Historically, Afghan nation made great sacrifices to achieve freedom and to exercise their rights under a democratic government. Religious tenets, moral principles and cultural values will have prompted the people of Afghanistan to safeguard their rights to life, liberty and property at the cost of their blood. Our past freedom fighters sowed the seeds of democracy so that we can live a peaceful and an honorable life. Their drops of blood stream down the pages of history to carry the message of freedom and self-esteem. Their departed souls do not look forward to hear soulful lyrics, doleful elegy or tearful mourning, but to see us protect their achievements through respecting the rights and dignity of one another.
Afghanistan has a glorious history – which records the selfless acts of our nation. Millions of people sacrificed their lives to hand down freedom to the next generation. They preferred an honorable death to a humiliated life and refused to live under the yoke of cruelty and despotism. They protested against the secular movements that could lead to the erosion of our ethical code or religious and social values. Our nation fought not only to save the soil and territory but also the values which originated in strong faith and firm beliefs.
The 18-year-old Afghan national heroine Malalai of Maiwand – who rallied local people fighters against the British troops at the 1880 Battle of Maiwand – will be kept alive in the heart of our history for her heroic act and considered as a role model. She was a native of Khig, a tiny village on the edge of the Maiwand battlefield, and the daughter of a shepherd. Like many women, Malalai was there to help the wounded and provide water and spare weapons. Eventually there came a point in the battle where the Afghan army was losing morale in Battle of Maiwand. Malalai, also known as “The Afghan Molly Pitcher”, took the Afghan flag and addressed them by an epic poem as, “Young love! If you do not fall in the battle of Maiwand, by God, someone is saving you as a symbol of shame.” This gave many of the Afghan fighters and ghazis a new resolve and they redoubled their efforts. At that moment one of the leading flag-bearers fell from a British bullet, Malalai went forward and held up the flag singing heroic song as, “With a drop of my sweetheart’s blood, shed in defense of the motherland, will I put a beauty spot on my forehead, such as would put to shame the rose in the garden.” But then Malalai herself was struck down and killed in cold blood. However, her words had spurred on her countrymen and soon the British lines gave way, broke and turned, leading to a disastrous retreat back to Kandahar and the biggest defeat for the British army in the Second Afghan War. Afterwards, Ayub Khan, the king who led the Battle of Maiwand, gave a special honor to Malalai and she was buried at her village, where her grave can still be found. Indeed, her actions were enough to turn her into a national heroine where she is still revered today. Schools, hospitals and even a women’s magazine have been named after her.
She sacrificed her life valorously and her blood was spilled, while defending the national flag, on the fertile soil of her motherland to ensure the rights and dignity of her compatriots and pave the way for democracy and freedom. Malalai intended to inject the spirit of manliness and courage against tyranny in our society. Her boiling blood in today’s history should play more significant role than her sentimental songs in Maiwand Battlefield. Although, it is incredible for the world to hear that an 18-year-old shepherd’s daughter gained victory over British army in a battlefield, nonetheless history records many heroic acts of Afghan women.
We are supposed to honor the historical glories which were achieved by national heroes and heroines while defending the homeland. The relatively free air that we breathe in is the fruition of the past struggles and the blood of the freedom fighters oozed to save national values.
Ill-fatedly, the religious intolerance and radical ideologies have narrowed the air for freedom and democracy. People’s dignity and their rights to life, liberty and property are violated to a great extent. In other words, scores of individuals are killed in cold blood on the grounds of their cast, creed, color, etc. The current insurgencies, which root in radical ideologies, misrepresent the message of our past freedom fighters and hurt their departed souls. After all, the high death toll of the innocent civilians and current political turmoil are open insult to the blood of our real Mujahidin – who held high ambitions and sacred intentions.
Besides upholding historical achievements and national values, we have to respect the rights and dignity of mankind, mainly our brethren, irrespective of their race, color, sex or beliefs. Practicing upon the golden rule of “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” will mitigate the public challenges on a large scale. All mankind are born free and have the rights to live freely and practice their religion freely. So, we are neither to live under subjugation nor to impose our beliefs on others. Let us live in peace but protest against tyranny in case of curtailing our freedom or violating our rights the same as “The Afghan Molly Pitcher” did fearlessly.