Hira_Kavita_Reimaging Linguistic Diversity of Pakistani Languages

Hira: Assalam-u- Alaikum. My name is Hira Nadeem. And today I am documenting a Sindhi language dialect which is called Dhatki. I have Kaveeta with me who is going to be answering some questions related to the interview that we are going to have. So, hello how are you Kaveeta?

Kaveeta: I am fine.

Hira: Okay. So are you ready for this interview?

Kaveeta: Yes, I am ready.

Hira: Okay. Let's get started. So let's talk about your early life. So what is your full name? And also if you can reply me in your language?

Kaveeta: My name is Kaveeta Kirshin.

Hira: Okay, I'm just trying to elaborate. First, you can reply me in your language and then you can translate it.

Hira: So, when and where were you born?

Kaveeta: I live in Sindh and I was born in Bikhori. And I was born on 23rd February 2002.

Hira: Okay. And do you have any siblings?

Kaveeta: Yes, I had 6 siblings and now I have 5 brothers left. And I have 2 sisters. One is older and the other is younger.

Hira: Okay. And your parents, do they also belong to Sindh?

Kaveeta: Yes, my Mama and Baba are from Sindh.

Hira: Okay. Can you tell us something about your childhood? Any favourite memories or anything? Anything related to Sindh or your childhood, anything related to that?

Kaveeta: My life has mostly been spent in the village. And mostly I have also worked in fields. And like, our houses in the village are adobe so we have done many things like picking cow dung. We have been working since childhood. So I like my life and those are very good memories for me.

Hira: Okay. So tell me did you attend school in your childhood?

Kaveeta: Where I live there is no school. but my Papa knew about a hostel, Korean hostel but it was 2 hours away from our city. Girls are not allowed to study at our side. Education is impossible for girls. They cannot even read. But I told my father that I wanted to study anyhow.

Hira: Okay. I liked the fact that you came to the university level. Can you tell us how you came to FC? What did you plan? Because, of course, if you are doing proper schooling, you have an idea and I have to end up in such a place. But given your situation, It's all about your passion. Can you tell us more about it?

Kaveeta: In childhood, my elder sister used to study in that hostel. And Papa, when I was younger, my father told me not to study and to live with them. But I was very stubborn.

My father also said that I have to teach my daughters so that they can be role models for others. Then my father admitted me to the hostel. And after that, in my childhood, if you have an interest in something you do it well. So, I kept coming to the first position from the first to the eighth grade. After that, I did my ninth, matric and first year at a government school. But ninth, matric and inter was also very important for a girl. But I had no plan to go to the university. I just wanted to become a nurse or something. But it was the will of God, that the organization told me that if I wanted to study further, I had to pass the test in the university. They had already given me the option of FC. So, I passed the test. Thank God, I am here.

Hira: Your story is very good. Your passion is the reason why you have come so far. Will you tell me something about your culture, traditions, or anything that you do in your village? Any festival or any other thing that you celebrate?

Kaveeta: Actually, our traditional dress is Ghagra Choli. Because, since childhood, girls wear Ghagra Choli. After marriage, they have to wear it. But now that education is coming in our area, the educated girls can wear Shalwar Kamis, but when they go to the village, they also wear Ghagra Choli. So when I go to the village, I also wear Ghagra Choli. And most of the Hindus live there, so they have different traditions. And they also have a lot of festivals. I don't even remember the names, but Diwali and Holi etc. So these are also celebrated. It feels good. But I belong to a Christian family, so I celebrate Easter and Christmas.

Hira: Okay so tell me. So you celebrate Christmas with trees and other things in your homes. It also depends on the area whether you can get these things or not. In the city, everything is available for you. So how do you celebrate these things?

Kaveeta: I mean, we don't get Christmas trees there. Like that area is also very backwards. And we personally make cards for the parents and the Christians. And decorate the house etc. But we only do some of these things like decorating the Christmas tree and all these things. Because my own family is Christian. But my background belongs to Hinduism.

