PESHAWAR  - Malala Yousafzai, 14, who has earned international fame and recognition for raising voice against Taliban, was also in a state of shock and terror when militants unleashed brutality and barbarism on Swat dwellers, but ban on female education by terrorists moved the adolescent a lot and her inner determination overcome the fear as she decided to stand against obscurantist forces.
"I was scared enough on seeing pictures of bodies hanging in Green Chowk of Swat, but the decision of militants to bar girl students from going to schools, was very shocking for me and I decided to stand against forces of backwardness," says Malala Yousafzai while talking to APP panel at her residence in Mingora (Swat).
"It was very painful for me and my classmates on hearing the news that our school may be closed and we would not be allowed to get education," he adds.
Though I was a student of 5th class in 2009, but I decided that I would convey the concern of female students and people of Swat to the outer world and for this purpose my father guided me to contribute diaries to BBC under the pen name of `Gul Makai'.
I regularly made contributions to BBC and reflected the sentiments of terrorised classmates, relatives and neighbours. "One of my classfellows once wept in sorrow over the state of affairs we were passing through during the reign of horror unleashed by militants,” Malala recalled and continued that she reflected the sentiments of her fellows and it was published in a number of newspapers, getting much acknowledgement from people.
Malala contributed diaries to BBC for around four months from Jan 2009. She also expressed the suffering of displaced people after migrating to Shangla when government launched military operation for purging the plagued Swat from militants.
I had no intention nor had I thought before contributing diaries on brutalities of Taliban that my efforts would earn fame for me and I will become a symbol of `Voice against Tyranny', remarks Malala.
All my initiatives were based on informing people about the suffering being faced by Swat people at the hands of Taliban in the name of our sacred religion.
However, the courage and bravery of a teenage girl of risking her life by highlighting the face of Taliban got recognition and she was nominated for an International Children Peace award by a Dutch organisation, Kids Right. Malala and four other nominees beat 93 contestants from 42 countries to become finalists.
"The news about nomination for international peace award was a great source of excitement for me and my family because I earned a good name for my country," she added.
Though the prize of Kids Right ultimately went to a disabled 17-year-old South African girl, Michaela Mycroft, but Government of Pakistan decided to fully encourage the girl and awarded Malala with `National Peace Prize of Pakistan', making her the first child to be honoured with such a prestigious award.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani also announced a cash prize of Rs 10,00,000 for bringing laurels for the country and issued directives to give such awards to deserving children on annul basis.
Provincial governments of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh also honoured the brave girl and announced cash prizes of Rs 500,000 each for her.
The response of both international community and people of Pakistan invigorated Malala with additional courage who has now decided to continue her efforts for children education, especially female, by setting up an organization in the name of `Malala Education Foundation'.
"About 400 schools had been fully destroyed in Swat by Taliban and I like to work for rehabilitation of damaged schools so that students of these areas could be provided the opportunity of getting education," vowed Malala.
Malala also plans to play active role in politics after completing her education. "I want to become an honest, committed and hard-working politician as our country badly needs such political leaders," she said.
To a question, Malala said she is impressed from the charismatic personality of Benazir Bhutto and politics of Bacha Khan and want to follow both of them.
When asked about security concerns, as she is now a public figure and role model for youth after getting prominence for speaking against Taliban, Malala said she does not want security. “I am feeling secure in my city and do not want to be pointed out due to deployment of security around me, she replied.
Ziauddin Yusafzai, the proud father of Malala, when asked to comment, expressed extreme excitement over achievement of her daughter. He said "I would not have thought that my little girl would get such prominence".
Ziauddin, who runs a private school, said he fully supported Malala and never prohibited to write against Taliban for the sake of safety and security.
“I have chosen the name Malala for my daughter after being inspired from Malala of Maiwand (Afghanistan) who was a brave lady and was famous for her poetry in which she urged her countrymen to fight against the intruders (Britishers) till death and not give up the freedom struggle.
"My daughter fulfilled my dream and played the role played by Malala of Maiwand," Ziaudding remarked. She is not only my daughter, but daughter of the nation, he added.