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In my life, I
have had the opportunity to write prefaces for
many books; for some, a review, and for others,
an analysis. These are usually books of a
scholarly nature, related to various genres of
literature: poetry, short stories, novels,
travelogues, and biographies. But this book,
which is in my hand, is a unique book - a one of
its kind. Neither is its author a renowned
Adiba [female writer/litterateur], nor has
she ever made any effort to get her writings
published. This writing or manuscript, which has
now taken the form of a book and is ready for
printing, is actually the story of a woman; who,
after attaining the highest degree of woman's
creation and existence – the status of "Mother"
– has revisited all the months and years spent
in her life through her memories. This story
belongs to Fatima Zahra Qazi, who has given this
book the title "Aaon Je Ihaee Zaat" [I Am That
Very Being].
Writing the
'Preface' for this book is a unique experience
for me. For which, I neither feel the need to
provide previous literary references, nor do I
have to present a comparative analysis of Fatima
Zahra Qazi's writing with anyone else. This
book, in itself, is a unique book. The audience
of this book is Fatima Zahra's own children. She
has gathered all her memories in one place and
laid them before her children. I know that
Fatima Qazi created this book solely for her
daughters and sons.
On the occasion
of the launch of Qazi Ali Muhammad Sahib's book,
I got the opportunity to see the manuscript of
this book. A cursory glance was enough to
realize that it needed to be published in book
form. Qazi Shahid Pervez, fulfilling the duty of
a worthy son, published the account of his
father Qazi Ali Muhammad Sahib's life under the
title "Safar Zindagi-a Jo" [Journey of Life]. I
personally know how much interest Qazi Shahid
Sahib took in publishing that book. Despite
being the Secretary of an important department
of the Sindh Government, 'Works and Services',
he spent many evening and night hours at
"Peacock Publishing House" regarding the
printing of that book, ensuring that he
presented a tribute of a beautiful book
befitting his father's honour and dignity.
His mother's
manuscript of this book was in my hand, and I
was turning it over, looking at it. It contained
her memories, which she had handed over to her
children so that they would be aware of their
family background and also know how much
struggle their parents had undertaken to bring
them to the position and status they occupy
today.
It doesn't
usually happen, especially concerning an
ordinary woman (even if she is educated), that
she records the circumstances of her life in
such a manner or writes a diary, narrating all
the ups and downs of life; describing every
incident that befell her; writing tales of pain
as well as stories of joy; and then leaving the
experiences gained from the laboratory of her
life as a lesson for her children.
For me, this
manuscript was important for several reasons.
One, this writing came from the pen of a woman
of Sindh who had the opportunity to go to school
before the Partition. She obtained basic
education and, not only that, but later on, she
also taught in the same school to extend its
benefit to other girls like herself. How did
that become possible? In our society, bound by
traditions, who were those brave men who
undertook the kindness of enrolling their
offspring – that too, daughters – in school and
then allowed them to take up jobs? Was our
Sindhi society so aware at that time that it
opened the doors of knowledge to young girls
like Fatima Zahra? These and many other similar
questions were in my mind, for which I studied
this book to find answers.
After reading, I
told Qazi Sahib that by publishing the book of
your father's memoirs, you have certainly
fulfilled your duty, and undoubtedly, that book
will find its place in biographical literature;
but this book comprising your mother's memories
must reach the hands of the people. The reason
is that such a book is not just the story of one
person, but it becomes an account of the society
of that era and a document, in which that person
has lived her life and risen above. And while
this narrative is being told by a woman, its
importance increases even more.
It is a fact
that a woman assesses her surrounding
environment and her relationships from a
different perspective compared to a man, which
turns out to be completely different from a
man's point of view. A woman's world is the
world inside her home, about which a man has
less familiarity. Rather, it would not be wrong
to say that it is the woman who acquaints him
with the world of the home. If this acquaintance
and account are conveyed positively to the man
entering the house after settling external
affairs, his life will remain peaceful. But if
there is constant bickering within the home
itself, the man's life will also become hell.
While reading
respected Fatima Qazi's book, one repeatedly
feels that men probably have little idea of the
pains women have to go through to maintain an
atmosphere of peace at home. I sensed Shahid's
hesitation about publishing this book or not.
