One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world, was the visionary notion given to us by Malala Yousafzai, the Noble Laureate of 2014. The teenager- activist who showed the world a new defining moment in the course of history, advocating the right of every girl to attain education through the process of schooling. Going to school especially in a country where it was forbidden and no guarantee to basic human rights or constitutional protection to human dignity.
In such harsh, violent conditions Malala’s struggle begins, her voice reached out against terrorism and sufferings. The world saw the young girl’s determination, her voice reconciling to the core and advocacy of a change in the system, the propensities that enlighten a new form of idealism. Education is the key tool to liberation and knowledge liberates humanity from the web of chaos. And educating a girl must be the prior concern of any nation, girls too have their own unique world to conquer, to dream up to. The power players, positions of high status, even history had woman rulers.
Malala’s world as she described once, having fun with her brothers and going to school. But all was suddenly about to change, with the brutal Taliban’s takeover of Swat Valley in the northern border of Pakistan. With life coming to a standstill, no hope, no glimmer of the future for children. The Taliban’s iron decree to stop the girls from going to school was made possible through barbaric methods, flogging, blasting schools, Kidnap, murdering too. Education is not anyone’s monopoly but it is the individual’s liberty, his or her universal right. The means of curbing the flow was to make sure that the generation are confined to the Kitchen, married off and giving births.
It was a tragic and nefarious effort to limit the progress and movement of development. I, as a young student, first came to know about Malala’s name echoing in 2012. Later on, her voice, her courage, valour and determination began to send ripples and waves in the ocean of life. She took the bullet into her heart, into her struggle, into the million’s lives. I still remember the Television flash, coming into my senses, the girl who stood up against the force of Taliban. The noble and edifying cause to which Malala sacrificed is beyond a teenager’s imagination, perhaps beyond words to describe how much the young is indebted to this Braveheart and fighting spirit as represented by Malala herself.
Today, as the belief and humility shows its way, anyone can aspire to be the Malala of the future and world needs many more such Malalas to come with…….
Sidharth PK
India
Poet/ Writer
