Malala Gives Me Hope

Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai's work is not unknown to the world. She stands out as an inspiration to deprived, oppressed and marginalized populations with her sheer grit, determination and guts demonstrated by her in the wake of an attack on her by the Pakistani Taliban because she was defying their diktat of disallowing girls from the Swat valley in Pakistan to attend school. The youngest winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Malala bravely survived a horrendous and brutal attack to continue with her relentless advocacy for empowering young girls through the medium of education. My interface with her work began when I was gifted her autobiography (I am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and was Shot by the Taliban (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2013) by my brother.
http://www.womensweb.in/2015/02/malalas-autobiography-book-review/. It proved to be an inspiring read. It also sent shivers down my spine as I read about her and her father's struggle to educate young boys and girls in Pakistan and the opposition that they encountered in their endeavours. This line of hers remains etched in my mind and over time me and my family have come to admire this young and little but gutsy and spirited lady from Pakistan - "One Child, One Teacher, One Pen And One Book Can Change The World". 

In Nepal last year, for SIT's (School of International Training) CONTACT South Asia program, I heard Malala speak from the platform of the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. Once again she inspired me with her very articulate ideas about how education can transform the world. It was a delightful moment for Indians and Pakistanis sharing the forum to hear to Kailash Satyarthi, an Indian and Malala, a Pakistani share the Nobel peace prize together. This came as an affirmation of the fact that if these two enemy countries joined hands, they could conquer the world. The purpose that drove Satyarthi and Malala was also very similar ... upliftment and betterment of children, the hope for this world.

And then to give me more inspiration, came a song on Malala which got me glued the very first time I listened to it on YouTube. The song is titled "Malala gives me Hope" and is a tribute by a music band in Pakistan 'Laal' to the courage shown by Malala. This song for me gives the perfect message of peace and combines the power of music and feminism to effectively demonstrate what one young lady full of courage can do to change this world in her own way. Just listen to this song and you will know about Malala's story, how she faced the extremist elements of Taliban, how she continued to fight for the girl child's rights despite the threats to her life and the way she came to be known as Pakistan's brave voice who did not fear those who were manipulating religion to meet their selfish ends. The song is spirited, full of beats, amazing lyrics which convey the essence of Malala's struggle and its impact in Pakistan and has the right, upbeat mood to make you listen to it again and again. Once I'd heard this song, I just could not stop listening to it because to me it was a wonderful and brilliantly done job of using music as a tool to communicate change and peace. Music and words associated with it can be a tool for social change and the song by Laal just proves this right. It is a significant way of conducting advocacy over an issue. The song was recorded in English and that remains my only grouse, Because the song should reach all corners of Pakistan and South Asia, and English is a language that most are not familiar with in the sub-continent. So, recording the song in various native languages like Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi can be helpful. Albeit, the song successfully weaves in a narrative of Malala's life story and this is the message that should reach out to audiences. The song was released in 2013 and features lead guitarist and vocalist Taimur Rahman and Haider Rahman on flute (http://tribune.com.pk/story/578644/malala-inspires-documentary-song-at-home-and-abroad/). It is gratifying to hear this song because it is just near to perfect in symbolizing Malala's struggle and rightly creates an atmosphere that denounces war and extremism. It has a story like feel to it. It gives hope and does not shy away of directly confronting issues that face Pakistan in modern times. 

Sample these lines 

Well the Taliban they run the country

From the north of Wazirstan

They make a few of their people happy

They don't care about the rest of them

They have supporter in higher places

Who turn their heads to the city sun

And they given them the fancy money

To tempt anyone who come

In its praise of Malala, the song also exposes the various issues that plague Pakistan and how the government in that country is turning a blind eye to these. In such a despondent scenario, there is still hope, as the song conveys, in the form of Malala who is the shining light for Pakistan and its young men and women. The ultimate form of 'hope' is Malala because she dared to raise her voice against those who were hell bent upon denying rights and freedom to young girls in Pakistan, therefore, robbing Pakistan of its bright future. The theme of hope runs through the song and through the last lines this hope for peace is kept alive when the singer hums -

Can't you see that the tide is turning

Don't make me wait till the morning comes 

Music in any language can be the most impactful medium of promoting peace because music has a universal language ... a language that nobody really knows yet understands. Music remains an ageless, timeless and immortal medium that people can easily connect with and relate to. I have realized this repeatedly, especially when I listen to musicians like Yanni who with their soulful music have managed to sway audiences irrespective of gender, nationality and religion. The power that music possesses can comfortably transcend man made barriers. Even as an Indian, listening to this song filled me with a feeling of peace, tranquility and inspiration, even making me dance to its tune. It filled me with more pride and respect for Malala and her mission. Truly music can connect even enemies and bring them to the same page. I am sure, after listening to this song you all will share my thoughts on the power of music to promote peace. 

