151 AFGHAN PROVERBS AT YOUR FINGER TIPS - ZARBUL MASALAH

By Humaira

I grew up with my father spouting Afghan proverbs at every turn of a conversation or teaching moment.  His favorite one for me, a tomboy, who came home with scraped knees from playing soccer or riding my bike was ----

“I have seen a girl play with dolls but not with bow and arrow like a champion prince.”

I find that Afghan proverbs are getting diluted with DarEnglish spoken by young Afghans in the United States. Sometimes in my writings I struggle with a specific thought, which I can express seamlessly with a Dari proverb but not in English. 

You can imagine my delight when I discovered “Zarbul Masalah – 151 Afghan Dari Proverbs”, a book by Captain Edward Zellem. 

Yes, a U.S. Navy Captain wrote the Dari Proverbs book, now available in 35 countries and translated in eight languages.  A Pashto version is coming soon.  During his time in Afghanistan, Captain Zellem collected and translated these proverbs in cooperation with Afghan friends and colleagues. Here is a favorite food related proverb from the book:

“We didn’t eat the aush, but were blinded by the smoke.”

Meaning, we did all the work but received none of the benefits.  I can’t say that about Captain Zellem’s book.  He has done the work resulting in a wonderful book that every Afghan under the age of 45 should have a copy.

What I love about the book is that the proverbs are in Dari, followed by transliteration in English so anyone can pronounce it.  Then, he goes on to give the literal translation and finally the deep meaning or root of each proverb. 

I call on young Afghans to get a copy of this book.  Your mothers will be dazzled to hear you use speak with proverbs.  I have my book marked up with favorite proverbs and every time I talk to Jeja, my mom, I throw out a new saying.  It delights her to hear how much my Dari has improved.

Humaira Ghilzai of Afghan Culture Unveiled asks Captain Zellem about his love of language, Afghanistan and food:

 You can learn about Captain Zellem's book on his website Afghan Sayings.

Young Afghan artists who illustrated "151 Afghan Proverbs"book

Humaira: Tell me a little bit about your overall impression of Afghanistan and its people.

Capt. Zellem: I spent far more time with Afghans than I did with foreigners during my year and a half in Afghanistan.  As a Dari speaker I got to know Afghans pretty well during that time. 

My overall impression is that Afghans and Americans have a lot more in common with each other at the personal level than most people think.  Like most Americans, most Afghans greatly value basic human qualities like hospitality, trust, humor, good conversation, family, friends, courage, and freedom.  Those are only a few; there are many more qualities that we share.  Enjoyment of good food is another one, and I know you can appreciate that with the many great Afghan recipes that you share.    

There are many religious, cultural and other differences between Afghans and Americans.  And of course, there are tremendous differences in life experiences. 

All Afghans have been affected greatly by three decades of war, and most Americans have not.  But despite these differences, I found the similarities at the person-to-person level to be remarkable.   I’ve lived and traveled a lot of places around the world for thirty years, and I’ve known people of many different nationalities.  So I think I can say this with some authority. 

 When peace and security come to Afghanistan one day, I think many others will discover the same thing I did. The common human thoughts and feelings found in Afghan Proverbs can show us these commonalities too.  My books of Afghan proverbs are also a completely personal hobby and a project to support Afghan literacy and charity

Humaira: I understand once you were in Afghanistan and working with Afghans you noticed their usage of the proverbs.  Do you think programs should teach such intricacies of language, or the discovery of such knowledge should come from interaction with the native speakers?

Capt. Zellem: I think if you learn a baseline of proverbs and sayings in language school, the discovery of more can come naturally once you start working in that language. 

The key is being a good listener and open to interacting with other cultures and people.   When learning another language it’s certainly important to learn how to ask things like where the bathroom is, or how much something costs. But it’s also important to gain cultural competency in a language by trying to talk the way regular people and native speakers do.  It’s also a lot of fun and it builds conversations and friendships fast. 

Once I got to Afghanistan and started using Dari every day, I noticed proverbs being used all the time. So I started using these Afghan proverbs myself.  I immediately found them to be useful and fun, great shorthand for very complicated thoughts, and a great way to understand Afghans better.  Learning Afghan Proverbs also helped me learn more Dari vocabulary. 

