional collecting history. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Separate the work, its editions or performances, and its later reception. Catalogue records, publication histories and object files often preserve different parts of that story.
- Identifying works and editions
- Tracing reception history
- Finding collection records
The original object or edition, catalogue raisonné, performance record, rights file and holding institution.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “National anthem of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow National anthem of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan primary sources, National anthem of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan archive and National research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “National anthem of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan”?
- Where is authorship, date or provenance documented?
- How did later circulation or interpretation alter the work’s reception?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “National anthem of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.