Over the pass two weeks, I've been working, busy like a bee trying to get some folktales. There are five main provinces of Pakistan that I have to collect folktales from: Punjab, Sindh, KP, Baluchistan, & Gilgit.
Recently I've been focusing on one particular region of Pakistan called Baluchistan that is extremely rich with a culture known little to even other parts of the country. Interviewing Balochi people is especially interesting, because I get to see and hear of their experience first hand and I get it all with a certain Balochi pride and enthusiasm. A lot of my interviewees have thanked me for looking into their culture, and some have even given me gifts. I feel blessed to have met and talked to them all, and I truly hope this project does their culture justice.
I decided to put up a folktale from the Baluchistan region not only to show the beauty I feel from getting these stories, but also to give you an idea of how I'm collecting these stories and what my book may look like in the future.
I have put together some background information of Baluchistan that you may find entertaining or interesting or unique (or boring). It'll help you understand and appreciate the folktale (which I'll have linked below) a little better when reading.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
1. The language, Balochi, is more similar to Persian than it is to Urdu.
2. In marriage, where it's typical for the fiancees family to pay the man's family, in Baluchistan it is the other way around. This is because of the extremely high regard and respect for women in Baluchistan.
3. Also a little marriage fact: unlike other arts of Pakistan, where the woman is required to leave with the man right after the wedding, in Baluchistan, the women can wait up to however long (typically 3 days) before she decides to leave.
4. Here are some cool myths from the region:
a. Adding rocks to cooking makes it taste better
b. When a kid plays with fire, he'll pee his pants at night
c. When sweeping the floor, don't come in front of the broom or otherwise you'll grow up a thief.
5. A type of dance: the Balochi Chop
6. If you stay in a Balochi house, the owner would protect the guest even if his life depended on it.
7. There is the "Balochi word'; a sort of honor code. With this code, whatever a Balochi promises will be followed through.
So now,
without further ado:
(Shay-moorrid Haani)
The order of the footnotes confused me at times but wow that was so cool! It reminds me of tales my grandmother would tell me as a child, when I'd visit her in Lebanon. And the background information is really interesting too! I love reading about the different superstitions. I wonder where they originated from.
ReplyDeleteWow. That story packs a punch. (The guy beheaded his son!!!) The love story part was beautiful. Do you think the details or the moral of the story tell us something about the Balochi culture?
ReplyDeleteIs this the Balochi Chop? http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x12x5sr_balochi-dance_music
It's a very interesting story. Like Daria, I got confused with the footnotes (mostly the one star ones) as I lost track of which one was which number.
ReplyDeleteIt's weird to see what types oh characteristics of people are encouraged in this story, like a heavy emphasis on leadership and keeping your word over family and love, shown in the Kole.
That story was actually a very enjoyable read! A little intense at times, but still very interesting. Thank you for the background information, it helped a lot!
ReplyDelete