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 am very doubtful about timings. When Mush is in US , the news come out. It would sure help him in media. Any how I was never doubtful about women’s talent. They could always beat men in aggregates(there are so many stupid courses which guys don’t care about much) Women are hard working but tell me honestly how many of you would prefer women over men doing dog fighting in F-16s. I for many reasons would not.
“I had always thought that Inayat Hussain Bhatti’s 1965 song, jang khed nai honthi zananian di (’war is not[a] the sport of women’) was a rather silly song.”
Dr. Najam: Could singer of this song be Taj Multani and not Inayat Hussain Bhatti. It was a very popular song during and after 1965 war with India, both among men and women alike. Only now it sounds silly to some of us. Its twin song was ‘Lala Ji Jan Thay O’. In political correctness this song could be regarded silly now. Just a comment.
I find it very annoying, when everything that is achieved is made to look insignificant because of what as a nation we have failed to achieve.
The fact that this young woman has conquered frontiers, which had not been conquered by any other women before is something to be applauded. What she has achieved is independent of the misrey of other women in Pakistan.
Secondly, when you decide to not be proud of individual achievements, you are practically saying that our individual efforts make no difference. We should not try and strive for individual success because if fails to affects millions of other lives. Based on my personal experience, I believe that one can only help others when one is satisfied with what one has achieved in their own life. I am unlikely to help another person if I feel that I have failed in my life, because I would spend my efforts helping myself and making my life better.
As a society, we have to get out of this pessimistic mindset of seeing the glass as half empty and have to start seeing it as half full. I personally believe that Saira is an inspiration to many young women in Pakistan, and I know for sure that she is a role model for my young cousin who wants to follow in her footsteps and serve Pakistan air force. She has to be applauded for achieving what no other women in Pakistan has achieved.
This IS an important news. I hope it signifies the beginnibng of a trend; both about women and in your later comment about minorities in the military. We have to make this ‘Pakistan’ military; not Islam’s Army.
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?