Malala Yousafzai, more than just a Noble Prize Winner

Malala Yousufzai, a name rather unknown till yesterday is one of the most talked person today. At the tender age of 17 when most of us are battling between Maths and Science, which stream to choose for our career, this Pakistani girl has become the youngest Noble Laureate for Peace. Her journey hitherto is a source of inspiration for all of us. At this age she is able to do what would take a whole lifetime for some. There is so much that I, you and everybody can take from Courage is the first thing that strikes our mind when we read about her. She is an icon of bravery and audacity. She made me believe that if your intentions are pious, you do not need to fear anyone but God. ‘Himmat e marda madade khuda’, if you are determined in your efforts, God will help you. I remember when once I went to a shooting range and I was terrified on seeing an actual rifle. It took me sometime to get over the fear and hold it. That was when I knew that the rifle isn’t meant to hurt me. I was 24 then, Malala faced a terrorist at the age of 15, took a point blank headshot and all that just to fight for her and other girls’ basic right of education. This makes me believe in the fact that courage comes automatically to you when you know you are on the right side. All you have to do is just stand firm and keep at it come what may. 

Malala to me is a message that to help people, all it requires is a will and determination. You do not have to join NGOs to help needy ones. Look around and you will find many who are in dire need of help of some kind. Step up, do something for them that touches their life and changes it for good. For Malala, charity began at home and she started to raise her voice to change her life other girls around. Small efforts can bring big changes. While all of us may not be able to do something so big that she did, if we can make even one life beautiful with our efforts then that would be an achievement. We are lucky to be born in a free environment, where we are not deprived of our basic rights, not subjected to any kind injustice or restrictions. Then why not make this life more meaningful by helping others who may not be as lucky as us to have everything to their facility. 

Malala to me is an epitome of forgiveness. When asked in a talk show what did she think when she was told that terrorists are targeting her, she replied ‘ I first thought that when I will face a terrorist I will try to hit him with my shoe (such innocent defense mechanism!!!) but then I thought that if I hit him, what would be the difference between him and me’. I don’t know from where did she get such maturity and forgiveness but that is something we need to learn from her and emulate. Life had been so easy and simple if we could just forgive. This forgiveness could have avoided rifts as small as between two friends to as big as hatred between countries that leads to lethal wars. Having said that, I am totally not a supporter of forgiving at the cost of self-esteem and would advocate strong retaliation when forgiveness is mistaken for weakness and lack of capability to respond. 

This young girl is a question for all of us that ‘I started thinking for others at the age of 11, what have you done at the age of 25, 30, 35 and more’? She is a hope that instills in our heart that things can be changed; long established practices can be altered. She is the difference that one person can bring to the society. She is the strength of the girls who think that they need men to fight for them and stand up for them and above all she is a mirror to all of us to see and probably think what difference can we make in other people’s lives or in Dr Abdul Kalam’s words ‘Ask not what your country has one for you, ask what you have done for your country?’

January, 2015