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The cartoon TV series empowering Pakistani women.
Sounds pretty low key, but this latest cartoon phase drawing attention around the globe is much more significant than you might initially think. Women’s rights in Pakistan has just been given another voice in the form of Jiya, a super hero who dons a burqa to fight off bad guys.
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superhero that teaches by day and kicks some bad-guy butt is gaining much attention not only because of the cool, unique concept of an education-loving hero, but because she is a girl. And she wears a burqa. It is no secret that women and young girls in third world Countries such as Pakistan have very unjust and difficult lives to live. Murder, mutilation, rape, acid attacks and abductions are only a few of the daily horrors these innocent women fear and face on a daily basis. The hit new series is created and directed by the pop star, Haroon. He says he wanted to create a significant television series for children in Pakistan who could relate to the underlying themes and messages. ‘Living in Pakistan, all these issues are staring you in the face constantly. So when you’re creating art, whether it be music or anything else like a cartoon TV series, you want to incorporate social messages,’ Haroon explains after he was horrified to learn that in 2010 extremists were
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shutting down many girls’ schools. ‘I feel it’s my duty to try and make a positive difference.’ The character, Jiya, teaches at a school during the day and at night she dons her special burqa and fights the many bad guys who are trying to shut the school’s down. So who is Jiya? Haroon says, ‘The Burka Avenger is an orphan, adopted by a Kabbadi Master, who is Master of mystic martial arts, that I created, called Takht Kabbadi.’ What exactly is Takht Kabbadi? It is the art of fighting with books and pens, which I think is one of the coolest super powers going round. Haroon wanted to promote awareness about the importance of education and this is definitely achieved by having a book as a weapon rather than a sword. Whilst the new series has garnered a lot of deserved praise, it has also copped a bit of criticism due to the show taking on issues like Women’s Rights in Pakistan as well as the Burqa being a controversial item of clothing. Haroon, however, is quick to defend his decision of