I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban

“My father always said, ‘Malala will be free as a bird.’ I dreamed of going to the top of Mount Elum like Alexander the Great to touch Jupiter and even beyond the valley. But, as I watched my brothers running across the roof, flying their kites and skillfully flicking the strings back and forth to cut each other’s down, I wondered how free a daughter could be.”

Despite her father’s support and her continued education, Malala understands the barriers she faces. She watches her brothers, who are already free, and wonders how she can be equally free, especially when she must fight for it. However, her father’s proclamation inspires Malala and she fights, with him beside her.

“I will protect your freedom, Malala. Carry on with your dreams.” 

Just as he proclaims Malala will be free, her father promises to protect the freedom she gains. He understands the implications of his “modern” daughter fighting for education and for her rights. Further, he wants her to remember her dreams, despite the challenges. In the meantime, he will campaign for her and others.

“Mullahs often misinterpret the Quran and Hadith when they teach them in our country, as few people understand the original Arabic. Fuzlullah exploited this ignorance.” 

One of the toughest challenges both Malala and her father face is the ignorance of the community. The average villager fears God’s wrath. They aren’t educated and thus their fear in God competes with common sense. Often, the fear of God is stronger than a person’s understanding of the world. The Taliban uses this to gain the upper hand. They, however, fail to capture those who are educated and understand what is being said.

“Ziauddin, you have charisma; you can speak up and organize against them….Life isn’t just about taking in oxygen and giving out carbon dioxide. You can stay there accepting everything from the Taliban or you can make a stand against them.” 

Ziauddin’s friend convinces him to take up the pen, so to speak, and organize against the Taliban. There are risks, which cause Ziauddin to almost falter. He perseveres and agrees he can take a stand. Rather than sit down quietly, he begins speaking louder.  

“We felt like the Taliban saw us as little dolls to control, telling us what to do and how to dress. I thought if God wanted us to be like that He wouldn’t have made us all different. 

Malala is feeling pressure from the Taliban. They want to limit the schooling girls receive and ensure girls are covered up and out of the public eye. Malala does not want to be dressed up in what one group considers appropriate, and thus suggests they see her as a doll. She rightly wonders why else God would have made them different if each person was supposed to act like the next. Her thinking fuels her fight.

“All this happened and no one did a thing.” 

The first of many statements like this. Despite the injustice occurring all over the valley and the country, Malala notices the people who matter most (the police, the government) do not lift a finger. On top of that, even the citizens, including many of her family members, barely make a sound. What could they do when so many refuse to stand up?

“When it suits the Taliban, women can be vocal and visible”

Women from one mosque are used to further the Taliban cause. Malala notices these women are not reprimanded when they enter the streets in protest, shutting down stores and burning CDs and DVDs. Because their actions suit the Taliban’s needs, the women are “allowed” to be both vocal and visible. 

“We don’t have any options. We are dependent on these mullahs to learn the Quran….But you just use him to learn the literal meaning of the words; don’t follow his explanations and interpretation. Only learn what God says. His words are divine messages, which you are free and independent to interpret.” 

Malala learns the Quran from a man who applauds the death of Benazir, Malala’s hero, because he believes women should not be so vocal and visible. Her father calms her, explaining that there is no one else to teach her the Quran. 

“We were scared, but our fear was not as strong as our courage.” 

A constant motif throughout the narrative, Malala’s family is made up of strength. Fear stimulates them into finding more courage than ever before. In the face of danger, Malala and her father continue to speak out. They are different, just as Malala notes, and God made them.

“He hated the fact that most people would not speak up.”

Again, the issue of people remaining silent comes up. Malala’s father continues to speak out, attending conferences, meetings, and interviews. Yet, despite his efforts, people do not support him. Too many stay silent in a world made up of much noise.

“In my heart was the belief that God would protect me. If I am speaking for my rights, for the rights of girls, I am not doing anything wrong. It’s my duty to do so. God wants to see how we behave in such situations. There is a saying in the Quran, ‘The falsehood has to go and the truth will prevail.’” 

With Malala’s additional engagements, the threat of danger looms closer. However, she does not despair. She believes she will be protected because what she believes in is so strong.

“The Taliban could take our pens and books, but they couldn’t stop our minds from thinking.” 

