She Defeated Fear

In October 2012, I wrote ‘Courage under Fire’ on Malala Yousafzai, a young girl who was shot by Taliban.

Today 9-10 months later, Malala was at the UN addressing the youth on her 16th birthday where she made some profound statements that I thought were worth mentioning as key takeaways for all of us:

“The terrorists thought they would change my aims and stop my ambitions. But nothing changed in my life except this: weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage were born.”

It was humbling to see such a young girl’s resounding voice that had the clarity, conviction and beaming with confidence. She talked of love, forgiveness and non-violence.

“This is the philosophy of nonviolence that I have learned from Gandhi, Bacha Khan and Mother Teresa. And this is the forgiveness that I have learned from my father and from my mother. This is what my soul is telling me: be peaceful and love everyone.”

I am reminded of Swami Vivekananda said ‘Uthishtatha Jagratha Prapya vara nibhothita’ – Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached.

This year is also the year of the Swami marking his 150 birth anniversary.

You can read the full script at – http://www.ibtimes.com/malala-yousafzais-speech-un-full-text-1344117