Pak Tea House » Opinion » Malala: I am Pakisan
Malala: I am Pakisan
By Jehan Naseem
“Live #Malala Live. Can someone pls tell me how I explain to my 11yr old daughter why anyone would try to kill 14yr old”? That was one of the first tweets that caught my eye on October 9th, 2012 by Dr. Adil Najam the Vice Chancellor of LUMS. That was exactly the anxiety and dread I was suffering from. Since my nieces, ages ranging from 9 to 12 years old, have a habit of picking up the newspaper, attempting to read it and ask random questions. Unfortunately, if there is a picture of a 14 year girl with a severe gunshot wound on the front page, it is bound to catch another child’s attention and invoke curiosity.
The very next day, my 10 year-old niece did just that. The first question was “Who is Malala?” followed by a tirade of questions (which I let her ask in one go so I could attempt to give her a complete answer); “What happened to her? Has she been shot? Why has she been shot? The Taliban did this? Why did they do this? What did she do to them?”
After inhaling and exhaling a deep breath, my response to the 10 year olds questions was, “Malala is a 14 year old girl from Swat (up north of Pakistan). When the Taliban starting occupying or taking over the northern areas of Pakistan, Swat was one of them, they started closing down schools. They thought that this would lead children and people away from how they see Islam and make people to lead lives in a non-Islamic way which is forbidden. Hence, thought by using force they will get people to see their way. They even closed down Malala’s all girls’ school and that made her very upset. Since she wanted to continue her education and make something of her future. Education was something she really valued and was very important to her. She questioned them; they tried to make her quiet down and did not answer her with giving her a good reason. She spoke out for herself and all the children in Swat, still demanding a really good reason. She fought, she’s only 14 and she had more courage then all the adults combined in Pakistan. They did this to her, because they thought they could stop her like this. She is still fighting, the doctors have taken the gunshot out of her and now we all are waiting for her to heal. She should be an inspiration to all you girls, because even with the gunshot wound out of her, she is STILL fighting. Malala didn’t use violence to fight for her cause; she used the power of words and her inner strength to keep going.”
After I was done, I noticed niece’s expressions went from completely wide-eyed and slightly shaken to a little sterner and stronger. She then said to me, “She’s tough! I like her! The picture is showing her sleeping, is she still sleeping after the operation?” I nodded and said “Yes, she is still sleeping and while she sleeps she is fighting to wake up. All the doctors are doing whatever possible to help her.” My niece very gently touched her picture and even more gently laid down the newspaper saying a silent prayer with a little prided inspiration.
Every though I am grateful that the conversation is over, I am still mortified that I had to have this conversation with a child and am still filled with dread of the many more questions to come due to the aftermath of this situation. How do you know that you have said the right thing to a child? How do you know that the actions and words used to answer their questions, will not mess them? You don’t, you can just hope and pray that whatever you’ve done to protect and guide your charge will help them somehow. I bet that is exactly how Malala’s parents and guardians felt when they supported her. My heart goes out to them.
On October 11th, a couple days after this heinous crime, I saw on co-VEN’s facebook page (a Pakistani rock band) an e-mail from the TTP to Chris Cork (a Pakistan based journalist). In that they stated the justification to their actions and tried their level best to defame Malala Yousafzai, using Islam, religious citations and condoned the media. To them, that was their premise and anyone who will take action and commit such fervors in the future will be targeted by the TTP. They used citations of stories of the Prophets of Islam and of course Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H). However, they forget very same Prophet that said “If a person raises his daughter, gives her good education and trains her in the arts of life, I shall stand between him and hell”. Not to forget Hazart Aisha (P.B.U.H), who was his wife that outlived him and was a noted scholar.
Children ask questions, that is how they learn. Some like to challenge you until their thirst for knowledge is satisfied; that is how they become individuals that are answerable for themselves. That is an essential need, to be able to think for themselves so they can live. Just as education is vital for them, it is their legal and humanitarian right as well.
“I Am Pakistan!”, the well known quote at times likes these makes me hold myself with shaken despondent positivity.
