Between hope for Malala and realism – an eyewitness account of the Nobel Peace Prize announcement – by Dr. Rehan Naqvi
Prior to the award announcement, no one I spoke with at the Norwegian Nobel Institute expected Malala to be the winner. Nonetheless, the disappointment was so apparent in the air when the official announcement was made. It seemed as if everyone had secretly hoped for a miracle, that despite all, the committee will pick Malala. But this did not happen.
‘What heritage do you have,” asked the foreign journalist who was sitting next to me, in quite a politically correct fashion. We had a few hours left before the Nobel Peace Prize winner for 2013 would be announced. I had arrived three hours in advance of the announcement. An early bird would not only secure a nice spot for the video camera but also could chat with Geir Lundestad, the Director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute. Lundestad would appear in the announcement hall from time to time and many journalists would make desperate attempts to make him spit out something that could help them to infer who was going to be the winner.
‘I have my origins in Pakistan,” I replied to the fellow journalist. ”Ahh, Pakistan! Do you think Malala is going to be the winner,” he out rightly threw the question at me. The fact that Malala and I both share somewhat the same origin has left me in a dilemma: whether to be proud of Malala or be ashamed of what happened to her in the country of my origin. The monologue continued in my head as he asked me the question. ”What do you think,” I threw the question back at him. It was the safest thing to do. ”Well, I don’t think so. But she would make a great peace prize laureate.” said the fellow in a plane voice.
Then I came across a local journalist. ”I really don’t think Malala will win the peace prize. She is too young. But she definitely deserves the award,” said the young lady smilingly.
The news had leaked about two hours or so prior to the planned time for announcement that OPCW was the winner. There was a sense of disbelief in the ambiance after NRK broke the news about the leak. ”It would be such a boring decision,” said another local journalist. ”But if NRK has broken the news, this must be true,” he said with a disappointed look on his face.
And finally came the moment of truth. This was indeed OPCW. There was no clapping, no cheerful screams, no joy and no fun. Thorbjoern Jagland’s voice echoed in the hall with almost no response from the audience. So, it was a boring decision after all. Or so it was perceived.
During the press conference, a journalist confronted Jagland with kind of a question as direct as it could be. ”Why Malala did not get the prize,” asked the journalist. ”We never discuss individuals who did not get the prize,” replied Jagland. ”Was it her age,” the journalist insisted. Jagland spent the next five minutes or so explaining and justifying the decision and that it was not the age factor due to which Malala did not get the prize. He really did not have to do that. But he did. Nevertheless, he had to make it clear that it is not the media hype that decided the winner but the committee’s own principles and guidelines.
”A peace prize is no good prize if it does not spark a debate,” Jagland had said in an interview published in the local Norwegian media in the morning of the same day the award was to be announced. Much can be said about the Norwegian Nobel Committee’s decisions in recent years and the reputation the prize itself has started to develop. Few would agree that the award to President Obama was the best decision ever made by the committee.
The peace prize probably is overrated given the list of controversial peace prize laureates. But this too is true that from time to time some of those also get the award who actually have contributed substantially for the betterment of humanity and who are by no means controversial. Who would argue about Mother Teresa and Wangari Maathai winning the Nobel Peace Prize. Peace in the 21st century can mean many things other than stopping wars.
Now, when it comes to Malala, she is determined to achieve what she had set out to do at an age as tender as 14. Whether she deserved it or not, the prize comes not only with fame and money but also obligations, probably too heavy for Malala who has not even reached the age of suffrage according to Pakistani law. She is just 16. It is said that Mr. Yousafzai had named his daughter after Malala, the brave Pashtun girl who had fought against the British troops in Afghanistan in the late nineteenth century. Malala Yousafzai seems to have something special – sort of a charisma tied to her age, the Pashtun origin and the determined look. No doubt she has become the apple of everyone’s eye – well, with the exception of the Taliban and Taliban sympathisers, and the conspiracy theorists and their followers. Regardless, most pakistanis seem to be proud of Malala and had hoped for her to win the Nobel Peace Prize. It was really the hottest theme in the Pakistani media last week.
Prior to the award announcement, no one I spoke with at the Norwegian Nobel Institue expected Malala to be the winner. Nonetheless, the disappointment was so apparent in the air when the official announcement was made. It seemed as if everyone had secretly hoped for a miracle, that despite all, the committee will pick Malala. But this did not happen.
Jagland later told Associated Press that Malala was a deserving candidate. “She is an outstanding woman and I think she has a bright future and she will probably be a nominee next year or the year after that,” he said.
So, Malala’s fans have enough reasons to have hopes for her to win the Prize one day. And that day may not be too far in the future.
