“It feels like Eid all over again!” exclaimed little girls in Malala Yousafzai’s hometown of Mingora, when they heard the news of the 17-year-old’s Nobel Peace Prize win. “This is the happiest day in the history of Swat and Pakistan, because a small girl has won a prize for her efforts,” said Gulranga Ali, a former schoolmate.
As locals distributed sweets and 11-year-old Marjan Bibi cut a white pineapple cream cake donated by a local bakery, Malala’s teachers paid rich tribute to their student. “We feel immense pride. This proves that hard work never goes to waste,” said Ms Husna, a teacher at Khushal Public School.
Malala’s friends said the award was an achievement and a victory for all girls. “I feel so proud Malala is representing Pakistan and her award proves that Swatis and Pakistanis are not behind anyone in this world,” said Rida Salman, a school friend.
Social activists praised the award-winner’s struggle for education. “She spread the message of peace during war time and today she proved that we are not extremists but peace-loving people,” said Neelam Chattan, a resident of Swat.
At the Peshawar Press Club, chants of “Long live Malala” broke out at an impromptu celebration upon hearing the news of the win. “The world has admitted that Pakistanis are not just terrorists and extremists, but people who have been held hostage to those who are promoting violence,” said participants at the event.
“The award is a matter of pride not just for Pakhtuns but for peace-loving people throughout the country,” said ANP Central Secretary General Mian Iftikhar Hussain. He urged the government to declare a national holiday to mark the occasion and promised that the ANP would organise a ‘grand celebration’ in honour of Malala.
Celebrations continued as participants of the event marched from Peshawar Press Club to Saddar, chanting slogans against terrorism and dancing as drummers joined the rally.
In other parts of the country, the news was celebrated, albeit with a bittersweet edge. “I hope the people of Pakistan have the courage and integrity to one day give Malala protection and safety to live in her own country,” remarked human rights activist Hina Jillani, who also paid tribute to the other Nobel laureate Dr Abdus Salam.
“There are thousands of Malalas in Pakistan and she stands for all of them,” said Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO) Regional Head Salman Abid. “We should all struggle for the right to education for girls and I am hopeful that this award will encourage us to do so.”
“This award is an achievement for all minority groups in Pakistan,” said rights activist Napoleon Qayyum. “She has rekindled hope among minority groups that things in Pakistan can be changed through struggle and hard work.”
Leaders across the political spectrum congratulated Yousafzai as well. “She has won laurels for Pakistan all over the world by playing a leading role at such an early age,” said National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. PPP leader Sherry Rehman tweeted that she was “overjoyed” at the news and praised “the power of an unarmed girl.” “It is equally an honour for the people of Pakistan and especially of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Fata,” remarked Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan.
The head of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan tweeted, “Proud as a Pakistani for Malala’s Nobel prize, especially for the cause of education, which must be our national priority.” Meanwhile, the Punjab government has announced that a new university in the province will be named in honour of Malala.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 11th, 2014.
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First,, Salute to Malala. She is young, pretty, smart, innocent and brave. All she wanted was education. There are thousands of young girls like her across Pakistan, who want to go to school. Malala is one of them. Maybe she is all of them. Nobel prize got some credibility by her receiving the award, not the other way round.
Second,, Pakistani bureaucracy, military and Wadera shahi (BMW) has methodically destroyed education system for the poor. So today in Pakistan, 70 percent of youth under 30 years of age have primary or lower level education, about half of them never gone to school. This was necessary so as to keep the BMW's grip over power.
Third,, Remember that Malala was brutally attacked, badly injured and then left to die in a military hospital. Had the world not come to her rescue in unison and with full force, she would have died. Those animals who attacked her were backed by the BMW. Still are. They and the so called religious zealots are the ones who are weaving conspiracy theories and discrediting Malala. But she is now become pride of the civilised world. Unfortunately there is very little that is civilised in Pakistan.
.@Ch. Allah Daad: My goodness you really made sense this time, I am amazed at some of these Pakistanis who think it is a conspiracy hatched out by US and England. Living far away in a democratic country for the last 50 years, I don't see any conspiracy for propping up Malala. Some of these ignorant people in Pakistan or some other places could see but chose to ignore it that a wrong has been done to a young child who stood up against those who wanted to take us back to the 14th century. I am from Mardan and I know how progressive our people are but a tiny minority has played havoc with our lives in the name of God and religion. Yes, Malala has given majority of us Pakistanis pride in the world community and we salute her for her courage and love for humanity. Hey, Allah Dad, thank you for writing such a nice and heart warming comments about Malala, I appreciate it.
Hers is a case of too much too soon. Even that book she is supposed to have written has many views that looked like her father had written .The last few years she seemed to be only going from one award ceremony to another. I agree Edhi is better known than her for his social causes.
As a Pakistani, I'm also proud of her. Only Pakistani besides for Dr. Abdus Salam to have ever won the prestigious Nobel Prize.
Great job, Malala should now work hard for promoting women rights in Pakistan.
Go Nawaz Go
It will be amazing to many witnessing the anti-thesis to such remarkable achievement by Malala.
FIRST of all we always feel needless pride not in case of such prize, oscar but even if some western native (even actors) praise / accept / recognize our RELIGION thought(s).
SECONDly it is worth remembering the answer of Sharmeen Chinoy when asked: Why dont you also make some documentary on violence against the women in US (keep in mind its highest rate over there in world). RIGHTFULLY REPLIED - It is difficult to get funding for that.
FINALLY, few claps for people like ABDUL SATTAR EDHI.
Bravo Malala! you are incredible but hard tasks are lying ahead to be taken care of. Pakistani girls count on you to be voice for them who are deprived of education, a basic right every child is entitled to.
America and UK sponsored her, they should be exited. Not the people of Pakistan.