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city
calling hyderabad
blues The way we
are karachicharacter
By Sabeen
Jamil He sits on the dusty floor
by the cemented walls of his small studio in Landhi, his rough fingers
skillfully engraving a dancing Anarkali on a brass vase, unaware of the fact
that he is the only karigar in Karachi who specializes in engraving scenes
from the Mughal era on brassware. Because he is not aware of his own value,
Ustad Inam sells his art for much less than it is worth, just to en Ustad Inam, 37, deftly engraves cultural and historical scenes on brass vases, employing the Muradabadi craft of his forefathers, generally known as khudai ka kaam. His work distinguishes itself from the regular phool patties that decorate brassware found in abundance in Peetal Gali at Golimar. "I learnt how to engrave Mughal figures from my father, Ustad Ikram, who was the only master of this art in Karachi after partition." Ustad Ikram learnt this art in Muradabad, the hub of engraved art in India for centuries, and practiced it innovatively after he migrated to Karachi. "He sketched a hundred figures in various compositions depicting Mughal culture and after years of practice, he excelled at engraving," Inam says proudly, "After a few years, he could draw straight onto brass plates and vases from life." Inam himself does not know
how to engrave all of the hundred figures though. "I worked with my Attempting to preserve the centuries old art, Ustad Inam now along with his two brothers practices whatever little he had been able to learn from his father by labouring for a wholesaler in Golimar. "The wholesaler supplies us with a lot of brassware in varying sizes which we decorate with colour and engraved sketches of flowers after working on them in different stages." The Mughal era comes to life the moment Inam works the last stroke on the brass surface. Mughal courts come alive as a young prince sips his wine and enjoys the dance of a seductive courtesan. A doe-eyed princess lays her head on her beloved's shoulder and watches a lion chase deer in the woods. The haunting melody played on the rabab of the woman sitting by a snake charmer seems to mesmerize not only the young girls in the scene but the person holding the vase too. One's heart misses a beat just viewing the etched woman playing with deer by houses emitting smoke from their chimneys. So intricate and captivating are the scenes etched onto the surfaces of Ustad Inam's vases, that they transport the viewer into another realm. "Detailing these
figures requires a lot of hard work and is very time-consuming too,"
Inam tells Kolachi Ustad Inam usually makes up to fifty vases in a month. As he is very thorough about the detailing, fully decorating even a six inch vase takes him around three to four days to complete. "Vases are washed in acid before anything else. Then they are sprayed with deco paint, sketched on and the background of figures is painted in different colours. Once this is done, the composition is engraved and colour is stippled in using a straw. The final piece is dried in a furnace and polished before being plastic-coated," he tells Kolachi. Despite all his painstaking efforts, Inam only manages to make a paltry 10000 rupees each month, and sometimes not even that. A pair of 40 inch vases made after a week's labour sell for 6000 rupees at his seth's shop in Golimar, yet earns him no more than 200 rupees. His wholesaler, however "earns thousands for the over 50 vases I sell him a month, as he sells them to exporters." Brassware handicrafts
don't have a huge market in Karachi. According to a rough estimate, the city Inam on the other hand, is paid just about enough to make ends meet. "I don't earn enough to save," says Inam who is simply sticking to the profession for the sake of preserving his father's art. "When I am engraving, I feel as though my father is alive." However, he complains that despite all his effort and hard work, the business-savvy people he deals with stand in his way forward. "I
once tried setting up my own brassware business instead of labouring for
someone else, but the Inam tells Kolachi that when he tried selling his vases to wholesalers, they would often reject pieces even for the smallest defect, and pay him in installments instead of paying the full amount. "I was left with no option but to serve the same old master or my family would have been forced to starve. I have been serving him for 18 years now." Ustad Inam realizes that his present wholesaler exploits him by not paying him enough and never giving him a raise, but he has not considered switching jobs. "I owe my seth 300000 rupees. I had borrowed the money to build my house. When I ask him for a pay raise he tells me to pay back the debt and leave, which I can't." As a result of the the tiny amount he earns every month, yet still being bound to the job because of his debt, almost serving as a bonded labourer, Inam has stopped picturing any kind of change, nor does he work towards it. "I
could earn a fortune if I were an artist. Since I don't paint on canvas nor
do I earn millions by Ustad Inam makes identical circles on all vases without the help of any tool and challenges that no one except him can do it. "I could draw perfect circle even if I was blindfolded, I have been doing it for 20 years now, and flawlessly." Ustad Inam's years of practice, and his chosen profession being one he is quite devoted to have ensured that his work is always finished to perfection. Though his work demands to be appreciated for its precision and aesthetic value, Inam dreams simple dreams for himself. Despite being proud of his skill, Ustad Inam has never exhibited his work in galleries since he neither regards himself an artist nor is he knowledgeable and resourceful enough to have access to them. "I don't know if I can exhibit my work in galleries. I don't even know whom to talk to if I want to book myself space in a gallery. If I could earn 15000 rupees instead of the 10000 I earn now, I would be a happy man!" hyderabad blues Shelter from the storm: Sir Cowasjee Jehangir Institute of Psychiatry In today's aware world, mental disorders are no longer disregarded as merely a bad patch. Unfortunately in Pakistan, not many facilities are available to those suffering these disorders. Sir Cowasjee Jehangir Institute of Psychiatry in Hyderabad caters to patients from Sindh as well as Balochistan. Despite all efforts and donations, the institute needs to be improved and paid attention to. Kolachi reports. By Adeel
