Hey Beautiful Hearts!
Hope and pray that you have found your light in right time to see the things in their "right" perspective !
Hope that this light is not only lighting up your outer surroundings but it paved it's way to your heart and souls to glorify your innate world!
As you know (hopefully) that we recently made two rooms as upper story of our house , so we can use one of them as store because before this, we were using one of our lower room on ground floor as store inevitably .
And we were doing it unconsciously as among the three main big rooms ,one we use as living room and one as bedroom .
So third one was not in proper use.Whenever we had to put something extra at a side we would put it in our third room.
After preparing the two rooms above the roof we emptied our third room and put all extra stuff in on of the upper room .
We will furnish this empty third room when we will be back from summer holidays in my native town and some days in Islamabad as well.
While shifting the stuff from lower room i found my old LANTERN !
I removed it's dust and took a picture to share with you as it brought many beautiful memories from my wonderful past!
Though our village was not much far from the capital city yet it was under the great influence of local LANDLORDS who owned most of the land of our village and other villages around .
That was early 80's era . And obviously was worst in previous years .Landlords of our village who lived in their palace like huge mansions close to village never wanted any such progress in area which educate the people .
The biggest fear of landlords was that if education put wisdom in people and give them realization of their own rights ,who will salute and obey them blindly and they wanted to secure and improve their vote bank at any cost.
All this i heard from my grandparents and my mother . They told that those landlords use the ignorance of people as their most powerful weapon and this is why they don't want that the people around them to be educated and self righteous .
So they tried hard to not build any boys or girls high school in villages under their influence .They also tried to keep the electricity away from villages .Their demand of obedience and claim to be lord of people made them kill so many innocent people who tried to raised their voice against the injustice .
But this is undeniable truth that LIGHT somehow make it's way to darkness when it has to, and no one can STOP it .
When we entered in our village it was early 80s time and there few boys primary and high school and one girls high school were made little far from our village .
Education was lighting up the minds of people slowly, It was just begging . Though schools were started being built but electricity was still absent .
The government provided the towers and all required system for the light but there was no check that "are villagers getting the benefit from the government's efforts because real owners of villages were these landlords who were not allowing to supply the electricity to villages though their mansions had the light facility since years !
Coming to the topic finally that when i started my schooling in village i was first girl from my small village who went to school (almost 33 houses) .I was slapped by my uncle(mom's brother) for this crime(in his opinion) but i was lucky to have my dear mom stood up for me and said clearly"that my daughters will go to school"(my eldest brother left school after the primary five years education as he was under the influence of my uncles.
When i would back from school i try to finish my homework during daytime in natural light .But when i could not do it during daytime i would do my homework in night in the light of THIS LANTERN!
Yes! this is my very first friend after my mom who helped me doing my studies ! And this is why this lantern is so SPECIAL to me !!!
Almost more than 40 years old !
I have special feelings for it .I don't know when i will die what will my children do to it ,may they will throw it away as rubbish but for me it is treasure from my golden part of life !
My mom would have lit it for thousands times to cook dinners and doing her other chores in nights which were sometimes silent and still and sometime stormy and howling !
i used to read under it's dim ,waving yellow light my school books ,magazines ,storybooks and novels until our village got electricity i think in 1986 but system was not stable at all. Light winds blew off the wires from towers and village get under the rulement of darkness once again.
I can still feel the joy and thrill when i saw first time lightened bulb in my room .It was revolutionary change for my way of studies :)
It was like someone brought bucket filled with sunlight and spilled it in our home!!!
We were so overwhelmed by joy and excitement as God had sprinkled his special blessings upon us. I remember that after this mom immediately bought us our first small black and white T.V.
When i got married in 1991 i requested mom to give me this lantern along with her other gifts for my wedding. She was surprised with my request as on such occasions girls ask for brand new stuff such as electric appliances or furniture .But i was asking for and old lantern .And my mom gave it to me!
I never used it in my married life as there was no need but i kept it along as my old best friend which provide me light and pierced the darkness which was stopping me from studies .
This way it lit my mind and soul too!
Precious friends time to prepare lunch ,my kids are giving their yearly exams these days .
Weather is pleasant with highest 36 and lowest 19 c.
Garden has some lovely colourful smiles which bloom my heart each time i look at them and smile back to them with gratitude!
Requesting each of you to take good care of yourself and stay blessed with FAITH and HOPE which are base to miracles!
God Bless You All!!!
This is a wonderful story. It is striking how certain objects can come to mean so much to us. I understand why you asked for the lantern as s wedding gift. I think that gifts like that are some of the best that there are.
ReplyDelete"All this i heard from my grandparents and my mother ."
ReplyDeleteSee..it didn't work. They knew. They saw it. :)
I loved this post, Baili. So inspiring! Yes...education, the light...there are some here too who would snuff out those things if they could.
Your post reminds that they can't!
God Bless You.
"All this i heard from my grandparents and my mother ."
