In the Name of Honor

Thinking Anew: The Making of a Hero!

By Faraz Khan

When modern Muslims discuss the notion of hero, there is often a deep look into history – a time long ago in a golden age, to caliphs and sultans, companions of the Prophet, the likes of Omar Al-Khattab, Ali ibn Abi Talib, Haroon Rashid, etc. Many think of great military leaders such as Tariq bin Ziyad, Salahuddin Ayubi, or Tipu Sultan as heroes. Others think of great scholars as heroes, the likes Othman Dan Fodio, Imam Al-Ghazali, Ibn Taymiyya, Ibn Sina and Al-Farabi. Interestingly, the thought of a hero is often related to a male figure that inspired generations of Muslims due to his scholarly or military accomplishments. Amusingly, according to an English proverb, “A hero is a man who is afraid to run away.” These men held their own for the sake of others and thus became heroes.

It is not difficult to recognize that self-sacrifice and altruism extraordinaire at great personal risk to transform the lives of many people are the underlying acts leading to a hero title. With this in mind, consider a hero who neither lives in fiction nor in history, neither a scholar nor a marshal man, but an illiterate, underprivileged, downtrodden woman. Moreover, this is a story of a hero who overcomes poverty, juvenile traditions, state political manipulation, intimidation, social abuse, illegal house arrest, and gang-rape to campaign for women’s rights, education, and empowerment against juvenile male chauvinistic traditions that have strangled many women in Pakistan.

Due to her courage and resilience, Mukhtar Mai was voted as Woman of the Year in 2005 by Glamour Magazine. She received North-South Prize from the Council of Europe and many accolades and praises from all over the world. She was invited to speak at the United Nations headquarter in New York. Her memoir, In the Name of Honor translated into French and English, was on the list of top-three autobiographies in France. The list of her accomplishments keeps growing.

Yet before the world opened its arms, like many victims of rape she considered suicide to evade shame in small village of Mirwala, Pakistan. Unfortunately, silence or suicide is the appalling reality of a rape victim in her locality. The village elders’ council, playing in the hands of a powerful clan approved of the gang-rape to settle a case against her family. In one night, her world changed.

After the gruesome and despicable act of rape, the villagers expected Mukhtar Mai to live no more. Conversely, she refused to bow down to injustice. Mai spoke to the local imam; she documented her nightmare to the local paper and filed charges against the village thugs. As a moth yearns for light, Mai searched for justice in a dark night. She petitioned to the highest authority, the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Customarily, the criminals were exonerated due to their influential allies in local politics and the courts.

In the intervening time, Mai’s plea gained international exposure and a backlash at the criminals and the authorities. Upon invitations from international organizations, she reluctantly traveled abroad and exposed judicial hypocrisy and women’s plight in her native country. She blossomed into a women’s advocate by raising her voice in multiple forums, conferences and panels building a storm of support in dark tumultuous clouds.

Mai received many awards and recognition for her work. She donated these offerings to build a girls school and a women’s welfare center. In a twist of fate, as her movement for justice gained sails, she was debarred by the State from traveling abroad. President Musharraf saw Mai as an agitator and a campaigner whose case and the cause had defamed his authority. He severely criticized her work and travels as “washing dirty linens” outside her house. Intrepidly Mai responded, “I offer all the riches I've made out of the panchayat-enforced gang-rape to the president in return for justice.” The president buckled and lifted the ban on her travels.

Like a fledgling bird on her first flight, undeterred Mai kept speaking and campaigning for reforms. Although she gained recognition abroad, Mai lived in constant fear for her life from feudal lords, politicians, and the President who simply wanted her to accept the status quo on women’s conditions. Persistently, she confronted the corrupt ranks of the wealthy, powerful, and well-connected totalitarian politicians for justice.

Mai turned the backlash of the destitute and oppressed into a mass movement by declaring, “My slogan is to end oppression through education.” Soon battered women from distant towns flocked the women’s shelter to seek refuge from abusive husbands, forced marriages, rape victimization, honor killings, and compulsory prostitution. She welcomed them as her own. Further, she opened up three schools to educate more than 700 children from poor families and staffed the school and women’s welfare center with forty talented individuals.

Today, the shelter and the schools launched by Mukhtar Mai to combat illiteracy and oppression are thriving. These institutions teach youth and women about their rights, impart education, offer legal advice, and provide a safe haven. Ironically, this outstanding work was planted by a village woman who never attended school. However, she recounts an incident that made her endear education:

“I’ll never forget the words of that policeman who interrupted when I was ready to give my testimony to the district prefect: “Let me explain it to you! She doesn’t know how to say things…” But I spoke up. Because I have a strong character? Because I was humiliated? Because my tongue was suddenly free to speak? For all those reasons. But I’ll make sure girls learn to read, and I’ll learn to read too” In the Name of Honor p 76.

It is well-known that before Mai opened schools, villagers used to keep their daughters at home. Nowadays, they line up to enroll them. The courage and resilience of an individual can often turn the tides of xenophobia and a fresh discourse can be chartered for revitalization of a people. Mai is a true hero. In the words of the UN Under-Secretary General Shashi Tharoor, “I think it is fair to say that anyone who has the moral courage and internal strength to turn such a brutal attack into a weapon to defend others in a similar position, is a hero indeed, and is worthy of our deepest respect and admiration”.

Truly, Mukhtar Mia has been a voice of voiceless on women’s rights and education for the poor in Pakistan. Her message is simple and bold enough for many to pay heed. This is the making of a hero.

“May God protect the honour of mothers and daughters of Pakistan

and the whole world, and if someone is subjected to violence and they

should get justice, and they shouldn’t have to face the shame of dishonour”. Mukhtar Mai