Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai, the co-author and central character of the book, who was only 16 at the time of its publishing, is a courageous and intelligent young Pashtun Pakistani girl whose determined fight for the right of all girls to an education began at an early age. The daughter of progressive parents, a passionate humanitarian and teacher father and a traditional mother, Malala attends the school her father builds in the Swat Valley and, in contrast to Pakistani societal norms, is treated equally with her two younger brothers. Her upbringing in a rather liberal family, living in a Muslim country controlled at the time by the Taliban, provides Malala with a unique perspective on the world around her, and leads her to question injustices she witnesses, such as the street children who collect rubbish for a living and are deprived of an education. During the course of the book, Malala blogs for the BBC about life under the Taliban occupation, giving interviews and lobbying for her causes, political activities which heighten her profile and culminate in her being targeted and shot by the Taliban. She is transferred to Birmingham, England, for aftercare and rehabilitation. Malala and her family still live in England where Malala is currently studying at Oxford University, and where she continues her fight for the education of all girls through the Malala Foundation.

Malala Yousafzai Quotes

So I was born a proud daughter of Pakistan, though like all Swatis I thought of myself first as Swati and then Pashtun, before Pakistani. Chapter 1

From an early age I was interested in politics and sat on my father’s knee listening to everything he and his friends discussed. Chapter 6

All children are special to their parents, but to my father I was his universe. I had been his comrade in arms for so long, first secretly as Gul Makai, then quite openly as Malala. (after Malala is shot) Chapter 21

I used to be known as his daughter; now he’s known as my father. Epilogue

Ziauddin Yousafzai (Malala’s father)

Malala’s father, Ziauddin, is an educated, well-spoken and passionate spokesperson for humanitarian issues, having had to overcome childhood stuttering and the high expectations of his articulate, teacher father. He is a loving father and role model to his daughter, whom he treats as equal to his two sons, and in whom he instills the values of equality, education and perseverance. Ziauddin treats his wife with respect and equality and discusses matters with her, thus practices at home what he advocates in public. Ziauddin builds several schools in Pakistan, which are open to boys and girls including street children, and which he often has to self-finance. Despite the Taliban’s threats, Ziauddin continues to run his schools and to encourage Malala in her campaign for girls’ education. After Malala is shot by the Taliban, Ziauddin experiences guilt at having influenced his daughter in her pursuits, but after Malala’s recovery, father and daughter resume their fight for equality and justice.

Ziauddin Yousafzai Quotes

My father came from a backward village yet through education and force of personality he made a good living for us and a name for himself. Chapter 1

A stutter was a terrible thing for a man who so loved words and poetry. (Malala, on her father) Chapter 2

When my father tells me stories of his childhood, he always says that though Baba was a difficult man he gave him the most important gift – the gift of education. Chapter 2

He believed that lack of education was the root of all Pakistan’s problems. (Malala, on her father) Chapter 3

He wanted to encourage independent thought and hated the way the school he was at rewarded obedience above openmindedness and creativity. Chapter 3

My father used to say the people of Swat and the teachers would continue to educate our children until the last room, the last teacher and the last student was alive. Chapter 11

Tor Pekai Yousafzai (Malala’s mother)

Malala’s mother is a strong, loving woman who supports both her daughter and husband in their education advocacy, despite lacking an education herself, and who, compared to other wives in her society, enjoys equality in her marriage. She is an ardent observer of Islam, follows the Pakistani code of conduct for women, and keeps a hospitable home, as is the Pashtun custom, where neighbours and friends are always welcome. From her mother, Malala gains spirituality and a trust in God which she channels throughout her life in her quest to help others. By the end of the family’s time in Pakistan, Tor Pekai commences classes to improve her own education thus, in a way, Malala’s advocacy for female education may be viewed as retroactively applying to her mother’s lack of an education opportunity as a child.

Tor Pekai Yousafzai Quotes

For as long as I can remember my mother has talked to birds. Chapter 1

Though she cannot read or write, my father shares everything with her, telling her about his day, the good and the bad. Chapter 1

Though my mother was not educated, she was the practical one in the family, the doer while my father was the talker. Chapter 6

I always knew my mother was a strong woman but I looked at her with new respect. (when Malala’s mother defends herself against a man’s advances) Chapter 15

She herself would never appear in public. She refused even to be photographed. She is a very traditional woman… Were she to break that tradition, men and women would talk against her, particularly those in our own family. (Tor Pekai) Chapter 17

… when I won prizes, she said, ‘I don’t want awards, I want my daughter. I wouldn’t exchange a single eyelash of my daughter for the whole world.’ (Tor Pekai) Chapter 17

Khushal & Atal Yousafzai (Malala’s brothers)

Malala’s brother, Khushal, is two years younger than her while her brother, Atal, is five years her junior. Khushal and Malala are not particularly close during the period in the book and Khushal attends school in another town when Malala’s political activism increases. Their respective outlooks on education appear to be shaped by their environment and social customs at the time as seen when Malala scolds Khushal for wanting to stay home from school one day, insisting he should feel lucky to be able to learn.

