Sixteen. She’s 16, but has the calmness and stoicism of a monk. That is what an encounter with death teaches one at a tender age, I suppose. Her shy, humble presence should not, however, befool one into thinking she is like any other 16-year-old. Underneath the meek, unassuming, modest schoolgirl’s mien is the iron will that overturns a tyrant’s edicts; underneath the gentle, becoming folds of her hijab lies a stubborn resistance to ostensibly ‘religious’ dogmas subjugating her sex; underneath her humour lies the twitching flame eager to leap out and burn an ordinary teenager’s complacency: “When no one speaks, when the whole world is silent, then even one voice becomes powerful.”
Almost 900 members of the elite audience in Sander’s Theatre, located in the Memorial Hall at Harvard University, hold their breath as the world’s most famous teenager rips apart the collective will of patriarchs all over the globe: “The so-called Taliban were afraid of women’s power…they were afraid of the power of education,” Yousafzai breathes, “… At that time, we did not keep silent. We raised our voice for the right of education.”
Suddenly, her bashful voice has gathered strength and is ringing over a vast audience, who break into frequent applause and standing ovations. Her now-forceful articulation weaves through subjects such as the oppression of girls “in the name of cultural norms and traditions”, sexual violence, trafficking and lack of access to food and clean water for young children seamlessly. At 16, she has learnt to address a world audience about the world’s issues — concerns about “Syrian schoolchildren, homeless and deprived of education, children of Pakistan and Afghanistan [who] are victims of terrorism, …children of India that are suffering from child labour…Let us not forget that in many countries like Nigeria, girls are suffering from early forced marriages”, she extolled.
“I know that you must have your personal legends and dreams, which is your due right to have. But all of us must have one dream in common. That’s education and peace. We must think of a bright future,” she urges the audience in an effort to spark that fire in a world gone comfortably numb.
I can see why people might want to silence her — it is rare to see a voice so courageous that her criticism is directed not merely to mortal enemies but to allies as well. The American spectators are not, for instance, spared the sting of her words. “Even in developed countries, women are not given the right to move forward and be what they are,” she succinctly reminds them. Yes, the Americans are her allies in this ruthless battle. It's probably that the world has already done the choosing on her behalf, and she has conceded with the well-mannered nod of a diplomat biding her time. She does not, however, neglect to mention what she thinks is incorrigibly and inherently wrong with American politics: "We demand of the world powers, we demand of them to realise that a war can never be ended by another war…We can fight wars through dialogue and education.” We demand of the world powers that if you want to achieve peace in Syria, in Pakistan, in Afghanistan, then", she cries, "instead of sending guns, send pens; instead of sending tanks, send books; where you send soldiers, send teachers." Barack Obama, are you paying heed to the accusatory finger of this 16-year-old?
At the reception in Winthrop House in her honour a few weeks ago, we have the briefest of tete-a-tete. She is once again her humble self, following the Harvard president and other dignitaries, sitting on her sofa unsurely, looking about as though she were wary of so many people. I notice she touches her hair and face very frequently, even when on stage. Does she wonder at her face still being intact? Does she have nightmares about her potentially fatal attack, that shattering bullet that pierced her ear and jaw and hit her brain and sent her into a coma? Is that why her beautiful, blossoming face framed by the youthful pinkness of her scarf is alight with a certain alertness when there is a crowd?
I shake her hand. She hugs me in return. “It is so very nice to meet you”, she says, when I inform her that I’m planning to write about her Harvard visit. I introduce my companions standing within some distance — the Winthrop House tutor, and my friend, Mariam Chugtai, who is the President of the Pakistan Students’ Association in Harvard. She nods to them amicably.
What was so nice about meeting me, Malala? I, who am double your age and yet mystified as to the source of your voice, the tensile strength of your courage, the secret of your infallible, indomitable will. I, who have no personal stakes in the achievement of world peace or the end of wars, as is true for most human beings on this planet. Why are you torturing our conscience, Malala? You’re 16— you’re supposed to plan dates over an appropriately trendy Android device with your high school friends at cinemas and have unhealthy fried food at chain stores. Why are you here instead, telling us what to do to ease the suffering of women who are, in your words, “not even considered human beings”? What kind of a 16-year-old are you, Malala?
Published in The Express Tribune, October 31st, 2013.
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COMMENTS (25)
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@zafarov: They will always. They have to be there to have a war on terror for USA.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2CE0fyz4ys
If you would not have seen this video you won't believe in it & call me a conspiracy theorist back in 80's. Same goes today. The whole 9/11 story has been debunked by Americans.
These TTP has never killed any american/americans. They always kill muslims & army. Why? if they are big on going against USA then why do they suicide bomb on Al Quds rally which is against israel & america.? why will they kill sunnis & shias but not ppl coming to dance parties, illegally sellings drugs & alcohol & bombing concert where everything against Sharia is happening?
Plz we need to open eyes to understand all this.
http://www.consensus911.org/ Remember they need someone sort of taliban/killers/blackwater so that they keep on funding the war on terror. the world is run from USA & not from Pakistan.