Nationalism and Extreme Patriotism: A Threat to Global Peace

"Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind."~ Albert Einstein

An American patriot is rumored to have once said, "My country, right or wrong, I stand by it." 

While it is arguably a very noble trait to stand up for and support your own country, is deriding another country the way to go about doing it? Was Patriotism really meant to be what we see nowadays? Or has it now been converted into a twisted self-centered propaganda mechanism? Is Nationalism merely is a belief, creed or political ideology that involves an individual identifying with, or becoming attached to, one's nation? Or is it an extreme form of patriotism marked by a feeling of unjustified superiority over other countries?

In the current modern World, Patriotism to the masses is about supporting their country, even when the country is in the wrong. It is about abusing and their "enemies", even when they are suffering. It is about considering themselves morally superior. Why? Just cause it is THEIR country.

The current scenario in Syria provides a proper example. The continuous US-led bombing has killed hundreds of innocents, who were already suffering at the hands of the ISIS. The beautiful and ancient cities have been reduced to rubble. And yet major public opinion in the US is with the Government carrying out more air strikes.   Why? Cause the Government considers the Syrian Government and ISIS as enemies and it is the duty of US citizens to support their Governments wars against the enemies. Innocent lives are merely collateral damage for them. Very often while fighting against something wrong, unknowingly we become what we were fighting against. In India, has Patriotism been reduced to merely supporting our Cricket team during the World Cup and insulting countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh whenever we get a chance?

For an Indian to be patriotic, does he really need to abuse Pakistan and hate Pakistanis? Do we really need to treat people Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan as if they are below us? The moment we say that we are better than them cause this is my country and I will support it to the death, we are throwing logic and reasoning out of the window. And that is the first step to extremism. History is the proof that whenever someone considered their country superior than the others around them, it did not end well for the entire world. Be it Hitler, Napoleon or the English East India Company.

I know a lot of those reading this will argue that all other countries are guilty of doing the same, and they are right! Every country does this while preaching of world peace on the other hand. For the world to be at Peace no country should consider itself morally superior, cause we are all suffering together.

The reason there is so much hatred in our sub-continent is that from the very young age children in India are told that we are better than Pakistan. Similarly, children in Pakistan are manipulated the same way. They are taught to blame India for every minor fault. We are taught to ridicule them and taunt them for everything. In general opinion of India, Pakistan is a barren wasteland of people who only worship God and get trained as a terrorist. Similarly, people in Pakistan might consider India as a bully big brother which wants it destroyed. What either side keep forgetting is that both Pakistan and India are a beautiful part of the very same land. It was all part of the same country once, and the very same world. We ridicule Bangladesh when immigrants cross over to India and refer to them as refugees and consider them as people living on India's mercy. We criticize Sri Lanka, even when Indian fishermen get caught after violating International Maritime Laws. Why? Just cause we should support our country, even when they are wrong?  What we do not understand, is for one to be a proud Indian, hating Pakistan is NOT an essential criterion. Just as to be a proud Hindu, you need NOT hate Muslims or Christians and vice versa.  You can love your country. Doesn't mean you have to hate others.

There is also a huge difference in being an anti-national and ant-Government. Everyone who speaks out against the Government is NOT a terrorist. History is proof that those who oppose their Governments may also be the true patriots. It is the duty of a real patriot, to not only love its country but to also stand up and speak when its Country is doing something wrong.

Extremist Patriotism is to blame behind all hindered peace processes. It is our belief that by insulting and abusing another country, we are actually showing our Patriotism. That does NOT show our Patriotism. It merely incites hatred towards the other Countries and encourages an irrational sense of superiority.  Only through honest dialogue can peace be achieved.

