#Malaladay or #Malaladrama: What's your take?

A few weeks ago, when #Malaladay and #Malala were doing rounds on Internet, hashtag #Malaladrama was trending in the Twitter feed of the teenage heroine’s home country, Pakistan. As the name suggests, social media updates from Pakistan, denounced Malala's struggles in the coldest way_by declaring her a fraud. While  rest of the world was busy applauding the Malala cause-education for all-with moist eyes, EDUCATED  Pakistani youth were busy creating a momentous backlash against Malala on their smart phones. This backlash didn't go unnoticed in the wider world as major news outlets, including Toronto Star, soon picked it up, as Hamida Ghafour writes, "On social media the 16-year-old, who last week made a passionate plea to world leaders at the UN to fund universal primary education, has been described as a western stooge, a CIA spy and even a prostitute." Bear with me but, to me, this backlash was not really surprising.

Malala Yousafzai addresses UN on Malala day.

 When Malala was brutally shot in 2012, I saw millions of  men,  women, youth and children out on the streets of Pakistan, protesting against the Taliban brutality. I saw thousands of Pakistani youth changing their covers on Facebook in her support. I witnessed all major TV channels giving her countless hours of coverage. I noticed  mainstream Muslim scholars, releasing fatwas (religious decrees) against the people who had shot her  Yet , DESPITE all that,  International media kept on beating the same drum of "Islam, terrorism, Pakistan, barbaric bearded men, Taliban, women rights,". Jeez! Pakistanis were frustrated and had enough of this racist and stereotyped rhetoric.

According to the Pakistani youth, Western media and politicians have hijacked the Malala cause, which they(the youth) so rigorously supported, yet were conveniently ignored and were never given credit for. They think that UN, which religiously practices gender inequality in its own ranks; and people like Gordon Brown, are just plain hypocrites who have cherry picked Malala Yousafzai to sustain their own Western saviour complex. 

So which side are you on? Did you know about the hashtag #Malaladrama?  Is Pakistani youth right in denouncing Malala,  to vent out their own frustrations? Has the west really hijacked Malala cause? Do you want me to write more about this issue? Leave your valuable comments, suggestions and opinions below.