Hazrat Amman Jan - An Inspiration for Us All — Page 131
Two incidents are related by Hadrat Amman Jan's grandchildren, which illustrate her accurate assessment of the finer sensibilities of children. They show how she cared for and protected children within the boundaries of truth, whilst avoiding embarrassing them. Sahibzadi Qudsia Begum has mentioned her grandmother's astonishing wisdom and insight. She reflect ed that despite having no formal education or degrees, elders like Hadrat Amman Jan ra were able to assess the psychology of children. On one occasion at a family wedding, Qudsia Begum remembers attending a dinner at her great uncle's house, Hadrat Mir Muhammad Ismail Sahib. A large white tablecloth was spread over a dinner table. Most of her family were present. One relative asked the young Qudsia Begum to pass a dish of curry. Qudsia Begum dropped the dish as young children are prone to do. She felt utterly embarrassed in her great uncle's house, as they only occasionally visited. Hadrat Amman Jan ra perceived this and to remove her discomfort she remarked to the adult who had asked for the dish; " Don't you know, she is just recovering from a fever ?” (Earlier, she had been suffering from malaria). “She is still weak…how can she carry such a heavy dish? Why did you ask her to pass such a dish?” 79 Qudsia Begum relates that she was at that time no longer suffering from the symptoms of malaria but much more from acute embarrassment, which her kind grandmother helped to alleviate. Qudsia Begum has also commented that in her role as a grandmother, Hadrat Amman Jan ra was most kind and caring. She relates that she was a very shy and reserved child and whenever she wished to ask her parents for anything she would ponder over it for days. However, with her grandmother she felt so close and relaxed that she could ask and even childishly argue for things 79 “ Sirato Sawaneh Hadrat Amman Jan” Prof. S. N. Saeed, p590. 131