Over last few years, more than 1200 girls’ schools and colleges have been bombed out by Pakistani Taliban. It’s an act which fulfills their one-point agenda: keep females away from education. It’s obvious, no government can deploy army platoons to protect the girls schools on 24/7 basis. If we can’t target this destructive mindset, its sources of inspiration and the master minds behind these crimes, then there is no chance we will ever win the rights of education for girls.
Few creative minds have come up with another idea to present the message, and at same time follow the ‘name and shame’ rule. A group of artists and singers is working on a local version of an animated super heroine who comes out to stop the politicians and religious extremists from shutting down her school. It’s a cartoon series -‘Burka Avenger’ where a female school teacher with her secret martial art skills and three young kids takes on the enemies of girls education, Jiya, the burka Avenger, will appear on the screen in her flowing black burqa to hide her identity.
Sadly her fight is not an imaginary one, but a bitter reality in today’ Pakistan. Following the lines from another real life heroine, Malala Yousafzai, the Burka Avenger will use books and pens as weapons. Though these cartoons are meant for kids, however, one may wish the producers could pass this serious message to the hidden enemies of the country and female education. Cartoons are excellent way of bringing some home truths to the forefront and should be used more to spread our message.
MASOOD KHAN,
Saudi Arab,