I am not against being proud of our culture and heritage and rich history. I am against anyone considering that their culture and heritage is better than someone else's.

A major problem with India-Pakistan relations has always been the fact that both sides care too much about what was their past and too little about what we can achieve together in the future. 

Stereotypes and Reality

Conversations are important 

The previous week I had an amazing start to a project called 'Global Conversations' by The Red Elephant Foundation. Since, I was a participant of The Building Peace Project (2014-15) from the previous year, I was all the more looking forward to this expansive reach of a new project going global. The world is indeed a 'global village' and this project proves this fact. How otherwise was it possible for me to interact with people from Indonesia, Kenya, Rwanda, Fiji, Philippines and Pakistan ... and so many other nations about whom I only possess limited information. This project is a meeting ground for people from different cultures to get to talk and know about different cultures, different lives. I am certain that it is going to be an even more exciting experience for me, in the same fashion as The Building Peace Project was. I love the fact that despite many clashes, confrontations, challenges and troubles that we face everyday as inhabitants of nation-states, we have been able to in a limited manner, overcome those and come together on a common platform for dialogue.

The first session began with a round of introductions and I felt blessed to be part of such a diverse group. Quite appropriately, this session was devoted to a discussion on 'stereotypes'. Thinking of the term, we are so used ton creating and furthering stereotypes in our lives about the 'others' that we do not know and have never met, that images about how they are ... are deeply imprinted into our minds and hearts. This propels us to label them in ways more than one. It stunts our capacities to know and interact with 'real' people who are so different from what we think of them. I admit that this process of building and propagating stereotypes is so imbibed within us from childhood and is such an integral part of the socialization process, that we hardly realize the diversity and cultural richness that exists around us, yet we are ignorant to miss relishing it. Over the previous year, as I participated in the BPP project, I broke for myself many a stereotypes that were self-created. This was the first time I was involved in an year long interaction with a Pakistani (my supposed enemy). I held this deep conviction that though we would be talking, it was difficult to forge a long-sustaining, inexplicable bond that would go beyond the realm of formal interactions in the project. Today, when I talk to Salma, Sehr, Uzair, Sheharyar and many other friends from Pakistan, I fail to comprehend my relationship with them. I find it difficult to put it into mere words. The fact that my Pakistani friends are now so close to me, almost like my real brothers and sisters, was something that I wasn't prepared for. That this happened to me broke a stereotype that I had created for myself - that these cross-border friendships would fizzle out soon once the project has culminated. Today, I talk more with my cross-border friends than I do with my friends in my own country.

Where do these stereotypes originate from? To me, the answer is reality and lived experiences. It is easy to dismiss stereotypes as stemming from one's own bias and prejudice. But, the fact is that stereotypes are very much rooted in realities that we experience everyday. So, if I see a particular person/community engaged in violence in my city and if this is repetitive, I am bound to associate 'violence' as a characteristic with that community. However, in creating this stereotype I am being unfair to those 'others' who are peaceful and who despise the violent acts of their fellow community members. As is said, stereotypes flourish because they are easy to form, uncomplicated and make it simpler to identify people, groups and communities with certain traits. What is complex is trying to understand that each person is different and associating people with stereotypes may rob us of the chance to learn about cultural diversity and lend us incapable of appreciating the pluralism that exists and makes our society worth living. Hence, all we need is to stop being 'judgemental' about people and learn to accept that even if stereotypes are formed owing to real experiences, we should also be willing to look beyond this reality. We also need to take efforts to address situations that in effect only entrench stereotypes rather than dispelling them.

We need to talk, meet, open up and explore many different possibilities so that both the reality and stereotypes that emanate from it can be countered if not completely removed. I was talking, the other day, to a Bihari colleague of mine and thought it would be good to share with him the kind of stereotypes associated with his community. The statement that rushed out from my mouth was ... "You know it is said Biharis are like this .... "
A few minutes of talking with him and I realized I was wrong in presuming things. Talking, opening up with your doubts, questions, answers can make a lot of difference when it comes to stereotypes. Within a few minutes of interaction, I was thinking of something completely different than what I had been conditioned to think and believe. That is why 'conversations' are a must. That is why I am here in 'Global Conversations'. While stereotypes may never be out of currency as long as the human race exists, at least the talking can go on!!! HOPING FOR MORE AND MORE TALKS :)