Thanks Rahan Naqvi Sahib, for writing the inside story of recent event of Nobel prize ceremony. I am really proud of this young lady , who has done a job that 1000 ambassadors of Pakistan could not do, to highlight the image of Pakistan and present the genuine problems of this country. May Allah protect this young lady Malala
and help her to realize her dreams Ameen. Long live Malala.
Though I am highly impressed with Malala’s caliber, commitment and confidence; I too was not that hopeful owing to her age and the absence of a strong lobbying mechanism for her
Though I am highly impressed with Malalala’s caliber, commitment and confidence, I too was not that hopeful owing to her age and the absence of some quantifiable and physical outcome of her efforts. No doubt the level of confidence she has induced among millions of students is immeasurable and shall work long in promoting the love for education among the new generation. This makes her a real HERO – repeat – HERO (beyond a heroin) of this age.
Sorry to say, but what caliber you are talking about Malala? what approach, thought and direction you talk?
Do you think there is no one above Malala has give services to Humanity and education?
And with due respect, can you Imagine the President of USA , UN and all worth Malala than other important issues of Pakistan. A president he didnt get time to Meet PM of Pakistan has enough time to meet a girl from a remote area of Pakistan.
More a very simple question, I m still confused what exactly she has done so state of the art, which no one other has done it before?
Hey we used to say”Aik Zardari Sab Pe Bhari” and the exact thing i see for Malala.Don,t be blind and deaf .Have you ever visited the other parts of Pakistan? There are thousands Malalas but who gonna prepare thos girls for fame ? Yep I must say no one becoz Govt,Local agencies and forein agencies are not behind them.
My dear country fellows where our brain stop working exactly from that point our Govt and agencies start thinking so what ? Look Pakistan has been listed in the top ten most worst dangerous counyry and on onother hand Gorden Brown hold Mala,s finger and takeh her straight away to UN General Assembly,and helped her in nomination for Noble peace Prize………..”
Well written Haseeb!
If USA and western power really sincere for child education specially girls, then why don’t they admit their crimes committed in Iraq, Afghanistan and Drone affected tribal areas of Pakistan, their LUST of power caused orphanage of hundreds of children.
My simple question is that if MALALA was the victim of drone attack then what would be the scenario?
well mr naqvi i wish u also get chance to have the common Pakistani’s opinion about malala yousafzai … instead of only media hype…. she is a planted game… having lots of evidance and we are not at all proud of her… neither she has so many fans expecting her to be nobel prize winner… be a true journalist and find the story of both sides to write next time… good luck
Agree
Mr. Naqvi please land in to the reality world. you said that only those are against malala who’s sympathy is with talibans. i have not even 1 % sympathy with talibans but i am against the malala because :
other 2 girls also got wounded in attack why only all media coverage to malala?
more then 15000 girls from that district in pakistan from where malala belongs ,are going to school everyday and no one attacking those girls??
USA president never even mentioned the name of those 50,000 pakistanis who laid their life for the so called “WAR ON TERROR DRAMA” ! but he have enough time to meet that idiot malala !
for me malala has done nothing special ,she is only a toy in the hand of his greedy father and western media !
for me those are hero who sacrificed their sons ,who left their homes ,who lost their beloved ones during the swat and tribal area operation and fought against talibans ! and also those who became victims of american drones ! 80% pakistanis think that malala is CIA’s drama ! i challenge u Mr. Naqvi ! please create a poll on facebook and see the result’s ur self !
You see, this is just a description of how I observed the scene at the Nobel Institute. There is very little personal opinion involved here. Is Malala a planted game? Well, I have not investigated that yet. There is little chance I would ever do as I am not an investigative journalist. As regards those opposed to Malal true that it is not Taliban and their sympathisers. But I also mentioned conspiracy theorists and their followers. Now, would someone tell me please what are the grounds for being against malala if you are not either taliban or a Taliban sympathisers? I guess one has to have a theory for not supporting Malala? And where does that theory come from? nothing comes out of nowhere, generally speaking? All those arguments that a common person uses against Malala, where are they generated? That is where the conspiracy theorists come into the picture and that is what I have mentioned. Now once again, as a journalist I just described what the Western journalists believed and what the Norwegian Nobel committee described about Malala. I have criticised the Nobel Committee in the first place for deteriorating the reputation of the Prize by awarding it to people like Obama. So, I do not understand why anyone would accuse me of trying to present Malala as a hero … I presented her the way I saw people see her… in the West. And yes most Pakistanis seem to be proud of Malala except the Taliban and their sympathisers and those who follow conspiracy theories consciously or unconsciously . 🙂
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