By TCN News,
Chandigarh: A group of Afghan students, studying in Punjab University, organized a candle vigil on October 17 in solidarity with the young education activist from Pakistan’s Swat, Malala Yousafzai.
Around 100 Afghan and Indian students, academicians and civil rights activists had gathered at the Chandigarh campus of the PU to salute the courage of young girl from a difficult region and to support the right to education of girls.
Amina Dilaram, a BA (Hons) Political Science student at PU, said: “I am an Afghan, studying in India and today standing in solidarity with Malala, a Pakistani girl. But if we actually see what has happened to these three nations who had the earliest civilizations. In past one month 19 rape cases in Haryana, India, prohibition of girls from schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Honour killing, acid attacks, etc. are common to all three countries.”
Girls or women have to suffer all the time in our society. Prof. Maddhu Gupta from GCG College added, “The fire is burnt now in the hearts of the people, now no one will be silent against these issues.”
Jawid Amin, another Afghan student said, “I am here to support the rights of our sisters who are derived of education.”
It is farz (compulsory) on every Muslim and Muslima (men or women) to seek education, protesters reiterated. When Quran says “alamal insaan, ya lam ma lam.” It does not distinguish between man and woman. Alas world does! Our society and traditions force girls to remain indoor.
Malala is 14 year old girl who stood for the right to education for millions of girls in our part of the world. On 9th October 2012, two Taliban gunmen allegedly stopped a school bus, in which Malala was travelling and shot at her. She shot to fame in 2009, when she started writing for the Urdu service of the BBC Word.
Shooting Malala is death of humanity and it is not the first time that humanity is dying, it has been repeated on our nation for a long time. Every day, in Kabul newspapers are full of poising of school girls, or acid attacks on them to stop them from going to school or working.
On October 17, 2012 Afghan students organised “A Tribute to Malala Yousafzai: A Candlelight Vigil Saluting the courage of lakhs of children (Boys and Girls) who overcome all hurdles for education” between 4.00 P.M. to 6.00 P.M.
This march was not against anyone, but in solidarity with Malala, and rights of all girls, and boys alike, to go to school, to study and to become better human being, the organizers stressed.