Malala Yousufzai has planted an idea, which has taken root. May God always be with her.
KARACHI: An excellent article by Kamal Siddiqi titled “Conspiracy Afoot” published in The Express Tribune on October 13. Not only has he praised the efforts of a young Pashtun girl to fight extremism, the scourge of our country, and to demand education for girls; he has also exposed the hypocrisy of the middle class cynic in Pakistan, who has never been able to rest unless she or he can detect a sinister motive in every good deed accomplished by one of her or his own countrymen who brought international recognition. He has also uncovered the latent hostility inherent in the world’s most misogynistic society. Remember a female named Mukhtaran Mai who was raped for four hours on the instructions of a panchayat? One of the middle class cynics, a woman to boot, told me that there was absolutely no truth whatsoever in the story and the woman did what she did to get funds to start a cottage industry. Conspiracy theory number two.
Malala Yousufzai is doing excellent work and the Thinking Man is proud of her. Never mind if we live in a country of misogynists and blatant corruption. Never mind if females are jealous of the publicity she received in being awarded such a great honour. Her courage has been an inspiration to others. Remember, what the British general said when he was fighting against the American nationalists who were defending their country against a colonial power? “We can fight against an army. But we cannot fight against an idea.” Malala Yousufzai has planted an idea, which has taken root. May God always be with her.
Anwer Mooraj
Published in The Express Tribune, October 15th, 2014.
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