Much is remarkable about Samina Baig’s story. She is the first person to climb Chaskin Sar, a 6,000-metre high peak, which has now been named after her. She managed to secure Rs10 million from funders in New Zealand for this climb after being turned down by the Pakistani government. Upon reaching the top, she chose to deploy the Pakistani flag alongside the Indian flag, which had been positioned there by sisters and fellow climbers from India, in a symbolic gesture that puts all our politicians and leaders to shame.
But most impressively, Samina chose to dedicate her expedition to a higher cause — for the confidence and empowerment of Pakistani women, in particular, those who come from the most remote regions of the country, like Samina herself. However, it would not be a stretch to say that Samina was not the only one to create history at 7.40am on May 19. Her brother Mirza Ali, who beamed with pride next to his sister, while she gave press interviews, is an equally remarkable component of this tale.
It is stories of men like Mirza Ali — a brother who turned back at 8,600 metres, just 248 metres shy of conquering the summit, to let his sister take the lead and declare to the world that women are just as capable as men — that need to be told. Stories of men who gun down young girls because they are frightened and threatened by her relentless pursuit of education should be shunned and condemned to serve as a lesson to those men who choose to be inspired by them!
Muhammad Ali Jinnah, at the inception of Pakistan, said, “No nation can ever be worthy of its existence that cannot take its women along with the men. No struggle can ever succeed without women participating side by side with men.”
Yet, a recent United Nations study shows that Pakistan, compared with the rest of South Asia, continues to have the least amount of women, a meagre 22 per cent, participating in its labour force. Surely, we don’t need reminding that there is prosperity for a nation through empowerment of its people, a term inclusive of the female gender.
Samina Baig and Mirza Ali have come to set a new precedent and one which we should seek to adopt and emulate within our own relationships and family dynamics. The sibling duo hails from Shimshal Village in the Hunza Valley, one of the most remote regions in Pakistan and yet, the siblings maintain that their village has a 100 per cent literacy rate for females. Hearing Samina speak in her soft, yet confident manner, in articulate Urdu and English, under the proud gaze of her older brother, I do not doubt this claim.
This expedition serves to provide us with a message and I would like to quote Mirza Ali who said, “I want to let Pakistan know that if I can empower my sister to summit the highest peak of the world, Pakistani men should also let their women pursue any goal they want to.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 7th, 2013.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
COMMENTS (7)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
Absolutely, there is no any doubt about it that the literacy rate of Hunza Gojal valley is almost 100%. you will not find even though a single child who do not use to go to school. I pay a tribute to the daughter of the deprived region for making us that much proud.
@sabih shad, I agree with you. I know I'm intelligent and talented, I've been told all my life that I'm capable of so much, I have a university degree but the 9 to 5 work culture has never appealed to me. I worked in advertising after university and I was great at it but then got married a year later. It's been three years and we are not some elite business family, have a great life but I still don't want to work or have my own income. I enjoy looking after my daughter and staying at home. So it's a personal choice. However, I agree, the male dominated culture of workplaces is uncomfortable. It's ok in universities or social circles but at work somehow it just feels like women are objects of scrutiny and no proper thought is given to their relevant concerns. That's a problem worldwide though for the most part. Or maybe our women are so pampered and sheltered, that we enjoy going to corporate events as our husband's wives with that respect but being there as an employee subject to anyone's impertinence or flirting is profoundly awkward.
you are proudly quoting her to be from Pakistan, yet you don't know the area she belongs is not officially in Pakistan, Gilgit-Baltistan Lacks the Constitutional Status to be in Pakistan as Officially, and it's Orphaned Constitutional Status is continuously being Neglected.
About labour force participation you should realize that a significant reason for women not working has to do with choice as well. The religion factor also play a role in choice as the entire financial responsibility lies with the husband therefore giving women a free hand to choose not to work
Well written and well received! Yes, Samina is a great role model for millions of Pakistani women who do want to be educated, actualize their talents, and acquire skills that will give them better access to livelihood.
Nicely written and point well made. My personal feeling is, brother or no brother the brave adventurous Samina Baig would have reached to top anyway. Yes, having her brother along must have been a plus point.