Pakistani teenager Malala Yousafzai on what it means to be a teenager and Nobel Peace Prize winner at the same time
Q. Documentary drama or speeches – what does Malala prefer?
I am not comfortable facing the camera, it makes me conscious. I am better off giving speeches. But before important gatherings, I practise my words many times over. On the eve of the UN speech, I had a sleepless night. In the morning, I could barely eat.
Q. How did your brothers react to you winning the Nobel Peace Prize?
My younger brother, 10, told me I may have won the Nobel Peace Prize, but at home I dare not behave like the boss.
Q. What is it that you fight about the most?
Strangely, it’s education! Whenever I go to their room and ask them to study instead of playing, they start fighting with me. “Give speeches elsewhere”, is a very common refrain at my home (laughs).
Q. What is it you enjoy doing when you are not studying?
I love listening to peppy music – rap by Honey Singh. I also watch films with my friends and go to restaurants. The last movie I loved was Bajrangi Bhaijaan. I clapped non-stop when the film got over.
Q. When was the last time you laughed out loud?
When I watched Piku. The toilet humour was just too much. I’m laughing even thinking about it.
Q. Do you watch Indian soaps?
I used to watch all serials and loved them when I was in the SWAT region. But in the UK, there’s no time to follow serials. I feast on movies whenever I can. Back then, I used to enjoy dramas and cried along with the actors.
Q. Do you have a favourite actor in Bollywood?
I think Shah Rukh Khan possesses some kind of a Midas touch. Whatever he does is absolutely perfect. I love all the films that I have seen of him, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge being an all-time favourite.
Q. Why Hindi films?
I relate to Indian culture the most — from food to clothes — everything is quite similar but more stylish and grand.
Q. What do you like wearing?
I have a few Indian suits that I wear on occasions. I love draping shawls. The way I put it on my head is the way girls in the SWAT region wear their shawls. I have about 12 shades that I like to mix and match.
Q. You are mostly seen in a red shawl – is that your favourite colour?
My parents tell me red suits me the best but I love pink clothes and accessories a lot.
Q. Your most cherished accessory?
My wrist watch which has a pink dial!
Q. Are you a voracious reader?
Whenever I have time, I read non-fiction novels. Although, at the moment I am reading A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini.
Q. How do you bond with your father?
We go on long walks and talk about history – Hitler and Stalin make for our favourite meal-time
conversation.
Q. Do you still think about the time you were shot?
From the time I was shot in the head to the day when I woke up after surgery – those hours have been completely erased from my memory. When people tell me that I was shot point blank, I feel they are talking about some other person. My mother is very scared after the incident. She panics if I’m not back home in time.
Q. Is there a subject that you absolutely dislike in school?
I prefer humanities over science. I especially love history.
Q. What kind of food do you like?
In the UK, I crave spicy Indian and Pakistani
curries. I love rice too though I have to cut down on my rice consumption. My best dish of all time is Pakistani biryani with Indian curry. I cannot cook at all. My mother wants me to learn the basics before I leave for university.
Q. What else do you love doing?
I love to travel to new places. I love Dubai because the weather is ideal (respite from the damp, cold conditions in the UK). I have cousins and relatives there. We go to malls or spend evenings, chatting.
Q. Which sport do you enjoy?
I like to watch cricket. Sachin Tendulkar’s straight drive was a pleasure to watch. I loved Shahid Afridi’s style very much.
Source: TNN Image source : Indian Express
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