Scorching sun, mismanagement take the gloss off

The event to educate and make children aware of Malala's heroism starts an hour late.

KARACHI:

Malala Yousufzai’s daring stance may have set a shining example for the current generation, but the event with the purpose to educate and make children aware of the courageous step taken by our latest and youngest Pakistani hero started an hour late.

Bearing in mind the sweltering heat, participants ageing from five to sixteen years were made to sit and wait outside the Sindh Assembly building under a shabby tent, which hardly provided them any shelter from the sun.

A handful of chairs could be spotted but were mostly occupied by men. People were given placards showing Malala’s picture just so that it could be viewed as their massive support for the cause they were celebrating regardless of the hash the event was being turned into.

Nisar Khuhro’s - the Sindh Assembly speaker - opening speech could barely be comprehended given the poor sound arrangement. Other renowned figures also present at the event were renowned playwright Fatima Suraiya Bajia, also the guest of honour; Oxford University Press managing director Ameena Saiyid; and journalist Khursheed Haider.

A few skits performed by children sporting fancy clothes bore no connection to the theme, but all one could distinctively hear was Malala’s name chanted countless times without delivering a relevant message which could be understood.

The scorching heat and sheer mismanagement took away the real essence of the affair so much so that it became impossible to sit through it. Fatima Suraiya Bajia, perhaps the eldest of all, was made to sit on the steps at the entrance of the assembly building. To top it all, she was made to wait for an hour and was requested to speak briefly before the event was to end. All in all, the event presented a very appalling depiction of such a noble cause which could have been commemorated brilliantly if it was well thought of.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 11^th, 2012.