illustrated portrait of Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai

I Am Malala

by Malala Yousafzai

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What is a "ghost school"?

A ghost school is a building that no longer serves as an academic setting. In many cases, such schools have never admitted a single student. In Pakistan, influential leaders from remote regions often claim government grants to build or modernize schools. Once they have the cash in hand, many of them use the buildings as offices, storage facilities, stables, or hujras (meeting places for men). In a ghost school, students are "enrolled" only on paper. To allay suspicion, the teachers may continue drawing government salaries, despite the fact that the school only exists theoretically.

In what province is the Swat Valley situated?

The Swat Valley is situated in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (formerly the North West Frontier Province).

What does "private Talibanization" mean?

In the book, the term references the targeting of private citizens who speak out against the Taliban regime. Ziauddin explained to Malala that the "new" Talibanization was for those who vocalized their objections to Taliban atrocities. In Chapter 19, Ziauddin appeared to be in danger after Zahid Khan, a fellow jirga committee member, was shot. Hidayatullah warned that the Taliban had been targeting each of the jirga members and that Ziauddin could be next. Meanwhile, Ziauddin noted that the militants had increased their attacks on private civilians.

Who are the "Children of the Rubbish Mountain"?

In the book, the Rubbish Mountain refers to an informal public dump, not far from Malala's home. The "Children of the Rubbish Mountain" are young boys and girls who rummage among the heaps of trash to salvage material they can potentially resell. These children belong to poverty-stricken families and cannot afford to attend school. To survive, they work as human scavengers to supplement their families' incomes. At Malala's insistence, Ziauddin gave away free places at the Khushal School to these children.

In the book, when was Malala most like a teenager, and when did her actions show that she was wise beyond her years?

Like most teenage girls, Malala worried about her looks. She loved wearing colorful clothes and believed in the efficacy of certain beauty products. Along with her friend Moniba, Malala also enjoyed popular music and Western movies. Malala's love for Justin Bieber, Twilight, the Shrek movies, and the Ugly Betty TV series made her a typical teenager. However, she was wise beyond her years in her understanding of politics and global affairs. Even after being shot by the Taliban, Malala continued to work on behalf of the world's children. Unperturbed by the likelihood of death, she patiently advocated for universal education as a weapon against ignorance and extremism. Malala's courage in the face of adversity demonstrated a wisdom beyond her years.

What did Malala learn about losing graciously?

In the book, Malala learned that it was just as important to lose graciously as it was to win heartily. In Chapter 5, Malala was devastated when Malka-e-Noor earned first place in the end-of-year exams. Later, however, she was much more philosophical when Moniba beat her at a public speaking competition in school. Malala came to realize that victory should always be earned; it is never promised. She also learned that writing her own speeches would add credibility and authenticity to her presentations.

What reservations does Malala have against the Pashtunwali code?

Malala believes that the Pashtunwali code focuses too much on badal (revenge). She fears that her fellow Pashtuns' obsession with preserving nang (honor) has rendered them insensible to the horrific violence they exact on others. In Pashtun culture, a wrong is never forgotten or forgiven. Like Ziauddin, Malala believes that the idea of revenge only perpetrates generational violence and that there is nothing to be gained from it.

How has Toor Pekai influenced her daughter?

Although largely in the background, Toor Pekai still remains a great influence on Malala. As a child, Malala noticed that her mother often cooked extra food to share with poorer families. Toor Pekai also fed hungry children in their neighborhood, particularly those from marginalized sections of society. A private woman at heart, Toor Pekai is a devoted Muslim who prays five times a day. After her marriage to Ziauddin, Toor Pekai set about supporting her husband's goal of starting a school. In Chapter 3, Malala tells us that it was her father's habit to consult her mother on everything and that in the early days of the Khushal School, she even helped him whitewash the school walls. After Malala was shot, Ziauddin blamed himself, but Toor Pekai's faith in him remained intact. From Toor Pekai, Malala has learned how to live a life of compassion, selflessness, kindness, empathy, and piety.

What damage was sustained by the Swat Valley during the July 2010 flood?

In July 2010, heavy monsoon rains caused the Indus River to overflow; according to Malala, it was the worst flood in Pakistani history. In the Swat Valley, 34 of 42 bridges were washed away, and tourist resorts like Madyan, Bahrain, and Malam Jabba were completely destroyed. Shops, hotels, and restaurants there were utterly ruined. Meanwhile, entire villages in the Shangla district were submerged in water, and many of the houses on hilly terraces in Karshat, Barkana, and Shahpur were destroyed in mudslides. Many people also lost their crops and animals during the flood. The force of the raging waters was so strong that it also decimated entire school buildings, hospitals, and electricity stations.

Who is Sufi Mohammad, and how is he relevant to the story?

Sufi Mohammad is the founder of the Tehrike-Nifaz-e-Sharia-e-Mohammadi (TNSM) and the father-in- law of Maulana Fazlullah, the leader of the Swat Taliban. During the Russian invasion in Afghanistan, Sufi Mohammad encouraged thousands of men from the Swat Valley to join the Afghan Taliban in fighting the Russians. On February 22, 2009, he brokered a permanent truce with the Pakistani government. The TNSM leader promised that violence would cease if the Pakistani government implemented full Sharia law in the Swat Valley. However, when Sufi Mohammad addressed the people of Swat on April 20, 2009, he neglected to call on the Taliban to lay down its arms (as promised). Instead, Sufi Mohammad denounced Western-style democracy and promised a Taliban advance into Islamabad. Sufi Mohammad's failure to hold the Taliban to its side of the peace agreement led to continued bloodshed in the Swat Valley. Because of his weak leadership, Maulana Fazlullah continued his reign of terror over the Swat Valley. Eventually, rising and sustained violence led to a mass exodus out of the valley, precipitating a rise in IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons). Essentially, Sufi Mohammad's leadership failure caused Malala and her family to be displaced from their home for three months.

What is Pakistan's Blasphemy Law?

The Blasphemy Law punishes by death or life imprisonment anyone who desecrates the Quran or defiles the name of the Prophet Mohammad. Critics of the law maintain that it has been used to punish political opponents and to persecute religious minorities in Pakistan. In the book, Malala cites the case of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death by hanging, to highlight the unjustness of the law.

According to Amnesty International, defendants are presumed guilty, even if there is no evidence against them. Many have been accused on hearsay alone, and false accusations are rampant under the law. Muslims and Christians alike have been persecuted under the Blasphemy Law.

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