Hira: Okay. Tell me about some food etc. Like any famous dish there. Or whatever you have at home. There are some specific favourite dishes of the area. And which represents the culture there. Please tell me about that.

Kaveeta: There in winter, Bajre Roti is mostly prepared there. And in the rainy season, naturally, mushrooms grow there. So most people eat them. And especially on those days, there are different traditions. There are festivals etc. So these two things are very popular. And biryani is if we say, the favourite of all the areas. So the biryani of Sindri Biryani is served with potatoes.

Hira: Personally, I like the potato biryani very much. Tell me, does your language exist in written form there? Like any books written by anyone, any poems or any songs in your language, in your area?

Kaveeta: So my father is the first person who is working in Dhatki. And he wants to pursue the Dhatki language further. And he has an NGO with him. Most of the Bible has been translated into the Dhatki language. Almost all the new part has been translated. Because in the Thar desert area, no one understands Urdu.

No one understands English. So for the area there, Dhatki is the language. So they understand it. So my father has also made books like this. So that the children can also read them. And also get some education. So I hope that in the future, more books will be written.

Hira: So in the Thar desert area, there is no schooling option?

Kaveeta: If we look at the Thar desert, there was no schooling at all when I was five or six years old. Not at all. But now there are so many organizations, like Korean organizations, and Chinese organizations. There are small and big institutions working. And because of that, the number of cases has increased so much. There is not a lot of education, but there is to a certain extent, in a few areas.

Hira: Okay. Tell me, what is your favourite line or favourite thing, you know those quotes that your parents told you in your childhood? If you want to share something in your language with us.

Kaveeta: I don't remember most of it, because I have been away from my parents since childhood. But I remember one line. It is said in my language: Jera kang tera vaje. It means that the children will be the same as the parents.

Hira: Very beautiful. Tell me, what do you think about this language? Because I also heard about this dialect for the first time. And you personally faced something in your life related to your education. And you told the story of the Thar desert. How people there, like you, how you translated the Bible, you gallowed themto read things. But do you think you can save this language from being endangered? Because it is in a specified area. Now, a lot of people are coming from that area to big cities to study. You yourself are an example of that. For educational reasons. For job reasons. And there are a lot of medical issues there. There are a lot of things. Water issues. So they shift to big cities. And then gradually their generation forgets the language. So do you think that personally, you want to keep your language alive? Do you want to teach people further about this? Do you want to give them something? Do you want to give them a know-how? Something that you have ever thought about in your life? This is something I want to do. Regarding my language. Because you yourself are a very good example of that.

Kaveeta: When I went to the hostel, I thought that a lot of children from my area wanted to study more but their parents could not support them to travel 2- hours and study. So I thought that I would translate things like word problems in my language and other things. So it will be easy for them and when they study they will think that they also know something. And I think that our language is mostly spoken in the Thar area, so I would be very happy if the child would go from there and to another province. But I think that they would never be able to forget their native language. Because the people there are so well-versed in Dhatki, even I am not so good at it. So I think that they would be able to forget their language very quickly.

Hira: We would like to end this interview and I would like to ask you this question and talk about it. I think that if you want to save a language, you have to learn the importance of language. Because every language is spoken in a particular area. You should have the opportunity to learn your language and learn other things. Because in the coming time, English has become a compulsion for you. If you want to study somewhere, if you want to move out, if you want to do a job, English is a compulsion for you. So I think that for that kind of life, it is very important to teach people the importance of language. Because I think that every person has their association with their language. No matter how well you speak it or not. So I would like to end this interview by asking you to give a message to people. In any way, anything that you would like to say in this interview, whatever we have discussed?

Kaveeta: First of all, I am happy to give you an interview. And secondly, I am also happy that I have come from that area here. My English is not that good. But I understand.

So I hope that the people of my area are sending a lot of girls to study. So I hope those children will also be supported in the way I have been supported. And they will also be able to continue their education. Not only in our language but in different languages.

Hira: Thank you so much for being here, Kaveeta. It was amazing having you here. And I hope that we can do great things with all these interviews. And the language that we have documented. Have a great and nice day. Thank you and take care.