His point was that this is a book concerning
their family, in which the respected mother has
mentioned relatives with utmost simplicity and
truthfulness, and has also recorded many such
things that people usually keep limited to
themselves and wouldn't want others to know
about. If one relative is mentioned positively,
there must have been some friction with another.
How would they feel about it? And secondly, why
should one narrate the stories of one's own home
and family to others? What interest could others
possibly have in it?
My opinion in
this regard was that the way Mother Fatima has
written this book, it acquaints you with the
environment and conditions of a small village
'Diplo' in a backward region of Sindh, Thar
[desert region], about which we are generally
unaware – that too, the Thar and Diplo of more
than half a century ago! The people living in
the environment there, and how a woman born
there 87 years ago began her life! From riding
camels to reaching jet planes, how did she get
there? In what environment did she grow up?
This, whether it is for anyone else or not, will
definitely be an interesting and informative
read for the women of Sindh.
Two or four
years ago, Oxford University Press published a
book based on the memories of a Sindhi woman,
Ghulam Fatima Sheikh, titled 'Footprints in
History', and I was one of the speakers at its
launch ceremony. Her daughter, Rashida Akhlaq
Sahiba, had compiled and published that book
with great effort. That book was even more
difficult to publish because Ghulam Fatima
Sheikh hadn't read even a single letter, but the
way this woman supported her husband in the
struggles of life, the way she left her country,
wandered through Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and many
other countries, travelled on ships, managed
herself, her husband, and her children, how she
educated and raised them. Despite being
illiterate herself, she provided higher
education to her daughters. All this seems like
a fictional tale. Making that book possible
involved a major role by her daughter Rashida
Akhlaq, who verbally recorded her mother's
memories; she kept speaking, and they were
recorded and transcribed, and then brought into
book form. The offspring of that Ghulam Fatima
also achieved great success in life. Among her
children, some became doctors, some diplomats.
Daughters married into good families; one
daughter became the wife of Allama Dr. Daudpota
and for a period, was the patron-in-chief of the
monthly magazine dedicated to women, "Adiyoon"
[Ladies], and her offspring, Dr. Essa Daudpota,
is still engaged in the promotion of knowledge
today. The example of that book was before me.
Shahid was also convinced, and today this book
is in your hands.
Readers should
keep one thing in mind: they will find this book
different from other books in its arrangement
and writing. It has been kept exactly as
respected Fatima Zahra wanted. She did not
permit any alterations in this book, therefore,
repetition of many things and incidents can also
be found in this book. Sometimes, suddenly, a
character is mentioned whom the reader is not
previously familiar with. But moving forward,
they learn about their relationship with the
writer.
This book is
written departing from the conventional method.
Since the author is not an established Adiba,
she is also unfamiliar with the conventional
method, but her words, feelings, and expression
are extremely clear, simple, and effective. In
contrast to Ghulam Fatima Sheikh, whose
autobiography was given words by someone else;
Fatima Zahra is fortunate in this matter that
she has penned the story of her life with her
own pen. And readers, what a story it is!
Imagine that
time in 1927, when on the 11th of April, on a
Friday, a daughter was born in the landlord
family of Diplo, in the house of Wadero
[landlord/elder] Gul Muhammad Mukhi
[chieftain/headman]. Whose mother was his
father's second wife. Whose name her father
sahib gave Fatima Zahra, and her grandfather
lovingly called her "Panil", as it was
the name of his (grandfather’s) sister who had
passed away. That grandfather had prophesied
about her in her childhood, "Little Panil will
travel far; she has padam [lotus sign,
considered auspicious] on her foot sole, she is
very fortunate." Fortunate Fatima Zahra
certainly is, because what she achieved in life
is destined only for fortunate women. But the
struggle this woman undertook to achieve all
this, the hardships she endured... such a
struggle, again, a woman can rarely accomplish.
The writer of
this book is extremely straightforward and
truthful. It's inconceivable that she has hidden
anything. She speaks of everything related to
herself, starting from her family, with utmost
truthfulness. She doesn't shy away from saying
about herself, "I used to be very clever as a
child. I was extremely pampered, spoiled, and
intolerant." And she calls her sister Hoor
sensible and serious in comparison to herself.