When the Taliban announces girls can no longer attend school, Malala is frustrated. However, she realizes that she can think outside a school building. And thinking results in learning, in questioning. She may be battered, but she is not broken.

“I couldn’t understand what the Taliban were trying to do. ‘They are abusing our religion,’ I said in interviews. ‘How will you accept Islam if I put a gun to your head and say Islam is the true religion? If they want every person in the world to be Muslim, why don’t they show themselves to be good Muslims first?’” 

Malala sees a discrepancy between how the Taliban’s stated mission and their actions. She also understands the Quran and understands the Taliban is misguided. She muses, almost comically, about how violence will make people want to convert.

“When you’re very young, you love the burqa because it’s great for dressing up. But when you are made to wear it, that’s a different matter.” 

In this statement, Malala reveals something important about her culture. The burqa is introduced at a young age and is seen as something positive. What is unclear is whether Malala’s final statement is true across all girls her age or unique to those who have been educated. When it is forced, it loses its positive association.

“Our country had so many crises and no real leaders to tackle them.” 

The crises stack up in Malala’s country and she watches as no one does a thing to help the country. Now that she is older, she understands it comes down to leadership. Unfortunately, the most passionate and educated citizens are not in a position of leadership, something her father laments.

“I knew that any of the girls in my class could have achieved what I had achieved if they had had their parents’ support.” 

Malala has achieved much at a young age, winning awards and being invited to interview for several media outlets. She understands her achievement is due to the support of her mother and father. Unfortunately, her classmates do not have the same support, but she still sees them as successful. After all, they are learning. They are becoming educated.

“If Christians, Hindus or Jews are really our enemies, as so many say, why are we Muslims fighting with each other? Our people have become misguided. They think their greatest concern is defending Islam and are being led astray by those like the Taliban who deliverable misinterpret the Quran.” 

Again, the violence of her nation comes back to the Quran. Malala is confused how her countrymen can call other people their enemy when the enemy is alive and well within their own country: people killing each other because they are not “Muslim” enough. Truly defending Islam would mean reading and correctly interpreting the Quran.

“All children are special to their parents, but to my father I was his universe. I had been his comrade in arms for so long, first secretly as Gul Makai, then quite openly as Malala.” 

Malala has been shot, and her father is devastated. All children are special to their parents, but Malala’s father nicknamed her his soulmate. The reason is apparent throughout Malala’s journey. And, just as anyone might feel when they lose someone extremely important to them, her father fears living without his soulmate, his daughter.

“While I was hovering between life and death, the Taliban issued a statement assuming responsibility for shooting me but denying it was because of my campaign for education.” 

The Taliban admits to shooting Malala. However, the rest of their statement appears ludicrous. Why else would Malala be shot? She was just a girl. If the shooting was not a result of her campaign, what else could it be for?

“I felt nothing, maybe just a bit satisfied. ‘So they did it.’ My only regret was that I hadn’t had a chance to speak to them before they shot me. Now they’d never hear what I had to say. I didn’t even think a single bad thought about the man who shot me—I had no thoughts of revenge—I just wanted to go back to Swat. I wanted to go home.” 

Malala asks her doctors what happened to her. They explain she was shot on the school bus. Malala does not elaborate on why she feels satisfied they did it, but it could be because she realizes she fought hard and it was noticed.

“The Taliban are cruel—they have snatched her smile….You can give someone eyes or lungs, but you cannot restore their smile.” 

Malala’s face needs to be reconstructed because of a damaged nerve. Her father worries her smile has been stolen. What is more important to his statement here is what he means figuratively. You can give someone something physical, but you cannot give them something emotional. He worries they have stolen the fight in Malala.

“Mr. Zardari told the high commissioner to give my father a post as education attaché so he would have a salary to live on and a diplomatic passport so he would not need to seek asylum to stay in the UK.” 

Despite Pakistan’s poor leadership, they reward Malala with something. The president of Pakistan asks that her father be given a salary and passport so he and the family can continue to live there. Mr. Zardari perhaps understands the reality: Malala and her family cannot return yet.

“I used to be known as his daughter; now he is known as my father.” 

After being shot, Malala became a global figure. In Pakistan, everyone knew her because of her father. Now, everyone knows her father because of her. Their connection perhaps solidifies them as soulmates.