Kaveeta: Thank you so much. 00:01:00Hira: Assalam-u- Alaikum. My name is Hira Nadeem. And today I am documenting a Sindhi language dialect which is called Dhatki. I have Kaveeta with me who is going to be answering some questions related to the interview that we are going to have. So, hello how are you Kaveeta?

Kaveeta: I am fine.

Hira: Okay. So are you ready for this interview?

Kaveeta: Yes, I am ready.

Hira: Okay. Let's get started. So let's talk about your early life. So what is your full name? And also if you can reply me in your language?

Kaveeta: My name is Kaveeta Kirshin.

Hira: Okay, I'm just trying to elaborate. First, you can reply me in your language and then you can translate it.

Hira: So, when and where were you born?

Kaveeta: I live in Sindh and I was born in Bikhori. And I was born on 23rd February 2002.

Hira: Okay. And do you have any siblings?

Kaveeta: Yes, I had 6 siblings and now I have 5 brothers left. And I have 2 sisters. One is older and the other is younger.

Hira: Okay. And your parents, do they also belong to Sindh?

Kaveeta: Yes, my Mama and Baba are from Sindh.

Hira: Okay. Can you tell us something about your childhood? Any favourite memories or anything? Anything related to Sindh or your childhood, anything related to that?

Kaveeta: My life has mostly been spent in the village. And mostly I have also worked in fields. And like, our houses in the village are adobe so we have done many things like picking cow dung. We have been working since childhood. So I like my life and those are very good memories for me.

Hira: Okay. So tell me did you attend school in your childhood?

Kaveeta: Where I live there is no school. but my Papa knew about a hostel, Korean hostel but it was 2 hours away from our city. Girls are not allowed to study at our side. Education is impossible for girls. They cannot even read. But I told my father that I wanted to study anyhow.

Hira: Okay. I liked the fact that you came to the university level. Can you tell us how you came to FC? What did you plan? Because, of course, if you are doing proper schooling, you have an idea and I have to end up in such a place. But given your situation, It's all about your passion. Can you tell us more about it?

Kaveeta: In childhood, my elder sister used to study in that hostel. And Papa, when I was younger, my father told me not to study and to live with them. But I was very stubborn.

My father also said that I have to teach my daughters so that they can be role models for others. Then my father admitted me to the hostel. And after that, in my childhood, if you have an interest in something you do it well. So, I kept coming to the first position from the first to the eighth grade. After that, I did my ninth, matric and first year at a government school. But ninth, matric and inter was also very important for a girl. But I had no plan to go to the university. I just wanted to become a nurse or something. But it was the will of God, that the organization told me that if I wanted to study further, I had to pass the test in the university. They had already given me the option of FC. So, I passed the test. Thank God, I am here.

Hira: Your story is very good. Your passion is the reason why you have come so far. Will you tell me something about your culture, traditions, or anything that you do in your village? Any festival or any other thing that you celebrate?

Kaveeta: Actually, our traditional dress is Ghagra Choli. Because, since childhood, girls wear Ghagra Choli. After marriage, they have to wear it. But now that education is coming in our area, the educated girls can wear Shalwar Kamis, but when they go to the village, they also wear Ghagra Choli. So when I go to the village, I also wear Ghagra Choli. And most of the Hindus live there, so they have different traditions. And they also have a lot of festivals. I don't even remember the names, but Diwali and Holi etc. So these are also celebrated. It feels good. But I belong to a Christian family, so I celebrate Easter and Christmas.

Hira: Okay so tell me. So you celebrate Christmas with trees and other things in your homes. It also depends on the area whether you can get these things or not. In the city, everything is available for you. So how do you celebrate these things?

Kaveeta: I mean, we don't get Christmas trees there. Like that area is also very backwards. And we personally make cards for the parents and the Christians. And decorate the house etc. But we only do some of these things like decorating the Christmas tree and all these things. Because my own family is Christian. But my background belongs to Hinduism.

Hira: Okay. Tell me about some food etc. Like any famous dish there. Or whatever you have at home. There are some specific favourite dishes of the area. And which represents the culture there. Please tell me about that.

