,8,memories ( an ,9dian ,*ildhood,0 by
,qurratula9 ,hyd]3 ,%ort ,/ory ,analysis
  ,8,memories ( an ,9dian ,*ildhood,0 is
an ,9dian wom5-c5tric %ort /ory p5n$ by
mod]n ,urdu fic;n writ] ,qurratula9
,hyd] 9 #aigj4 ,! /ory c5t]s on
upp]-middle-class wom5 9 pre-,9dep5d;e
,9dia 9 ! hill /a;ns ( ,dehra ,dun4 ,!
/ory hi<li<ts fem9i/ !mes ( ,9dian
,muslim wom51 c]ta9 ,nor?-,ea/ tribal
wom51 $ucat$ ,muslim wom51 ,anglo-,9dian
wom5 all writt5 humor\sly 9 ! subtle
craft ( ,hyd]4 ,! %ort /ory al tackles
o!r sub-!mes l sup]/iti\s practices1
com$y 9 ! hills ( ,9dia1 ! hypocrisy ( !
upp]-middle class t[nsfolk ( ,dehra
,dun1 & ! /atus quo ( wom5 9
pre-,9dep5d;e ,9dia4 ,! /ory c5t]s on !
n>rator's nei<borhood & home 9
,dalanwalla & h[ ! n>rator1 a precoci\s
*1 sp5ds "o ev5t;l w9t] ) ! e35tric "*s
( h] peculi> nei<borhood 2f %e f9ally
gr[s up or gr[s old] & wis]4 ,! n>rator
is n "nd 9 ! /ory4 ,b x is "? h] eyes1 !
eyes ( a precoci\s * ) a grt s5se (   #a
humor1 t we see ! upp]-middle-class
,muslims1 ,h9dus1 ,sikhs1
,anglo-,9dians1 & ,europ1ns (
,dalanwalla4 ,qu>ratula9 ,hyd] publi%$ ?
/ory titl$ ,8,memories ( an ,9dian
,*ildhood,0 9 ! ,8,illu/rat$ ,weekly (
,9dia,0 & hi<li<t$ ! *ang+ life/yle &
values ( ,dehra ,dun j 2f ,9dep5d;e4
,hyd] p5n$ ? /ory f/ 9 ,urdu & !n
translat$ x 9to ,5gli% h]f4 ,hyd] is
3sid]$ "o ( ! be/ ,urdu fic;n writ]s ( !
tw5tie? c5tury4
  ,hyd]'s %ort /ory titl$ ,8,memories (
an ,9dian ,*ildhood,0 is ma9ly ! com+ (
age ( ! n>rator :o wit;ses five major
ev5ts "o "picul> w9t] 9 ,dalanwalla 2f
%e grew up & 2came a wis] "y lady4 ,mo/
( ! n>rator's exp]i;es c5t] on ! way
wom5 7 tr1t$ 9 h] home & nei<borhood4
,?1 "!=e1 makes ! %ort /ory a te/a;t to
e>ly pre-,9dep5d;e ,9dian fem9ism4 ,we
r1d t wom5 9 ? p]iod 7 $ucat$ b 7 / b.d
by society's rules1 : prim>ily c5t]$ on
m>riage4 ,baji & ,dr4 ,zubeida ,siddiqui
>e two "y wom5 :o >e hi<ly $ucat$ &   #b
h a lot ( prospects op5 = !m4 ,h["e1 ":
,siddique is 3c]n$1 2c %e is 9 h]
?irties & / unm>ri$1 %e is r1dy to take
rec\rse to sup]/i;n & seek ! advice ( a
,muslim %aman to get a husb& ( h] *oice4
,? is despite ! fact t %e is a sci5ti/4
,due to 2+ unattractive1 %e lo/ \ 9 !
m>riage m>ket ) ! ,muslim g5tleman %e
c>$ ab4 ,! second "y lady ,baji 0 a
rank] & _h j f9i%$ h] ,b4,a4 f ,alig>h
,univ]s;y4 ,%e 0 tw5ty-"o ye>s ( age &
_h 2come a ,lefti/ af h] /ay at h]
college4 ,yet1 2c %e 0 "y1 2l;g$ to !
privileg$ upp]-middle-class sec;n (
,muslim society1 & 0 dot$ ^u by a lov+
ext5d$ family1 %e 0 alr 5gag$ to 2 m>ri$
to a ,muslim g5tleman ,muzzaf> :om %e
us$ to write lrs to4 ,despite bo? ,baji
& ,siddique 2+ $ucat$1 z "o goes "? !