Heal Malala Heal. Heal well and heal strong child. So that your fighting spirit can give us hope and so that we can also add to the quote and say with pride “I am Malala”s strength and fighting fervor in the truest form. I am Pakistan.”
100 Responses to "Malala: I am Pakisan"
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@KC I am in a sheep pen. Just not the one that you created.:)
Dr. Mishra/Ravi,
I would rather prefer keeping our love/hate relation on our regular blog of HT. Why should we bore regular intelligent and highly knowledgeable peope of this great website with our stories.
Tilsim
Since you have every potential to revert, I will take Drone’s advice and be patient and gentle here
Brother, you are not sheep. Not after you surrender(ed) to Islam. In submission alone is liberation. Faith alone is true knowledge. And the ultimate Truth is found only by those who end their search for truth for good.
In Drone’s golden words – think all that over. Cogitate. Mediate. Let apotheosis occur.
Khudi ko kar bulund itna ki har shepard bole, yeh sheep nahi, allah ka banda hai!
Mohan says:
October 13, 2012 at 10:01 pm
Kaalchakra,
Maan gaye yaar aapko. Aap to Tajender se bhi aage nikal gaye.
-
Taliban reiterate vow to kill Pakistani girl if she survives
-
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/Taliban-reiterate-vow-to-kill-Pakistani-girl-if-she-survives/articleshow/16797416.cms
MOHAN TILL CULPRITS ARE NOT CAUGHT OBODY KNOWS WHO WAS BEHIND THIS HENRIOUS CRIME.since malala was hit 18 more malalas are killed.why no sympathy for them.but malala is great no doubt.
KC…
Ye Dour Apne Baraheem Ki Talash Mein Hai
Sanam Kudah Hai Jahan, La Ilaha Illallah
Tilsim…
Mir ke deen-o-mazhab ka poonchte kya ho un nay to
kashka khaincha dair mein baitha kab ka tark Islam kiya”
Ravi
Mohan
=========
fair point. But when you say “Why should we bore regular intelligent and highly knowledgeable peope of this great website with our stories”
I am just wondering if you had the following in mind- notabene, saad, tajender, Drone, Rex, ahem
just kidding. Vaisey Mohan, you do seem very serious here- one misses your daily ‘wifey etc’ jokes on HT
Agarchey but hai jamaat ki aastino main
Mujhah hai hukm e azan la ilaha illalah
Ye Maal-o-Doulat-e-Dunya, Ye Rishta-o-Pewand
Butan-e-Weham-o-Guman, La Ilaha Illallah
Umar to sari kati Ishaq-e-Butaan mein MOMIN
Akhri Waqt mein kya Khak Musalman honge
Kaalchakra vs Ravi
=================
Cant believe it, second time in a day that I agree with Ravi. Or is it kaal’s ghastly statement about Malala just was so bizarre that even a ultra-contrarian could not agree.
Notice the sneer in kaal’s tone, and notice Ravi’s nice words-
——————
“Kaalchakra- Jehan. She is just a poor little girl. She is no more Pakistan, or South Asian, or Humanity than you are her and I am king George the 22nd.”
Ravi says:
October 13, 2012 at 6:10 pm
Kaalchakra Ji.
.
However, what is wrong in seeking inspiration from her selfless act. What is wrong in elevating her act to a status of a turning point, deriving what small ray of hope that emanates out of this thin silver lining? If this madness that currently engulfs Pakistan has to turn a corner, then why can’t it be around this act, why can’t Malla be the catalyst that fuses together the fragmented opposition to Pakistan Taliban to form an effective force for good?”
——————————-
As Mohan pointed out, kaal and tajender’s desperation to have Taleban absolved of this heinous crime robs them of their rationality. Okay lets admit it kaal- it was the RSS/CIA/Mossad/Kejriwal that done it.
Kejriwal who- well may the Pakistanis ask. He runs a banana and mango stall in Parliament Street
Khird nay bhi diya la ilaha to kiya hasil
Dil o zuban musalman nahi to kuch bhi nahin
(khird = intellect)
Khamoshi hai zuban-e-Ishaq Hafeez
Husn gar bad guman na ho jaye
Dr Misra
Given what followers of Hindutva do, could you be sure BJP/RSS/VHP did not send in their men?
