New superhero 'Burka Avenger' fights for girls' education
Published: 2013 July 25 07:53:27 (6292 Views)
A new female superhero is on the rise and this one shows a lot less skin than her predecessors, Wonder Woman and Supergirl.
Pakistani heroine Burka Avenger is a mild-mannered teacher with secret martial arts skills.
She uses a flowing black burka to hide her identity as she fights local thugs seeking to shut down the girls' school where she works.
It is a battle Pakistanis are all too familiar with in the real world.
The Taliban has blown up hundreds of schools and attacked activists in northwest Pakistan because it opposes girls' education.
Action in the Burka Avenger cartoon series, which is due to start running on Geo TV in early August, is much more lighthearted.
The bungling bad guys evoke more laughter than fear and are no match for the Burka Avenger, undoubtedly the first South Asian ninja who wields books and pens as weapons.
Children who saw an early screening of the first episode at an orphanage on the outskirts of Islamabad laughed and cheered as the Burka Avenger vanquished her enemies.
Ten-year-old Samia Naeem said she liked the crusading heroine "because she saved kids' lives, she motivated them for education and school".
The Urdu language show is the brainchild of one of Pakistan's biggest pop stars, Aaron Haroon Rashid.
It was conceived as a way to emphasise the importance of girls' education and teach children other lessons, such as protecting the environment and not discriminating against others.
Rashid said: "Each one of our episodes is centred around a moral, which sends out strong social messages to kids.
"But it is cloaked in pure entertainment, laughter, action and adventure."
The decision to clothe the superhero in a black burka - the full-length robe commonly worn by conservative Islamic women in Pakistan and Afghanistan - could raise eyebrows because some people view the outfit as a sign of oppression.
The Taliban forced women to wear burkas when it took control of Afghanistan in the 1990s.
The version worn by the Burka Avenger shows only her eyes and fingers - though it has a sleeker, more ninjalike look than the bulky robes of an actual burka.
Rashid said he used a burka to give a local feel to the show, which is billed as the first animated series ever produced in Pakistan.
"It's not a sign of oppression. She is using the burka to hide her identity like other superheroes," said Rashid.
The Burka Avenger's true identity is Jiya, whose adopted father, Kabbadi Jan, taught her the karate moves she uses to defeat her enemies.
When not dressed as her alter ego, Jiya does not wear a burka, or even a less conservative headscarf over her hair.
- Yahoo
Pakistani heroine Burka Avenger is a mild-mannered teacher with secret martial arts skills.
She uses a flowing black burka to hide her identity as she fights local thugs seeking to shut down the girls' school where she works.
It is a battle Pakistanis are all too familiar with in the real world.
The Taliban has blown up hundreds of schools and attacked activists in northwest Pakistan because it opposes girls' education.
Action in the Burka Avenger cartoon series, which is due to start running on Geo TV in early August, is much more lighthearted.
The bungling bad guys evoke more laughter than fear and are no match for the Burka Avenger, undoubtedly the first South Asian ninja who wields books and pens as weapons.
Children who saw an early screening of the first episode at an orphanage on the outskirts of Islamabad laughed and cheered as the Burka Avenger vanquished her enemies.
Ten-year-old Samia Naeem said she liked the crusading heroine "because she saved kids' lives, she motivated them for education and school".
The Urdu language show is the brainchild of one of Pakistan's biggest pop stars, Aaron Haroon Rashid.
It was conceived as a way to emphasise the importance of girls' education and teach children other lessons, such as protecting the environment and not discriminating against others.
Rashid said: "Each one of our episodes is centred around a moral, which sends out strong social messages to kids.
"But it is cloaked in pure entertainment, laughter, action and adventure."
The decision to clothe the superhero in a black burka - the full-length robe commonly worn by conservative Islamic women in Pakistan and Afghanistan - could raise eyebrows because some people view the outfit as a sign of oppression.
The Taliban forced women to wear burkas when it took control of Afghanistan in the 1990s.
The version worn by the Burka Avenger shows only her eyes and fingers - though it has a sleeker, more ninjalike look than the bulky robes of an actual burka.
Rashid said he used a burka to give a local feel to the show, which is billed as the first animated series ever produced in Pakistan.
"It's not a sign of oppression. She is using the burka to hide her identity like other superheroes," said Rashid.
The Burka Avenger's true identity is Jiya, whose adopted father, Kabbadi Jan, taught her the karate moves she uses to defeat her enemies.
When not dressed as her alter ego, Jiya does not wear a burka, or even a less conservative headscarf over her hair.
- Yahoo
0
You May Like These Videos
WATCH: Victims Narrate Ordeal After Being Clobbered By Riot Cops
FLASHBACK: Morgan Tsvangirai Won't Resign Despite Illness 
Police Violently Beat Harare Protesters 
Zimbabwean Man Who Was Shot By Tswana Employer Appeals For HelpComments
There are no comments.
Get Zim Metro Updates Alerts
Big Reads
Schoolgirl drops out after continuous 'sexual abuse' by teacher
by Staff Reporter | 2019 August 13 07:42:33
Mugabe Knows Nothing About The Zimbabwe Constitution: MP
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 08:12:02
Zim's Protesting Graduates Risk Losing Degrees For Expressing Anger Against Mugabe
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 07:57:08
Troubled Harare Giants Dynamos Falls Into Another Deep Crisis
by Own Correspondent | 2016 October 01 07:49:17
Grace Mugabe Grovels At Mnangagwa, Says I Did Not Ask Ubaba To Fire You
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 07:31:48
Mugabe Attacks Mawarire, Claims The Exiled Pastor Failed To Divide Zimbabwe
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 07:19:13
Shock As Local Bank Denies 'Rich' Mugabe's Son Heifty Credit
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 30 19:14:54Trouble For Police Officers Who Have Been Mercilessly Bludgeoning Protesters
by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 07:20:19
Mugabe "Home Coming" And "Thank You" Rally On Cards
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 23 06:48:24
Prof Moyo Was Dumped By Western Embassies, Claims Mutsvangwa
by Staff Reporter | 2016 September 22 10:08:07Broke RBZ Tracks Down Zimbabweans Living Outside The Country Over Taxi
by Staff Reporter | 2016 September 22 09:16:20
You Are Too Old To Lead, Aging Zim President Mugabe Told
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 22 07:19:25
Anti-Corruption Commission Loses Property In Failed Probe
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 20 03:18:19
.jpg)
SHOCKING:14 Year Old HIV-Positive Boy Rapes 7 Pupils
by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 20 00:04:55