So for all these reasons I started writing down the proverbs when I heard them used.  One thing led to another, and a personal learning tool became a hobby, then a passion.

Humaira:  Since I write about Afghan food and culture, I have to ask you about your favorite Afghan dishes. Are you a cook and have you attempted making Afghan food?

Capt. Zellem: I love Afghan food, it’s some of the best in the world!  I especially enjoy qabili palau, boulanee with either potatoes or leeks.  Mantoo, eggplant cooked Afghan style, and of course kebabs of all kinds.

I especially like kebab-e chopan. And there is no better bread in the world than fresh naan! 

“Neem-e naan, raahat-e jaan.”  نیم نان، راحت جان

My wife does most of the cooking in our house – she is a lot better at it than I am.  But, I do insist on cooking Afghan food, it always brings back good memories of Afghanistan.   Nothing can beat Afghan food cooked by an Afghan, but I try and it is usually pretty good. 

Your recipes help a lot!

I’ve used your holiday recipes for haft mewa and Afghan cookies several times with great success. People love them both, and we now serve them to our families and guests during the holidays. One day I’ll be bold and try to make my own mantoo!  It is probably easier than it looks, I need to be brave and just do it.       

Humaira: Are you still in contact with the Marefat School High School students who did the illustrations for your book? How do they feel about the upcoming withdrawal of the U.S. army and NATO force? 

Captain Zellem in Marefat Schoo

Capt. Zellem: I am still in regular contact with Marefat High School, because the students there are illustrating my next book of 151 Pashto Proverbs. In fact, the faculty is using the Pashto book project as part of the art curriculum at Marefat this semester, and the students are learning a lot from our work together.

The paintings I have seen so far are absolutely beautiful, I know people around the world will be inspired by them.

Everyone in Afghanistan and the world is concerned about what will happen after 2014.  But Afghan youth like the students at Marefat are the hope for a brighter future.  The world needs to support Afghan youth, Afghan literacy, and Afghan education to help bring peace and security.   As the Afghan Proverb says,

“Doonya ba omeed zenda ast”

“The world is alive with hope.”. دنیا با امید زنده است 

  I also like to remind people that,

“ Shab dar meaan ast, Khodaa mehrabaan ast.”

“Even in the middle of the night, God is kind.” . شب در میان است، خدا مهربان است

These are two very famous Zarbul Masalha, which have great meaning for Afghanistan after 2014.

* Please note that Captain Zellem is an active duty U.S. Navy officer, anything he say here is his personal opinion and does not represent the position of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, and the U.S. Navy.

AFGHAN CHILI - MASHAWA

By Katie

If I was on the fence about the slow cooker, this particular dish here has tipped the scales.When the slow cooker had finished doing its magic, I found myself hovered over the pot, fork in hand, double dipping, tongue burning, and hoping nobody would stumble into the kitchen. It was crock pot crack.

The dish is called mashawa. Humaira deemed it Afghan chili when she posted the original recipe few months ago. It has the consistency of chili and boasts three different legumes. It’s crowned with a scoop of yogurt just as you might finish a Southwestern chili with sour cream.The flavor, however, is distinctly Afghan, not remotely Tex Mex:coriander and dill in lieu of chili powder and cumin. And while it’s loaded with flavor, it lacks the heat of a traditional chili. If you like spicy, boost the amount of red chili flakes in the recipe.

I’m keeping this posting short. I need time to figure out which crock pot I’m going to buy.

 

Slow Cooker Afghan Chili

Mashawa

1 medium onion, finely chopped

5 cloves garlic, finely chopped

3 tbsp. olive oil

1 1/2 lbs. beef stew meat, cut into bite-size pieces (too big and it won’t be tender)

1 tsp. Kosher salt, plus more for seasoning the meat

¾ tsp. black pepper, plus more for seasoning the meat

6 cups low-sodium chicken broth

2 tbsp. tomato paste

1 tbsp. ground coriander

1/2 tsp. red chili flakes

1 1/2 cups dried mung beans

1 15-oz can of kidney bean

1 15-oz can of chickpeas

2 tbsp. dried dill

 1 cup plain yogurt

1/2 tsp. dried ground garlic

Heat the oil in large skillet over medium-high heat, add the onions and sauté for 5 minutes.  Add garlic and cook for another minute. Season the meat with a healthy pinch of Kosher salt and black pepper and add to the onions/garlic.Cook for 10-12 minutes until nicely browned.  

