By Raza Ruman
The social media was taken by storm mostly in favour of Nobel Laureate Malala Yousufzai. The controversy erupted after Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board (PCTB) confiscated the social studies book for grade 7 published by the Oxford University Press (OUP) for printing the picture of Malala alongside that of 1965 war hero Maj Aziz Bhatti Shaheed in the list of important personalities.
People from different segment of society reacted strongly. Senior journalist and publisher Najam Sethi said: “The Punjab Police has raided bookshops to seize a Grade 7 textbook by a reputed publisher because it included a pic of Nobel Laureate Malala! This is shameful, ignorant, reactionary, condemnable behaviour. Laanat!”
Nida Karmani said: “Of course, why would we want to corrupt our young minds with stories of brave girls standing up for their rights?! That might give them dangerous ideas.”
Sadia writes on her Twitter wall saying “Grade 7 book seized in Punjab for printing Malala’s picture with national heroes. Question is why she was there with the national heroes in the first place? Who will seize that intrusive campaign that is hell-bent to penetrate her as some goddess in our young brains?”
Roahanay Zafar says: “I no longer have the ability to be surprised or outraged. I wonder what new lows will we hit. I have a 9 year old who knows about Malala and Greta Thurnberg, these are good role models to aspire towards, both are raising their voice on real issues.”
Salman said: “Great action against Punjab “Grade 7″ textbook. Who betrayed his country and the people of his country. Who said a lot against his homeland. Who did not believe in many things of Islam and made a kind of joke. We do not consider such hypocrites as our heroes.”
Taimur Malik said: “This is just silly behaviour on the part of Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board. If we can have schools named after her in Karachi and elsewhere, what’s the problem here? Regardless, kids around the world are still going to read about her – deal with it.”
The Punjab Police has raided bookshops to seize a Grade 7 textbook by a reputed publisher because it included a pic of Nobel Laureate Malala! This is shameful, ignorant, reactionary, condemnable behaviour. Laanat!
— Najam Sethi (@najamsethi) July 13, 2021
Of course, why would we want to corrupt our young minds with stories of brave girls standing up for their rights?! That might give them dangerous ideas.https://t.co/sD6S08JBh9
— Nida Kirmani (@NidaKirmani) July 13, 2021
Grade 7 book seized. thank God we dont want shit in our books pic.twitter.com/SwZcGulSp8
— M Ahsan Shoaib (@MAhsanShoaib2) July 13, 2021
I no longer have the ability to be surprised or outraged. I wonder what new lows will we hit. I have a 9 year old who knows about Malala and Greta Thurnberg, these are good role models to aspire towards, both are raising their voice on real issues. https://t.co/GbKO4xRT9s
— Roshaneh Zafar (@RoshanehZafar) July 13, 2021
This is just silly behaviour on the part of Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board. If we can have schools named after her in Karachi and elsewhere, what’s the problem here? Regardless, kids around the world are still going to read about her – deal with it.https://t.co/W5hPLJgjVN
— Taimur Malik (@taimur_malik) July 13, 2021
Grade 7 book seized in Punjab for printing Malala’s picture https://t.co/oQok724adf
— Haroun Rashid (@HarounRashid2) July 13, 2021
NAYA PAKISTAN or MADINA KI RIYASAT, call it what you will but in essence its just an old fashioned totalitarian, far right, obscurantist shitshow!
This debate is ongoing whether she was our hero or a villain. Who will decide this? PAK DESTINY
