Malalai of Maiwand facts for kids

Malalai of Maiwand (Pashto: د ميوند ملالۍ), also known as Malala (Pashto: ملاله), or Malalai Anna (Pashto: ملالۍ انا, meaning Malalai the "Grandmother"), is a famous national hero from Afghanistan. She is celebrated for inspiring Afghan soldiers during a major battle called the Battle of Maiwand. This battle took place during the Second Anglo-Afghan War in 1880. Many people believe she helped the Afghan army win this important fight. Malalai is sometimes called 'The Afghan Jeanne d'Arc' because of her bravery. Today, many schools and hospitals in Afghanistan are named after her, and her story is taught in school textbooks.

Who Was Malalai of Maiwand?

Malalai was born in 1861 in a village called Khig. This village was near Maiwand in Afghanistan's southern Kandahar Province. She belonged to the Noorzai tribe.

Her Early Life and the War

In the late 1800s, a war began between Afghanistan and Britain. This was known as the Second Anglo-Afghan War. British and Indian forces had entered Afghanistan. Their main base was in Kandahar, a city close to Malalai's village.

The Afghan army was led by commander Ayub Khan. Malalai's father, who was a shepherd, and her fiancé joined Ayub Khan's army. They were preparing for a big battle against the British-Indian forces in July 1880. Like many Afghan women, Malalai went to the battlefield. She helped by caring for wounded soldiers, providing water, and bringing extra weapons. Local stories say that the day of the battle was also supposed to be her wedding day.

Afghan military leaders on September 2, 1880, about a month after their victory at the Battle of Maiwand.

A Heroic Moment in Battle

During the Battle of Maiwand, the Afghan army started to lose hope. This happened even though they had more soldiers. At this critical moment, Malalai reportedly grabbed the Afghan flag. She bravely shouted words that encouraged the soldiers:

Young love! If you do not fall in the battle of Maiwand,
By God, someone is saving you as a symbol of shame!

Her powerful words gave the Afghan fighters new energy. When the soldier carrying the flag was killed, Malalai stepped forward. She picked up the flag herself. Some stories say she even used her veil as a flag. She then sang a landai, which is a short folk song sung by Afghan women:

With a drop of my sweetheart's blood,
Shed in defense of the Motherland,
Will I put a beauty spot on my forehead,
Such as would put to shame the rose in the garden!

Malalai was tragically killed during the battle. However, her bravery inspired the Afghans to fight even harder. They attacked the British forces with renewed strength and won the battle.

After the battle, Malalai was honored for her courage. She was buried in her home village of Khig. Her grave is still there today, and locals consider it a special place. She was about 18 or 19 years old when she died.

The Pashtun poet Ajmal Khattak wrote these lines about Malalai:

My Malalai is living, and they praise others' beauty.
Though they have eyes, they are blind.

Malalai's Lasting Impact

Malalai's story continues to inspire people. She appeared in an animated part of the documentary film, He Named Me Malala.

Honoring a Hero

A famous Pakistani activist, Malala Yousafzai, was named after Malalai. She was born on July 12, 1997. Malala Yousafzai later became the youngest Nobel Prize winner.

Another Afghan journalist, Malala Maiwand, was also named after this brave hero. She was tragically killed on December 10, 2020.

See also

• Nazo Tokhi, another brave Afghan warrior from the 17th century
• Malala Yousafzai, the youngest and first Pashtun Nobel Prize winner, who was named after Malalai of Maiwandhi:मलाला मैवंद