History of Pashtuns: Grave of Malalai of Maiwand

Grave of Malalai of Maiwand. Photo taken by Anthony Fitzherbert. Via Farrukh Husain

At the battle of Maiwand a legendary Pashtun heroine, Malalai, is said to have used her veil as a standard, and encouraged the warriors by shouting the following couplet in Pashto ;

کہ پہ میوند کے شہید نہ شوے
گرانہ لالیہ بے نگئی تہ دے ساتینہ

Young love, if you do not fall in the battle of Maiwand,
By God, someone is saving you for a token of shame.

" The only British prisoner of war captured by the Afghans [after the battle of Mainwand], was interestingly enough detained by Afghan women. A British Lieutenant, named Maclaine, asked some Afghan women at a well for water. He was struck from behind by a well-aimed water pot in the hands of one of the Afghan damsels and they all pounced upon him and took him prisoner. It is noteworthy that while the role of Malalai leading the men into combat is hailed in Afghanistan, the role of other women such as the courageous ladies who took Maclaine prisoner does not have much, if any exposure. What the capture of Maclaine shows is that women at Maiwand would not hesitate to attack the occupation forces. Today some cast doubt on whether Malalai actually led men into battle against the British. I would point out that in this same region during the first Afghan war a woman led men into battle against British forces. Therefore it is quite probable that the Malalai incident happened as detailed according to what is seen by some as a historic legend or nationalistic tale." ["Maiwand and Malalai — Afghanistan’s lady liberty" by Farrukh Husain]