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Malala Day

Malala Day

Anusha Ramraj

Malala Yousafzai is a young human rights activist who has fought for women and children’s rights to education. She was pronounced the most famous teenager in the world by the United Nations in December 2019. She was born in the Swat district of Pakistan on the 12th July 1997.
 
Swat in Pakistan was a peaceful tourist destination. In 2007 Swat became Taliban territory. The Taliban is known to be a brutal religious fundamentalist group – they are extremists and imposed harsh patriarchal rules. Anyone who defied the rules of Islam would be publicly punished if not brutally murdered and their corpses displayed.
 
As part of their take-over of Swat, female education and basic rights came under attack and women were not allowed to school, work or leave their homes without being accompanied by related males. More than 200 schools for girls were blown up, and at night, the Taliban would issue threats on the local radio. Schools and guardians would be held responsible for any girl who was allowed to attend school.
 
Malala loved learning and schooling. She is the daughter of the social activist Ziauddin Yousafzai who also ran a girls’ school in Swat. Young Malala wanted to complete her education and become a doctor. Her father always encouraged her to become a politician in order for her to create a new society wherein women would thrive and therefore help more people. The Taliban subsequently passed a ruling that no girls’ schools would remain open after 15th January 2009. Even after the closure, Malala vowed that the Taliban would not stop her - she would continue to study at home or any other place, and she pleaded with the world to help her, help their schools and to help Pakistan.
 
She changed her identity and began blogging for the BBC (Diary of a Pakistani school girl) about the Taliban restriction on their basic rights to education. Although her identity was later revealed, that did not stop her. She continued to raise her voice for girls’ right to education. Within a space of 2 years, in 2011, Malala was nominated for the International Children’s Peace Prize and was also awarded the Pakistan’s National Youth Peace prize. Malala’s story and plight started gaining momentum, both in Pakistan and internationally. Malala always feared that her dad was a Taliban target but did not realise that she herself had become one.
 
On the 9th October 2012, while on her way home from school, a masked gunman boarded her school bus and demanded to know who Malala was. “Which one is Malala…tell me or I will kill you all!”. As her friends’ gazes fell upon young Malala her identity was revealed. The gunman approached Malala and at point blank range shot her twice, once in the head and once in the neck.
 
The world watched in horror as she fought for her life. A portion of her skull was removed but the swelling in her brain could not be contained. She was flown from Peshawar to Birmingham in England to receive further care. She was lucky enough to have survived the attack and despite undergoing many surgeries she suffered no brain damage and was able to resume school again in England in 2013. Is her survival of such a direct attack by the Taliban anything short of a miracle? Malala’s purpose was much bigger than life itself. The attack on Malala gained world support… and as for young Malala, she was more motivated than ever to fight back… “weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage were born”.
 
On the 12th July 2013, on her 16th birthday, she delivered a speech to the United Nations - her first public address since her attack. On this day, the UN brought together hundreds of young education advocates from around the world and the day became famously known as World Malala day. A day to honour and remember the rights of women and children to education. “One child, one teacher, one book, one pen, can change the world”
 
Thanking all for their prayers and support for her speedy recovery, she went on to speak about being able to raise her voice for the many who did not have a voice. She spoke about her cause which stands for equality, peace, dignity and education for children and women, urging countries to change their policies to embrace this cause.
 
Malala is the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize and has won over 40 awards and honours for bravery. From previously wanting to become a doctor she now wants to become the next female Prime Minister of Pakistan! Malala and her dad are also Founders of the Malala Fund that promotes girls’ rights to free, safe and quality education.
 
What has Malala’s experience taught us?
 
First and foremost, that humanity still exists. When young Malala was shot, people all over the world prayed for her. It did not matter that people were a different colour or belonged to a different religion or state, they all came together as one to pray for Malala’s recovery.
 
Furthermore, she is an exemplary example of someone who never gives up! People should fight and stand up for what they believe in and despite the challenges and hurdles in life, not give up. Dream bigger and better each time.
 
Not to take things for granted – education, like many other things, may be free in many countries but should not be taken for granted. People often only realise the importance of what they have when they no longer have it. Show appreciation for what you have.
 
Guns and violence cannot silence us and the causes we believe in. Terrorists want to rule the world by instilling fear in people through extreme, violent acts. They fear and despise educated people and those who can challenge them, as they pose a threat. One must always remember that bravery and perseverance can always win when facing adversity. Malala refers to the Taliban being afraid of the power of women especially once they are educated!
 
Lastly, to remain peaceful and not seek revenge – despite the attack Malala does not wish for the destruction of the Taliban, who were responsible for her being shot, but rather that their children also receive an education. Given the current circumstances in South Africa, there is a striking resemblance between Malala’s life journey and the events taking place in our country in the last few days. Her total forgiveness of the Taliban should serve as a shining example for us all in South Africa. As Mandela famously said, “No one is born with hate in their heart…we are taught that by society, and if we can teach hate, then we can also teach love.”

Written exclusively for Moore South Africa by Anusha Ramraj from CCI South Africa.