/ory1 "o feels t !y 4reg>d$ _! $uca;n &
pref]r$ to h a man 9 _! lives to
validate _! exi/;e4 ,? is especially se5
9 ,siddique's case4 ,%e 0 r1dy to pray &
fa/ = =ty "ds at a /ret* despite x n 2+
,ramadan & recite a special c\plet    #c
or *>m to actualize h] love life
magically4 ,%e fails to d s 2c %e sees a
black dog ! size ( a donkey on ! la/ "d
( fa/+ & pray+ & collapses1 ?us r5d]+ !
spell use.s z p] ! %aman's ^ws4 ,! r1son
= h] collapse 0 t %e 0 halluc9at+ ab !
black dog 2c ( 3/ant & rigor\s fa/+4
,add+ to ! comic e6ect ( ! sup]/iti\s
sci5ti/'s /ory is ! irony t ultimately1
t v same w9t]1 %e m>ries a ,h9du
g5tleman ,mr4 ,uppal on ! reb.d :
sc&aliz$ h] hypocritical & n>r[-m9d$
commun;y frs1 relatives1 frs1 &
well-wi%]s f ,dalanwalla4
  ,baji is a hi<ly op9ionat$ b tal5t$1
b1uti;l1 & mo/ companionable p]son 9 !
n>rator's home4 ,baji is ! symbol ( ! "y
,muslim $ucat$ woman ( pre-,9dep5d;e
,9dia :o seeks to $ucate h]f / fur!r 9 !
c.try's >ts & s takes to play+ ! sit>1
ev5 ?\< at t "t1 ,muslim wom5 7 n all[$
to /udy or 9dulge 9 music1 especially n
,9dian music & d.e4 ,h["e1 "ts 7 *ang+ )
,9dia's cultural & $uca;nal evolu;n dur+
! fre$om /ru7le p]iod4 ,s we notice   #d
9 ? /ory t mo/ ( ! idle
upp]-middle-class p1 especially "y
ladies ( ,dalanwalla1 took to music & >t
z cultivat+ ho2ies4 ,!y 7 tau<t ^!
crafts by l[] middle class b $ucat$
ma/]s :o tri$ to eke \ a liv+ 9 ? mann]
to keep pov]ty at bay : pa9$ ! lefti/
s5ti;ts ( ,baji4 ,ano!r r1son :y ! p (
,dalanwalla took to ,9dian music1 >t1 &
d.e 0 t a ri* cultur$ ,calcutta woman
"nd ,mrs4 ,jogmaya ,*att]jee _h newly
come to ! t[n & 0 v m* 9t]e/$ 9 ! >ts l
mo/ ,b5gali families 7 dur+ ! e>ly
tw5tie? c5tury4 ,! "y ladies took to !
skills n 2c !y 7 9t]e/$ 9 ! >ts b 2c !y
want$ to imitate ,mrs4 ,jogmaya's
family1 add$ to ! fact t !y _h ! m"oy to
sp>e & idle "t on _! h&s4 ,! sociali/
aspect ( ! upp]-middle-class ,muslim
commun;y ( ,dehra ,dun is hi<li<t$ 9 ?
/ory titl$ ,8,memories ( an ,9dian
,*ildhood,0 by ,qu>ratula9 ,hyd]4
  ,": ! o!r wom5 9 ! /ory >e 3c]n$1 we
notice t !y >e f di6]5t sec;ns ( t "p (
! _w4 ,": ,jaldh>a1 ! tribal wid[ f   #e
! ,nor?-,ea/ ( ,9dia 0 3c]n$1 %e 0
practic+ poly&ry4 ,%e _h two coolie
husb&s :o bo? sudd5ly di$ simultane\sly
"u hi<ly suspici\s circum/.es4 ,h["e1 %e
0 n faz$ by ! loss 2c %e 0 hav+ a
rollick+ a6air ) h] "ye/ bro!r-9-law1 :o
0 unm>ri$ & 0 devot$ to h]4 ,jal&h> 0 m*
old] ?an h] bro!r-9-law ,faqira1 b 2c (
_! h1l?y & c>efree sexual rela;n%ip1 !y
did n c>e to hide ! fact t !y 7 a sort (
skew$ "m-son & eld] si/]-"y] bro!r z
well z wife-husb& duo f ! hills4
,jaldh>a dies ( a my/]i\s 41se at ! 5d (
t w9t]4 ,x 0 probably due to ,,/d 2c x 0
alm impossible to f9d a way to cure h]4
,we see ,faqira1 a vibrant & lively "y
lad m\rn = 8 d1d
lov]-cum-"m-cum-si/]-9-law1 : ,baji1 !
