Adil Najam
This news item from today’s Daily Times (23 September, 2006) needs no explanation. Saira Amin needs our words of congratulations, and maybe a crisp salute.
The coveted Sword of Honour for best all-round performance was claimed by Aviation Cadet Saira Amin, who made history by being the first woman pilot to have won the Sword of Honour in any defence academy of Pakistan. The passing out parade of the 117th GD (P) course, which includes the second batch of three women pilots, was held at the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Academy, Risalpur Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed, PAF chief of air staff, was the chief guest. The trophy for best performance in general service training and the Chief of Air Staff Trophy for best performance in flying were lifted by Aviation Cadet Squadron Under Officer Nadir Ali. The Asghar Hussain Trophy for best performance in academics was achieved by Aviation Cadet Saira Amin. Squadron No 3 received the Quaid-e-Azam Banner for being the champion squadron.
I had always thought that Inayat Hussain Bhatti’s 1965 song, jang khed nai zananian di (’war is not the sport of women’) was a ratehr silly song. I guess Ms. Amin is also not a fan of that song. I wish her the very best, although I do also wish that neither she nor anyone else - man or woman - has to actually go to war to demonstrate the silliness of Mr. Bhatti’s histrionics.
The courage of Mukhtaran Mai, the skill of Urooj Mumtaz Khan, the determination of Saira Amin, and the sheer resiliance of all the other 80 million women in Pakistan. You make us proud.
I think part of the surprise everyone has here is becasue she has excelled in something that is supposed to be of the MAN’S world. Afterall, women do well - and often better than men - every day in Medical colleges, now in corporate offices, and so many other places. But to excel in the man’s world is what seems to really count !
No nation can rise to the height of glory unless your women are side by side with you. We are victims of evil customs. It is a crime against humanity that our women are shut up within the four walls of their houses as prisoners. There is no sanction anywhere for the deplorable conditions in which our women have to live. You should take your women along with you as comrades in every sphere of life.”
(Mr. Mahomed Ali Jinnah, 1944- The founding father of Pakistan)
Pakistan Zindabad!
Shiraz sb,
I don’t want to diminish the importance of the occasion, but the speech of the “chief guest” sounds heavily cliched. It does neither make a mention of the singular achievement of Saira nor of the PAF academy for admitting and training women. The APP release is also stilted as always.
It seems that while the women in Pakistan are trying to reach the skies and breaking the barriers, the “chief guests” and the APP are still taxiing — on a narrow strip.
Finally - a time when the sky is not the limit for women in Pakistan !!!
APP adds:
Convocation ceremony of the 117th General Duty Pilot course was held at the College of Flying Training, PAF Academy on Wednesday. Prof Haroon Rasheed, vice chancellor University of Peshawar, was chief guest on the occasion. He warded bachelor’s of science degrees to the aviation cadets of the course and also awarded prizes to aviation cadets while trophies were given away for best performance in humanities as well as aero sciences subjects were bagged by Aviation Cadet (Sgt) Saira Amin.
Addressing the ceremony Prof Rasheed said: “As an ideological nation, our true strength lies in the unshakable faith in Almighty Allah. It is through his divine faith, combined with resolute will and self-reliance that you can acquit yourselves in real sense of the sacred trust the nation has reposed in you.�
He said over the years, PAF has maintained traditions of courage, enterprise and high professionalism.�You should not only try to live upto these traditions and standards but also put in your best to raise these to greater heights,� he added.
This is no ordinary achievement for man or woman. I am glad women are rising in these traditionally male roles. Success like this will go a long way in chainging men’s attitudes in Pakistan.
Adil,
The song “jang khed nain hondi zananian di” probably related to the 1971 war. The barb was aimed at Indira Gandhi who was then the prime minister of India. General Yahya Khan was our man. The result of the war, however, proved that the message in the song was unfounded.
Thanks Adil for bringing this news to ATP! As I was reading this news today with immense pride, I remembered
Nadia Gul, Saba Khan, Saira Batool and Mariam Khalil for being the first female pilots in the history of Pakistan Air Force. Also, Captain Ayesha Rabia Naveed, Sadia, Rifaat Haye for being the first all-women crew to fly for the Pakistan International Airlines.
They all deserve our sincere appreciation and support for bringing in the wind of change and making all of us proud. Hats off to Saira Amin for getting the sword of honor that itself speaks volume of her passion and excellence in what she does :)Way to go…from good to better and then to best!