Who is Malala's grandfather?
Malala's paternal grandfather is Rohul Amin. She tells us that his name means "honest spirit," and Rohul is just that—a vociferous man who voices his opinions without fear. Rohul is also an impatient man given to fits of temper.
During Malala's childhood, Rohul was a theology teacher at a high school in the village of Shahpur. He was also an imam at the local mosque, and his Friday sermons drew listeners from near and far.
All in all, Rohul is a magnetic and exuberant man. He never hesitates in giving advice to anyone in his family. In fact, Rohul originally objected to Malala's name and showed no qualms in voicing his displeasure. Rohul maintained that Malala's name sounded melancholy, despite the fact that she was named after a local Pashtun heroine.
We also learn that Rohul once studied in India, where he heard great men, such as Jawaharlal Nehru...
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and Mahatma Gandhi, speak. Rohul later used his clerical training to help usher in General Zia's Islamisation campaign in Pakistan. Prior to the rise of the Taliban, Rohul was able to witness Pakistan earn its independence from the British on August 14, 1947. To this day, Pakistan celebrates independence day on August 14th.
Meanwhile, Malala's maternal grandfather is Janser Khan. She tells us that Rohul Amin and Janser Khan did not get along.
What was the name of Malala's maternal grandfather in I Am Malala?
Malala's maternal grandfather's name was Janser Khan. He is mentioned several times in Chapter 1 of I Am Malala. We aren't told very much about Janser Khan, but we are given a few details.
We learn, for example, that he didn't get along well with Malala's paternal grandfather, so much so that he initially refused Malala's father's proposal to marry his daughter. He finally agreed, however, nine months later, seemingly because he got to know and like Malala's father, who would visit Janser Khan's hujra along with other people in the community to talk about politics. Malala says that her maternal grandfather's hujra was "a gathering place for people to talk politics," and that her father was "often there."
We also learn that when he was a boy of only nine years, Janser Khan was locked up "because of a tribal feud with another family." Janser's mother walked "forty miles alone over mountains" to free her son.
Malala also tells us that her maternal grandfather chose her mother's name, Tor Pekai, after hearing it on Radio Afghanistan.