Meet the first veiled superwoman – The Burka Avenger. The protagonist is Jiya, an inspirational school teacher whose alter ego is the super-heroine Burka Avenger who fights for justice, peace and education for all, and uses books and pens as weapons. This is symbolic at many levels.
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The Burka Avenger is Pakistan’s first ever animated superhero series and it has broken many stereotypes. While some have questioned the use of the burka, most viewers have applauded it and argued that if super heroes wear cloaks and masks, why can’t a superwoman don a burka?
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The cartoon series, created by Pakistani singer Haroon Rashid, was in reaction to girls’ schools being shut down by extremists in Pakistan. The character is a keen proponent of girls education and also tackles health issue, including fighting the conservative opposition to vaccination drives.
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Launched in 2013 in Pakistan, Burka Avenger not only won the hearts of Pakistani children but has also gained international recognition. It was named one of the most influential fictional characters by Time magazine in 2013.
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Now this animated series has jumped the borders and arrived in India. Broadcast by Zee Network, the show has been slightly adapted to suit Indian audiences. However, the core messaging style remains unchanged.
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This Burka avenger shows how the pen is mightier than the sword, how education is more powerful than violence.
