Nano Begal
Nano Begal (Khowar: نانو بیگال), which means Begal's mother, was a famous woman from a story from the Chitral kingdom in northwestern Pakistan. People in northern Pakistan tell the story. Nano Begal is about bravery among Chitrali women.[1]
Story
[change | change source]The story happens during the 17th century.
The story begins with two polo players in Chitral trying to play polo better than each other: Jalal Begal, an ordinary man, and the ruler of Chitral, the Mehtar of Chitral. Jalal Begal often won the polo game against the Mehtar. The Mehtar got angry about losing, and he said that if he lost again, he would punish the people in his royal court. To stop this, the people in the court decided to kill Jalal Begal while he slept.[2][1][3][2]
The next day, Jalal Begal's mother found her son dead. Instead of crying or asking for help to bury him, she put on his polo clothes and got his horse ready for the polo game. She covered her face so no one could tell who she was. She went joined the polo team, and played the game. Her dead son's teammates thought she was Jalal Begal, and they thought he was playing polo better than they had ever seen him play before. They won against the ruler again.[4][2] Then Nano Begal showed the ruler her face and she sang a song called Nano Begal-a:[4][5]
| “ | Behold the ruthless Mehtar's ruthlessness, O mother's Begal! Behold my pierced and bruised heart, O mother’s Begal! Wherefore should the Mehtar get you murdered? While even an old woman could hit the ball, O mother's Begal! Thou would hit the ball from far end, and get goals scored on the other; Who could play the game like thee now? O mother's Begal! Thy flying-hit would soar high into the air, And would tear through the heights of the sky, O mother's Begal! May he, who killed thee, lose his son too! And may mourning never cease in his house! O mother’s Begal! Ah! The players get paired now, and the team is short one player: Oh mother's spear-lashed! O mother's Begal! Shoghor's is rocky ground, O mother's Begal! Thou wilt stumble over, O mother’s Begal! |
” |
People still sing this song in the valleys in Chitral. Nano Begal, the Mother of Begal is seen as a heroic woman and a role model for Chitrali women.[1]
References
[change | change source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 staff (2020-10-30). "Chitrali music depicts heroic role of women". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 L'Homme, Erik. Tales of Lost Kingdom: A Journey into Northwest Pakistan. Translated by Bedrick, Claudia Zoe. Enchanted Lion Books. ISBN 9781592700721. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
- ↑ Ali, Fardad (2020-10-30). "Chitrali music depicts heroic role of women". Chitral News. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 staff (2023-08-09). "Women's contribution to Chitral folk literature highlighted". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
- ↑ "Nanao Begal-a Khowar Elegy". www.mahraka.com. Retrieved 2024-02-09.