n>rator1 & ! re/ ( ! family f9d v m* ( a
novelty4 ,baji admires ,faqira's naive
2lief 9 ! sup]/i;n ( 8 village1 ": x is
2liev$ t if an animal footpr9t is made
^u ! a%es ( a cremat$ lov$ "o1 x m1ns t
! lov$ "o has tak5 ! =m ( s* a cr1ture4
,9 ? /ory1 ,faqira fooli%ly 2lieves   #f
t 8 lov] ,jaldh>a _h come back to hm 9 !
=m ( a sp>r[4 ,x is hi<ly 5t]ta9+ to r1d
h[ he tries to prev5t ,re%am1 ! cat1 f
kill+ ! sp>r[s 9 _! va/ home4
  ,!n "! >e ! \tca/ wom51 "nly ,diana
,rose & ,miss ,zohra ,d]by4 ,to a
,muslim ,9dian1 2+ an ,anglo-,9dian or a
,europ1n & 2+ extremely poor m1nt t s* a
p]son 0 n look$ ^u ) respect 9 society4
,": ,diana ,rose 0 3c]n$1 %e 0 a poor
,anglo-,9dian ( ,dalanwalla4 ,%e 0
o/raciz$ & ridicul$ = h] pov]ty1 sk9
color1 & ! fact t %e 0 e>n+ h] keep1 &
h] ,anglo-,9dian "f 0 impov]i%$4 ,mr4
,george ,becket 0 ,diana's "f1 & he got
no support f ! ,9dians or 8 ,briti%
,europ1n c.t]"ps4 ,he 0 / /uck 9 ! pa/
:5 ! ,briti% 7 look$ ^u ) respect & fe>
9 ! c.try ( ,9dia 2f ! ,9dian ,fre$om
,/ru7le4 ,he n[ c>ri$ a hangov] ( ! gd
old "ds :ile 8 poor dau<t] _h to e>n a
liv+4 ,diana 0 a victim ( society1 0
ridicul$ by *n1 eve-t1s$ lewdly by a
te5age bo>d+ s*ool lad ,sw>n1 & 0
desp]ate to e>n m"oy4 ,%e is s        #g
desp]ate t %e ultimately jo9s ! circus t
_h come to t[n & due to an a3id5t loses
h] two legs & is 3f9$ to ! :eel*air ="e4
,9 h] desp]a;n = m"oy & respect 9 a
fa/-*ang+ society1 ,diana ,rose loses m
?an %e ?"\ %e "e cd4 ,we see h[ ,sw>n1
:o 0 ! ma9 culprit :o =c$ ,diana ,rose
to jo9 ! circus 2c ( ! ra7+ & 3/ant
eve-t1s+1 does n ev5 m\rn = h] l;g 5 &
tries to ]ase 8 guilt z qkly z possible
9 a vigor\s game ( football ) 8 cronies4
,if ,diana ,rose 0 ! p>iah or \tca/
,anglo-,9dian1 !n ! situa;n ( ! fe>.s
d>edevil ,miss ,zohra ,d]by 0 worse4 ,%e
0 a circus /unt >ti/ :o rode ! motorbike
9 a dang]\s 3trap;n call$ ! ,well (
,d1?4 ,%e is a novelty & a fr1k (
society & nature :o we>s bree*es l a man
& does /unts on a motorbike : 0 n se5 !n
on ! /reets ( ,dalanwalla4 ,%e is
9dep5d5t1 manly look+1 & ! lov] ( two m5
f ! circus4 ,h] "* seems to ooze \ )
hidd5 sexual;y yet a v prophetic type (
semi-mod]n;y4 ,%e is knif$ & brutally
/a2$ by "o ( h] circus lov]s 2c ( a   #h
fi<t4 ,%e is replac$1 )\t ! batt+ ( an
eyelid or any remorse or m\rn+ on ! "p (
! circus [n] ,dr4 ,%ahbaz1 by ! timid &
f"r5$ ,diana ,rose1 :o is n ev5 a %ad[
on ! d>edevil1 ! b1uti;l b my/]i\s ,miss
,zohra ,d]by4 ,"! is e 9dica;n t ,miss
,d]by 0 a ,muslim 2c ,diana is call$ !
