'the burden of cultural history'
'the culture of oral storytelling - Aliya is aware of the richness and vibrancy of the family stories and the craft of storytelling itself, but equally this storytelling culture has helped to create a web of ‘family identity’ which she now wishes to loosen. Salt and Saffron is thus a poignant exploration of the search for a balance between individual identity and ancestral and cultural heritage.'
How much of the story is going to be about the narrator and how much about cultural heritage?
Rampur: KEY LINK!!! http://www.dawn.com/news/659762/flashback-rampur-glimpses-of-a-vanished-world-title=Flashback
Zindagi Ki Yaadein: Riyasat Rampur Ka Nawabi Daur in 2003
English version: Remembrance of days pat: glimpses of a princely state during the Raj
http://www.amazon.com/Remembrance-Days-Past-Glimpses-Princely/dp/0195793927
'In Rampur music was central to every occasion: on Eid the ceremonial naubat (drum, shehnai, trumpet and flute) was played and, at the Qila, amid notes of mubarak baadi and raag darbari there was also a mardana and zenana darbar, the latter attended by begums in farshi pyjama and spectacular jewellery.'
http://y-sasm.blogspot.com/2011/05/abstract-2011-razak-khan.html
http://www.epw.in/web-exclusives/case-falling-walls.html
more on the autobiography of Jahanarah habibullah about rampur.
https://books.google.com/books?id=GQUFAQAAQBAJ&pg=PT148&lpg=PT148&dq=rampur+habibullah&source=bl&ots=mFlqRmIszv&sig=yKUWEN4cRIZRu3v-2be2dxZ-Am8&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiapNTum83JAhWCJh4KHRUJC2YQ6AEIMjAD#v=onepage&q=rampur%20habibullah&f=false
more by muneeza shamsie:
https://books.google.com/books?id=GQUFAQAAQBAJ&pg=PT148&lpg=PT148&dq=rampur+habibullah&source=bl&ots=mFlqRmIszv&sig=yKUWEN4cRIZRu3v-2be2dxZ-Am8&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiapNTum83JAhWCJh4KHRUJC2YQ6AEIMjAD#v=onepage&q=rampur%20habibullah&f=false
look at this site: http://www.criticalmuslim.io/discovering-the-matrix/
use discovering the matrix and jahanarah habibullah's account to describe rampur setting
buy this book:http://www.amazon.com/And-World-Changed-Contemporary-Pakistani/dp/1558615806
may come in handy but not sure, exploration of affinity in south asian context particularly after post sept 11.
http://roar.uel.ac.uk/3896/1/Madeline_Clements_U0921278_Thesis_FINAL_March_2014%5B1%5D.pdf
I just came across your wonderful blog. Are you working on Rampur?Willbe great to hear more about your work.
ReplyDeleteBest Wishes,
Razak
Hello Razak,
DeleteI am thinking (ambitiously) to write a novel colored by the stories I have heard growing up from my parents. My dad is from Rampur, so the history and the setting seems familiar and tangible to me as a base to work off of. As I flesh out the setting of the storyline, I will be researching more and more on Rampur, the lifestyles of the Nawabs, and linking these here as novel fodder, as I like to call it.
I hope that others find inspiration in the material, and the process, and it's a story interwoven by other's perspectives as much as it is mine.
In which case, if there is anything you would like to share or add, or any anecdotes about Rampur or olden India, please do let me know!
Thank you for reading and hope you enjoy!
Thank you. This sounds very interesting. Most of my published writings on Rampur are available on my academia page.I would like to continue the conversation over email. Mine is razak2006@gmail.com
DeleteBest Wishes,
Razak