ReplyDeleteSee..it didn't work. They knew. They saw it. :)
I loved this post, Baili. So inspiring! Yes...education, the light...there are some here too who would snuff out those things if they could.
Your post reminds that they can't!
God Bless You.
That is such a beautiful lantern! Your mom did the right thing, strong admirable woman.
ReplyDeleteI love this post Baili, it's your best ever as it tells so much about your childhood, what it has been like growing up as a girl in that era of suppression where education and knowledge were considered dangerous! and how precious your education was. The lantern is very special, when I was baptised I chose a song for everyone to sing 'thy word is a lamp unto my feet' which has the words from the Bible of Psalm 119 I think anyone who has faith in God (regardless of religion), could enjoy this song and the words(you could probably google it) which certainly seem special for you and your lantern. Betty x
ReplyDeleteYou are right, sometimes old things revive sweet memories, and not only this. By restoring the atmosphere of good old days we come to define the major and minor. Thank you, Baili!
ReplyDeletewith best wishes from Russia,
Irina
Wonderful post!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful story! And what a precious lantern! Thanks for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteWhat an impressive post, dearest Baili! Educating girls is of primary importance, as also those who tried to stop Malala Yousafzai very well knew. Your lantern is beautiful and a very precious memory and symbol.
ReplyDeleteBlessings and hugs!
I hope you share this story with your sons. It will be something they can see to show them what a strong and determined mother you are. Perhaps one of them will have a daughter one day and give her your lantern to remind her that if she is determined she can do anything. It might become a family heirloom. I like the idea of that.
ReplyDeleteI so enjoyed reading your post, and yes I completely understand why the lantern is so special to you ... marvellous.
ReplyDeleteMy good wishes
All the best Jan
What a heartwarming story, Baili! That lantern is indeed very special. Education is one of the greatest things for all.
ReplyDeleteInteresting reading about your lantern. Your mum was wonderful insisting you get schooling. Look at you now, doing so well writing in English :)
ReplyDeleteThe lantern reminds me of the days on our farm before we had electricity. We used a lantern just like the one you show.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful story of courage, persistence, and appreciation for an old friend. I can plainly see why your lamp holds such strong memories for you. I am so glad your mother supported you in your education. Lovely post, baili!
ReplyDeletewonderful story!
ReplyDeleteyou are such an inspiration!! I love your stories, I truly do,
ReplyDeleteI love this story and I love how the lantern has been a true friend to you for all these years. Thank you for stopping by my blog and helping me to find you!
ReplyDeleteIt's wonderful to find such a meaningful item after all these years.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how a small object can bring back so many memories, great story you have had a interesting life.
ReplyDeleteMerle..................
A sua história é a história de uma pessoa que nunca recuou perante os obstáculos. Gosto de a ler. A lanterna é linda.
ReplyDeleteUma Páscoa muito abençoada.
Beijos.
Hi Baili! :)) I LOVE LANTERNS!!! We have a few that we light on summer nights, they are so cozy and wonderful! You wrote such a nice story about your memories, what a great find, I can read your happiness in your words!!! :)
ReplyDeleteAh, this is such a lovely story! That lantern is indeed a treasure. I can certainly understand why it means so much to you. Wishing God's blessings for you too!
ReplyDeleteThis post made me cry. I can NOT imagine being deprived of so basic a right. That is just awful how people would conspire against your folks like that. That lantern is a beautiful, beautiful symbol of triumph and truth. Teach your children how important this is. Pass down these stories.
ReplyDeleteSending many good thoughts to you and your family from Missouri on this Easter Sunday.
A beautiful lantern and a beautiful story! Thanks for sharing it with us my friend! Pass down this story and lantern to your wonderful children! Big Hugs!
ReplyDeleteA beautiful story to go with the lantern. I have one of these for hurricane seasons when our Electricity goes out.
ReplyDeleteThat lantern has a special place in your heart! It is good that you didn't give up going to school. You persevered and you are blessed!
ReplyDeleteHello Baili! What a lovely story. Great memories and the lantern is a keeper and treasure. Thanks for visiting my blog. Happy Monday, enjoy your new week!
ReplyDeleteDear Baili, thank you for sharing this wonderfully inspiring story. I never knew that education and electricity was kept from your Pakistani villages for so long. I love your idea of a "bucket of light" being spelt over your room and your home. What a gift--light! I took all that for granted all my life. Thank you for opening my eyes to all for which I want to be grateful.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for treasuring that lantern that helped you learn so well for so long. Peace, pressed down and overflowing.
beautiful and touching story...
ReplyDeleteOh what beautiful memories your lantern brings back :-)
ReplyDeleteA sad situation with the landlords...sadly the case in much of the world! How beautiful is your testament to education and light! Loved your lantern story!
ReplyDeleteWhat a heartwarming story! Thank you for sharing it!!
ReplyDeleteI loved this post, Baili! The story of your beloved lantern touched my heart. So often in history powerful people have tried to keep people uneducated so they can control them. I'm glad that you escaped that trap. I admire your mother for standing up for your education. I love your stories!
ReplyDelete