,europ1n or ,london b1uty & n ,zohra 9 !
adv]tise;t bills4 ,miss ,zohra ,d]by 0
:at ,baji1 ,jaldh>a1 & ! n>rator cd n"e
2 despite 2+ f ! same commun;y 2c (
social & economic circum/.es4
  ,! la/ few wom5 :o h prime roles 9 ?
/ory >e ,<afoor ,2gum1 a m>ri$1 backw>d1
sup]/iti\s maid & companion to ,baji1 &
! wom5 gossip]s ( ,dalanwalla4 ,<afoor
,2gum 0 m>ri$ b *1t$ by h] husb& ov] a
"y] & m b1uti;l girl4 ,9/1d ( turn+ ov]
a new l1f1 due to h] backw>d;s & cl++
nature %e ye>ns to 2 reunit$ ) h] wayw>d
husb&4 ,= ? purpose1 %e is ev5 will+ to
get magical spells to ca/ on h] husb& f
! sexually pot5t ,jaldh>a4 ,<afoor ,2gum
admir$ ,jaldh>a = h] sexual dom9a;n (
,faqira & want$ to "k ! secret ( _!   #i
rela;n%ip4 ,%e is a/.d$ by ,jaldh>a's
free _s & frank;s z %e slept ) a "y] boy
:o 0 once l h] son & m>vels at ! fre$om
( ! tribals ( ! ,nor?-,ea/4 ,%e 5vies
,jaldh>a b 3t9ues to /ick to h] old
or?odox ,islamic ways4 ,"! >e _m ironies
3c]n+ ? 2c we r1lize t al? ,<afoor ,2gum
& ! o!r ,muslim wom5 3sid] ,jaldh>a to 2
backw>d & decad5t1 x 0 ! o!r way >.d4
,9de$1 ! upp]-class ,muslim & ,h9du
commun;y 0 backw>d 2c ( _! re/rict$
norms & codes ( 2havior t reek$ (
patri>*y t def9$ ! urban t[n society (
,9dia ev5 9 ! pre-,9dep5d;e p]iod4 ,hyd]
9dicates ? fact subtly & humor\sly4
  ,"! is ample evid;e to prove t ? %ort
/ory 0 ma9ly focus$ on wom5's lives 9
urban ,9dia4 ,h["e1 ! n>rative is hi<ly
humor\s &1 at "ts1 sadi/ic4 ,we notice !
sadism 9 ! way ! ,p]sian cat ,re%am is
?r[n by ! c>efree & c>e.s n>rator 9to !
h$ge1 ": ! cat alm loses xs leg by 2+
9jur$ by ! wire me%4 ,! :ole 9cid5t is
hi<ly dramatiz$ to exa7]a;n1 : is v
witty & makes u lau< al\d until we   #aj
r1lize t ! poor animal 0 s]i\sly hurt6
,we notice ! com$y build+ up to a
cresc5do : 5ds 9 an anti-climax :5 !
n>rator m5;ns t %e ,8grew up,0 af t mo/
ev5t;l b biz>rely funny w9t]4 ,! comic
tim+ ( ,hyd] is sup]b1 mak+ x a mix (
,wodeh\se & ,l1cock al;g ) a da% ( !
