Page from an electronic diary: Live Malala live!
Malala Yousufzai – photo courtesy Nighat Dad
Live Malala live! Don’t die for believing in the prayer you sang at school: “May I love the lamp of knowledge, O God (lab pe aati hai doa).” Live for Iqbal’s dua that we all grew up singing at our schools. Live for Pakistan. Pakistan Zindabad, Malala’s Pakistan Paindabad!
This was not the first entry in the diary. It started with a simple prayer for a 14-year old girl struggling for her life after she was shot in the head for demanding the right to attend school.
“Malala, may Allah protect you and give you a long and happy life. Amen!”
The prayer led to the recognition of what an innocent girl had achieved at such a tender age.
“What you achieved at this young age, people do not n their entire lives. You brought love and compassion to millions of hearts. You tried to bring light to those living in perpetual darkness,” it said.
“Today, the entire nation prays for you. Our eyes are wet. Our hearts are heavy. But the light you lit in this darkness cannot be extinguished. You are what a true Muslim should be.”
As it happens with electronic diaries, about a dozen people liked it. But this was not enough. So an appeal followed: “Liking is not enough. Please share your emotions too.”
The first person to respond was Munir Pervaiz, a Pakistani living in Canada. “All friends who are not apologists for the Taliban; resolve that we will prevent these cowards from killing our innocent daughters in the name of religion,” he wrote.
“Let’s remember the bravery of a child who tried to stop the tyranny that the ignorant are trying to impose on our poor motherland.”
Asif Alam, a Pakistani New Yorker, wrote he could “no longer stand Taliban apologists after this incident. Amazing that some leaders are still reluctant to criticise the Taliban! Shame, shame, shame! Get well soon Malala”
Wajih Shah, who did not disclose where he lived, said it was wrong to say that such people were Muslims because they had a strange obsession: Killing innocent children.
When one commentator, N.T. called Malala “an enemy because she liked an enemy (President Barack Obama),” the person who initiated the diary urged him not to do so.
“Our hearts are heavy with sorrow. Our eyes are wet. We are in pain, N.T. Have mercy on us. We will fight you another day. Today, we pray.”
“Really sorry sir if you got hurt,” N.T. responded but continued to attack Malala and praise the Taliban.
This forced the diarist to urge his friends to “stand up and be counted. Let the world know Malala is not alone.”
Michael Siddique, another Pakistani Canadian, urged Pakistani politicians to come out and condemn the Taliban.
“Malala’s fault was that she didn’t agree with your and the Taliban’ version of Islam,” wrote Siddique in a message for Imran Khan.
“CODE PINK, do your homework the next time, you go out to protest along with a politician,” said he while referring to American peace activists who joined Imran Khan’s rally.
“Not just me, most Pakistanis are hurt today. If you have an honest heart, you will acknowledge that the Taliban are a minority in our nation,” wrote the diarist when another Taliban supporter asked why he was so upset.
“But let’s not fight today. Let us pray for her life. May Allah save her, Amen,” he wrote.
N.T., J.A. and I.B. asked why were the liberals so upset over Malala? “Are those killed in drone attacks in Fata not Pakistanis?”
“If Malala dies, ‘ilm,‘ dies, resistance to tyranny dies, the will for progress dies, the desire for redemption dies, the nation dies,” came a response.
Tahira Mussarat Hussain, a Pakistani-American, noted that “Malala is everywhere today. She touched everyone’s heart. She will be fine insha Allah and we will see more Malalas.”
“When hundreds of innocent girls were burned in the Red Mosque, where were you?” asked J.A.
“The attack on Malala is an attack on humanity. Humanity must speak out in one voice against this cowardly attack,” wrote Ahmar Mastikhan.
“As the poet Iqbal prayed, I want our kids – both boys and girls – to pray for knowledge for generations. I want them to express their desire for knowledge without any fear,” wrote the diarist while explain why the attack on Malala hurt him so much.
“This is not about the diarist. This is not about an individual. The whole nation is crying over and praying for this little girl and you have to bring in other issues into it,” wrote Wasim Sajid, while responding to N.T. and J.A.
“Her strength is evident – the ‘powerful men’ feared her enough to target her. That is true power from a 14-year-old,” wrote Orna Wiseman.
“Those rejoicing at Malala’s plight should know that what may happen to them can be worse,” wrote Behroz Khan.
“I do not know much about her apart from what I have read today. Her greatest contribution yet might be that this ghastly incident galvanises the long suffering common people into protesting and fighting the scourge of Taliban in a way that they never did before,” wrote Samir Gupta.
“I also prayed for her,” wrote Ramanuj Ghosh. “As far as I know, Islam never taught this. They are giving a bad name to the religion.”