While the meat is browning, combine the chicken broth, tomato paste, coriander, chili flakes, mung beans, ½ tsp. of the salt and the black pepper to the crock pot.Stir well.Add the browned meat/onions to the pan and stir again. Turn the crock pot to low and cook for 6 hours.After 6 hours, add the kidney beans, chickpeas and dill. Continue to cook on low for an additional 30 minutes.If the meat is not tender enough, let it go another 30 minutes.

When you are ready to eat, stir together the yogurt, dried garlic and remaining half teaspoon of salt.

In a small bowl mix together the yogurt, garlic and remaining ½ tsp of salt. 

Serve in bowls with a dollop of yogurt and a piece of nan or flat bread.

Makes 6 hearty portions

Except where otherwise noted, all content on this blog is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported license.

PHOTO EXHIBIT - AFGHANISTAN, AN ERA OF PEACE

By Humaira

Today, even after 12 years of Afghanistan's "emancipation" from the Taliban, the only photos we see are of Taliban fighters, destruction and war. Oppression, lawlessness, corruption and hopelessness are associated with this central Asian country. 

After spending 3/4 of my life in the United States I had also forgotten the real Afghanistan that Joe Hoyt captures in his photos.

Six years ago, I met Joe when we were panelists at an event in San Francisco. I was brought to tears as I spent hours going from one photo to the next and really absorbing what I was seeing. They reminded me of the Afghanistan I once knew, "From an Era of Peace", so perfectly named. Joe captured these images during his five adventure filled trips to Afghanistan from 1970-1975.

Yes, there was a time when Afghans did not wake up to new bombings every day. They could travel without being shot at and they could send their children to school without fear.  Joe captures that time with elegance, honesty and love.  “Bus Top” is one of my favorite photos. It reminds me of my family road trips from Kabul to Ghazni when we passed the central bus stop on the outskirts of Kabul and saw colorful and intricately decorated buses all dolled up like brides waiting for their grooms to sweep them off their feet. 

As a little girl how I wished to ride on one of those buses rather than in our orange Volkswagen bug. In “Bus Top”, you can really see the joy in the passengers’ faces, perhaps the true essence of an Afghan: their need for independence, their stubbornness in doing things their way and their resilience. In each of these amazing photos, Joe depicts the peace, the freedom and the optimism that all Afghans shared at that time in history.

These photos are an artistic account of a time that should not be forgotten and a stark reminder for us, not to give up on Afghanistan and its people.

On November 13th, Joe’s photos will go on display at the beautiful Afghan Center at Kabul University. It is the first time Afghans in Afghanistan will view these photos. 

Joe’s photos have been exhibited in San Francisco, Fremont, San Jose and Belmont, California. Other locations in the U.S. include Miami, Aspen, and Easton, Maryland.  The photos have also visited Coventry in the UK and Calgary, Canada.

“Afghanistan - Images From An Era Of Peace”

50 black and white photographs from 1970 -1975

by Joseph Hoyt

November 12 - December 12th, 2013

Opening Reception - Hamed Mubarez and Jawad Jalali

Afghanistan Center at Kabul University

Kabul, Afghanistan

Open and free to the public

Exhibit Sponsors: Dupree Foundation and The Aga Khan Trust for Culture

I asked Joe to select five of his favorite photos from this exhibit. Each photo has a introduction by Joe and an accompanying Rumi poem translated by Coleman Barks.

Nineteen Boys

Nineteen Boys – A great kids photo, but the back story is the essence. Otherwise a bunch of characters running the streets, behaving well and learning to read the Koran. Possibly the only book they’ll ever hold in their lives.

Rumi/Barks:

A swift stream never gets bored

with the fish that swim in it.

 Nor do those fish weary

of feeling the flow around them.

 No. This world loves its lovers,

and those lovers never tire of being

so dear and near what bears them along.

The Village of Lash-i-Jouayn

Village of Lash – e – Jouayn – An ancient and uber- mysterious place in the desert unlikely to ever be seen by any tourist. The town is located way past Farah in Nimruz Province.  I rode the bus out there.  

Rumi/Barks:

Find your place and close your eyes,

so your heart can start to see.

