Pahariwood movies

In an earlier job I produced audio information publications in Pahari/Pothowari as well as other languages such as English, Urdu, Punjabi, Gujarati, Mandarin Chinese and Polish.

So I was fascinated to read the Wikipedia article on the majority language of Mirpur, Pahari- Pothwari. This is a distinct dialect related to Punjabi. The language does not have a written tradition and there is still no generally agreed way to transcribe the spoken sounds into Urdu script, though scholars are developing it.

As a result of that situation, I remember some amusing moments in the recording studio when we had script readers who were not the same people who had written the scripts.

Miki Kharo England

However, there is progress – even talk of ‘Pahariwood’ – a smaller version of Bollywood! For example, the first ever comic telefilm in Pahari – Miki Kharo England – which means “Take Me to England”. This romantic comedy was so successful that there was a comic sequel in 2007 called Main Julian England – which means “I’m Going to England”.

Main Julian England

From my own experience, I guess that part of the comedy must have appeared on the film set. With lots of laughs when actors tried to read some of the words in the Pahari-Pothwari film script!

This is a link to the YouTube promo for another Pahariwood comedy Acho Khari Nal.

And there is a YouTube promo of another Pahari movie – Lakeer.

Mirpur, Azad Kashmir – میر پور

The Azad Mega Mart referred to in the BBC article

One of the largest communities in Kirklees, West Yorkshire comes from Mirpur in Pakistan-administered Kashmir – Azad Kashmir.

A RECENT BBC ARTICLE explains the logic behind the “Little Britain” term sometimes used in Pakistan to refer to Mirpur.

When thousands of residents lost their livelihoods as farmers in the 1960s -when the huge Mangla dam was built in the area – there was a large migration of Mirpuris to the United Kingdom. This built on a smaller, earlier migration.

As a result about 70% of the Pakistani migration living in Britain today originates from this one district of Kashmir. Around half a million Mirpuri people live in the UK, compared to about 370,000 in Mirpur City.

Mangla Dam - Mirpur

The island of Carriacou

Carriacou is an island in the eastern Caribbean which is politically part of Grenada. About 14 miles long and 2 to 3 miles wide it has a population of around 8,000 with strong links to the town of Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, England. It is one of the most beautiful and least developed Caribbean islands.

The Carnival is at the end of February,  the Maroon Music Festival at the end of April, a Sailing Regatta at the end of July and the Parang Festival at the end of December. The climate is maritime subtropical. Temperatures throughout the year vary from 75 F. to 85 F. , moderated by cooling trade winds.

There are over 100 rum shops where you can enjoy the local music and a game of dominoes.

Carriacou panorama

Click on the image below to go to a superb slideshow of photos of Carriacou by Geoff Schultz. Please note that the images are copyright.

Click here for a Carriacou slideshow

Carriacou Regatta

Here’s a YouTube video of the CARRIACOU REGATTA.

Carriacou Carnival 2010

Carriacou Carnaval

Many people from Carriacou in the Caribbean have come to live and work in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. Here are some links to YouTube videos made at the February 2010 Carriacou and Petite Martinique Carnaval.

First, a funky TV trailer promoting Carnival.

Next, a clip of Carnival in the rain!

And this be dancin in da street!

Huddersfield’s Queensgate Market Hall is 40

Interior sculpture

Tomorrow the architectural wonder of Kirklees, West Yorkshire celebrates its 40th birthday. It’s Queensgate Market Hall in the centre of Huddersfield. This unique building is an expression of geometric genius. It’s ”roofed with 21 free – standing asymmetric hyperbolic paraboloid shells”. It is also a ceramic giant with what is probably “the world’s largest ceramic sculpture”. A combination of distinguished architecture and art.

Councillor Julie Stewart-Turner, the Mayor of Kirklees, will unveil a commemorative plaque and blow out the candles on a birthday cake in the Market Hall at 2.30 pm tomorrow April 6th.

Architectural wonders are often reserved for metropolitan elites.

In contrast, the Market Hall is used by a wide range of people in Huddersfield.

Night scene

Its many market stalls and market shops have served the town with fresh produce and a wide range of goods for 40 years. The market is still popular with the market traders and their customers.

Local communities are grateful for the work of Huddersfield Gem, a local heritage group, which has done a lot to promote the preservation of the Market Hall in recent years.

Here’s a link to two impressive fly-through architect’s animations of the Market Hall.

Photo taken in 1973

Social media training for communities

An earnest consultation at the Huddersfield Social Media Surgery

If you want to get your community group online there is free social media training for you at the Media Centre, Northumberland Street, Huddersfield. Learn about blogging, text messaging, Facebook, Twitter and other free websites on Monday 24th May at 4.30-7pm. Just drop in for advice, there is no need to book.

The fine people who run it are all volunteers called Huddersfield Social Media and you can visit their interesting WordPress blog filled with useful links at:

www.huddersfieldsocial.org.uk