“Hope she and everybody in this tragedy survive,” wrote Sajjad Haider.
“Let us all donate money so she can get the best care in the world, gets well and once again resists the forces of darkness. We can collectively defeat the evil. I will try to find out where to send money for her treatment,” suggested Mohsin Masood, a US educationist of Pakistani origin.
The author is a correspondent for Dawn, based in Washington, DC
Malala’s suffering has motivated large numbers of moderate Muslims to speak their minds. I hope Malala recovers fully to see what she has accomplished. God bless her, her family and the others injured in this attack.
God bless the brave girl. If the Pakistan people and politicians do not wake up now, then absolutely no hope left on this country.
Get well soon sister. There are so many Indian brothers and sisters praying for you. You are not just an asset of Pakistan. You are the world’s asset. The world needs you as a savior. Cowards will use bullets on flowers. But a brave girl like you can fight any bullet with flowers.
Malala hope you will get better soon , Pakistan needs you. It is heartning to see an overwhelming response for Malala. I also want raised a little voice inside me saying that do not forget the 2 other girls injured in this attack and also please raise your voice and concerns for the hundreds of innocent children died in US drone attacks.
Malala is a symbol of courage, bravery and truthfulness. She is a mark of resistance against the evil forces of darkness. She taught the leaders of Pakistan, to unite against this dirty and filthy mind set, which has taken the task upon themselves, to distort the very basic concept of Islam. It is heartening to know that Pakistani media is playing a very positive role, and some ulema explaining the true sense of Islam, regarding the heinous crime committed by the terrorists.
Long live! malalai Yousafzai.
Mr. Anwar Iqbal, I am a fan after reading soem of your articles. I reside in Maryland and would like to get in touch and meet. If you are so inclined please contact me at my email.
Cheers,
My Salute to brave girl
I pray to god for her speedy Recovery and to give her courage to fight injustice
Sridhar
So many human dying like Mala. What is so spacial about Mala, others are not Humans or are they getting same treatment???????????????????
thousands of pakistanis protest on streets to protect the killers of the girl from the drone attacks.What A country. Shame on you Mr imran Khan.think before gathering millions whom you are trying to protect.
U’ve earned my respect.. m too small in front of u..
May u have more strength and power.. God bless u
With lots of blessings from India
Be alive Malala
Get better little angel. The world needs you.
and now what ? wait for another killing ….sadness
Really…great courage by a small girl , , on behalf of 20 crores.
People like u…can make difference in our society and Lives!!!! LONG LIVE MALALA…wishes from India!!!
150M Pakistanis and only a few condenmnations!!!!
I have seen more people at rallies against US or India. Time to think Pakistan. How many rallies have been organized to support Malala? How many stood up and got counted?
If you still feel you want to remain quiet so be it. But forever hold your silence since you deserve that.
Please visit this Facebook-group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/malalayousufzai/
Malala should be nominated for Nobel peace prize. She stood for the emancipation of women and equality a universal charter of human rights.
Has any of our religious party leades condemned the attack on Malala?
If not, Pakistanis, please take notice of those who haven’t unequivocally done so.
You should know what they really stand for .
Some have but they didn’t blame the attackers, they blamed the girl for standing up for her rights. It was her fault apparently.
May Allah bless Malala with complete and fast recovery, long healthy life, wisdom, and courage to realize her noble dream of prmoting education and good governance in Pakistan.
May Allah bless Malala with complete recovery, long healthy life, courage, and wisdom to realize her noble dreams.
Dear sir,
It’s so heartening that so many people have come out for malala. But I am doubtful that situation will change even if more malalas come out and starts operating in Pakistan Please consider following reasons:
1) “You are what a true Muslim should be” the author said in praise of malala. Instead “you are what a true human being should be” would have been more appropriate. It indicates the basic mentality of Pakistani people. They are being taught to be muslim first and then human being as if there cannot be people around who are non muslim. And this gives rise to intolerance in them.
2) All these views are from expatriate Pakistanis. Why? Native Pakistanis can’t express their views for malala. Or they are scared of Taliban and authorities supporting them. They want to run away from home and expressed their views only from safe heavens of other countries. The dawn today is full of articles for malala. But not one of them is written by native Pakistan.
You guys have got your freedom (from British) for free. You used violence to break the nation and got Pakistan. But now it is time you EARN your freedom…from religious fundamentalism and oppression…the very thing you guys have created and responsible for. And it will be difficult since it lies within you.
And for that you need to fight and sacrifice…not just blog from safe Canadian suburb.
I pray she is well. Lots of love..!!! A great contribution for Humanity!!
Many slutes to Malala from India !!