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.
Salam dear Saira. i m very glad to see u as a Paki girl on such heights. i also wanted to join bt my dady did not allowed me. Ham wo sayah naseeb hain Tariq k Shehr main
Kholain dukan kafan ki log marna chor dain
I love my PAF. The thundering aircraft still induces me. I tried alot to be a part of it. But unfortunately, I couldn’t make it.
Now, I am a father of 4 daughters. I was very depressed before i came to know that Aviation Cadet Saira Amin attained The Asghar Hussain Trophy for best performance in academics. it really injected a new youth in me. I wish I could raise my daguthers to the same heights. I really thank you for making me young again. May Allah Almighty Bless You. Wish you ever success in future.
BEST REGARDS
May Allah Be With You.
An interesting note on Taj Multani’s milli song “jang khaid nahein hondi zananian dee” is that during Tashqend Agreement between Gen Ayub and Shasteri it was part of understanding to ban this song on Radio Pakistan beside banning Shakil Ahmed – The famous and emotional News Reader of Radio Pakistan who was narrating war news in his own peculiar “joshila” style. However, he was never banned on the air but the song was …u till the war of 1971 erupted.
Interestingly, its the same ‘prior to war’ feelings in the air …and Taj Multani’s song come to reality once again as “Aj hindian jang thee gul chairein …. ank howay heraan hearanian dee ..
Women are getting into all-males fields, and men are excelling in all-females fields.
For example, among the top ten gynaecologists in London, 9 are males.
Check this link:
http://www.privatehealth.co.uk/privatespecialists/ find-a-doctor/gynaecologists-and-obstetricians/
It is not just in London, it is just everywhere.
Even in Pakistan, though there are few male gynaecologists, but there are names whom no woman gynaecologist has ever match, like Dr. Majeed Memon and Dr. Sher Shah of Karachi, and Dr. Rashid Latif of Lahore.
:-)
For the record, the vocalist for the 1965 war jingle “jang khaid naeen hondi zanaanian di” was Mr Taj Multani. Most people Professor Najam’s age would have been too young to remember.