Malalai of Maiwand

A Afghan heroine who rallied Pashtun warriors during the Battle of Maiwand, becoming a symbol of resistance against British colonialism.

Malalai (1861–1880), also known as Malalai of Maiwand, was a Pashtun woman from what is now Afghanistan who became a legendary figure during the Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878–1880). During the pivotal Battle of Maiwand (July 27, 1880), she used her veil as a battle flag to encourage Afghan fighters when their flags fell. Her famous cry - 'If you see no one left of us, fight for the sake of Malalai' - inspired a decisive Afghan victory against British forces. Though she was killed in battle, her bravery became a symbol of Afghan resistance (see Wikipedia).

Historians like Frud Bezhan argue her role challenges traditional narratives of Afghan women's passivity. The Malalai Monument in Kandahar and the use of her name for schools (Malala Fund) reflect her enduring legacy. Her story appears in Pashto literature and oral traditions, though no films have been made about her life. Her courage contrasts with later icon Malala Yousafzai, showing historical continuity of Afghan women's activism.