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.
You are right. That is rude and disrespectful.
not to be rude or disrespectful since i in united states airforce myself…why women looks so (let me use an urdu word that would best describe it)…”Mardmar” ,in military,they kind a loose there feminine qualities traditionally ascribed to women, as sensitivity or gentleness.
well done saira amin!!! fer me she aint a woman but a human first so she has all the praises from my side an sowrd of honor is a bog achievement!
well about women role i guess we shudnt politicise the matter i see men speakin against women an women fer women an vise versa! tht wont help the cause! we juss talk make arguments but she has done it ppl will talk abt it like if thts a political move orrrrr!wateva even its political she was somethin its not she was picked from the bottom an givem a sword!she has done it an digest it!
Islam as a religion hasnt forbade women frm workin or competing with men(its true!!)but our cultural heritage mainly influenced by the hinduism tht dun give totals rights to women a women are infused in their minds tht they are inferior but nuffin like tht in muslim woman!they can do ne thing take examples of razia sultana,in fighting it doesnt mean u shud be fighting with guns u can be a doctor to help they wounded!but its tht muslims are stereotyped as we dun give women their rights our woman have rights trust me religion give it so ladies ask fer them !in west a woman cant divorce(catholic)see charles got married queen wasnt in the marriage ceremony it was a private matter!! satti in india an many more examples!we as a nation ideological shudd have our women side by side in facin the challanges of the world not like asma jahangir tht speaks agianst combined family system an herself lives in one,not adddressin the issue but tryin to uproot a system!tht leads u to international conferences where she speaks abt crap an total antipakistan stuff with out ne cerdibilty just to gather money from the masses!never seen her crying fer a women university or a medical school or women employment! she juss wana change hudood cases!! coz they are more profitable in west!!!
in last i wish saira amin the best may she rose to tahe ranks an tell the world wat a pakistani woman is!at home shes a mother a sister!shes a fighter in airforce shes a doctor a lawyer she has it all,but there are pitfalls we shud along with the women folks try to eradicate them!dun politicise them men=women!!!theres a difference bw culture an religion:)
Here is another lady (Amna) who has done something considering she is only in the first yesr of her course.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/miscellaneous/story/2006 /09/060930_amatuer_festival_na.shtml
Scary. I think men should start demanding quota in education and work or we’ll be extint soon.
Dear Samdani
Please ignore my last commnet. I don’t know what I said there. Obviously I am taking too much of what I shouldn’t be taking in the first place. Here is what I really wanted to say…
Flying certainly required intellectual calibre but it also has a physical capability requirement. I understand women were not accepted in air force for reasons other than physical capability but that is not my point. I was just wondering if lifestyle background has an effect on success…or failure to become a pilot. This in turn may mean that candidates of certain types of areas are more likely to succeed? I don’t know just wondering. May be its not worth spending any time on.
PS: I know it applies to both men and women but it just did not dawn on me while there were only men. Sorry I am after all a paindoo from back home trying to grow out of it. :)