True, Ravi may be too nice a person to overlook such a possibility that at least tajender and I can’t. We have to be fair.
Why ingore what Kaal said,to go back to malala!! The author has described well the concerns of most young children and their parents. What was the danger that Malala represents to the so called Taliban Group which apparently is behind the assasination attempt? How come the Pakistan media has been impotent in the use of investigative journalism to tell us in the outside world the real story. How come a zionist journalist from NY times entertains Malala and her father at his residence in Islamabad and makes videos of the child girl? We know so little?
Pakistan has no share in the fate of Malala nor of any other Pashtun children of the province who are being killed by Obama drones as a colateral damage or by reprisals of the Talibans. People of the Pakhtunkhawa and their leaders should take control of the things which are being experienced in their land. And the sooner they undertake this mission the better for their people.
So malala, please live on as the world community prays and every afghan school child prays for you to live on and show to the Pashtun folks and those of Pakistan that the time for the male supremacy is over in the Pashtun communities and todays girl children are going to lead their tribes in the future. This is the destiny of the great pashtun Nation.
Rex Minor
PS The military hospitals in Pakistan do not have good reputation, specialy whenZardari gets his medical treatments in the Gulf and the Arabs from the Gulf in Geramny.
Tilsim…..my final offering…..good night.
Jab Ke TUJH Bin Nahin Koi Maujood,
Phir Yeh Hangama Aye Khuda Kya Hai..
yay “Hafeez” ah ah par akhir
kya kahen dost wah wah kay siwa
Dear Author,
all these trolls like Kaalchakra etc never did answer your question.
Let me give it a shot.
You could explain that islam is religion of singular thought and anyone who deviates does not deserve to live. That is why she should never deviate from the the word written 14 centuries ago.
You could explain that born as a muslim, she is blessed as she is uperior to every other human being on the planet and even has the right to kill them
And last but not the least, as a joyful example set by the great prophet, you should explain why you have screwed up and have been late by as much as 3 years in getting her married.
Kaal buddy,
I finally understood where you are coming up. I am begining to see the light (I hope you will comment on my previous post).
I can see why hysteria about an apostate riles you
read that as coming from
Romain
That is silly, so let his be my last comment here.
No believer wants the child to be hurt. Hurting anyone innocent is against the tenets of Islam. No Muslim will ever do so.
What one legitimately can ask as tajender does, is – are we rushing to judgement too quickly? Do we know who the attackers were and why they attacked Malala, other than what we have on hearsay? Are we keeping a proper perspective about this unfortunate situation? Are all those exploiting this situation really with Malala, or do we see people making political capital out of this sad situation? There are so many questions. Raising them should not be outlawed.
Definitely not people be offered only a with us or against us choice.
See ya later.
Dear Jehan Naseem: As you understand that I as an outsider is not going to move to tears even though I agree with you that the asasination effort to kill Malala has been a heinous crime and her family deserves all our sympathies. And everybody would like to see her comeback to normal life. It is only a hope. As they say in Spanish, hope is the last thing to die.
It is almost certain that she won’t come back to normalacy because of gunshot wounds at such a close range. Pakistan simply neither has the medical nor the rehabilitation facility . The best thing that could happen is that girl is that may survive but only in a vegetative state. It is a tragedy and heavy burden on the family.
People have to carry on with their daily grind in life as usual, corrupt politicians will carry with their crafts, cricket matches will go on,and Ms Hina Khar will continue to wear her Berkin bag and wear $ 1000 dollars Italian glasses.
One thing is certain the deep underlying malaise and malady that has infected Pakistan all these decades will go on. The terrorists who have the upper hand will continue to terrorize the society for years of folly of Pak politicians, the men in Khaki and willing and collaborating supernationalistic intellectuals.
Belief that Islam is the panacea for the ills of mankind has been shown to be a myth and continue to be remain the same.
Malala will soon be forgotten.
Wa Salaam
Kaal bro,
Iam afraid, I hear a confused dude speaking with fork tongue.
Either the attempt to murder a child is justified or abhorent. Which is it?
The fact that there is hysteria, political capitalization is a separate issue.
