Chittiyan Narration | Shafaq Lashari | TEDxKinnaird

Memories of Home and Childhood

• After 52 years, Shafaq Lashari returned to Kinnaird College, where she had previously been interviewed by Miss Mangat Rai. (49s)
• Lashari's daughters and other individuals encouraged her to write down her thoughts, which led to the publication of her first book, "Chittiyan." (1m9s)
• Lashari wrote a letter to her daughter, Falak, on November 25, 2012, at 7:00 PM in Lahore, discussing the mild November weather compared to the colder Octobers of the mid-1960s. (2m3s)
• As soon as the sun rose, the floor would be cleaned, a colorful cot would be placed outside, and vegetables would be put out to dry on a red striped cloth along with a white, starched tablecloth. (2m55s)
• The courtyard also had brass vases with pearl and glass beads, and a colorful rug or small black carpet would be placed alongside the cot. (3m21s)
• The speaker played games like hide and seek, hopscotch, Ludo, carrom, and Gilli Danda in the courtyard of her home on Fateh Sher Road. (3m48s)
• From 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM was ironing time. (5m0s)
• The staff would be served a hot meal first, followed by the family. (5m43s)
• In the evening, five cots would be placed on the inner courtyard veranda, each with yellow, blue, and light green striped mattresses, white sheets, white-cased pillows, two hand-held fans, and a turn-based system for using them. (6m44s)
• The speaker describes a memory of listening to songs on the radio and watching the stars at night. (8m37s)
• The speaker would imagine themselves as different Bollywood actresses like Zeenat Aman, Waheeda Rehman, and Shammi Kapoor while listening to happy songs. (8m9s)
• The speaker could never picture a face for the "hero" in their imagined scenarios, possibly due to unwritten societal rules or a fear of vulnerability. (9m16s)
• Life is very different from dreams. (9m44s)

Wedding Preparations and Festivities

• Shafaq Lashari wrote a letter on January 15, 2017, at the request of her friend, Samina, for her daughter Kinza's wedding. (10m32s)
• Samina requested Shafaq to write something for the first prayer ceremony and Dholki. (11m12s)
• Shafaq Lashari's mother's name is Mehboob Sultana. (12m0s)
• Lashari's mother had five yellow outfits made for her. (12m47s)
• An aunt visited Lashari's home daily to apply upan, a turmeric paste. (13m24s)
• Every evening, a small, lively gathering would take place at home, filled with laughter, the clinking of bangles, and the aroma of henna. (14m14s)
• Regal samosas and namak parai were a signal that the evening had begun. (14m33s)
• The speaker's three brothers, full of youthful energy, would eagerly look for opportunities to interact with girls from neighboring houses. (15m10s)
• Shafaq Lashari describes a time when she wore henna and dressed up for her friends. (16m24s)

Wedding Day and Reflections

• The next day, Lashari had a final exam for her Bachelor of Arts in Social Work at Punjab University. (16m59s)
• Lashari was dressed in a yellow outfit with henna on her hands for her wedding when she took her exam. (17m8s)
• Lashari's wedding took place on December 29, 1972. (17m14s)
• After Lashari's wedding guests arrived, her sisters-in-law helped her get dressed in a tissue fabric outfit and jewelry. (17m48s)
• The setting for a departure was staged with a plush red bedspread on a divan, silver-embossed cushions, an Iranian carpet, and potted plants. (18m37s)
• Jaffar Barlas, the speaker's cousin, took numerous photos with a flash camera but none came out, possibly because there was no film in the camera. (19m18s)
• The speaker, Shafaq Lashari, left her home with her brother, her belongings, and two buffalo as part of her dowry. (20m7s)
• Shafaq Lashari describes a simple time when her wedding ceremony took place and she was sent off with her partner. (20m36s)
• Lashari mentions her close relationship with her partner during their year-long engagement. (20m49s)
• Lashari shares an anecdote from Kinza in which Kinza emphasizes the importance of decorating the heart and relationships with respect, patience, and love. (21m32s)
• Shafaq believes that when the desire in your eyes remains constant and the wait doesn't feel like a burden, you have achieved your goal. (22m55s)
• Shafaq congratulates someone on their new life and wishes them happiness. (23m12s)
• Shafaq mentions writing about their college experiences and expresses a desire to share those stories in the future. (23m34s)