@Arifa. The TTP accepts responsibility for shooting Malala. They threaten to do it again. One of their commanders of the TTP later wrote to her to explain why she was targeted. And yet people like you keep spreading the bald face lie that Malala wasn't even shot. Yeah, sure, anything is possible.
@zafarov: lol. Your funny. Just because you want to live in a fake world doesn't mean everyone lives by your standards of common sense & logic. May Allah save us from media propaganda.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd1MgToetNM plz watch. Then you ll know what all is possible in this world.
@Ariba: First you people claimed that Malala wasn't shot. Then they admitted that she was shot but it was a CIA sharp shooter with the expertise to shoot her in the head at point blank range and yet ensure she survived. Colonel Javed, our finest Army neurosurgeon successfully performed a highly intricate and difficult operation that saved Malala's life. Dr Fiona Reynolds and Dr Jvid Kyani fought tirelessly to keep Malala alive here and throughout the eight hour journey to the UK when as a result of inadequate post op facilities here, Malala picked up an infection, her blood stopped clotting and she was going into respiratory and renal failure. At Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham Malala received exemplary treatment. Highly eminent doctors and dedicated nurses devoted themselves to treat and rehabilitate Malala. And you have gall to accuse these distinguished professionals of participating in a huge fraud? Have you no shame? And to top it all the TTP itself claimed responsibility for that assassination attempt and vowed to kill Malala when they get an opportunity. One of their leading Commanders issued her a letter about that attempt. The TTP do not deny responsibility for shooting Malala. But you people insist on living in denial, conjuring up one lie after another. There's none so blind as those who will not see.
One of the best pieces, I have read in a long long time. So well written that we can feel Malala.
@Rex Minor: "Furthermore it is my educated opinion that the surgical procedure she underwent has stimulated the activities of the Neurons in her brain which for some time was exposed, which in my view explains her speeches and extraordinary self confidence in front of so many strangers". Wow!!Why haven't anybody think about it so far.It is such an easy way to increase one's IQ-just get shot in the head(and hope one survives).Will be a good business for Taliban.They are experts in shooting people.And rather than Malala you should be nominated for the Nobel Prize.It is a sheer stroke of genious.
@x: Bravo!!
@nadeem:
I agree with you! She is now a world Icon and every leader and populist crowd would liked to be near her and bestow on her the honrary uniersity derees and more. She is a Yosafzai Pashtun and these people are usualy very stubborn especially against force and remain loyal to her tribe, the home town and the country.! It was the the Tlibans blunder as well as for the Talib who took a shot at her. Furthermore it is my educated opinion that the surgical procedure she underwent has stimulated the activities of the Neurons in her brain which for some time was exposed, which in my view explains her speeches and extraordinary self confidence in front of so many strangers. This can be measured with scanning equipment.
She will return to Pakistan once she has completed her education!, was her statement to the Press..
Rex Minor
@Hafiz: again western agent!!!! No bro,if you check the map,India is the East of Pakistan,so the author is not a Western agent
I dare say that Malala is very lucky to be still alive,unlike several others,like her,who had to leave this world early,simply because they were born before their due time
again western agent!!!!
@Alamgir: I neither wish to be your sister nor your daughter. I'm a woman who has studied religion, received education in maths, science, literature, economics, urdu, english, computers, history, geography, read newspapers and books. I am an adult, informed and responsible for my own chocies and decisions, not to be dictated by you and my other 'brothers'.
Hindus trying to use Malala to defame Pakistan should understand that Malala is our daughter and sister. She should fight for Sharia'h and know her place, then there will be no problem. Just like with all other sisters and daughters and Pakistan.
She was worried about the cosmetic surgery that happened on her face. Still people believe this is not a hoax. When till she starts promoting vulgarity & nudity.
@Anti-Malala: I suppose then that when this issue (Drones) was brought up by her with Obama, it was NOT about stopping them (as was widely reported in the press) but she in fact requested a few of those deadly toys for herself to play with in her backyard in Birmingham! Come to think of it this would not be a bad idea considering the likes of you around, especially in Pakistan....
Malala is produced by the West to legitimize their war on terror (Drones).
Unfortunately, Malala is under attack by right-wingers and misguided nationalists, such as Ansar Abbasi and Maqbool Jan, who haveput her in the same league as Salman Rushdie, which would roughly translate as a death sentence if she take one step in Pakistan. She can never come back, the Taliban would finish her off.
Well written articles. Wisdom has no boundaries. Malala may be right person to tell us that.
May Allah's help be with you Malala. We r proud of you and your father who groomed you into such an extraordinary person in such unfavourable circumstances.
Author, Malala is a fine, courageous girl. But if the Taliban are as bad as she says they cannot be fought with "pens and books". Being a Bengali Hindu girl yourself, you should know (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pritilata_Waddedar).
Befitting tribute to a brave soul-a little girl fighting grown men with guns ,and unfortunately pens-wrongly wielded.
Malala is a legend!. Unfortunately, Pakistanis have lost her.
I never tire reading about this brave little girl...........thank you for writing such a nice piece. Is it not ironic that in a country which sits at the bottom as far as gender equality goes, its a girl and that to a small girl that has the world's attention for all the right reasons.