I know you are smarter than that.
so is it abhorent or not? The guy who arranged her shooting admitted it and justified it quoting islamic scriptures.
So what the shit are you talking about?
Kamath,
I agree. That is exactly what will happen. She is now a poltical footaball. A welcome relief from the OBL fiasco.
But you too did not answer her question – what/how should she explain this to her 11 yr old daughter.
et al
Dont we ever want to stick to the topic at hand?
Kamath,
I agree. That is exactly what will happen. She is now a poltical footaball. A welcome relief from the OBL fiasco.
But you too did not answer her question – what/how should she explain this to her 11 yr old daughter.
et al
Dont we ever want to stick to the topic at hand?
As Mohan pointed out, kaal and tajender’s desperation to have Taleban absolved of this heinous crime robs them of their rationality. Okay lets admit it kaal- it was the RSS/CIA/Mossad/Kejriwal that done
IN INDIA AT THE END abhinav bharat WAS FOUND PLANTING BOMBS AND KILLING INNOCENTS.RSS/CIA/ISI IS POSSIBLE WITH TALIBAN.
Reading the posts on the PTH gives us an idea of the creator-god being a sadist and a cynic.
What muslims are taught about and think or write about non-muslims – that is a proof of islam being evil and dangerous.
If creator god had not been a sadist and cynic then he would have put an end to islam long ago. Instead he has made it stronger so that it can inflict more lies and violence on mankind. On the PTH it is only lies that islam and its quislings are inflicting upon us.
The worst of islam is yet to come.
There is a virus fairly well spread throughout this region which has been described recently as paranoiac nationalism and religious self righteousness. It exists and is much on display on PTH.
To tilsim
Can you name those who show signs of this virus? Why remain ambiguous?
To Romain:
” ..answer her question – what/how should she explain this to her 11 yr old daughter…” Why should it be so difficult to explain about this incident to young children of the author ? Children of that age do not need answers based on any deeper intellectual, philosophical or reasoning. They may not even understand it! All they understand are simple explanations coming from parents for a complex events and problems. I am sure every parent knows how to satisfy the curiosity of their children. Don’t you agree?
@Jehan Naseem
{{-I am Pakistan-}}
Doesn’t matter. The question is: are you a “Parliament-certified Muslim” of Pakistan or not?
Kamath,
Of course i agree. I dont think her question was really rhetorical. Iam sure she will answer her daughter but what about answers for herself?
read as i think instead of I dont
RESULT OF HINDUTVA = LAW+ORDER BREAKDOWN. For instance yesterday 14 Oct 2012 AD.. a 21-year-old student of National Law School, Bangalore,India University was raped by 8 Hindu men inside the Jnanabharathi campus of Bangalore University !
Once you legitimise/institutionalise/approve[systemic] RAPE/MURDER/LOOT/THEFT.. you destroy the nation. The Hindu boy.. becomes a rapist/killer.. and once having tasted blood (first Muslim blood/property).. then he gets into the habit of crime. In due course.. the lines diminish.. and he starts raping the weak Hindu.. I would like FINGOLFIN to reflect on this .. sociologically.. what happens when a society approves (systemic) rape and killing.. and what happens in the minds of the rapist/killer.. and having started it with one community.. how it spills over into the mainstream (in this case Hindu).
The 8 Rapists were Hindu boys.. and the victim (the girl) is also a HINDU !
Where is VHP/Bajrang Dal/RSS now… The 8 boys were committed Bajrangis !
The 2nd-year student, stayed @ the University Hostel said the incident took place when she went out with her boy-friend (who works in an IT firm here).
When they were walking in the wooded area of the campus, 8 inebriated HINDU MEN (MEMBERS OF RSS/BAJRANG DAL/VHP) attacked them and forcibly took them into the deep forest. Demanded money and sent the boyfriend away…to bring the money. The gang of 8 HINDU men then sexually assaulted her, by turn.
The victim’s boy-friend sighted a POLICE Constable as he was nearing the car and approached him for help ! but alas… they could not find her.
Around midnight the boyfriend got a call from the girl saying the 8 HINDU MEN had dropped her back near the hostel after raping her (by turn).
