"One child, one teacher, one
book, and one pen, can change the world."
Malala Yousafzai
Malala Yousafzai the name whole
world and especially Pakistani nation is proud off. When the whole world is
silent, even one voice becomes powerful. Malala said during a speech at Harvard
in September 2013 and that’s exactly what she did. Malala is a source of
inspiration and motivation for people around the globe.
Last year Malala became the youngest
Nobel Peace Prize winner in the history. While many people are debating that
this award has been given considering the future perspective and perks of
Malala’s work, you are right but we should consider the fact that Malala
Yousafzai has won the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 17 for her courageous,
and near fatal, campaign to secure education for girls. As a young girl, Malala
Yousafzai defied the Taliban in Pakistan and demanded that girls be allowed to
receive an education. She was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman in October
2012, but survived.
Malala Yousafzai was born in Mingora
on July 12, 1997, Pakistan, located in the country's Swat Valley. For the first
few years of her life, her hometown remained a popular tourist spot that was
known for its summer festivals. However, the area began to change as the
Taliban tried to take control.
After the Taliban began attacking
girls' schools in Swat, Malala gave a speech in Peshawar, Pakistan, in September
2008. The title of her talk was, "How dare the Taliban take away my basic
right to education?"
In early 2009, Yousafzai began
blogging for the BBC about living under the Taliban's threats to deny her an
education. In order to hide her identity, she used the name Gul Makai. However,
she was revealed to be the BBC blogger in December of that year. With a growing
public platform, Yousafzai continued to speak out about her right, and the
right of all women, to an education. Her activism resulted in a nomination for
the International Children's Peace Prize in 2011. That same year, she was
awarded Pakistan's National Youth Peace Prize.
Even after the coward attack by
Taliban to kill her, they couldn’t stop her because she knows she is destined
to do this job for the greater good of society, future of Pakistan and
education for girls. This struggle has brought her the recognition and fame she
deserves and for the same reason she was awarded Nobel Peace Prize.
When the announcement was made,
Malala was in Chemistry class at her school in Birmingham. After being told
that she had made history as the first Pakistani peace laureate and the
youngest person to win any of the Nobel prizes, she moved on to Physics class
and remained in school until classes let out that afternoon.
After school, Malala described her
emotions when a teacher came into class to share the news: “I felt more
powerful and more courageous,” she said. “Because this award is not just a
piece of metal or a medal you wear or an award you keep in your room. This is
encouragement for me to go forward.”
In congratulating Yousafzai,
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said: “She is (the) pride of Pakistan,
she has made her countrymen proud. Her achievement is unparalleled and
unequaled. Girls and boys of the world should take lead from her struggle and
commitment." U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described her as
"a brave and gentle advocate of peace who through the simple act of going
to school became a global teacher.”
As a nation we should support
Malala’s mission and share her vision to establish a society where everyone is
educated and have the freedom of expression.
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