Who is Malala?
I read the book which is 'I am Malala. I just read only chapter 1. It was a story about a girl who lived in Pakistan. Malala is a person who fought for women's right. She even taught other women who were not able to study. The book says in Pakistan, there is a kind of discrimination about gender. They think that women should work in home and birth to baby. Only men can have education services. Malala, the main character is a woman. Most of the people in village hated her except their family. Her father said that she will be having same education with men. He was different with other people around of Malala. These are the things that I learned from ' I am Malala' chapter 1. Yiji Kim of II-Innovation
I read a book, which is named 'I am Malala'. It story's about Malala who stood up for education and was shot by the Taliban. I read only the chapter 1, and it says about her childhood. She was born in a poor but happy family as a daughter. In her country, Afghanistan, doesn't allow women to join with education system and to be chief of the any organization. It means that the human right of women is very poor in her country. For example when the woman born daughter, they are busy to hide their baby behind curtain and shame to show their baby. However, her family didn't. Her parents always love and support her as same as what they did for their son. They respected each other's vision as such a happy family. Because of this background, she was able to engaged from her family and she was being a effective person who brings out the peace for the society especially, kind of her country, which doesn't respect human right for women. Those are what I have learned from this book chapter 1. Chae Rin Lim of II-Innovation
Malala relates that she was born at dawn and that this is considered auspicious in her Pashtun community. Though the birth of a girl is rarely celebrated in Pakistan, Malala’s father, Ziauddin, rejoiced and named her after the Afghan heroine Malalai of Maiwand. Malala is proud that she was named after the woman everyone calls the Pashtun Joan of Arc. Malala and her family live in Mingora, the largest town in the Swat Valley. In ancient days, the Swat Valley was a Buddhist kingdom, in fact, Malala's home is located in Butkara, or "place of the Buddhist statues." Islam did not come to the Swat Valley until Mahmud of Ghazni's invasion in the eleventh century. Malala tells us that her family consists of Ziauddin (her father), Toor Pekai (her mother), Khushal (her younger brother), Atal (her youngest brother), and herself. Malala is equally proud of both her parents; Toor Pekai is beautiful and devout, while Ziauddin is an influential community leader. He is the principal and owner of the Khushal School as well as a frequent participant in literary societies and Pashtun jirgas (tribal councils). Even at an early age, Malala remembers chafing against the limitations placed upon girls.
Cabahug, Maria Julia M. of 11 Excellence
“A Daughter is born”
The first chapter paints a picture of Malala’s birth from her perspective. Born into a patriarchy, her parents (most especially her father) showed disappointment at the fact they had birth a daughter. A family in poverty, they had to hire a midwife instead of going to a hospital to deliver Malala and her 2 brothers. Her father co owned a school with her friend, it was in this same school where her mother would wash their clothes by a tap outside of it.
Malala’s most fond memories of her childhood were of her sitting on her knees listening to her father’s stories. He would recall tales of gallant leaders, courageous warriors, being so invested in his own storytelling that he’d even shed a tear. One of these heroes was Malalai Maiwand, Malala’s name sake. A Pakistani Joan d’ Arc, she was a great warrior who assured the defeat of the British. By the end of the chapter, she recalled how her father always said “Malala will be as free as a bird.” To this sentiment she asked herself “But, how free can a daughter be?”
What seems to be an overarching theme of the book is feminism against the established patriarchy. Malala spouts many experiences of inequality such as the fact she wasn’t allowed to go out of the house unless accompanied by a man. This disrespect was even extended towards those way above her age, even her mother who was relegated to a human dish washer. Knowing who she is now, it seems she’s become quite the symbol for feminism today.
Whaqyn Miguel Olalia
Who is Malala? We all know her story of standing against the Taliban when they denied her right to go to school — but do we really know her story? The moment you turn the pages, read left and right, from top to bottom, the words, the sentences, the message, the story, they resonate and materialize abstractly. There was more to Malala’s story even before this highlighted event in her life.
I couldn’t imagine skipping out on a story like Malala’s. She’s very inspiring, to describe the problems of today and the struggles that she faces but at the same time serenade the beauty of her world, something so hard to do and become. We go to the stories before her birth and before her life changing experience with the Taliban. Her name, her unique homeland and heritage, her culture, her society’s state, these all were eloquently narrated to us.
Even with expressions of outrage, Malala could harbor it all and in a matter-of-fact inform us of the tragedy of Swat’s violence, oppression, and suffering. The role that sexism and religion had in her society, the prominent problem as well with the view or opinion of education that others unlike Malala, would to its contribution to the land’s development and potential. The moment you finish reading the first few pages of her memoir, you just know that this is only the beginning. That there is something special that only could be expressed through Malala herself. Paul Andrew Tatad
College Library Creatives Workshop presents
I Am Malala:
How One Girl Stood Up for Education and
Changed the World
Thursday Book Discussion Group
To join: email officeofthelibrary@southville.edu.ph
