The forgotten Malalai of Maiwand

Author: Amir Hamza

The pen of the writers and the lens of the media conventionally present Pashtun women as weak, fragile, subjugated by men and cut-off from the world. These titles might be true upto some extent, but such claims undermine the heroic history of Pashtun women, in daily life and in extraordinary circumstances faced by them.

From Malala Yousafzai of Swat Valley to Malalai of Maiwand, the heroic tales of these brave girls are either distorted or eroded by historic writers. Malala was well received by international powers as a brave female voice against the regressive Taliban regime in swat, but Malalai of Maiwand did not got the recognition she deserved because her melodious voice caused the defeat of colonial army of Britain.

Malalai was there to assist and treat the wounded soldiers, who were great in numbers because of fierce response by British forces. Afghan troops started to lose hope and morale when they saw their fellows falling to the ground in great numbers. Malalai sensed this, rose up and exhorted the warriors by singing a folk song

It was 1880, her name was Malalai and the battlefield was of Maiwand in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Colonial powers entered Afghanistan for the second time to colonise it and annex it with the British India. British forces were garrisoned in Kandahar. Afghan tribal warriors led by the son of deposed emir, Ayub Khan, marched towards the British garrison situated in Maiwand on July 27, 1880, leading to a fierce battle between both armies.

Malalai was there to assist and treat the wounded soldiers, who were great in numbers because of fierce response by British forces. Afghan troops started to lose hope and morale when they saw their fellows falling to the ground in great numbers. Malalai sensed this, rose up and exhorted the warriors by singing a folk song, “Young love! If you do not fall in the battle of Maiwand, By God, someone is saving you as a symbol of shame! With a drop of my sweetheart’s blood, Shed in defence of the Motherland, Will I put a beauty spot on my forehead, Such as would put to shame the rose in the garden!”

Encouraged by her words, Ayub Khan’s forces once again led an attack on British posts. Afghan troops won the battle, but lost Malalai. Malalai was martyred, along with her father and fiancé who took part in this battle. She will always be remembered as the brave Malalai of Maiwand whose words caused the defeat of a colonial power in the battle of Maiwand.

The writer is based in Peshawar and can be reached at amirsky670@gmail.com