In today’s society a country is valued by its women’s progress. Developing support to progress doesn’t occur naturally, it’s a concept that must be nurtured every day. It is necessary to replace  fear with hope and I think it is probably the single most powerful trampoline of progress; thence, it is a moral responsibility of every citizen to stand tall against injustice, brutality, and evil customs that provide a way to subdue women from progressing.

Pakistani journalist and documentarian Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy won the Oscar award for making documentary on women entitled “Saving Face”. The subject of the documentary sheds light against the inbuilt structural inequities. Throwing acid on a woman’s face is against the Divine Ideal and is at its heart anti social that ruptures the order and peace of society. Ms. Chinoy made the entire nation proud and arose as a liberating icon conferring rights on women that are unheard in these days.

I salute you Sharmeen Chinoy for standing tall against the mindset that accepts such barbaric customs and practice of such extreme forms of violence.

The description of atrocious crimes against women by HRCP (Human Resource of Pakistan) fills my heart with horror and makes my hairs stand up. The one who ignores such acts of violence and cruelty certainly, do not have a single human drop of blood in their veins, nor  emotion in their heart.

What is there to my body?

Is it studded with diamonds or pearls?

My brother’s eyes forever follow me.

My father’s gaze guards me all the time,

Stern, angry.

Then why do they make me labour in the fields?

All day long, bear the heat and the sun,

Sweat and toil and we tremble all day long,

Not knowing who may caste a look upon us.

We stand accused, and condemned to be declared ‘kari’

And murdered.

(Atiyya Dawood’s translation into English of the course Sindhi dialect of an ‘illiterate’ girl).

It seems  some people who see tribalism as the only insidious path might discredit you for highlighting the abhorrent practice but I see the real whole heart Human in you.

Let us see the awareness brought forth  through the message of documentary change in the attitudes of our people. I hope her recognition would be a source of inspiration for an aspiring moviemaker, journalist, activist and intellectual to use the power of pen and lens for right causes.

God Bless You Chinoy

Nooruddin Jalal