Iam Malala by Malala Yousafzai - A Daughter is Born

Iam Malala 

          - By Malala Yousafzai 

Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani girl from Pashtun Community. She fought against the Talibans rule of restricting education for women. She was shot by Talibans. 

 "A Daughter is Born" is the first chapter from Malala Yousafzai's autobiography " Iam Malala". In this chapter Malala talks about her birth, homeland and family. 

Malala was born on July 12, 1997, in the village of Mingora, in Pakistan’s Swat Valley.

She was born at dawn and her father, Ziauddin was happy at the birth of the girl. It was a land were the birth of boy baby was celebrated. But her father rejoiced her birth.

Malala was named after Malai of Maiwand, the great heroine of Afganistan. She fought against the British Soldiers.

Malala introduces her home region, the Swat Valley, which she considers the most beautiful place in the world. It is a mountainous area in Pakistan. Islam was introduced to Swat in the 11th century, but Buddhism had been practiced in the region for centuries.

Malala's family lived in Mingora. At the time of Malala's birth, her family was very poor. She was living in a small house. She had two younger brothers Kushal and Atal. Ziauddin runs a school and her mother Toor Pekai prays God five times a day.  

 Malala explains that her surname, Yousafzai, is a clan name rather than a personal family name. She also explains that she feels she is a Swati first, a Pashtun second, and a Pakistani third.