The youngest Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Malala Yousafzai, made a brief yet substantial visit to her homeland, Pakistan, six years after militants attempted to kill her for advocating girls' education.
In her four-day visit to Pakistan, which came out of the blue, she visited the Prime Minister House shortly after her arrival where she expressed that it was a “dream come true”. However, this “dream” came with many limitations as there was tight security that controlled people's access to her and vice versa, as her movements were guarded in staunch secrecy.
Malala said, “I have never been so excited for anything. I've never been so happy before. I miss everything about Pakistan... right from the rivers, the mountains, to even the dirty streets and the garbage around our house, and my friends and how we used to have gossip and talk about our school life, to how we used to fight with our neighbours.”
She visited her old home and school in the Swat valley, a mountain region northwest of Islamabad.
After being shot in the head by a Taliban gunman in 2012, she has made the UK her home. She moved with her family to Birmingham and now studies at the prestigious Oxford University. Her international campaign to improve girls' literacy not only made her a household name, but also earned her the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, at the age of 17 making her the youngest ever recipient. She had set up a charity to support education advocacy groups with focus on Pakistan, Jordan, Nigeria, Kenya and Syria.
Malala, along with her father Ziauddin Yousafzai, mother Toor Pekai, and two brothers visited their home in Mingora. They flew in a military helicopter to Mingora, accompanied by federal minister, Maryam Aurangzeb.
It was indeed, a very emotional affair for the family who stepped back into the house after six years. In an interview to the BBC, Faridul Haq Haqqani, who now lives in Malala's old house said, “Ziauddin [Yousafzai] prostrated himself on the lawn of the house; he kissed the ground and then picked up the soil and rubbed it on his eyes. There was silence in the house that lasted several minutes.”
Amid tight security, Malala managed to meet her neighbourhood friends, who were brought by officials.
Haqqani spoke about Malala saying, “I could see that her thoughts had matured. She felt restrained by the presence of security, and promised she will come without security next time.”
“I Am Not Malala Day”
Malala Yousafzai has many well-wishers in Pakistan as well as detractors. A group of private schools in Pakistan declared Friday to be “I Am Not Malala Day” as they allegedly believe that her ideologies are “anti-Islam and anti-Pakistan”. This, however, leaves Malala perplexed.
In an interview to the media, she said, “I just don't know anything I've said that makes me anti-Pakistan or anti-Islam. Islam has taught me the importance of peace. Islam has taught me the importance of education. The first word of Islam, or the first word of the Koran, is 'Iqra' which means 'read'.”
This was indeed a landmark visit. Not only did the trip give Malala an opportunity to visit her homeland and cherish reminiscent moments, but indirectly her visit connotes that she has prevailed by not backing out as she stands tall and triumphant by strongly sticking by what she believes in. Her journey is one of hope which resonates strength and optimism even in times of despair.
