Malala has won many more accolades before including the Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award, Pride of Britain Award, RAW in WAR Anna Politkovskaya Award and the International Children’s Peace Prize, among many others. PHOTO: FILE
When Malala Yousafzai didn’t win the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, thousands of crest-fallen Pakistanis joined a nationwide debate that questioned the snub at Oslo. But those close to her believe that both Malala and her noble cause are far above any award.
“Malala herself is a Nobel Prize for us. Today, she can read, write and talk for girls’ education in the entire world after the shooting, and we couldn’t be prouder,” Mahmoodul Hassan, Malala’s cousin, told The Express Tribune. “We are thankful to Allah for her and what she has achieved.”
Although a majority of people in Mingora believed her win was inevitable, they were not disappointed when she did not. “Even if she did not receive the Nobel Prize, her nomination was a great honour not only for her but for the Swat Valley and the entire Pakhtun belt,” said Mohammad Amjad, one of her teachers.
According to former students of Khushal School, who were seniors of Malala, the brave teenage girl raised her voice globally for education and if she did not win the Nobel Prize, it does not mark the end of her cause. “It does not mean that her mission has stopped. Her efforts will go on and we hope she will get it next time,” said Neelum Chattan, a women’s rights worker and former student at the school.
Until Friday morning, all the students of Khushal School were fully confident that she would win the prize. “All the girls were sure that Malala would be awarded the Nobel Prize and they wanted to hold a celebration at the school,” said Iqbal Hussain, the school administrator.
“We don’t feel bad because her aim was not getting awards and prizes,” her friend Uzma Ali proudly said.
“If she had won the Nobel Prize, it would definitely be the victory of peace and the defeat of militants – those who abhor female education. But we are hopeful that she will continue her fight for girls’ education and women rights in the marginalised communities across the country,” said Miss Nargis, one of her teachers. Civil society members and literary persons also praised Malala’s efforts and said that she is still very young and they expect that she would achieve the Nobel Prize in future.
“The small girl who has done a very big deed deserves higher accolades than the Noble Prize and that is her success,” Rahima Naz, a poet and writer from district Chitral, said sanguinely. “She has a long journey in front of her and we are sure that she will get her reward soon when all the girls in the world will be literate.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 12th, 2013.
COMMENTS (40)
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@ Faheem Uddin: Firstly about your (1) and (2). I didn't dislike anything you said, you have mentioned the reality but I have only one issue with it, it is not the answer of my question. And ET published all the things you said. I have no issue with Malala, you didn't get it. My question is, did those people, that I mentioned, get nominated for Nobel Peace Prize? If no, then what is the reason behind this disparity? People who activated the thought of "Aman ki Aasha" were equally deserving for Nobel Peace Prize (if you say Dr. Abdul Qadeer and Dr. Samar Mubarak are among those who prepared things for mass destruction and Dr. Aafia didn't do anything for Pakistan and if what you said about Edhi is reality, don't include his name) why not others? Why not many of those who want peace don't deserve to be nominated for Nobel Peace Prize?
@PAKK: Get real, please. The wheels are coming off the PTI bandwagon. This girls is for real. And she is honest and speaks from the heart. Unlike the PTI Captain who is pretending to be someone he is not.
"M Ebaad" constantly trolls on this website on all sorts of stories. And, interestingly, his/her disparaging comments are always on the top because they interestingly get the most 'recommended' even though they often contain the most vitriol. Very curious indeed. ET online editors/moderators should not encourage such blatant trolling.
@Quaid-e-Saani: This trend of maligning and distrust of our national heroes is nothing new in Pakistan. People who dedicated their entire lives for the country and its citizens have been sidelined and victimised. Personalities such as Dr Abdus Salam, the only Pakistani Nobel Prize recipient, were persecuted due to their religious beliefs. Then there were those who were mistreated based on their sectarian and ethnic background. Even the likes of Abdul Sattar Edhi were accused of being foreign agents or working in line with a nefarious foreign agenda. Some of them left with mixed feelings of anger and sorrow, while others continued their efforts till the very end. So it does not come as a surprise for me when a youngster, opposing the Taliban ideology and whom the outfit also tried to permanently silence, is accused of being ‘anti-Pakistan’ and ‘anti-Islam’. It is unfortunate to observe that we have made heroes out of those who promoted violence and chaos, while discarding those who really have the interests of their country at heart.
@Insaan:"According to Saudi laws a man can’t be sentenced to death for killing his children or wife."
and Muslim Umaa supports this. No wonder this state of affairs in most Muslim countries.
Why can't whole Muslim ummah pay for her education and living expenses in UK? Pakistan should give her an award like Nishan-e_Pakistan or Talib of the year. OIC can employ her as an advisor for women's rights. After few years Malala will be talking about bringing Sharia law in UK.
Recently a Saudi was convicted for raping and killing her 5 yr old daughter. Man was pardoned by his wife in exchange for "blood money". According to Saudi laws a man can't be sentenced to death for killing his children or wife.
Hope to see Malala sometime soon in India. Hope Indian government invites her as state guest during 2014 Republic Day celebrations. Anyone from Indian government listening?????
two opposite thinking (Taliban who opposed education AND Malala who opposed Taliban) Love Malala
@ New Start: okay. for your (1), I won't mind even if you even abuse me in the worst ever way. and for your (2), just try once with ET, if it doesn't display your message, email me on quaidesaani@hotmail.com.
@ New Start: okay. for your (1), I won't mind even if you even abuse me in the worst ever way. and for your (2), just try once with ET, if it doesn't display your message, email me on quaidesaani@hotmail.com. But I hope it will be displayed as it is operated by computer I think. So go ahead!
