Celebrating Women Pharmacists Day
by UIC Student Pharmacist Niki Ward
In the 1990s, my grandfather was kidnapped by the Taliban for one simple reason: he allowed his daughters to go to school. As a lawyer, a philanthropist, and a staunch advocate for women’s rights, he believed deeply in education for all, especially for women. The Taliban, on the other hand, viewed educated women as a threat. They understood that the women of Afghanistan are the backbone of society—limit their access to education, and society itself would weaken and fall apart.
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At that time, the Taliban had officially declared that girls were no longer allowed to attend school. But my grandfather knew that education is a form of resistance, a path to freedom. Defying their orders, he continued to push his daughters to pursue their education. When the Taliban discovered this, they kidnapped him in the middle of the night.
After three nights of captivity, it was finally time for him to face interrogation. A member of the Taliban confronted him, asking, “Women are forbidden from attending school. Why are your daughters still attending?”
Instead of answering directly, my grandfather posed his own question: “You are all married, no?” They nodded. “One day,” he continued, “your wives will become pregnant and go into labor. Isn’t that so?” Again, they agreed. “When it’s time for your wives to deliver, would you prefer their doctor to be a woman or a man?” They looked at him as though he had asked the most absurd question. “Of course, we want the doctor to be a woman!” one of them replied.
My grandfather calmly responded, “Then how will there be women doctors if you don’t allow our girls to go to school?”
After a moment of pondering, they realized they were in the wrong. That night, they released my grandfather. And they only allowed his daughters to return to school.
Years later, one of those daughters—my mother—became a doctor, specializing as an OB-GYN. Her success was a direct result of my grandfather’s courage and that one night which changed everything. His legacy lives on, not just in his children, but through five generations of our family, each of us carrying his unwavering belief in the transformative power of education.
For me, his story is more than just a part of our family history—it’s my inspiration. Whenever I face challenges in my journey toward pharmacy school, I think of him and the strength it took to stand up to the Taliban, not with anger or violence, but with reason and heart. He fought for the right to education, not just for his daughters, but for generations to come. It is his determination and quiet defiance that push me forward, inspiring me to follow in his footsteps and make a difference in healthcare to ensure that knowledge and care are never denied to anyone. His fight for education has become my own, and as I pursue a career in pharmacy, I feel his presence in every step I take. It’s not just about gaining knowledge but about using it to make a difference—to give back in the way he once did, with quiet bravery and unwavering love. His strength and sacrifice live on in me, and it’s his legacy that drives me to honor him by helping others, just as he dedicated his life to helping us. On Women Pharmacists Day, I give thanks to my Grandfather, for his belief in me and other women.