The father's favourite, who would lie on his
belly, and he, in turn, would hold her on his
palm and spin her like a top. Who, upon opening
her eyes, saw prosperity in her home, where ten
or twelve cows and two or three buffaloes were
always present. Butter and dhonro [curd]
were eaten abundantly; heaps of millet lay in
the house. During the rainy season, when going
to the shop to buy Pipoon [a kind of wild
grass] and kondheer [swellen root of
Pipoon], filling the Phaand [hem of a
dress] with grain, there was no one to stop or
hold her back. During the days of rain, she
would catch little Gaaba [calves] and run
along with them, so people would say, "Is she a
girl or a deer!" Mother Fatima's memory is
astounding. She remembers every single thing,
every single person from her childhood. She
remembers 'Natho Dhanar' [Herdsman] who worked
in their Kurh [men's sitting place/hut],
as well as her father Mukhi Gul Muhammad's
saathis [companions], Alam Dars, Peeru
Rahmoon, Bhooro Manghwaar, and Karo Bheel,
clearly.
She also
remembers that when she turned six, her father
Sahib realized that boys go to school, they
study, they become proficient in English, they
get jobs, but for girls, there is no education
other than the Holy Qur’an. It is necessary to
give them education according to the times,
"because moving forward, this matter will prove
difficult, and our daughters will remain
uneducated. There will be a difference in the
boys' thinking."
At that time,
Wadero Gul Muhammad Mukhi was the chairman of
the "Sanitary Board". So, gathering his fellow
members Mukhi Soomar, Mukhi Tilok Chand, Mukhi
Baloo Mal, Mukhi Hemandas, Mama [maternal
uncle] Abu Talib, he made efforts, and in 1933,
the girls' school was approved, which initially
started in two rooms and the courtyard of
Kaka [paternal uncle (elder)] Hemandas's
house, and Chacha [paternal uncle
(younger)] Dwarko Mal from Mithi came as their
teacher, because in Diplo, there was no female
teacher at all. Fatima and her elder sister Hoor
were admitted to that school, and then, after
Mukhi Sahib went door-to-door raising awareness,
a good number of girls were admitted to the
school.
There, I also
remember my own father Sahib, who undertook
similar hardships to illuminate his daughters
with the light of knowledge. And he gave us such
an ornament of education that today, perhaps
hardly anyone is more prosperous than us.
If I were to
write in detail about this book, perhaps this
preface would become half the length of the
book. Therefore, I will try to draw your
attention to such important matters which are
still present in the fabric of our society, and
the Sindhi woman is still grappling with them
today, the same grappling that the author of the
book did fifty or sixty years ago. Here, I feel
it necessary to mention that change in a woman's
life is not possible until the men tied in the
thread of her life's relationships support her.
In Fatima Zahra's life, the important role of
two men is evident. One, her father Sahib
'Wadero Mukhi Gul Muhammad', and the other, her
husband 'Qazi Ali Muhammad'. Her father Sahib
acquainted her with the greatness of the word
and poured the light of knowledge into her
being, taking her to the school threshold; the
rest, little Fatima did herself. She kept
getting first position in exams and also passed
scholarship exams. After passing seven grades,
she became a teacher in the same school. As if
whatever she had received from this school, she
returned to that school with interest.
Her childhood,
like every child's, passed carefree. A
prosperous family, loving paternal and maternal
grandparents, and doting parents. But from the
incidents happening around her that came into
her observation and experience, it can be
inferred that she was an aware-minded woman,
greatly influenced by the upbringing of her
father and mother. She cannot forget her
father's boundless love, who wouldn't eat
without her. But if you ask me, I see her
mother, Wasandi Bai, supporting her at every
step of her life. The story of that woman's life
is strange indeed. A young girl is married off
to a man already married and the father of two
or three children. And on the very first night
of the marriage, Wadero Gul Muhammad Mukhi made
it clear to his young wife regarding the
children born from his first wife, "Peel off the
flesh of my body and eat it, but do not complain
to me about Ehsan (son) and Sukhiyani (sister)."
After that, it is not difficult to guess how
much sway Wasandi had in that house!
