Malala Yousafzai, the 17-year-old wonder girl from Pakistan, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Those wondering how such a young girl can be given a Nobel would change their opinion after listening to her acceptance speech.

Malala spoke about subjects of great importance, like the need for protecting women’s rights, to defy the extremists who want women in society to remain indoors, and the need to promote an era of peace and cooperation between India and Pakistan. She also made remarks about her desire to work with the co-awardee Kailash Satyarthi in the future, and that shows her level of maturity and understanding.

When asked about her future plans, Malala said that she wants to become a politician — particularly the prime minister of Pakistan. She explained that she originally wanted to become a doctor, but then changed her mind, as doctors can only serve a small segment of the community, whereas a prime minister can help everyone.

Obviously, Malala appears to think that the job of a prime minister is the best there is, but hopefully, with a little more education and perhaps after completing school and higher studies, she might understand that the job of a politician is not the be-all and end-all of jobs that one can accept.

Today, those who hold the position of a prime minister or president of any country are essentially political people, who need to compromise their values from time to time, just to retain their position. They need to keep away their adversaries and have to be scheming all the time, which is part of the job. Certainly, there are higher aspirations that can be achieved in one’s life, other than that of being a mere prime minister.

People like Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King did not hold any official positions, though they are remembered by the whole world today, which is more than the hundreds of presidents and prime ministers who have lived and passed away. Malala, the world looks for much more in you than being a mere prime minister.

- The reader is an Indian founder trustee of an NGO based in Chennai, India.