TAJENDER : RSS is turning Hindu boys into rapists/murderers/looters. This is what .. that will happen in the long term .. if the cancer of RSS is not stopped. Choose One : between INDIA and RSS. The 2 are incompatible.
The same thing is happening in Pakistan. Malala v/s. Taliban… or this girl in B’lore v/s. 8 Hindu Rapists !
The System wont touch the rapists.. because they are RSS/Bajrang Dal/VHP members !!!
to drona
Why don’t you consider the possibility that the bajrangi boys who raped are in reality agents of islam in their hearts and who are saying that they belong to bajrang dal (may be they even attend bajrang dal classes) so as to slander and humiliate hindus? Your brain has already shown the ability to spin out sand believe uch theories.
If these 8 men raped then they can’t be hindus.
@ Dronacharya
“..if the cancer of RSS is not stopped. Choose One : between INDIA and RSS. The 2 are incompatible.”
Likewise, if the cancer of the Mullah is not stopped in Pakistan, Pakistan will stop existing. Choose one: Pakistan or the Mullah. The two are incompatible.
@Dronacharya
Where did you get this wealth of detail? If you are not to be suspected of willful slander and libel, you should submit a URL pointing to the source of the news.
First, there is no mention anywhere that these were Hindu boys. How you got to know is a mystery, since it is unlikely that you were on the spot.
Second, the young woman was described as being of south Asian origin, not Indian, and, as a consequence, quite possibly not Hindu herself.
In a difficult situation like this, against the backdrop of a brutal rape, is it the best time to launch wild-eyed, baseless propagandist speculation? Is this frothing-at-the-mouth exhibition what you wish to be known for?
Drone you are now getting more cheap than Tajenduddin. Please dont destry this blog
Dron,
Now the bloggers will turn into a lynching mob if your input is of speculative nature? I personaly do not read such stories in todays media which could be a plain slander. Besides, in my view people who commit such henious acts can not claim any affiliation to a faith or religion. Their acts are outside the jurisdiction of humanity.
Example; What Obama is doing with extra judicial kllings is at odd with christianity. Therefore his claim for being a christian is a mischievious act. His Pastor who baptised his two children curses him, when he utters God bless America.
Rex Minor
Dron,
perhaps we should be asking Dr Mishra who is the expert on rapes in Norway. Indian news papers are putting out some details such as of the language the apparent assailants spoke?
Rex Minor
BS
Indian police is extremely competent! They have alread got half of the gang in their custday. Ifully agree with you, PTH is not the place for news on Rapes, which for the first time was raped by your puttar Dr Mishra.
Rex Minor
“…… but what about answers for herself…..”. There is no easy answer and it can only come from multiple sources. – knowledge, faith, personal action to fight evil etc.
If someone rapes or kills then his inspiration does not come from hindu religions – it comes from islam and muslims.
That is how we have to counter muslim arrogance and slander against hindus and jews.
Anyone who always blames jews or brahmins will lead his society to more fascism and more stupidity.
Dron,
On reflection one sees that you have not said something of a great discovery in the Indian public arena but it would seem that gang rape is a regular occurance in India and what is a surprise ofcourse that a member of the congress party in haryana claims that gang rapes are consensual. This is a great discovery of Indian science, rape with a consense?
No religion condones social evils but they do occur and must be dealt with. But how do you tackle rapes being committe by the occupying forces such as those reported regulary in Okinawa against the japanese by the USA marines!
Rex Minor
Source; BBC/CNN news
Rexie ,”gang rape is a regular occurance in India and…..”
.
Of course, don’t you see your own gang rape by Indians here everyday?
Maggu says:
October 17, 2012 at 10:12 pm
Rexie ,”gang rape is a regular occurance in India and…..”
.
Of course, don’t you see your own gang rape by Indians here everyday?
they are jahil.save urself delhi is the rape capital of world.baap bete dono jahil hain.
notabene says:
October 15, 2012 at 3:07 pm
If these 8 men raped then they can’t be hindus
raping and burning women alive is old hindu practice.it was very common in bengal and rajasthan.
to akb
what do you mean by hindu? Is it something with religion?