AMID THE pervading gloom in Pakistan, an historic milestone went largely unnoticed this past week. Namira Salim, the first would-be Pakistani astronaut to go into space this year hoisted the country’s crescent-and-star flag at the South Pole. Following up on a similar deed in the North in April last, she has become the first Pakistani to reach the two poles – a deed worthy of the very distinguished achiever that Namira is.It would belittle the distinction, if her new heights were to be seen as only raising the bar for her gender but it takes nothing away from the fact that Pakistani women have, often enough, made their presence felt globally: from the first woman prime minister in the Muslim world (Benazir Bhutto) to the world’s youngest Microsoft Certified Professional (Arfa Karim) the list is long. Braving the extreme harsh weather, wind chill and severe solar radiation, Namira reached the South Pole in what was a private expedition 90 degrees south last week.
With her more renowned passion for space travel and the latest conquests at the planet’s bends, it is easy to forget that Namira is a woman of varied talents.
She was a born star-gazer, getting her first telescope when she was 14. Namira joined Pakistan’s first astronomy society at the age of 16.
Born in Karachi, she was never trained as an astronaut. Instead, she made her name as a sculptor, musician, poet, astrologer, peace activist and humanist. The only sister of twin brothers, who run their father’s business of heavy construction industry in Dubai also learnt flying as well as scuba diving.
It was on March 29, 2006, when this shy Pakistani woman made global headlines. Of all the people, the world’s most versatile and adventurous entrepreneur, Richard Branson, introduced Namira to the world as the first woman from the Middle East and Asia to fly into space on a commercial spaceship.
Pakistan’s new celebrity was also the first from her region to be a member of the exclusive Virgin Galactic Founders Club – the first 100 space travelers to sign up in full to a flight on Virgin Galactic, when commercial operations commence in 2008-9. Of over 44,000 registrants, the Virgin Galactic chose her to be a pioneer to fly into space for all of those who come after.
Unlike many of her ilk, Namira does not carry a chip on her shoulder. She would return your call if she is unable to attend it for any reason. She has no personal secretaries, no complexes and no swollen egos.
In a recent interview, I remember Namira telling me that she always wanted to do something different. This year her dream – and, I suspect, that of millions of her compatriots – is about to come true, when she flies into orbit.
Author: Kamran Rehma
Source: The Peninsula On-Line
