Malala Yousufzai’s historic speech at the United Nations General Assembly on her sixteenth birthday, July 12, recounted the sentiments of many people around the globe, particularly children, who understand the importance of education and the significance of defying the extremism (Taliban) through seeking education. Malala is a symbol of equal education for every child, deeply knowing that 57 million children who are out of school across the world. She displayed the confidence and determination that all children across the world need in order to demand and seek education. She is a symbol of courage for standing up to the Taliban and their medieval attitude towards women and modern education.
Malala spoke of the pain of all people across the globe suffering the menace of extremism and terrorism that could only be done away with by spreading education equally. Till date hundreds of thousands of people have been killed by the terrorists and millions have been injured. Many people live in the state of haplessness and complete denial of their fundamental rights.
In the society we live woman is earnestly regarded an inferior specie viable to all kinds of pressure backed by flawed cultural practices. The firm determination and resolve Malala demonstrated to fight against inequities depicts women can serve a vital agent of social change in our society if they are tried.
Formerly when Malala was targeted in Swat valley, northern region of Pakistan, strictly observing Sharia law, they equated her assassination with a fantasy to support their inhuman act. This inhumane act of violence capitulated loud uproar across the globe that denounced the atrocities of Taliban in general and targeting of an innocent mid-teenage girl in particular who was fighting the cause of dominance of peace, justice, women rights and education for everyone around her.
There are many Malalas, suffering in our country due to denial of their socio-economic and educational rights, facing harsh brutalities at the hand barricades of cultural, religious misinterpretation, hindering the road to enlightened moderation and progressive Afghanistan. As long as religious extremism is not countered and this flawed ideology of suppression and coercion is not dismantled, many Malala’s across the borders should await their worst fate.
Malala absolutely well said in her UN speech, “One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world. Education is the only solution. Education is first.” There is no denying the power of a pen and paper and Malala’s words should resonate with all children and parents across the world. With many nations taking notice of Malala’s speech, it seems that awareness to place all children across the world in schools has finally set in. Will the ruling elite of Afghanistan too respond at the universal call of Malala, taking all necessary measures to compensate the educational need of Afghanistan?