As readers will
read in this book, 'Ehsan' held sway over the
house for his entire life. Mukhi Sahib seemed
helpless before his son, and Ehsan, in no way,
neither tried to maintain a relationship of
respect with his stepmother nor did he place a
protective hand over his sister.
Fatima's mother,
Wasandi, appears as an extraordinary woman! In
capability, she had no match. Diligent in work,
strong in labour and hardship; she would bring
two Dila [large earthen pitcher for
water] on her head and one Dilo on her
waist. Skilled in embroidery. According to
custom, she embroidered twenty-five Gaj
[embroidered shirt fronts] with her own hands
for her daughters' wedding. She would treat the
minor illnesses of all the women in the
neighbourhood. So much so that once Ehsan had
trouble with hiccups, she treated him too with
home remedies. Praising her, Dr. Hamid said,
"This woman is a match for seven men; no mother
in the town of Diplo has yet borne such a
daughter." So brave that before anyone even saw
a snake and cried out, Wasandi would reach there
before the men and kill the creature. Melodious
in voice, Mukhi Sahib would make her sit before
him or during travels (which were only on
camels) and have her sing his favourite songs.
Mother Wasandi was not destined to have sons;
her one daughter, Hoor, passed away at a young
age after marriage, right after her first child
was born; the child couldn't survive either.
This was a great shock for everyone, but the
mother was devastated by Hoor's separation. But
after that, from Fatima Zahra's marriage until
her last breath, she did not leave her beloved
daughter's side. In every moment of sorrow and
happiness, she remained her daughter's ally.
An obedient wife
to her husband, a mother sacrificing her life
for her children, a woman helping her neighbours
– when disputes started due to discord within
her husband's family and matters reached the
courts, and Wadero Gul Muhammad became engulfed
in financial worries, in that situation, she
stood by her husband like a strong mountain.
From embroidering clothes for the neighbourhood
to doing manual labour, she saw no shame. Later
in life, when Mukhi Sahib handed over all his
property to his son Ehsan, she only expressed
this grievance, "If I had had a son, you
wouldn't have done this! Whom should I blame?
Fate did this to me." She gave her daughters the
best upbringing. In those days, "Tarilo"
[a gathering, likely for communal work like
embroidery] used to happen, meaning they would
gather in one house and do ‘bhart’
[embroidery]. She taught other women how to
prepare thread, do embroidery, and make ‘dabkyoon’
[small containers, possibly for food] from date
palm leaves." This training given by her proved
useful to her daughters, especially Fatima
Zahra, throughout their lives. She too, in the
various ups and downs of her life, is seen
standing shoulder to shoulder with her husband,
just as she had seen her mother.
Mukhi Gul
Muhammad also appears as a dignified, splendid,
educated, and brave man. The person who endowed
his daughters with the wealth of knowledge
became destined for paradise already. A
prominent man of Diplo town, he was a devotee of
Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai. A visitor to the
shrine of the Master of Bhit every year. He
remembered "Shah Jo Risalo" [The Message of Shah
Latif] by heart. Its influence is also visible
on Fatima Zahra, as she clarifies every
situation by quoting a verse from Shah sain. You
will see demonstrations of this repeatedly in
the book. He was such an authentic expert on
Shah that Dr. Nabi Bakhsh Baloch, considering
one line of Shah Sain's verse incomplete, upon
Qazi Ahmed Muhammad's suggestion, came to Diplo
and, only after hearing the correct verse from
Mukhi Sahib, was satisfied. But one strange
thing was that he gave the hand of his pampered
daughter to a man already married. Mother
Wasandi, having already endured the blows of a
co-wife and stepchildren, her heart sank to her
feet. But Fatima Zahra has highly praised her
father's choice. In reality, the choice for
marriage should be called Qazi Sahib's, who
selected an educated and well-mannered woman
from Diplo for himself and asked for her hand in
marriage. Mother Fatima has repeatedly sung the
praises of Qazi Sahib. "Qazi Sahib was a
blessing from Allah Sain [God] for us as well as
for all the children. This man left no stone
unturned in keeping us happy. We praise Allah
the Merciful, who created him so affectionate
and kind. Not just us, but Qazi Sahib never
differentiated between his neighbours, friends,
rich or poor."
Fatima Qazi's
book is based on the philosophy of life in
which, instead of considering her life a
challenge, she lived it as a challenge itself.