Kaveeta: There in winter, Bajre Roti is mostly prepared there. And in the rainy season, naturally, mushrooms grow there. So most people eat them. And especially on those days, there are different traditions. There are festivals etc. So these two things are very popular. And biryani is if we say, the favourite of all the areas. So the biryani of Sindri Biryani is served with potatoes.

Hira: Personally, I like the potato biryani very much. Tell me, does your language exist in written form there? Like any books written by anyone, any poems or any songs in your language, in your area?

Kaveeta: So my father is the first person who is working in Dhatki. And he wants to pursue the Dhatki language further. And he has an NGO with him. Most of the Bible has been translated into the Dhatki language. Almost all the new part has been translated. Because in the Thar desert area, no one understands Urdu.

No one understands English. So for the area there, Dhatki is the language. So they understand it. So my father has also made books like this. So that the children can also read them. And also get some education. So I hope that in the future, more books will be written.

Hira: So in the Thar desert area, there is no schooling option?

Kaveeta: If we look at the Thar desert, there was no schooling at all when I was five or six years old. Not at all. But now there are so many organizations, like Korean organizations, and Chinese organizations. There are small and big institutions working. And because of that, the number of cases has increased so much. There is not a lot of education, but there is to a certain extent, in a few areas.

Hira: Okay. Tell me, what is your favourite line or favourite thing, you know those quotes that your parents told you in your childhood? If you want to share something in your language with us.

Kaveeta: I don't remember most of it, because I have been away from my parents since childhood. But I remember one line. It is said in my language: Jera kang tera vaje. It means that the children will be the same as the parents.

Hira: Very beautiful. Tell me, what do you think about this language? Because I also heard about this dialect for the first time. And you personally faced something in your life related to your education. And you told the story of the Thar desert. How people there, like you, how you translated the Bible, you gallowed themto read things. But do you think you can save this language from being endangered? Because it is in a specified area. Now, a lot of people are coming from that area to big cities to study. You yourself are an example of that. For educational reasons. For job reasons. And there are a lot of medical issues there. There are a lot of things. Water issues. So they shift to big cities. And then gradually their generation forgets the language. So do you think that personally, you want to keep your language alive? Do you want to teach people further about this? Do you want to give them something? Do you want to give them a know-how? Something that you have ever thought about in your life? This is something I want to do. Regarding my language. Because you yourself are a very good example of that.

Kaveeta: When I went to the hostel, I thought that a lot of children from my area wanted to study more but their parents could not support them to travel 2- hours and study. So I thought that I would translate things like word problems in my language and other things. So it will be easy for them and when they study they will think that they also know something. And I think that our language is mostly spoken in the Thar area, so I would be very happy if the child would go from there and to another province. But I think that they would never be able to forget their native language. Because the people there are so well-versed in Dhatki, even I am not so good at it. So I think that they would be able to forget their language very quickly.

Hira: We would like to end this interview and I would like to ask you this question and talk about it. I think that if you want to save a language, you have to learn the importance of language. Because every language is spoken in a particular area. You should have the opportunity to learn your language and learn other things. Because in the coming time, English has become a compulsion for you. If you want to study somewhere, if you want to move out, if you want to do a job, English is a compulsion for you. So I think that for that kind of life, it is very important to teach people the importance of language. Because I think that every person has their association with their language. No matter how well you speak it or not. So I would like to end this interview by asking you to give a message to people. In any way, anything that you would like to say in this interview, whatever we have discussed?

Kaveeta: First of all, I am happy to give you an interview. And secondly, I am also happy that I have come from that area here. My English is not that good. But I understand.

So I hope that the people of my area are sending a lot of girls to study. So I hope those children will also be supported in the way I have been supported. And they will also be able to continue their education. Not only in our language but in different languages.

Hira: Thank you so much for being here, Kaveeta. It was amazing having you here. And I hope that we can do great things with all these interviews. And the language that we have documented. Have a great and nice day. Thank you and take care.

Kaveeta: Thank you so much.