CNN yesterday featured a story about an 11 year old Pakistani girl, named Tuba Sahaab, a “self-styled warrior poet from Islamabad.” Tuba is an enormous fan of U.S. President Barack Obama, and like him, “believes in change.” She told CNN’s Stan Grant, “I want to give peace to my country my nation, everyone.” According to the report, she is “pitting her pen against the Taliban sword,” reflecting the pain of other children in Pakistan through her poetry – describing the injustice of girls who are denied an education and the schools that have been burned down in Swat. In one poem she wrote,
Tiny drops of tears/Their faces like the angels washed with their blood/They sleep forever as with anger
According to CNN, Tuba has won awards for poetry and has been featured in newspapers and interviewed by Pakistani radio stations. Moreover, although she’s only 11 years old, Tuba has already published a book of children’s stories. She shows no fear in speaking out against the Taliban, asserting, “If my life goes, I don’t worry for it, I just want to do something for my country.”
A tremendous story that shows that passion for one’s country and speaking out against adversity can start at a very young age. I’ll leave you with my favorite quote from the video [which you can watch here], where Tuba tells CNN’s Stan Grant that she wants to appeal to President Obama for help, [it’s my favorite because I think her reference to the White House is adorable]:
I want to go to White Palace, and show him [Obama] my points and say him come to Pakistan and whatever is happening he should try to control it…
Go Tuba!
I like this.. It’s important to promote children speaking out against Taliban, it makes for excellent propaganda. In addition, it wouldn’t hurt to have the education system federalized in such a way that curriculum is centrally directed to promote an anti-Taliban view of current events.
[…] Slayer””, url: “http://teabreak.pk/pakistan-s-taliban-slayer-42/14818/” }); Read more at: CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan 11 years, adversity, barack obama, chup, cnn, cup of tea, favorite quote, injustice, news […]
i agree with HGW… congrats to her parents too!
Precious little girl. Way to go, Allah and all the Gods all over the world are with her.
Keep writing and keep inspiring🙂
tuba is my new hero! what a brave, sensible girl.
Hi Tuba – I saw your story on CNN. I live in the USA and I have a projected called Red Pants for the World – an army of young women living created lives, out to alter the planet. I wanted to tell you how you inspire me with your project for the Pakistan. I believe every person can listen and speak poetry in the world and it will bring about peace and love for the world.
Thanks for your story – I’m adopting you as one of my Red Pants Girls (www.redpantslegacy.blogspot.com) – you go, girl!
Judi romaine
Red Pants for the World
After reading Tuba’s story & listening to her on the CNN Clip, I am really moved. We still have a chance to change…..Yes We Can! Unfortunately, not with the clowns we have in the Govt & the Opposition. We will neeed someone like Tuba with the courage, all fired up & ready to go & take on the likes of the Taliban & their crazy supporters.
Kalsoom thank you for bringing this to us. Please pass on my message to Tuba that I would be honoured to pay for her trip to Washington DC.
Meeting with the man in the White Castle can be arranged by the US Ambassador in Islamabad & others ( I am sure).
Someone should tell that little jaan that the White Palace is not really a palace but more like a big house.
And yes, the pen is so much more mightier than the sword!
11 years old and already a published writer? I’m jealous xD
Tuba! You are my new hero. I think that is a great movement towards the youth establishing their opposition to the Taliban, while also looking to the US for support. Education is the best weapon when fighting a war. It is essential that strong anti-taliban educational infrastructure is to be created for the younger generation, so they can look forward to the future. Great article Kalsoom.
@ we must all protest against such child exploitation
to spread only hatred, by CIA and neocon’s CNN.
Rafay Kashmiri-
Your ability to take something positive and turn it into a perversion, an evil development is quite frankly shocking. Because a little girl speaks out against the Taliban that is propaganda?! Why couldn’t it be true? You’ve even called her a child soldier! To throw such terms around is atrocious.
And btw, CNN is not a “neocon” news agency, and if you’re saying that just because they’re a western agency then that is ridiculous.
