When hundreds of women chanted “Long live America” while protesting power cuts and water shortages in the Jamrud Bazaar in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) five-years ago, they were not supporting the US but a pioneering woman named after the world’s most powerful nation.
Born in Jamrud in 1948, America was named by her father, Akhtar Munir, who did not add the family surname because of his love for the US. As an adult, America took some of her namesake’s characteristics, especially outspokenness and activism.
“For the first time in the history of the tribal area, I organized a protest,” America told UPI News Agency, referring to the 2008 demonstration, adding, “More than 1,000 women participated.”
Since then, she has engaged in social activism at a vocational training centre in the area run by Khwendo Kor, a non-governmental organization that works on women’s issues. She has worked for women’s rights and to fulfil basic needs, including electricity and running water for her Afridi tribe.
As a member of Active Tribal Sisters, a union supported by Khwendo Kor, America has passed on her tailoring and handicrafts skills to other women, who now sell their work in the market. America can no longer do the work herself because of her poor vision.
“America empowered our women and trained them in the local vocational center,” local writer Qais Afridi told UPI Next. “She mobilizes women of the community if there is any event of the NGO or any issue in the community,” he further added.
A 2011 Pew Research Center report found that 69 per cent of Pakistanis considered the US as an enemy, and in 2012 the figure increased to 74 per cent.
“Pakistanis perceive the US as an unreliable ally,” Asad Munir, a retired brigadier unrelated to America’s family who has served in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and FATA, wrote in an Express Tribune article titled “The Reason We Hate America.”
“Also, whilst the US preaches democracy it has always supported dictators,” Munir further said, adding that “Pakistanis doubt US intentions regarding their nuclear assets. Another reason that Muslims tend to blame other powers for the failure of their states and these are coupled with the fact that Muslims do not view US support of Israel favourably.”
Few other Pakistanis have unorthodox names such as America, although a Swat cleric in Swat is named Muhammad Israel. On the street, children tease America about her name, as her children and grandchildren sometimes do at home.
“I wasn’t mistrusted because of my name, as I grew up here and the community knows me well,” America said, adding that although I am sometimes teased by acquaintances who say I should move to the country for which I was named.
“Usually people refer to America in a bad sense, and I get annoyed because my name is America,” she said, further saying “No one can dare speak negatively of me. I know how to defend myself, even in front of male community members.”
Asghar Ali, 40, a teacher living near her village, joked to UPI Next, “Like the US, America also interferes in other families and their disputes.”
America retorted that her attitudes had protected her children from possibly falling into the wrong hands. She said her nature also helped her solve community disputes, particularly among women, and to influence male Jirga, an assembly of elders that makes decisions for basic needs, such as water and electricity for female rights.
America, who is illiterate, said she regretted not receiving formal education but educates herself by following radio, television and newspapers, which others read to her.
“I have watched thousands of Indian and Pakistani movies, and remember significant poetry by heart,” she said.
Her son, Yaar Mohmmad told UPI Next, “She could be a good lawyer if she had school education, because she is fighting for the basic needs of the community.”
Despite financial constraints, she gave three daughters and her three sons basic education. She remembers working for several days to make 11 bed nets with hand-woven ropes for 60 cents because her son Yaar Mohammad needed a book, who continued his education and is now a teacher.
“I am a living example of the extreme love that my father had for the US,” America said, adding “He couldn’t manage to visit the US, but I wish I could.”
By UPI News AgencyPublished: October 10, 2013
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