I am Malala, an autobiography by Malala Yousafzai (Review by Willie Fowler)

I am Malala. A review by Willie Fowler

I am Malala is an autobiography written by the Malala Yousafzai. For some brief background information, Malala is a Pakistani woman born in July 17th 1997. Being the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, and the second Pakistani, she has solidified her role as an activist for women and girls in Pakistan.

The story begins with a prologue. It's Malala describing her surroundings at home. Her own room that has an unmade bed, people playing Cricket outside her house, her school uniform, among other things. After eating a quick breakfast and saying a quick prayer because of her upcoming exam, she departs to school on a bus. Suddenly, the bus is stopped by 2 white-robed men, who jump onto the bus and ask "Who is Malala."

This generates lots of tension. This ends on a cliffhanger and advances onto some more background knowledge on Malala; we don't know what happens to Malala next until we read more of the story.

In the following chapter, Malala discusses the wearing of "niqab" and "burqa." Two of many pieces of women's clothing that symbolize the control over women. Control over women already is archaic, and in my belief, incredibly stupid and unfair. Malala agree with this as well, saying she "would never cover her face like that," much to the shock of her relatives. Many said she was brave, and indeed she was. It's said that she was also quite intelligent, even in early childhood. Her parents described that she would "toddle into the empty classrooms and lecture," delivering her own lessons in baby-talk. Experiences like this are probably what shaped her into the young activist she is today.

Malala proceeds to provide more insight on gender. When boys are born, it's celebratory. Guns are fired in the air, toys are given to the parents, and everyone congratulates the parents. Compare that to girls... and almost nobody bothers to visit. Some of the women who do end up attending only give sympathy, almost like they're mourning the birth of a girl, which is very saddening.

Malala describes how her parents met, and their respective backgrounds, while also setting up a few parts of the story's climax and conflict: The Taliban. Coupled with the cliffhanger from the prologue, and the details leading up to the continuation of said cliffhanger later on, together this autobiography is made very interesting, yet at the same time suspenseful; especially during the climax.

 

With her father, Ziauddin, believing that educating oneself is vital to Pakistan's success, he established Malala's school, Khushal School for Girls (below). The reason why this was solely a girls school was because many women were uneducated. Another biproduct of the consistent sexist beliefs. Malala was one of the girls who would attend this school, in order to educate herself for the greater good.

Malala also tells how she always wished for people to be happy from a young age. She wanted a magic pencil that would draw and erase things so people would have better lives, in fact. This shows her signs of empathy and sympathy, more building blocks of Malala's personality. So far, we've seen early signs of her intelligence, and her empathy/sympathy.

Malala hears a conversation from her father talking about many social issues occurring at the time. In this chapter, this is after 9/11. The discussion that entails discusses the pretty corrupt and poor relationship between the U.S and Pakistan. It was around this time that there was lots of racial tension between Americans, and Muslims/Muslim-Americans. Many racists had false accusations that any Muslim was considered a terrorist, which was extremely hurtful considering 99% of them took no part in said terrorism. They don't deserve scorn and ridicule simply because of their ethnicity, background and religious beliefs. 

This sadly still is an ongoing problem today, not just with Muslims/Muslim-Americans, as many would know.

Continuing with the narrative, a conservative attempted to close Khushal, and accused Ziauddin of being a blasphemer, because Ziauddin was simply teaching women instead of subjecting them to seclusion (seriously, these beliefs are regally flubbed up.) Ziauddin defends his stance on women bravely, by consulting the Quran (Islam's central religious text).

On October 8th of 2005, a devastating earthquake strikes Pakistan, destroying mostly Northern Pakistan. The government's slow and inefficient reaction prompts the many conservative religious groups to pull some weight and aid in damage control. These groups had a belief that the earthquake was God's way of divine punishment, after being unhappy with the broken Islamic laws.

This brings us to Radio Mullah, or in other words, Maulana Fazlullah: A Taliban leader, broadcasting his beliefs via his illegal radio network. Preaching his beliefs of the return of Sharia law, a strict set of religious rules that would inflict cruel punishment onto those who break it, punishments a tad too graphic within the realms of comfort while reading this blog. Radio Mullah also said that music haircuts, western dress styles, and more are to be forbidden. If not, then God will punish the earth more, like he already did with the earthquake.

