I have been writing my family's story in my mind for almost 30 years but never jotted it down on paper. The blog seems like a good way to jump in headlong without too much preamble. I always want the first paragraph to be spectacular, all fireworks and lightening, something that will hook and then reel the reader in. This is where I get stuck. So this time no formal introductory paragraph. I am going just going to start from the middle. If I ever come up with a brilliant beginning I will insert it here. Until then let me just get on with the story.
My family members on my father's side are great story tellers. I have grown up with elaborate re-enactments of Indian epics, complete with actions and voice modulations, from my father and all his brothers and sisters. Our home life was quite an epic itself. When I was little, it was a joint family structure, with grandparents, uncles, aunts, their families and children all joined together into one big family. Not every one lived under one roof at any given time though. Families moved in and out and were magnetically held together under a loose family management. The loose family management was what made it an epic.
Sorry to break the thread, but I just thought of a good starting paragraph.
"This is my family's story as I have heard and lived it. . . . ".
Well maybe not! I have been sitting here at this place with a dilemma I do not know how to solve. The problem is, while I can write with great impunity that part of the story that happened in front of my eyes, I cannot vouch for the accuracy of what I have heard from others. I myself, am able to see events happening in front of me with great clarity and relay them without distortion, but I cannot say the same about the other family members. You see, the stories I have heard changed, over time, not only from person to person but also from the same person. Now my telling also changes over time but that is because the events sometimes truly evolve retrospectively. Anyway, this story then is an amalgam of the collective memory of our whole family, with all its imperfections and stretching of the truths to make the history more interesting. Some places have been reconstructed (ok fabricated) to fill the gaps left by memory lapses and other places events have been condensed to create a composite for the sake of brevity. Other than that it is absolutely the way it happened.
Now how does one put this in a coherent paragraph that will start this telling and hook and reel the reader in? Maybe I will make another attempt at the 'beginning' some other time.
1 comment:
Bedifamilyjournal - A well thought of project. This may turn out a historic decision. I am visualising it in three parts. My account of 'Bebay'starting with founding of our village 'Santpura'
and to end with her demise can become the middle chapter of this journal. This account is only partly done and I shall find incentive to complete it with vigour. The first chapter will relate to the life and work of Guru Nanak - the founder of our clan. This would be free from myths. There are cmplete Biographical details in his own writings which are camouflaged by the clergy for their vested interests. As great grand children of this great savant it is our duty to present true Nanak to the people.
You can start the post 'bebay' chapter from your times. Each chapter will be independently written. In due course they should merge into a cmplete cohesive work. I am awaiting your response.
Daddy.
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