Jazba = passion
The conversation with her (a complete stranger) went like this:
Me: Assalamualaikum
Her: Walaikumasalam
Me: What's your name?
Her: Hanana
Me: You're from Afghanistan?
Her: Yes I am
Me: Where in Afghanistan. Kabul?
She: Ohh .. no my parents came from Afghanistan. I was born in Karachi.
Me: Nice! So do you know Pashto?
*a little disbelieving silence*
Her: Of course! (in a voice that suggested : Do cats meaow??!??!?!!?)
Me (achay say embarassed now): You know, I don't know Pashto
*a snort from Chotpo behind me -- as she remarked "Kia infromation dee hay tum nay!"
Her: *laughing now*, yeah I know.
Me: Oh! Okay so do you study?
Her: No
Me: Er.. you don't?
Her: No. Aisay hee kaam chal jata hay nah (We make do without education)
Me: But...but... WHY?
Her: Meray ami abu ijazat nahi daitay (my parents don't give me permission)
Me: But...but...WHY?
Her: Um, aisay hee (just because!)
Me: So don't you WANT to study?
Her: *quietly* I would give anything to study. I certainly would.
Me: Oh !! So hey, listen up. Get some books. Give private exams, and there you go -- you're done!
Her: Ummmm
Me: Uh, you do know how to read haina?
Her: Of COURSE. I read digests
Me (aur achay say embarassed): Er, so see. Get some books. Do your matric privately. Then get Intermediate syllabi, and the books. Do your intermediate. Then get university books. Register yourself as a private candidate. Then you're graduated too!
Her: *after another little disbelieving silence* : Yeh sub kuch aik din main to nahi honay wala jaisay aap keh rahi ho! (this ain't happening in one day sister, the way you're talking!)
Me: *feebly* .. It's a start isn't it! Think big!
Her: Chalain..koshish karoongi. (Okay. I will try my best)
Me: Do that haan! You can study too! No big deal!
She: *smiling* : Yeah. Thanks for the advice. I will try
I happily put down the phone. When dad came home, he said "This 16 year old pathan girl had come in to get her cousin checked out. She had remarked "I wish I were your daughter -- at least you could have gotten me educated!"
At that, my dad had dialed my mobile phone number, and given the phone to her saying .. "Here. Talk to my daughter"
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Lessons to be learned from this little incident:
1. I (and everybody out there reading this), am blessed a gazillion times, for having obtained education in my life.
2. If you're at home, that truly doesn't mean you're helpless. You can do a gazillion things.
3. Books are a person's best friends. The right kind of books. Do surround yourself with them, and read away -- every moment spent reading (good books) is a moment well spent.
4. Mentalities are hard to change. But there are ways to get around them. And this manipulation, dear readers, is welcome indeed. Of course, the aim/intention has to be good.
Just an inspirational quote to round the post up.. :)
17 comments:
i think i will keep these points in my mind when talking about education. I hope she acts on ur advice and this will definitely help Pakistan to prosper.
Yes :) I sure hope so too. But the commendable thing is her passion -- the way she spoke to my dad, and to me as well, and the wistfulness in her voice when she asked me "Aap parhti hain?" ... it was really touching.
Thanks for the comment :)
I wonder how "Good Education" is defined. A person studying in foreign universities of UK and US but too ignorant about God and religion is more illiterate than a person living in a village but well aware about orders of Allah and Muhammad(SAW). Therefore having a degree from good university in Pakistan or out of Pakistan does not mean they were "properly educated". I myself have experienced girls and guys who "appear educated" for others but sound too ignorant when they talk about religion and at times make me regret that why on earth did I consider them educated at all!
Truly inspiring... and sweet (:
@Adnan
I know what you mean. But that kid was genuinely interested in finding out about the world (if you know what I mean). And i know for a fact that these kids have knowledge of the Holy Quran. Ab kitni knowledge hay...yeh nahi maloom.
I still commend her jazba..cuz we don't find this passion for education around. We, han, find passions for percentages and the rat race for marks around a LOT.
@M.M
It surely is :)
Thanks both for the comments.
what a lovely post and lovely quote.. im moved..!
I was not referring that kid at all. That was a general statement about common man's definition of "Good education"
I really loved your post. how simply but entirely you expressed the entire problem of girl's illiteracy. many years ago i was in Quetta and met a married lady very dignified quite well off . she was studying at the University and was frequently beaten, yes ,physically beaten by her Dewar for doing so. he always said to her to stop studying as she was bringing shame on family. This lady was highly dignified, mother of four children and wasdoing masters. i was a young doctor then ,i kept on tellling her to keep studying and stand firm.This shows male chauvanism and giving it a religiousoty and honor flavor. most probably he was less educated.
@Adnan
Yes generally the definition doesn't really mean the kind of "good" it SHOULD mean.. you are right.
@MEER
Thanks so much for the encouraging comment :) And its heart rending, the story you tell about this lady ...:S:S I'm so GLAD she was defying the norms, and getting educated. Good for you to encourage her ..Masha Allah :)
Thanks both for dropping by :)
hey, I loved this post...Quite inspirational masha'Allah :)...
Books are a person's best friends. And I loved point 3 in lessons the most and this is an area I have been lacking in which I know I could have been better at...(reading books )
@Somebody
Thanks :)
I have been lacking in this particular area as well. Since I started sitting on the net a lot :S:SS
I really need to improve here!
Thanks for dropping by !
That was really wonderful of you. It's true that even in a bad situation, a person can make things better or worse and can work towards whatever goals they set for themselves.
@The Gori Wife
:) Thanks so much for the encouragement. I sooo wish I could do more for these people. They live like... two roads away.. their whole community I mean. And we're here.. blessed with so much, and them.. :S:S:S ...
But thanks for dropping by!
Love the quote. May we all be the candle :) Ameen.
Hopefully Insha Allah :) Ameen !
it reminds me of some conversations i have had on similar notes... khair yes we are blessed indeed!! and wow u can strike a conversation!! i wud probably be quiet after 2 minutes :P
u changed someone's outlook [hats off to u gal!!] ua maze me :) keep doing that :)
@Glow
Umm :) I don't know for sure nah keh whether that conversation made any REAL difference...
But on the scale of talk, yeah well...it was alright.
Umm:P there were silences too :D:D
Thanks for the encouragement :)
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