Classics, thrillers, murder mysteries, tales of loss and woe, love and life – fictional stories can range from being realistic to being completely magical. Where do writers get their ideas from and how much do their surroundings impact their imagination?
Dawn.com speaks to Karachi based authors and those who have lived in the city to know how it plays a role in their work. Bina Shah elaborates on Karachi’s shifting landscape, H.M Naqvi speaks on how Karachi sustains him, Maniza Naqvi talks about discovering the city as an adult and Mohmmed Hanif talks about how the city manages to slip into his work.
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Comments (11) Closed
Nadia Zaffar
Mar 01, 2012 08:30pm
A wonderful, heartwarming piece. I hear the mystery of Karachi in the voices of the authors and the video captures the essence of Karachi in its short-lived but well-loved "winter." Karachi deserves more work like this.
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Syed
Mar 01, 2012 11:30pm
No doubt Karachi is the heart of Pakistan. Rightly known as Mini Pakistan.
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Jamal Amir hamza
Mar 02, 2012 10:02pm
if there would have no violence , no target killing, no corruption in karachi then karachi would have become a most trade able city but unfortunately just because of a devastating situations which led karachi down and down...
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Abdul Khaliq
Mar 03, 2012 02:51am
I grew up in Karachi most of my youth life graduated from University of Karachi than moved to America.I have many wonderful memories of my old city Karachi.Karachi is the only city in Pakistan which has ethnic populations living in it from every part of the country.People of Karachi are very loving, generous and kind hearted people.Whenver, there are crisis in any part of Pakistan, peoples of Karachi are the first respondent ,they fell the pain of their brothers and sisters and they help generously.
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Tom Tokudaiji
Mar 03, 2012 05:11am
Thanks to your nice video,I really enjoyed recent Karachi,where I worked for 3 years as rep. of a Japanese trading house in '68 thru '71. I have a strong nostalgie in Karachi always and love her always. _Thank you!
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Dawar
Mar 03, 2012 07:52am
Not a good video.
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Gambi
Mar 04, 2012 03:15am
karachi is known for multi cultural. But the violance! target killings and bombs and political issues. what a shame! Who wants to live in Kaachi anymore? Those golden days are gone and just find a place to settle where no politics or target killings or bad people.
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Qurat-al- AIN
Mar 04, 2012 11:43am
I was born and raised in Karachi. My parents are the children of imigrants from British India. My grand parents were very well to do land owners and owned and ran a well known law firm. My parents moved to Pakistan to raise their children in secular islamic enviornment. They enjoyed every moment in Karachi. Karachi was a lovely and very safe place. By definition it was Jinnahs Pakistan, the country, home for every Pakistani. I grew up living in a very secular but conservative muslim enviornment, my brothers are very well educated and also Hafiz-e- Quran.. Attended St. Joseph up to cambridge and got my masters from U of Karachi. I was sent to USA to get my doctorate. It breaks my heart when I walk on Sir Syed Road today where I grew up. We walked with other girls of the neighborhood to Tariq road without being stared at, We could go to shops and restaurants at almost any time of the day. We had friend of all religions none of us felt superior or inferior than others. Now the same blvd. does not look the same, although al the houses are the same with some exception. PECHS, Sadar and clifton area was as modern as Eastern Europe cities. People were very kind and polite then. I worry about my children today in the same city.
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Scientific Malang
Mar 04, 2012 12:00pm
i love karachi for my own reason...and i own it yeah truly.
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shabbir
Mar 05, 2012 06:45am
Thanks Dawn.com, for posting a video about Karachi, the place I was born and grew up. This city has entrap my heart like a first love you would have, my heart beats and bleed for the city of Karachi. Like every one I grew up in Karachi, lived in Karachi went to Dow Medical College and after my graduation had to forcebly moved to USA for the political reason's, I still adore the city, the memories of old city Junna Market, Bolton market, Saddar, Bohri bazar,Tower, Jamma cloth, burns road, Gandhi garden, Clifton, DHA, Nazimabad, North nazimabad and other parts of the city, those memories bring back nostalgia and lift my soul up when ever I am down in daily life. Never seen such generous and kind place, I have made so many friends and acquantence growing up in Karachi which I still enjoy. I hope and pray that soon the street crimes and gangs of Karachi will evaporate out of Karachi, I dream that some day we will have Lady Gaga , Elton John, Colplay,Maroon 5, performing Viva la Karachi at Karachi. I salute and wish very safe and happy lifes for the hard working and dedicated people of Karachi.
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salman
Mar 14, 2012 02:57pm
Karachi is the heart of Pakistan. Rightly known as Mini Pakistan. one should read the book on karachi as well its available at 786cart.com
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