When you give up being self-absorbed,

your being becomes a great community.

Dusty Kabul Backstreet

Dusty Kabul Backstreet –The old and the new juxtaposed in the dark -- full of questions.

Rumi/Barks:

I wander through the towns of this world,

leaving them each to those in charge

of decorating them for festivals.

 Like a boat drifting on the ocean

with no set direction, one afternoon

resting in a caravanserai, that night,

starting out for somewhere else.

Stepping Stones

Stepping Stones – A frozen moment, one leg up another down.  Like a Cartier-Bresson, what a capture is meant to be, pure chance.

Rumi/Barks:

I love the soul that lets my soul

stay healthy, growing

like an orchard, a garden.

He brings symbols through me

to show the world.

Then at other times,

he clears my consciousness

to be transparent like himself.

Trees and clouds:C.Barks

Clouds and Poplars – Unlike all the others; this shows the solitude, grandeur and beauty of the natural aspects of Afghanistan.  A sole Afghan is walking the road to --- where?

Rumi/Barks:

This is how I would die

into the love I have for you:

as pieces of cloud

dissolve in sunlight.

All Rumi verses compliments of

and © Coleman Barks, All rights reserved.

Humaira Ghilzai of

Afghan Culture Unveiled interviews Joe Hoyt about this historical exhibit:

Humaira: What does it mean to you to have these photos exhibited in Afghanistan?

Joe:

This is an interesting opportunity to actually see what impact the images have

after all. Unlike in the west, photographs do not have an aspect to them where

they are viewed as art or have innate historical significance. 

Some of the most appreciative audiences have been Afghans living in the United

States. The thing is, the photos are likely to be viewed by individuals who

have not seen images of what their very own country was like before 35 plus

years of war and upheaval.  I’m sure some

aspects will seem more or less what they experience even today. 

As international forces are set to leave Afghanistan in

2014, I would hope the collection will help set the stage to engender ethnic

co-operation, pride in national identity, appreciation for the rich and

remarkable history of the nation the resilience of the Afghan people. 

Humaira: Why do you think there is so much interest in your

photos?  After all, over the past 12

years many new photographers and filmmakers have created beautiful work in

Afghanistan.  What intrigues people about

your photos?

Joe:

Clearly, mine are compelling because of the era – well before the nation was

overrun by the Russians and before the civil war, before the Taliban and before

foreign occupation. I am unaware of any other vintage collections from that time

period being toured around for exhibition.

But

the key factor is they are for the most part black and white.  They are riveting because they are personal,

they are honest, un-posed, they are candid and in the moment captures. All are in natural light and taken

one-on-one; perhaps it is even because they are naïve and unadorned. I was a 21

– 22 year old using my wits and, dare I say charm, to approach common people to

take their photos.  The trust shows in

the subject’s faces (most of the time anyway). You do not see the hollow-eyed

visages visible in so many images taken during the years of terror and fear.

Humaira: How did you go from creating the booklet to finding

exhibits around the U.S. and in Europe?

Joe: After San Francisco where we met, I came away encouraged the exhibition would

have wider interest, but had no idea how to go about marketing it.  I found a group specializing in traveling

photo exhibits and contracted with them. 

They booked some exhibits but I mostly arrange them myself. Some US

universities might be a good place.  And

I’d love to do an exhibit in DC and maybe San Francisco again!

Humaira: Tell us about your collaboration with Coleman Barks

(Rumi expert and student of Sufism) for this exhibit.

Joe: In May 2012, I sent a letter to Mr. Barks that included a

copy of my book.  I told him about my

photos, the intent of my work and so on. I asked if he might be interested in

and have time to match up some Rumi quatrains with my photos.

Six

months later I received a reply.  He

thought the photos were great, but did not have time.  He sent a copy of  The Big Red Book as a really nice gift.

Some

months later Coleman (we now use our first names) changed course and sent me

four quatrains! Some time went by – I received more!  Some unpublished verses!  I used them in an exhibit at the local museum

when the work was exhibited. 

You can see six of the

verses on my website. To date, I have received 16

verses selected to go along with certain photos.  The others will be posted soon. 

Exhibit contact:

Joseph Hoyt

imagesofafghanistan@gmail.com

http://www.imagesofafghanistan.com