It just like consolation prize.
@ New Start: okay. for your (1), I won't mind even if you even abuse me in the worst ever way. and for your (2), just try once with ET, if it doesn't display your message, email me on quaidesaani@hotmail.com. But I hope it will be displayed as it is operated by computer I think. So go ahead! :)
@Unkown: Yes , I endorse you. Let us move on to the usual head-cutting,church bombing,mosque bombing,blasting innocent women and children in the name of a shariah conceived and structured by the beastly minds of an ignorant lot.
@Quaid-e-Saani I would like to answer you completely.. but 1: You will not like my answers.. 2: it is very doubtful that ET will even let it get published.
@Faheem Uddin: And now you should answer my first question.
Add another name: Mr. Abdussattar Edhi.
@ Faheem Uddin: If you don't agree, no problem. What about the other names I mentioned? And the names you can mention?
@Faheem Uddin: That is what media told you and me. The reality is beyond that. She is in prison because of a plan she had for making Pakistan a super power.
@Quaid-e-Saani: Dr Aafia accomplished nothing for Pakistan
In fact Malala has become more famous and earned a celebrity status both for being a strong contender and then not winning this prestigious award. However, nobody including myself remembers or knows the name of the person who actually won this award, but it was Malala all the way who got the world wide attention and was invited by the top international leaders. The girl from Pakistan was just pipped at the post not on the merit considerations but on flimsy grounds like being too young and on her security concerns.
Please correct me if I am wrong, Mr. Abdussattar Edhi, Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, Dr. Samar Mubarak, Dr. Atta ur Rahman and Dr. Aafia Siddiqui (and all such names you may add), after all their hard work, were not able to be nominated for Nobel Peace Prize. Why?
Please correct me if I am wrong, Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, Dr. Samar Mubarak, Dr. Atta ur Rahman and Dr. Aafia Siddiqui (and all such names you may add), after all their hard work, were not able to be nominated for Nobel Peace Prize. Why?
The Express Tribune is part of International Heral Tribune. IHT is taken over by The New York Times. ET is unnecessarily promoting Malala posts. Malala do not know she is being used by USA to detoriate image of Islam. USA is projecting Malala as "Victim of Extremists who are Islamics".
@Ali Well for the past 5 years she has spoken out both before and after her Attempted Murder about the animal like treatment women are given in the area she lives in.
Having the guts to talk about it.. especially at a young age is enough to win her a Peace Prize..
jeeeez.. I have seen some short sighted people but these Malala Haters should be given a prize of being that myopic
The Way is the Goal.........enjoy every moment of your blessed life!
Extremely disappointing to see a newspaper acting like opinion leaders.
Last year it was Obama. This year its an organisation no one heard of until Putin put his foot down on Syria, picked up Obama on his back and carried him across the line...........so if it had to be given for ' forcing ' peace it rightly should go to Putin. Our Malal is a winner - which ever way you look at it.
@Tahir: You are "ranting" not Express Tribune. If YOU don't like reading about Malala, how about you not click on any news item that has Malala on the headline? See, simple solution! As far as I am concerned, Express Tribune is doing a GREAT job with its Malala coverge and the only possible improvement could be to filter out the more extreme trolling comments by anti-Malala haters in news articles/Op-Eds about her.
@The only normal person: The way you people say others are jealous of Malala or Taliban lovers, reminds me of the story of the king who was made fool by saying he is wearing a suite that only wise people can see. Those people who are unable to see the suit are jealous and stupid etc etc.
People are simple jealous of you Malala, dont pay heed. Just keep going
What has she done for peace up until now to qualify her for a Nobel peace prize any ways? It would have been another Obama like peace prize award if they would have given it to Malala. No action, just words.
'Malala Mania' makes pakistan a laughing stock of the world.
For various reasons common Pakistani devoid of logical and rational thinking processes. However, the absurd dream of millions of Pakistani for Nobel Peace Prize through village girl Malala suppress all imagination! Over 90% (Nobel Peace Prize hungry) Pakistani supported ('Good') Afghan Taliban and Kashmir Jihadi Groups.
@PAKK: I can not understand what PTI reporting or Malala reporting have to do with one another. PTI reporting at ET is always stated in an objective manner as far as I can see, and of interest in Pakistan; The only one who bashes himself is IK with his analysis, there for all to judge. Malala is world class news - just go to newspapers/TV from Spain to Japan, and you will see how widely she is covered. Not only is she a jewel of a person, but a huge asset to the cause of women, education and much more - I guess such a giant of a personality, her suffering, and unconditional dedication is of no concern to PAKK, Tahir and all the others who are critical of her or the reporting on her. Thank you ET for reporting on Malala who has brought to the forefront the hardships of the downtrodden on a global stage.
People of Pakistan hate Malala because of the 24/7 stupid campaign for her by the Media. Media doesn't understand that people are getting sick due to their stupid minute by minute episodes of Malala drama.
@Media, please move on to some other story. Please.
ET, dont you have any other topic to rant abt, malala malala malala,..
yawn.... even if she 100 awards, nothing will change in Pakistan, because we need people like Edhi, who talk less and do more by practically doing something!
Peace and Hope Began with Education, One Girl at time. Thank you Malala for giving Pakistan a positive Image.
Way to go!
Anyone who opposes Malala is trash.
ET is so obsessed with malala and yet at the same time so against IK and PTI. The awkward moment for ET when malala decides to join PTI :D