It was Thursday. I woke up early and got engrossed in a book that my professor had recently sent me, The History of Stupidity. I was so absorbed in it that I lost track of time and realized it was almost time to go. I rushed out and reached school by 8 AM. I went to my classroom and sat down, but there was no one else around. After waiting for five more minutes, my uncle, the school supervisor, came in and asked, “Tahera, why aren’t you at Empowerment?” It was then that I remembered I had lost track of the days, and today was actually Wednesday. I ran upstairs to find that the Empowerment session had already begun, and there were many distinguished guests. I joined them, noticing everyone was watching a film. I sat down and started watching with them. The film was in Urdu, a language I speak fluently and love. I felt happy about that.

The film’s protagonist was a twelve-year-old girl named Yasmeen. She had lost her chemistry assignment and was searching for her teacher’s house. Along the way, she encountered many challenges and difficulties. She asked for help from everyone she met and searched far and wide for her teacher. Along the way, she saw many things and even got scared at times. In one scene, she saw men fighting and pulling out guns. She was frightened and ran away, but she didn’t give up. She continued her search. Eventually, she reached a house that she thought belonged to her teacher, only to discover her teacher had moved away and was now living in the “Polo Ground,” the very area where Yasmeen herself lived. After getting to her neighborhood and with the help of a friend, she reached her teacher’s new home and found the missing element she was supposed to research—carbon. Her teacher explained that carbon has 6 electrons, 6 protons, and 6 neutrons and plays a key role in the formation of stars. He also mentioned, “Education is not limited to the classroom.” That evening, Yasmeen returned home and completed her assignment.

The next day, the students went to school eagerly, only to find, to their astonishment, that the school was closed, and they weren’t allowed to enter. Instead of leaving, they stayed around and took turns reading their research results about elements, gathering knowledge. Then, in their childlike world, they immersed themselves in play and joy. Finally, I saw the film’s title: Yasmeen’s Element. Since I had arrived late, I had missed the opening and had been wondering about the title the entire time. My guess was correct.

I feel that there are many Yasmeens out there searching for their lost rights: the right to education, the right to free speech, the right to choose, the right to freedom, and the right to work. We, too, are like Yasmeen—we search and never give up. Along the way, we see horrific things and shiver with fear, but by the end of the day, we reach our destination, often from the closest place. I wondered if maybe we, too, have a missing element, something we are searching for in our surroundings. I see the same passion for learning and education every day in the eyes of women coming to literacy classes, as they write their names, sound out words, and eagerly ask about tomorrow’s lesson. I know that they, too, like me, and hundreds of others, including Yasmeen, have suffered from schools being closed. But as Yasmeen’s teacher said, education and knowledge aren’t confined to a classroom’s four walls. Perhaps they have closed schools, and universities too, and have denied us the right to work, speak, and be seen. But they will never be able to stop us from thinking, reflecting, and contemplating—and that is the most important thing of all.

I love Yasmeen for her persistence, her colorful world, and her beautiful dreams. In the same way, I love all the girls and women of the world and my country for their determination, their beautiful world, and their dreams. I believe in the beauty of our world and our dreams.

-Tahera K.
Guest Writer
Girl Museum