This really does show the true asininity of a few of these beliefs. If you were to even talk out of line as a female, you would put your life on the line with or without even knowing it.

Next, the Taliban started patrolling the streets, publicly humiliating, flogging, and punishing anybody who makes damn near ANY mistake. Ziauddin writes a letter to the local newspaper, begging that the Taliban aggressors lay no finger on any school children. The Taliban are ruthless, as they believe that art and culture are deplorable, destroying any sight of it. They even attack parts of history, destroying multiple Buddha statues as well. At the very capital, Islamabad, chaos and confrontation ensue, where the Taliban completely contradict their own beliefs and say that women can go outside as long as they battle and possibly die (these brain-rots keep getting worse by the second. Either let women stay rotting inside unless accompanied by a male relative, or let them risk their lives and kill themselves for people who don't even treat them fairly).

At this point, Malala's school is sort of an escapism to distract from the horrifying reality of war occurring between the Taliban and the Pakistani army. Competing academically with her two friends, at the same time Radio Mullah spouts more Sharia law propaganda, and many schools are being bombed because of the women and girls attending school instead of staying at home. With her father, Malala becomes an interviewer and starts speaking up and wanting change in Pakistan. Ziauddin speaks for Voice of America and BBC. At the end of 2008, girls' schools are announced for closure.

With the Taliban still ruling through fear and terror, and many becoming desensitized and feeling normal towards the Taliban's presence, Malala decides to start writing blog posts for BBC Urdu, under the guise of Gul Makai to prevent her identity from being revealed and being hurt by the Taliban. She writes sort of a diary, describing the life of being under Taliban's rule. Malala bravely states that no matter how many schools the Taliban close, it won't stop women and girls from learning.

The Taliban become harsher, tensions arise, and former President Obama threatens to intervene. and over 2 million people are told to evacuate in case the situation is to escalate. Ziauddin must temporarily depart to speak about the situation for 6 weeks (he does in fact return), while the rest of the Yousafzai family still retreat. Mingora, Malala's city has been taken by the Taliban, leaving Malala and her family out of the city for 3 months.

Upon return, the city is devastated, yet the school remains relatively unharmed. Malala is selected to be a speaker at a yearlong assembly, Ziauddin struggles to pay the teachers at Khurshal, and extreme monsoons ravage the area. The government fails to respond quick enough, leaving some religious groups to do the dirty work once more. Malala believes that if she wants to help Pakistan at all, she has to become a politician. Around this time, Osama Bin-Laden is found and killed, with some holding embarrassment he was hiding in Pakistan, and others are humiliated because Pakistan wasn't included in the operation.

Malala suddenly gains very positive recognition as a peacemaker, earning a National Peace Prize, and requesting that schools be rebuilt after the Taliban's destruction of them. Using her prize money, she aids in helping her family and wants to start an education fund.

On a school field trip, Khushal and Ziauddin receive yet another claim of blasphemy for having girls go to school. Ziauddin gives some reassurances, but remains very worrisome. Malala as well is very cautious and worried about what may be to come.

We then come full circle in the story. We cycle back to the moment in the prologue where the Taliban male asks "Who is Malala." After many girls exchange fearful glares inside Khurshal's bus, Malala and 2 other girls were shot by the Taliban member. Malala was specifically shot in the head. Panicking, the bus driver rushes all 3 girls to the hospital. Her parents rush to her side, praying for her safety, as do other relatives and followers of her beliefs.

They fear for the loss of Malala.

Miraculously, Malala survives the headshot, yet struggles with infection, lung and kidney failure. Her craniotomy was a success after being flown to Birmingham, U.K, and fooled the Taliban member into thinking he extinguished a hopeful light in Pakistan's community. Going through surgery to repair a facial nerve that "stole her smile", Malala's hopeful spark never left from within her. 

With Pakistan paying her medical bills, being able to stay in England, Malala Day being established on November 10th, Malala now lives peacefully in Birmingham, wishing to be treated as just another normal person among society, not just the activist many see her as. A very humble approach on life to have.

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The issue relating to the the Taliban and their terrorism is still increasingly relevant today. Just this summer, the Taliban have taken over Afghanistan. Hundreds have escaped, yet hundreds more have attempted...and failed. Malala teaches us to retain our hope and determination, regardless of the circumstances. Her story and her cause resonates within everyone. We must not despair even in the darkest of times and moments, and be persistent in the pursuit of justice and truth.