An old man, holding his little grandson's hand, has just arrived at the Quaid-i-Azam House and Museum. He says the child has come all the way from a remote area in Punjab to see the place the Father of the Nation once lived in. They return disappointed. Reason it is 1pm, lunch time for those working at the museum.

Avoiding desultory discussion let's establish one thing at the outset apart from being an exceedingly intelligent individual, Mohammad Ali Jinnah had a sharp aesthetic sense. The elegant dresses that he wore, the classy hats that he put on, and the linguistic panache with which he communicated with friends and colleagues endorse this observation. It also mirrors in the buildings he chose as his abode.It was in 1943 that Mr Jinnah visited Flagstaff House. Back then it was owned by an affluent Parsi, Sorab Kavasji. Mr Jinnah took a shine to the tastefully constructed bungalow. It was a year later that the deed of purchase was registered. After the inception of Pakistan, Mr Jinnah's belongings were brought from Delhi and Bombay and kept at Flagstaff House. When the Quaid passed away in 1948, his sister Fatima Jinnah lived here till 1964.

From the time the Madir-i-Millat vacated Flagstaff House till the mid '80s, efforts to buy this lovely piece of stonemasonry were made, and even the thought of demolishing it was entertained, but things didn't work out and the house remained in rather decrepit condition. In 1985, the government of Pakistan bought it, restored it with the help of some conservation experts, declared it a national monument and renamed it the Quaid-i-Azam House.

Research suggests this historical structure was constructed in the 1890s. The bungalow, designed by that poet of an architect Moses Somake, was subsequently designated as Flagstaff House, residence of the GOC.

Somake was someone special. If you enter the structure through the main gate on Fatima Jinnah Road (formerly Bonus Road) you will immediately take note of two things the symmetry of the front portion of the house and the semi-circular balconies. They've stopped making such beauties. Though architects label the building as a simple one, its carved pilasters, modest arcading and arched openings will definitely make you want to give a pat on Somake's back. And Mr Jinnah was a man of exquisite taste.

Today this historical museum stands off one of the busiest thoroughfares in Karachi, Sharea Faisal, and faces Fatima Jinnah Road. It comes across as an atypical piece of stonework amidst the commercial skyscrapers that tower over it, not to mention the vehicles whizzing past it at break-neck speed. It must be a task keeping the museum pleasing to the eye.

Javed Ahmed Khan, who is in charge of the Quaid-i-Azam House, says “We clean the place daily and are aware of the fact that it's made of stone. So when we clean it we wash it with salt-free water.

“While the museum is open to the public, mostly students from different schools visit us. And why not? The museum has a lot of historical objects related to the Quaid on display,” says Mr Khan.

Architect Yasmeen Lari says “The building has a nice environment. I remember when we tried to restore it in the '80s we had to face stiff opposition from different quarters. Some people even wanted to raze it to the ground. Thankfully it didn't happen. When the government bought Flagstaff House it was in terrible condition. The roofs had caved in, there was wild growth all around, yet we managed to put things in order. And I must mention here that such buildings must be restored in their historical context.

“There should be regular activities taking place on Quaid-i-Azam house premises. These days we don't exactly know when it's open to the public. Even if the timings are mentioned somewhere; they need to be properly highlighted. Also, there should be programmes

for schoolchildren on a sustained basis, where they could be engaged in fruitful activities and not just roam around the place.

“As far as Moses Somake is concerned, there's not an awful lot of information available on him. He was Jewish for sure. But more research is required to discover aspects like where he was educated,

what his inspirations were, etc. He may have been trained somewhere in India. The marked feature of Somake's architectural designs is that he uses the stone in a robust manner which gives it a strong character. It's not pretty carving that does the trick for him. His work stands out,” says Ms Lari.

The young boy and his grandfa

ther may not be able to appreciate Moses Somake's art. What they can try and absorb is the atmosphere that is suffused with the spiritual presence of their country's Founding Father and his illustrious sister. They will soon return to the Quaid-i-Azam House, perhaps not during lunch time.

mohammad.salman@dawn.com