Maria Toorpakai

I had always believed that the Pashtun people were a tall and noble people, but I had no idea that their females were as nothing and forced into seclusion, deliver their baby without trained assistance, or that the Pakistani version of a Taliban found all Pashtun disgusting and open targets for murder. But then, I also did not know that Pakistani sports teams were run by branches of the military, that Squash is the second most popular sport in Pakistan, which is also the most heroin addicted country in the world.
Before being forced to marry, Maria's father, a professor of engineering, had been locked in an asylum, twice, for publicly speaking out about the rights of women to seek an education, receive medical care inherit or buy property, or simply own and drive a car. And the mother was considered an abomination for having learned too much--but husband later assisted her to gain degrees, which she used to pursue schooling for many girls.
Enter Maria. She simply did not fit into the culture. Born in 1990, at the age of 4 she totally disdained the cultural norm, burned the girl clothing, and hacked off her hair. Her father supported her needs and renamed her Ghengis Khan, and she wore her older brother's outgrown clothing. Constitutionally unable to tolerate being kept indoors for schooling, she learned from her highly educated family in the evenings. At the age of twelve, she discovered the sport of squash and found her passion, goals, and joy of life. She became the first Pashtun girl to enter the sport, and was amazed, several years later, to find that there was a national girl's team. But unlike the boys, there were no government supplied shoes, uniforms, transportation to interAsian tournaments. With a lot of hard work, she eventually became the national champion, and therefore as much a target for the Pakistan taliban as her mother and later, her sister who held a public government position. As a target, she became confined to the house, tried to practice, and sank into a deep depression. The family eventually found ways to send her to a meet in Kuala Lampur, but she came down with Dengue Fever and nearly died, spending 6 days in ICU and suffering severe muscle wasting. The family got her home, and then found a way to send her to a meet in the states, even though she was in no shape to play. There, Jonathon Power, world title holder, caught up with her and brought her to Toronto to heal, become able to be competitive again, and coach in his academy.
An emotionally exhausting book, but one that needs reading and sharing.… (plus d'informations)