Malala is the 16 year old Pakistani school girl and education activist
who was shot in the head and neck in an
assassination attempt by Taliban gunmen while returning home on a school
bus on 9 October 2012. She marked her 16th birthday by addressing the
United Nations at its headquarters yesterday Friday July 12th. Read her
inspiration speech below…Thank you to every person who has prayed for my fast recovery and a
new life. I cannot believe how much love people have shown me. I have
received thousands of good wish cards and gifts from all over the world.
Thank you to all of them. Thank you to the children whose innocent
words encouraged me. Thank you to my elders whose prayers strengthened
me.
Dear brothers and sisters, do remember one thing. Malala day
is not my day. Today is the day of every woman, every boy and every girl
who have raised their voice for their rights. I speak – not for myself,
but for all girls and boys.
Dear friends, on October 9, 2012, the
Taliban shot me on the left side of my forehead. They shot my friends
too. They thought that the bullets would silence us. But they failed. And then, out of that silence came, thousands of voices.
The terrorists
thought that they would change our aims and stop our ambitions but
nothing changed in my life except this: Weakness, fear and hopelessness
died. Strength, power and courage was born. I am the same Malala. My
ambitions are the same. My hopes are the same. My dreams are the same.
Dear
sisters and brothers, I am not against anyone. Neither am I here to
speak in terms of personal revenge against the Taliban or any other
terrorists group. I am here to speak up for the right of education of
every child. I want education for the sons and the daughters of all the
extremists especially the Taliban.
I do not even hate the Talib who shot me. Even if there is a gun in
my hand and he stands in front of me. I would not shoot him. This is the
compassion that I have learnt from Muhammad-the prophet of mercy, Jesus
christ and Lord Buddha. This is the legacy of change that I have
inherited from Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Muhammad Ali
Jinnah.
The wise saying, “The pen is mightier than sword” was
true. The extremists are afraid of books and pens. The power of
education frightens them. They are afraid of women. The power of the
voice of women frightens them.
That is why they are blasting
schools every day. Because they were and they are afraid of change,
afraid of the equality that we will bring into our society.
They
think that God is a tiny, little conservative being who would send girls
to the hell just because of going to school. The terrorists are
misusing the name of Islam and Pashtun society for their own personal
benefits.
Women and children are suffering in many parts of the
world in many ways. In India, innocent and poor children are victims of
child labour. Many schools have been destroyed in Nigeria. People in
Afghanistan have been affected by the hurdles of extremism for decades.
We
call upon the world leaders that all the peace deals must protect women
and children’s rights. A deal that goes against the dignity of women
and their rights is unacceptable.
We call upon all governments to ensure free compulsory education for every child all over the world.
We call upon all governments to fight against terrorism and violence, to protect children from brutality and harm.
So
let us wage a global struggle against illiteracy, poverty and terrorism
and let us pick up our books and pens. They are our most powerful
weapons.
One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the world. Education is the only solution. Education first.
