Dear Malala,
Your speech in Oslo just shook me; it gave me goose bumps on
my skin, tears in my eyes and enormous respect for you in my heart.
When the news of you getting the Nobel Peace Prize was out
in October this year, I did a Google search on you. Call me ignorant, but
before that I just knew that you are the girl who was shot in the head by the
Taliban.
And then today I watched the entire award ceremony.
Dear Malala, you are an
inspiration to all women and men- your struggles depict the amount of strength
a fearless and a courageous woman could possess. Your story proves the saying,
that the pen is mightier than the sword.
Malala, your commitment
and dedication towards achieving your goal, inspires me. The passion in your
voice, the sparkle in your eye, strengthens me. Your struggles wake me up from
by ignorant slumber and your steps guide me to take the road less travelled.
At an age when girls are concerned about pimples, fashion
and boyfriends and are still discovering themselves, you, at that age, have
stood up for the basic right of the girl child, the right to education, all
over the world. Malala, I salute you.
As I watched you receiving the Nobel Prize along with
Kailash Satyarthi, two of you who are fighting for the cause of child education
and child labour, I was reminded of the child of the lady who works as a
domestic help at my place. I felt deeply ashamed, she does not go to school,
and occasionally replaces her mother at work in an event of an emergency. Remorseful
thought.
And then Malala, you inspire me further.
You inspire me to stand up and speak up for my rights, to go
out there and fight, that age is not a barrier and doing what you feel is
right, is never a crime.
Your story is a slap on the faces of all those who go to
school, but never study, those who complain of studies being a burden, to all
those who do not respect their teachers and to those who have access to
internet, but use it only to ”have fun”.
Your friend’s dream of becoming a doctor was crushed into
pieces by the hooligans who forced her into marriage at the age of 12, and
motherhood at the age of 14. But Malala, I hope that your dream, of becoming
the Prime Minister of Pakistan, turns into reality one day.
I have ordered my copy of I am Malala.
You are my strength.
More power to you.
A woman.
Ahem!!
ReplyDeleteNeha...i will say four things...
1) For the people- those who can see and can learn thus, have great heights to reach. Be it Malala, you or any soul in the world. You neha, can see..the might and light in people...you..can learn from the might and light of people...and there's much to learn from that.
2) For Malala- she surprises me...such a young girl with such lofty thoughts...and such life transforming experiences...have taken her far beyond her age.
3) For Kailash satyarthi- .the nobel laureate for peace...and hardly a name in india. Such a shame for our country and countrymen. Atleast our government could have honoured him with the highest civilian award.!
4) For you- love love love your writing. You're getting better and better with days:)