Your other comment attempts (which I haven’t published because their content SHOCKED me) have insulted me, insulted other commentators, and insulted the subjects of these posts. Pray tell, if you don’t like any of us and think we’re all “retards” (as you have put several times), then WHY comment on my blog? Why read it at all?! What point do you hope to serve? Why not go to another blog where people appreciate your thoughts?
@ Kalsoom,
now instead of answering my objections
you are hidding behind an overdone
theatrical gaff of an offence committed by CNN of
child exploitation for a political purpose
of hatemongering against adversaries,
everything can not be acceptable because it
is coming from US or CNN .
The inoccent childhood of ” Taliban slayer” ( killer)
is even confirmed by commenters.
CNN is not neocon, that is your opinion !
One is appriciated, liked or disliked with experiences,
but let me appriciate opinions my way !!! simpl as that,
why do you expect me to love and agree with all ?
of course I will defend when many ” anonymous”
commenters, slander me with a fake identity
not answering my argument, but condemning my
country.
Dear Tuba,
you are absolutely right, but i want you to tell the facts how did they become taliban? Because they are also human being. where do they get arms from?
@Dear Auntie Zoya,
good question, but you said I was absolutely right ?
Sorry, I was told by ” see an Ann ” that Talibans were
not human.
Of yourse I know, they get their arms from out Indian
and Israeli ” brothers & sisters ” working in arms factory
in 21 consulats in Afghanistan, atlease they have
schools functionning there in small caves where they train
Takfiris and Tehrikis, they teach arabic, Islam (fake),
racism and zionist priciples, and some pcoket money,
motor bykes, satellite chips to be placed in a house where
there are many children and old people.
Dear Auntie, tell me if was right or wrong ?
enormous kiss
yours sincerely
” Taliban’s Slayer Pinky “
i can say that she is a child and doesn’t know the hypocrite world.
great fan of barak obama?
the same obama who can not condemn the barbaric israeli soldiers over the murder of hundred of innocent soldire?
doesn’t that topee drama sounds like “buffy the vampire slayer”?
hahahahhaha
you people are such a hypocrite.
liberal secular fascism is a disease,just like a cancer.
starts from the roots diverting the life line towrds the cancer affected area and leave the essential parts of the body dry and dead.
secular liberal fascism is a biggest security threat to pakistan.
i am sure when taliban will enter the rest of pakistan they take a very good care of these slayers.
@ jawwad
I could same thing for “Bloody Taliban”
GREAT JOB!
keep it up!!
Hello. This post is likeable, and your blog is very interesting, congratulations🙂. I will add in my blogroll =)THANX FOR
MAKING SUCH A COOL BLOG
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Urdu Rasala
if you are searching for Some Great urdu literature Online And want to read Great urdu novels And poetry on one place then check this out
@ Mahnoor.N
thanks for encouragements, very nice of you !!
MR Dr Jawad khan and miss zoya
very embaressing to inspite of appreciating the feelings of little girl that she is against the ‘war’either every where in the world not against the TALIBAN. understand? and you are saying that Taliban will take good care of these kind of slayers….., rather shame on yourself ,it means you are happy on the situation that is going on swat or iraq and palistain.and dont want that any one rise a Flag of peace you should pray for her not to wish for bad embarresd to read both of your mails. one is asking from where they get arms,weapons ,listen carefully poet is expressing her feelings not providing informations about Taliban, or weapons
Mr Dr jawad
you should ashamd on your bad wishes you are wishing bad for a innocent child, have you any daughter or sister at your home? and would you like to wish that TALIBAN take GOOD care of them?
thanks!!!
just rubbish all comments .think only she is a child and a child have no idea what is wrong what is right?
world is very beautiful and this beauty is only because of these kind of blooming flowers and Tuba Sahaab is one of the blooming flower may Allah ever keep her fresh ,fegrency and long life.ameen
as an afghan born in pakistan, i salute your blog and the awareness it’s generating. mashallah, we will defeat hate-filled people like the taliban…
sorry, that should be inshallah…