This is Karachi in 2012
I took this while on a Humans of Karachi shoot as I was being shadowed by an American Television Channel for my project. The lady in charge of the shoot asked me to take a picture of something...anything. I looked to the sea and saw happiness. I like photographing happiness, and soon I forgot about the channel, the lady, the shadowing- I was just happy watching and clicking people laugh at the beach.
This one is for Malala. The bravest little girl the world has known in this time and age.
My solemn tribute to Nishat Cinema. A source of entertainment for Karachi made with love in the 1950's when the city was bursting with energy. It was heart breaking to see it crumble to dust when last month, angry protestors burnt is down as a result of misdirected anger. It was a huge loss to people who had thousands of fond memories of the place.
6pm is a terrible time to be in Saddar area in Karachi. Cars are bumper to bumper stuck in traffic. It's also the ideal time to be mugged since you can't escape. I sat tense in my car, easily the largest vehicle on a street otherwise inundated with motorcycles and rickshas and looked to my right to see him frying his samosas. Now here is a man, I thought to myself, who possibly looks forward to 6pm. It's the time when business will start booming as hungry people who just got off from work will start crowding his place. And with these thoughts, my tension evaporated and I pulled out my camera to catch the moment.
Time passes by very fast when you actually start looking at people and thinking about the lives they must lead, I didn't even realize when my car had started to move away down the road and the traffic cleared up.
Time passes by very fast when you actually start looking at people and thinking about the lives they must lead, I didn't even realize when my car had started to move away down the road and the traffic cleared up.
A few days ago my colleague came and told me about some puppies born right in front of our office gate in a highly unhygienic alcove where passerby's often dump their trash. The photographs were just the beginning of the big rescue that happened the next day.
Sea View
Sea View
My first time inside the gorgeous High Courts in Karachi. There is a story in every corner of this place and I plan to do a detailed photoessay here. But that requires going and getting permissions since the building is now regarded as a hertiage building (this means I can't just go and take pictures of the building- I need official permission from the Govt.).
Lawyers taking a break.
Corridors of the High Court in Karachi.
Election time and I got caught in the middle of the rallying in a corrdior/balcony of the High Courts.
Self Portraits are a must in any place that inspires you. This is an old Govt Arts and Science College I visited while working at The Citizens Archive of Pakistan. It is a gorgeous pre partition building with original furniture intact - those simply remarkable single wood benches no one ever makes anymore are in abundance in every class room here. Not much can be said in favour of the maintenence but nevertheless, its beauty can still be appreciated.
Madu the elephant who arrived at the Karachi Zoo some 5 years ago after the death of the famous Anarkali.
This is the real mother (a regular lioness) of the 4 white lion cubs born at the zoo a few months ago. 3 died and one vanished. Lioness was blamed for eating her 4th cub but officials suspect some hanky panky.
The legend, Qazi Wajid, who I had the honour of photographing for The Citizens Archive of Pakistan this September a part of their Oral History Project.
14th August 2012. Rahnuma arranged a walk from to the Jahangir Kothari Parade while carrying an 80ft flag made courtesy Khaadi for the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture. The mood and feeling was that of hope.
Jan 2013.
Drifters in the house.
My favorite landmark in Karachi, The Jahangir Kothari Parade.
14th Feb 2013.
Yes, Karachiites know how to celebrate Valentines Day- probably more so than any other city in the subcontinent.
Yes, Karachiites know how to celebrate Valentines Day- probably more so than any other city in the subcontinent.
Jeevan’s father, Prabhu, migrated to Karachi in 1905. After 45 years of service at the Hope Lodge (a Freemasonic Club), he suffered an attack of paralysis and the members offered his job to his eldest son. Jeevan took over from his brother and served until the closure of the Hope Lodge.
Nearly 170 years later, the Scottish Freemason Hope Lodge has been “ruined” by its current occupiers, the Sindh wildlife department, claims its former caretaker, Jeevan. “I don’t have anything to do with the place now, but we remember what it used to be like. It is sad,” he says.
Nearly 170 years later, the Scottish Freemason Hope Lodge has been “ruined” by its current occupiers, the Sindh wildlife department, claims its former caretaker, Jeevan. “I don’t have anything to do with the place now, but we remember what it used to be like. It is sad,” he says.
Jeevan paints a delightful image of life under the Raj and evenings at the Hope Lodge. Its well-heeled members – Englishmen, Muslims, Parsis, Hindus – began to arrive at around 6pm, rolling up in their Austins or Victoria buggies. Some strolling in as the sun began to set.
Text: Saba Imtiaz, Express tribune
http://tribune.com.pk/story/371082/freemasons-in-karachi-a-lodge-called-hope-clings-to-history-as-saviour/
