From a girl who wears an abaya and still feels unsafe, to a nation that believes women are not in danger, every second of their lives in Pakistan.
you’re ‘Azaad’, if walking down your own street do not make you think twice. if you don’t randomly hear men whistling at you. if you don’t have to worry about what you’re wearing. if you don’t have to think twice about standing in a line. if you don’t have to worry about laughing in public and bringing attention towards yourself. if you don’t have to worry about being alone in broad daylight. if you don’t play at least a dozen lines you will have to say to a man, if he comes close to you. if you don’t have to worry about not having something sharp on you. if you don’t have to worry about being murdered in broad daylight and your murderer getting away with it. if you don’t have to worry about hearing, ‘what were you wearing? why were you there when you build the courage to share a horrific event that changed you, entirely. if you don’t have to worry about being followed. if you don’t have to constantly worry about someone taking a picture of you. if a small sound doesn’t scare you. if the idea of someone coming close to you doesn’t scare you. if you don’t have to worry about how to get people to believe you were never wrong and that it was never your fault. that’s when you are Azaad, mentally and physically.
when women in my country are murdered because a man couldn’t control his anger when children in my country are deprived of a childhood because of a man’s inability to be human when employees are shot for merely ringing the doorbell twice when goats are raped, I don’t think I can celebrate azaadi, kyunke Azaad hai he kon aakhir? azaadi hai he kya?
azaadi is an illusion, an illustration created by man himself to sleep peacefully at night. the mere thought of azaadi excites us. but, will i live long enough to live with azaadi? a concept open to man and man only. that too created by a system that lets them get away with anything and everything.
for all the reasons mentioned above, I will not be celebrating 14th august, and this comes from a girl who was annoyed by people who didn’t celebrate the Independence Day of Pakistan. I don’t believe in jane azaadi when there’s an ongoing war in my country of depriving women, transgender, children, animals, and anything other than powerful men, of their rights.
I really appreciate the feeling, the rebellion…. This reminds me, my own article more than 2 decades ago…. When I myself questioned myself if I had the right to celebrate independence day… While majority of our population suffering poverty and where state fails in providing protection, basic necessities, civil and civic rights to vast majority!!!
Shehzeen has surprised as well impressed me at the same time. Surprise is obvious for reading her write up for the first time. And impressed to see the depth n insight into a very sensitive topic, which even very bold writers avoid to pen down. Her clarity of thinking , flow of ideas, rhythm of sentences n vocabulary is again very mature. Ma Shah Allah, she must continue writing.
My prayers n best wishes to her.
Great effort. Love Reading this article.
Very well written Shehzeen afzal khan. You have given very strong reasons to defend your arguments.
A very organised, short yet powerful article.
Proud of you meri jaan and respect your sentiments tremendously. Bravo and great job!!!!!