In the backdrop of Sindhi society, for this
young maiden, married at the age of 17 to a
37-year-old married man and father of children,
managing all those relationships was no joke!
Fatima Qazi Sahiba has narrated the story of her
life in a simple, straightforward manner. She
considered every difficulty as a trying time
sent by God. She spent it with patience and
gratitude, and upon every happiness, success,
and triumph, saying 'Alhamdulillah'
[Praise be to God], she performed hundreds of
prostrations before Rub [the Sustainer].
After marriage,
in the desire for a son, she bore daughters upon
daughters. Fatima Qazi has acquainted us with
the sufferings of the women there due to the
lack of doctors, dais [traditional
midwife], and hospitals in Diplo. What torment
it must have been for those women whose healthy
newborn children breathed their last in their
mothers' laps due to the lack of health
facilities. Fatima Qazi also lost two such sons
and two daughters of her own. Masha'Allah
[God has willed it], her five daughters and two
sons are currently alive. May Rab Pak grant them
long lives, but in that whole process, five
children passed away either at birth or after
living for a short period. The grief of their
departure is still fresh within her today. But
this situation applied to almost every woman of
that era. It seems that the lack of health
facilities was perhaps one such reason that
every woman was ready to bear eleven to fifteen
children, hoping that maybe some would survive.
But look at the fate of the women of Sindh?
Sixty years ago, the women of Thar were going
through this agony, and even today, the
situation is the same. An example of this was
seen five months ago during the drought that hit
Thar, when a horrific situation regarding mother
and child health came to light, or rather, the
government's indifference became evident. Even
today, upon the birth of daughters, men declare
the woman herself guilty. Fatima Sahiba was a
very good wife, but even an understanding person
like Qazi Sahib, upon the birth of the fourth or
fifth daughter, distanced himself from her for a
month and a half and stopped coming into the
room altogether!
The brightest
aspect of this book is that determination and
struggle of woman, which has truly brought
Fatima Qazi forward as a positive example for
women. Supporting the household conditions by
sewing clothes during Qazi Sahib's difficult
financial days. Not shying away from labour, not
hesitating to travel anywhere from Diplo on
camel back, and tying the sandro
[waistcloth, symbol of determination] with the
resolve that girls must be educated. And when
the time came, they also took up jobs. There was
no harm in that either, although relatives
didn't hold back from taunting them, “Who will
marry these girls?”
But Fatima and Qazi Sahib, both with
determination, not only provided higher
education to their children but also adorned
them with the best upbringing. Their daughters
are present in the fields of education and
medicine. Shahid Qazi Sahib, after becoming a
doctor, then doing CSS, is currently a Secretary
in the Sindh Government. Mashhood is associated
with the computer field and resides in Canada.
Fatima Qazi Sahiba, today, she is an exceedingly
content mother, constantly praying for her
children, and Alhamdulillah is always on
her tongue. Praising God, her mouth never tires.
Allah Sain has given her righteous offspring
too. May they remain protected from the evil
eye.
This book may
not be a literary masterpiece, but reading it
offers the flavour of the Diplo dialect.
Appropriate examples and proverbs are present
according to the occasion, which we have not
only forgotten today but English words have
instead entered our conversation. Verses of Shah
Sain are included according to the situation to
reflect every mood. How to live a successful
life? Fatima Qazi has also written down those
pieces of advice for her offspring. If anyone
wishes to take counsel from them, there is no
restriction on them. Fatima Qazi, who bows
repeatedly before God, according to her faith
and conviction, has also presented the gift of
prayer.
The readers will
find everything they desire from this book. For
example, an account of old Sindh, a patriarchal
society, male dominance, female subjugation, the
victory of education and the defeat of
ignorance, the Sindhi woman's steadfastness, not
yielding in any way. In truth, if I were to
review this narrative in brief words, I would
say this: "Fatima Zahra Qazi is that form of the
Sindhi woman which is dignified, courageous,
unwavering, and self-sacrificing. I believe that
the Sindhi woman was like this yesterday, is
like this today, and will remain so tomorrow.
She just needs a discerning eye and an open mind
that gives respect and honour."
Mehtab Akbar Rashdi |
