Community and cityscape

Published February 10, 2013

Pre-partition Karachi exuded cosmopolitanism in every sense of the word. Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Parsis, Jews and Sikhs lived in complete communal harmony. The presence of a variety of ethnic communities added flavour to the cultural landscape of the city. Karachi was one of the towns that best exemplified the phrase ‘unity in diversity’ in the whole of the Indian subcontinent.

The partition of undivided India did not fundamentally alter Karachi’s distinct identity. Those who migrated from India to Pakistan and found the city by the sea suitable to carry forward their mission and begin life anew were greeted with open arms. They settled down caring little about culture shock. Some of them assimilated without much dithering and positively contributed to Karachi’s cultural multiplicity, as if they had been living here for ages. They inhabited areas in and around Saddar.

Groups that migrated from different parts of India (UP, CP, Bihar and cities north of Delhi) settled in Karachi’s densely populated areas as well as on the fringes of the city. They regrouped themselves to make their presence felt in the newly-created country and took part in public and private sector activities. Alongside that, they had their fair share of social welfare work. Among these groups, there was an important merchant class called the Delhi Punjabi Saudagaran.

By the 1970s the Jamiat Punjabi Saudagaran Delhi ran some institutions to support their community, one of which was a hospital on Deen Mohammad Wafai Road. It was housed in a beautiful building (which may have been originally built for some other purpose) constructed much before partition. The structure was made of stone, had big spacious windows and was marked by beautiful classical decorative elements — a regular feature of pre-independence architecture. It is not known as to who designed this building. But Karachi had many such buildings and natives, old and new Karachiites, valued their architectural heritage.

However, somewhere down the line things on the socio-political front began to move, sadly, in the wrong direction. Culturally too the picture of a harmonised society fell apart, piece by piece, little by little, one by one. Suddenly, priorities appeared to take a 180-degree turn, and in some cases at breakneck speed. ‘Survival’ seemed to be the name of the game.

Some suggest it was in the1980s that Karachi’s cityscape first noticeably morphed into something that was not systematic or readily understandable. Subsequently old buildings were either demolished to make way for new ones or altered to look contemporary. A majority of the pre-independence structures were left unattended. Their owners were now a new breed of businessmen and their occupants did not give the impression as if they cared much about the historical importance of the buildings they inhabited. Consequently, these old beauties found themselves faced with a tragic situation.

It’s not known what caused the Jamiat Punjabi Saudagaran Delhi hospital to deteriorate. Perhaps there is a valid reason for it. Whatever the cause may be, today the building, which stands at the corner of the road that leads to Pakistan Chowk passing through the Arts Council Karachi edifice, needs restoration. This can be easily observed by looking at it even cursorily. Quite a few of its decorative elements have disappeared and the colour of the structure does not seem original. The glasswork on the big balcony facing the road is shattered like the dream of a jilted lover. There is a smaller gate on top of which is written ‘Kushtiwala hospital’. You wonder what does that mean when the main entrance clearly mentions the Saudagaran. Was there a hospital within a hospital?

Right behind the building is a series of Sindh Assembly quarters made of stone. They are an aged site and exist right next to the above-mentioned structure. If you look at the quarters from the main entrance, you will also be able to appreciate the beauty of the Saudagaran building because from here some of the better maintained flats in it will come into view.

Mr Sohail, who works at the Jamiat Punjabi Saudagaran office, says, “We got this building in the 1970s. Tenants had been living here from the mid-1950s. The name Kushtiwala that you see on the board is because there was a certain Fazal Ilahi Kushtiwala who donated a decent amount for the hospital. In the ‘90s security issues reared their head because of the structure’s proximity to the Sindh Assembly building and we had to leave the building. We shifted to Frere Road.”

Architect Noman Ahmed says: “I do not have information on the Saudagaran hospital building. All I can tell you is that this area was developed in the early 20th at rapid pace. The institutions built in this vicinity had the provision for keeping their staff, hence you see those quarters.”

While moving away from the area one particular thought springs to mind. When people physically leave their abodes it does not matter as much. It is when they leave them spiritually that the buildings begin to disintegrate.

mohammad.salman@dawn.com

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