Marium Mukhtiar’s mother stoically spoke yesterday about her “little angel”. “I always told her” she said “that you are like the sun. Not son. Sun. Not moon. Because the moon is dependant”.
Just last year, young Karachi native Marium gave an interview on BBC news for their segment “Fighting Stereotypes”. She spoke about her decision to enter Pakistan’s testing and rigorous fighter pilot training programme.
She was motivated to do so, she says, because she wanted to do something different from the norm. She wanted to partake in the discipline, uniformity and “pomp” of the PAF, which had traditionally been dominated only by men. Her mother was initially concerned – her loving, inordinately intelligent young daughter was entering a male-oriented world. A different world. An “extraordinary” world.
Although Marium understood and respected the concern, she stood firm with her decision. And her mother supported her choice and was happy for her daughter’s extraordinary life of passionate patriotism.
Her’s were days of discipline, briefings, debriefings and missions. And all the while, she had on her mind the desire to be a “positive voice for Pakistan”. She explained how men and women in the armed forces of Pakistan are similarly treated.
“People who think Pakistan just has restrictions for women need to come and see what they are actually doing here. I am honoured and proud that PAF has given me the chance to work for it” she said.
Marium went on to speak about how her career led a transformation in her – the PAF, she said, groomed her personality, changed her identity and gave her a confidence to face the world.
It was with that confidence she undertook her last flight. According to a PAF statement “both the pilots handled the serious emergency with professionalism and courage and tried to save the ill-fated aircraft till the very last minute”.
Her trademark bravery was also on display in the fact that she waited till the very last second to make sure the jet had crossed over a populated area before ejecting, losing too much altitude and thereby the window of opportunity for a safe ejection.
In last year’s interview Marium felt that when people heard her story “they will appreciate it and will want their daughters and sisters to do the same” as her. We feel the same. She has, is and forever will be an inspiration.
Her mother said that she felt everyone should leave behind something which will outlive them – Marium has done just that – she has lived like a “lioness” and she has died with “honour”.
Although a bright young light has gone out, and the whole nation mourns with Marium’s family, we must remember the legacy she leaves for millions girls. Not just Pakistani girls, girls from all over the world, indeed anyone who wants to do something brave, something new, something to push the limits, something to test one’s potential.
May you have a wonderful flight to the heavens, Marium. We salute you.