Monday, August 3, 2015

The Victor and The Vanquished

the Victor and the Vanquished
Just read a beautiful article by Mishal Kidwai on why she hates Malala Yousufzai.
"Its not a news item picked up by Western media, its one of the "I told you so" episodes of Western agenda. Its most certainly not a representation of girls fighting to go to school in Swat or northern areas, but it is an incorrect reflection of how many girls in Pakistan don't, not or can't attend school. As much as the deprivation of education is horrible for any country or an individual, I hate Malala because she fails to emphasize on the number of girls who did, do, or will go to school in most other parts of Pakistan. I hate Malala because she never said I want to go to school like my fellow girls in Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Gujranwala etc. Malala never said how her dream is to put a pen to a good use such as the cause for education, just like other 64% of women in Pakistan who teach, work, raise kids, or simply are skilled and literate individuals. I hate Malala because she has done more damage to the reputation of an educated, everyday school going girl of Pakistan who is seen either as a rebel or just lucky".
I quite agree with her , I don't hate Malala but I certainly don't agree with her notion that girls can't go to school peacefully in Pakistan. There are many girls across Pakistan who go to school every day, there are many girls who attend college, there are numerous women who are sole bread earners in their families. The cleaning lady aka "Massi" at my mom"s house cleans houses every day to send both her sons and daughters to school. Her husband is a driver and they both work to support their family. Isn't she a hero?
Many foreign fast food franchises, starter-up companies and mega shopping malls have opened in Pakistan in the last decade. Numerous women are working in the sales department who are well- educated and confident. They are selling anything from a hamburger to a car......quite confidently every day.Are they victims? Not at all.
Many women are tutoring neighborhood children, many are running small businesses, many are working in IT department and many are running charitable NGOs.
People abroad find it difficult to think that its a norm for women to gain education in Pakistan.
There maybe one Malala but there are many more highly educated doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers, entrepreneurs, factory workers who happen to be women spread all over Pakistan.
I just don't approve of any "easy fame" in the name of victimization, and not at all at the cost of defaming the people of Pakistan.
It's easy to become a victim and gain sympathies but it is very hard to face the challenges and emerge victorious .......don't you think so!

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