sadism ( ,dahl4 ,! n>rator h]f is a lon]
( sorts ^: only frs >e two girls liv+ 9
! nei<borhood :o >e ( h] age b n z
precoci\s or 9tellig5t z h]4 ,! n>rator
is a sil5t obs]v] ( h[ ! family &
nei<borhood make a fool ( !mvs ma9ly 2c
( _! n>r[-m9d$;s despite ! *ang+ _w 9 :
!y 7 liv+4 ,! n>rator is c&id1 h"o/1 &
delicate 9 h] language1 mak+ h] ! sm>te/
( ! wom5 or girls m5;n$ 9 ? /ory4 ,h]
wisdom & broad-m9d$;s def9e ! "y future
,muslim wom5 ( ! latt] half (
tw5tie?-c5tury ,9dia4 ,! /ory 5ds ) h]
f9al take on ! w9t] ev5ts 9 ,dalanwalla4
  ,i % tackle "s m9or textual ref];es1
af : ,i w 3clude ) my analysis4

_4 ,mr4 ,simon 0 s ?rifty t he n"e   #aa
  ev5 cov]$ hmf ) ! only blanket 9 8
  h\se to save hmf f ! cold ( ! ,dehra
  ,dun w9t]4 ,he1 "!=e1 "? 8 mis]li;s1
  kill$ hmf4 ,he liv$ a simple life t
  4turb$ ! lefti/ ,baji4 ,x 0 he :o
  tau<t ,baji h[ to play ! sit>4 ,he
  seem$ to keep to ! 3v5;n1 : we r1lize
  2c he n"e 5t]$ ! n>rator's h\se z
  tutors at t "t 9 ,9dia 7 n all[$ 2y !
  front por* ( a ,muslim or ,h9du home4
_4 ,"! is a m5;n 9 ! text ( ! prom95t
  resid5ts ( ,dalanwalla liv+ 9
  bungal[s1 :o 7 retir$ ,europ1ns liv+
  on _! sav+s4 ,!y wd /ay "! 9 ,dehra
  ,dun till #aidg1 af : sl[ly !y wd l1ve
  ! place z ,9dia made h] way t[>ds
  2com+ a democracy4 ,z hi/ory tells u1
  mo/ ( ^! ,europ1ns wd h sold _! homes
  ma9ly to ,anglo-,9dians1 : wd h pr(it$
  ,mr4 ,george ,becket & ,diana ,rose1
  if only %e _h to wait6
_4 ,re%am1 ! cat 9 ! /ory1 is symbolic (
  ! upp]-middle class's easy-go+ &
  privileg$ life/yle1 mo/ ( :om 7 exotic
  specim5s l h]4 ,%e 0 %orn ( h]     #ab
  ,p]sian fur j l ! ,europ1ns &
  ,anglo-,9dians wd 2 %orn ( _!
  privileges z ,9dep5d;e drew ne> & wd h
  to return to ,brita94 ,t[>ds ! 5d ( !
  /ory1 %e *ases af a sp>r[ :o gives h]
  ! slip1 : provides a comical e6ect 9
  two ways3 f/1 t probably t sp>r[ 0
  ,jaldh>a1 & second t s* tribals wd
  \twit ! ,europ1ns :o _h subdu$ !m =
  ov] two hundr$ ye>s4
_4 ,! ma9 gossip] ( ,dalanwalla 0 a
  c]ta9 ,mr4 ,pet] ,rob]t ,fazal ,masih1
  :o sold clo?4 ,l mo/ dome/ic help]s &
  small busi;s p 9 ,9dia1 he cat]$ to
  small cli5ts & 0 a significant "p ( _!
  p]sonal & family lives4
_4 ,! movie ,8,! ,unt\*able ,girl,0
  m5;n$ 9 ! /ory 0 film$ 9 #aicf & />r$
  ,gurudev ,rab9drana? ,tagore's niece
  ,devika ,rani1 "o ( ! f/ actresses (
  ,9dian c9ema4

  ,i 5joy$ re-r1d+ & analyz+ ? %ort /ory
by ,urdu ,9dian writ] ,qurratula9 ,hyd]
titl$ ,8,memories ( an ,9dian        #ac
,*ildhood,04 ,a ,brl transcript ( ? %ort
/ory analysis is al available "h4 ,i
hope to r1d & review m %ort /ories by
,9dian fem9i/ writ]s soon4 ,if y >e
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,*u<tai's %ort /ory titl$ ,8,quilt,0
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\ my abridge;t ( ! ,grossmi? bro!r's
9 my ,r>e ,classics ,s]ies4 ,i hope to
r1d & review m ,9dian %ort /ories 9 !
com+ "ds4
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analysis1 %ort /ory analysis1 poems1
essays1 essay analysis1 & o!r booki%
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r1d+ to y alw6
  ^c#bjbb ,fiza ,pa?an

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