Malalai of Maiwand She lived in a tiny village, Khig, on the side of the battle field. Malalai was the daughter of a shepherd and both her fiancee and father joined with Ayub Khan's army against the British on July 27, 1880. She tended to the wounded and provided water and extra weapons, like every other woman. Sooner than later, the afghan army started to lose their strength on the British. The tides had turned in favor of the British, although the afghan army had larger numbers of soldiers. Just then Malalai took off her veil and shouted out:
"Young love! If you do not fall in the battle of Maiwand, By God, someone is saving you as a symbol of shame!" These words gave many of the afghan fighters and ghazis hope and they doubled their efforts. When one of the lead flag bearers went down after a British bullet, Malalai ran and went in his place, singing a landai: "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," Afterward, Malalai was shot down and killed. Her words had given the afghan fighters the strength to make the British lines turn around back toward Kandahar. Ayub Khan gave a special honor to Malalai and then she was buried in her village. The British never mentioned her and her bravery and love for her country. |