Arfa Karim Randhawa, a pride, an inspiration

 ‎"Today is the black day of my life and same for Pakistan because I lost my princess colleague and Pakistan lost her Pakistani." This is the statement given by Bill Gates for Arfa Karim Randhawa, pride of Pakistan.

Arfa Karim Randhawa, Who she was? What she did? And what she left as an inspiration for the rest of the world? These are the questions which she left behind for many minds. She was a girl. She is a revolution. She is an inspiration, she is the symbol of peace, humanity, talent, and foremost a Pakistani, a torch bearer.

Arfa was born in a Jatt Randhawa family and hailed from the village of Chak No. 4JB Ram Dewali in Faisalabad, Punjab. She at the age of nine, in 2004 became the youngest Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) in the world. In 2005 she received Fatimah Jinnah Gold Medal in the field of Science and Technology from Pakistan Premier. She received Salaam Pakistan Youth Award same year. She then received Award for Pride of Performance. She participated in Tech-Ed Developers Conference held in Barcelona in 2006. She also obtained first flight certificate in Dubai at the age of ten.

Arfa represented Pakistan in many national and international forums and she proved the international community that we Pakistani are no less to anyone. She marked her name as the youngest girl doing MCP. She presented in the world, a concept that Pakistan has another aspect as well. When the media around the globe is presenting Pakistan as terrorist country she proved that we are not part of that terrorism, we have powerful youth. We have rich talent, skills and professional capabilities to become prosperous in the world with great wisdom. She was not alone in this race from Pakistan but many others like Ali Moeen Nawazhish, Syed Muhammad Asad are presenting a developing, prospering and peaceful nation.

Arfa died but she left foot prints for Pakistani youngsters to drive towards revolution. She proved that daughters are divine, mercy and blessing from Almighty Allah. She rejected the naysayer approach of many Pakistani’s rather for the whole world who so ever considers girls as curse or Burden. There are so many black traditions up to date which rule against the women including no educations for girls, honor killing, early age marriages, marriage with Quran etc. We in our society do not give equal rights to women we deprive them of their basic rights neglecting the teachings of Islam.  Arfa can be a symbol to followers of such tradition and her distinctions and efforts insist them to come to right path leaving darkness.

Her death left a question mark for the Pakistani government that have you ever explored the talent of Pakistan? There are many Arfa’s in Pakistan who needs concentration, education, and resources to grow up in healthy environment so that they can prove their abilities. Most of Pakistani parents deprive their daughters of basic education due to traditions and religious customs, which oppress women. Self advancement becomes impossible without the opportunity to receive education. For this purpose we need to Legislate so that we may get many other talented Arfa’s living in Pakistan.

Arfa Karim died in an early age of fifteen. She left the whole world in sorrows for her. But we as a nation have to give her a tribute like the people of Tunisia gave to Mohamed Bouazizi which resulted in a revolution. We have to stand together and have to end the inequalities, injustice, and barriers in way of progress and development. We have to end the gender gap in the literacy which is necessity of hour today.

Arfa! You got the heads of your parents raised, you got the heads of our nation raised, you would definitely be missed and be recorded in our list of inspirational people in our life. May Allah rest you in peace and give patience to your parents.