Khushal & Atal Yousafzai Quotes

I played mostly with Khushal because he was just two years younger than me, but we fought all the time. He would go crying to my mother and I would go to my father. Chapter 1

Never in history have Khushal and Malala been friends. Chapter 11

Rohul Amin (Malala’s paternal grandfather)

Rohul Amin is Malala’s intimidating and articulate grandfather, Ziauddin’s father, whom Malala refers to as ‘Baba’. A religious scholar and cleric who was educated in India, he has little patience for Ziauddin’s childhood stutter, is preoccupied with family rivalries, and has high expectations of others, which Ziauddin argues he is never able to meet himself, and which make their relationship uneasy throughout the book. Rohul is affectionate towards Malala and becomes her role model.

Rohul Amin Quotes

He was an impatient man at the best of times and would fly into a rage over the smallest thing – like a hen going astray or a cup getting broken. (Malala’s grandfather, Baba) Chapter 2

He was a mesmerising speaker. His sermons at Friday prayers were so popular that people would come down from the mountains by donkey or on foot to hear him. (Baba) Chapter 2

My father was in awe of my grandfather and told me wonderful stories about him, but he also told me that he was a man who could not meet the high standards he set for others. Chapter 2

Monibo

Malala’s best friend throughout her childhood, Monibo, attends school with Malala and provides competition for best in the class. Moniba and Malala continue to keep in touch after Malala leaves Pakistan.

Madam Maryam

The principal at Malala’s school, Madam Maryam is like a second mother to Malala and the other girls at the Kushal School.

Madam Maryam Quotes

We were lucky too that Madam Maryam was brave and resisted the pressure to stop working. She had known my father since she was ten and they trusted each other completely … Chapter 14

‘The secret school is our silent protest,’ she told us. (Madam Maryam) Chapter 14

My headmistress Maryam was a strong, educated woman but in our society she could not live on her own and come to work. She had to be living with a husband, brother or parents. Chapter 18

Malka e-Noor

Malka e-Noor is Malala’s academic rival at school. When Malala comes in second to her, Malala learns some valuable lessons, including that winning is not everything.

Malka e-Noor Quotes

Only twice had I not come top – both times when I was beaten by my class rival Malka e-Noor. I was determined it would not happen again. Prologue

I came second.
It didn’t matter. Lincoln also wrote in the letter to his son’s teacher, ‘Teach him how to gracefully lose.’ Chapter 5

Hidayatullah

Hidayatullah attended college with Ziauddin and assists in the building of Khushal School, but becomes frustrated with the slow progress and financial productivity of the school. He subsequently leaves the partnership and starts his own school.

Jinnah

The founder of Pakistan, Jinnah set out to make it a land of religious tolerance. He was laid to rest in a mausoleum in Karachi.

Jinnah Quotes

‘No struggle can ever succeed without women participating side by side with men. There are two powers in the world; one is the sword and the other is the pen. There is a third power stronger than both, that of women.’ (Jinnah) Chapter 2

‘You are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed – that has nothing to do with the business of the state.’ (Jinnah) Chapter 7

It was hard to visit that place and read those speeches without thinking that Jinnah would be very disappointed in Pakistan. … He wished us to be independent, to be tolerant, to be kind to each other. He wanted everyone to be free whatever their beliefs. Chapter 18

General Pervez Musharraf

Coming into power a few years after Malala’s birth, the fourth military leader of Pakistan, Musharraf maintains control of the country for eleven years. He makes a pact with the United States, promising to use their foreign aid to fight terrorism and extremism in Pakistan but, according to Malala’s sources, works with both sides and reappropriates the US foreign aid into elaborate mansions and villas for himself.

Benazir Bhutto

The first female prime minister of Pakistan and an important role model for Malala. Benazir Bhutto uses her influence to fight for women’s rights and aims to fight religious extremism in Pakistan but her career is cut short when she is assassinated by the Taliban in 2007.

Malauna Fazlullah

Malauna Fazlullah is an influential Muslim leader who commences his career as a moderate, advocating for a balance between Western ways and Quran teachings, but whose views become increasingly more extreme as the Taliban’s popularity increases. He calls for women to wear burqas at all times and to refrain from attending school, and openly supports the Taliban’s views on the murder of women who disobey the Taliban’s interpretation of Quranic law.