The history and politics of a country plays an important role in the life and mentality of its citizens. Throughout the book, the life of Malala is intertwined with her country’s and her region’s social and political affairs and how they influenced this young leader’s life and her decisions. The political history of our much alienated neighbors is not much different than ours, corruption, nexus between so-called opposite poles, lack of accountability and responsibility, all these are as much a concern for them as it is for us. However, India should consider itself lucky to have been a successful democracy throughout since independence, with no military coup.
When I used to read about the holocaust, I would wonder how could the world stand watching by the sidelines all the atrocities being committed by the Nazis, how could the world be a silent bystander. But nothing has changed. Even now we are all just mute spectators, watching the powerful rule over the powerless, the innocent crushed under the influential, while we lie on our beds thinking we are far from it all, we are safe. Little do we know, this is exactly what young Malala thought too, until ‘the men in black’ came knocking on her door.
It is true that children learn from their parents. This is quite evident in Malala’s life as she explains her father’s generosity and determination and her mother’s practicality and helping nature, qualities one can see in Malala from a young age. During the course of reading the book, I would sit in my office and wonder what the hell am I doing here, just whiling away my time fixing another code, when there are young girls out there waiting to get out of their homes, waiting to go to school, waiting for their freedom. What am I really doing for them, for millions of those girls. What is the point of life of money if it cannot be used to help others in need. There is always someone you can help, someone you can stand up for, in your small world and Malala has just shown the world that.
I would recommend everyone to read this incredible book, to get a perspective of people living through the trauma and fear rather than what is projected by the media and politicians. The book also gives a good insight to the political crises of Pakistan and its history of conflicts. More importantly, this book is for those who are fighting for humanity and for those who need are awaiting a wake-up call to do so.
Sometimes we fail to realize how fortunate we are. We are so caught up in our insipid worries that we aren’t aware of what’s happening around us. This book is an eye opener in many sense. It has made me feel sad, despaired, strong , courageous and hopeful all at the same time. It has made me feel blessed, blessed for the freedom I have taken for granted. More than that it has made me a more responsible and active human being. This book is more than an inspiration , it is a ray of hope to all those Malalas fighting for their right to education, this book is the silver lining in the black cloud.
