Sana Khan Nadeem
IT’S a human inborn tendency to strive hard to live the best. We have read such astounding stories of great figures from the world’s history where they didn’t give up until the soul left them soulless. But not every success is noteworthy to be admired by millions. Many faced failure, many redirected their goals because of the fear of persistent failure, many gave up but only a few got what they wanted with sheer determination. Having such a vibrant objective ahead, one must be forbearing to troubles while being on the road to success. The very vital rule of bringing a positive change in a society is to stick to the roots. You can never reshape the fate of your society if you are not connected morally, emotionally as well as physically to the society you want to see with a positive modification. My point is straight as an arrow today.
The name Malala Yousafzai, we all have a little or extra details about. A girl from utmost Swat district KP, Pakistan. A social activist for female education and a youngest Nobal prize laureate. I don’t want to shed extra light on the series of stories happened in the past but fact of the matter is that she put herself into a brave yet tough situation which was chosen by herself alone. She did a great job working for the girls’s education while living within that society. Only noticeable when she was working on ground levels in her native town of Mangora Pakistan. Once she moved out of her town, away from her country, things have transmuted upside down completely. Living and studying abroad , known to be a prominent figure working for women education , she has received many humanitarian awards, like Philadelphia Liberty Medal, Glamour award for the Girl’s Hero, International children’s peace prize etc. But to my surprise, what all this effort for?
Malala Yousafzai is raising voice for the education of females from the part of the world where literacy rate is higher than the total of our country’s literacy rate. Malala should have worked for the females of the mostly abandoned town of her own. She must have struggled hard while living in the society she represented. She should have made schools, other vocational training centres for girls for whom she attempted to put her life in danger and has attained the fame around the globe. What is the purpose of sitting miles away and tweeting if only her presence and struggle while living in between the people of her district could have made a big change in that part of Pakistan. What is all this applaud for?. I still can see no hope, no betterment in the town of hers. Pitty girls of that town.
In juxtaposition to the Lady of Mingora, we have another social activist from Pakistan. Quite untended even so but the work she is doing speaks about her loudly. Mukhtaran Bibi (a.k.a Mukhtar Mai). A lady of courage from Muzaffargarh district Meerwala , one of the remote areas of Punjab, Pakistan. Mukhtaran Bibi was a victim of gang-rape in 2002 by the orders of local village council (Panchayat) as a forced punishment for her younger brother’s sin. This iron lady didn’t give up even after years of handling court cases against the Punchayat. Still she is confident and hopeful to observe the justice prevailing soon. Mukhtaran Bibi didn’t flee away outside the country, she didn’t sit back and contemplating rest of the females agonizing the same despondencies.
She stood straight and combat not only her own right but the rights of other victimised females from such Panchayats in most of the rural areas of Pakistan. Besides opening schools for girls and boys in her town, Mukhtaran Bibi has an NGO running by the name of MMWWO (Mukhtar Mai Women’s welfare Organisation) which provides education , shelter and other assistance to the women of our society who have been deprived of their rights in all facets. This organisation of Mukhtar Mai is dedicated to help rape, violence and abuse survivors. Point to remember is that this selfless lady Mukhtaran Bibi was awarded Fatima Jinnah Gold Medal for bravery by Pakistan government (2005) and was named Women of the year by Glamour Magazine (2006).
Being rational, Mukhtaran Bibi has chosen. Pakistan to bring about a difference between the clash of societies and norms varying from one city to another town. Mukhtaran Bibi put all her efforts in favour of the basic rights given by the religion, by the law, by the state in response to the norms that have no logical and ethical as well as legal grounds. No doubt the work done with qualm has a long lasting effect than considering self-security and fame first. Malala Yousafzai needs to put that effort more to bring about the trust of the people of her own society by working with them on ground, motivating them, building the route which could lead many women to enlighten the souls by knowing their fate, by getting education and thus living a productive life. One must go into the mud to clean out the mud. Because actions always speak louder than desolated words.
—The writer is freelance columnist.
