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.
Some changes are more meaningful that others in terms of shifting societal notions. Here is another news from PTI that, hoepfully, spells a shift:
I should add, however, that I am not fully sure about this being the first ever case of a Hindu officer in the Army. I may be wrong; does anyone have information on this?
[quote comment="3147"]Yes, it DOES make a difference. Maybe not the greatest difference, but a difference nonetheless. It chips away at the barriers we have created, gives us role models, and breaks stereotypes. Ultimately, these are necessary for social change.
What does NOT make a difference, and certainly does not help, is teh cynical and self-defeating attitude that since nothing will make a difference therefore we should do nothing. Yes, more can be done, and good luck doing it. But that should not be an excuse to belittle the smaller victories.[/quote]
Thanks for the reply. I appreciate it.
Now tell me what difference will it make in the lives of those women who cannot read and/or could not read the post due to no access to media?
[quote]
P.S. On your other message re. bicycles and poverty; if Pakistan were to have a real manufacturing base as that essay suggests that WOULD make a real difference in poverty and teh lives of the poor.[/quote]
Good point, but I think that there is greater scope in the services sector as the out manafacturing sector just cannot compete with our high input costs, other than in niche products.
saira amin you make me proud.As pakistani , as father of young daughter.
God bless and may you go even higher.
ahmed
Yes, it DOES make a difference. Maybe not the greatest difference, but a difference nonetheless. It chips away at the barriers we have created, gives us role models, and breaks stereotypes. Ultimately, these are necessary for social change.
What does NOT make a difference, and certainly does not help, is teh cynical and self-defeating attitude that since nothing will make a difference therefore we should do nothing. Yes, more can be done, and good luck doing it. But that should not be an excuse to belittle the smaller victories.
P.S. On your other message re. bicycles and poverty; if Pakistan were to have a real manufacturing base as that essay suggests that WOULD make a real difference in poverty and teh lives of the poor.
Does it really make a difference to the millions of lives of women in pakistan.
We get very happy by such sensational news, but do nothing about the lives of millions of women who really need our help.
For that matter all the poor people who are in the crutches of vaderaas and feudals.
The people who suffer because of the kasai (butcher) doctors that are now quite common even in big cities,
etc, etc.
Aziz Akhmed: Last on this one: There is a difference between grafuations at civil universities and at militry institution. I don’t remeber one you have refered here but I distinctly remeber the one in which I was present. President of our country was there, one head of anorger state was there and the entire diplomatic corps was there. You can imagine what must have been talked out there - all original and message sendig to all the concerned.
Shirazi (sorry for dropping off the i at the end of your name last time),
Yes, graduations are important occasions but mostly for the participants. They are rarely visible internationally. Do you recall who was the keynote speaker (or “chief guest”?) at the graduation ceremonies at Harvard, MIT, West Point or Oxford last June and what any of them said? Speeches on these occasions are mostly motivational and, depending on a particular speech, only the participants would remember it or be influenced by it.
The host at Risalpur on this occasion, Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Ahmad Khan, did speak of Saira’s achievement in his speech. And I am sure she will always remember his words. But the chief guest relied on tired cliches. And no one in the audience would remember what he said.
Maybe, I am expecting too much from “chief guests”. They rarely say anything original or worth remembering.
Aziz Akhmad: Please look at it this way: These are very imprtant and internationally visible occasions and certianly much beyound individual achievements and their mentions. Only strategic policies are spelled out on passing outs; army , airforce or navy.
Speaking of any cadets achievement would have been “taxing â€â€?on a narrow strip.”
No?