New Delhi: She is only 19 years old but Malala Yousafzai is an inspiration for an entire generation. On October 9, 2012, the Pakistani girl was shot in the head at a point blank range in her school bus by a gunman of the Taliban for her views on girl education.
After miraculously surviving the incident and treatment in London, Malala became a stronger person. She made it her life’s motive to bring about a change in the lives of women.
Since her recovery, Malala has been working extensively to “ensure every girl has access to 12 years of free, safe, quality primary and secondary education”.
Malala was awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, making her the youngest recipient of the honour. She shared her prize with Indian social activist Kailash Satyarthi. Along with Christina Lamb, Malala penned down her struggles in a book which was titled ‘I Am Malala’ and was published in 2013.
Today, Malala is seen as a young woman having limitless courage, inconceivable ability to forgive and having insuppressible desire to bring about a positive change in the world.
On her 19th birthday today, here are 5 quotes by the teenager which will inspire you to get up and work towards making the world a better place.
1. One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen, can change the world.
2. Let us become the first generation that decides to be the last that sees empty classrooms, lost childhoods and wasted potentials.
3. If he [the Talib] comes, what would you do Malala? …If you hit a Talib with your shoe, then there will be no difference between you and the Talib. You must not treat others…with cruelty...you must fight others but through peace, through dialogue and through education…then I'll tell him [the Talib] how important education is and that I even want education for your children as well… that's what I want to tell you, now do what you want.
4. I don’t want to be thought of as the ‘girl who was shot by the Taliban’ but the ‘girl who fought for education. This is the cause to which I want to devote my life.
5. Peace in every home, every street, every village, every country – this is my dream. Education for every boy and every girl in the world. To sit down on a chair and read my books with all my friends at school is my right. To see each and every human being with a smile of happiness is my wish.