Pathan Healthcare facilities in our part of the world are hard to come by. Where they are available, the quality of the services provided is questionable. This is especially true of state-run hospitals. While private hospitals provide adequate healthcare and medical facilities, these are not always within reach of the common man, as availing these amenities can be quite expensive. However the one area
within healthcare that remains ignored for the most part in Pakistan is
mental Almost a 150 years ago, Sir Cowasjee, an engineer and philanthropist realized the ordeal of the mentally ill and donated a piece of land and the structure upon it to them. The asylum, Giddu Bunder, was renamed as Mental Hospital and was later redubbed as the Sir Cowasjee Jehangir Institute of Psychiatry by Professor Hyder Kazi who also equipped it for teaching and training purposes. Sir Cowasjee Jehangir Institute of Psychiatry, commonly known as Sir C.J. Institute of Psychiatry (SCJIP) is a hospital catering to people with psychiatric disorders in Latifabad unit-3, in Hyderabad. The institute provides services free of charge, and offers rehabilitation in public sector hospitals not just in Sindh, but in far-flung areas of Balochistan as well. After two weeks of continuous efforts, the Medical Superintendent of SCJIP Mir Mohammed Sheikh found time to speak to Kolachi about facts, plans and the future of SCJIP. "The institute is spread over an area of 32 acres, with 11 wards the capacity to cater to 500 patients at a time. The sanctioned strength of staff is up to 293," he said, and added that government funds have been provided to build a rehabilitation center. A functional emergency ward with 25-bed capacity and two ambulances in working condition are at the disposal of the hospital. The hospital provides breakfast and dinner to patients while donors provide lunch to the indoor patients. A non-governmental organization has proposed the construction of a daycare center to benefit patients, research towards this project has already been carried out. Dr Sheikh tells Kolachi that relatives of 20 to 30 per cent of patients don't visit or take them home despite repeated reminders and letters. Farida Ghori, social worker and Chairperson of Rahnuma Welfare Association who has been visiting SCJIP for the last one year told Kolachi that according to her observations, "the patients being treated at the hospital do not receive proper nursing care, which is a major requirement for them." "Their clothes are not changed regularly and cleanliness in the wards is not satisfactory," observed Ghori. She proposed that more recreational facilities and indoor entertainment be provided, NGOs should be allowed to organize programs for these mentally ill patients. However, Dr Sheikh believes that the hospital has come up to speed in recent times. "Soon after assuming charge I issued directives to improve standards of hygiene and the drainage system has been gradually upgraded as well," said Dr Sheikh. "Previously, keeping patients in chains was part of the treatment. Today, the methods of rehabilitation employed to treat patients in all wards of the hospital are more advanced," Dr Abdul Hameed Memon, a leading psychiatrist who works at the hospital told Kolachi. "More than 100 patients visit the out-patient department with psychiatric problems and illnesses, while the hospital has bed-strength of over 300 to treat and rehabilitate patients," said Dr Memon. "A psychiatric disorder may develop soon after a patient endures some kind of trauma, but there is a possibility that it may surface after several years of an unexpected event," Dr Memon explained and added that suffering loss of any kind or magnitude affects people psychologically. "At the hospital," said Dr Memon, "we engage patients in different activities to aid recovery like tailoring, exercising, gardening and kitchen work and educated patients are given clerical jobs." Dr Memon explained that recovery of a patient may take from 10 days to several months, depending on the nature and severity of the illness. "The patients are monitored and their progress evaluated close to festivals such as Eid, and discussed in a board meeting to decide whether they can be sent home to celebrate with their families," said Dr Memon, "as the hospital wants to make sure patients are able to share in the joy of special occasions with their loved ones." The kinds of therapy available to treat patients include psychotherapy, hypnosis and counseling. Psychology and psychiatry tutoring facilities are available for students from various universities. '"I found the high-ranking staff of the institute unfriendly and suspicious," Aliya Azeemi, a reporter, had observed when she had done a story on SCJIP a year back. "There were no big complaints against the higher officials of the hospital, but they seemed to not want to speak about even the good points of SCJIP," she said. Azima was of the view that the strength of hospital staff at SCJIP needs to be increased to cater to the special needs of patients. According to her observations of the hospital, the quality of food served by the hospital needs to be brought up to par with that of the fare donated by philanthropists. Dr Darya Khan Leghari, a psychiatrist and Additional Medical Superintendent at SCJIP told Kolachi that some patients also come from areas like Balochistan, but even after the completion of treatment, their relatives don't come to take them back home despite notices issued by the hospital. This results in patients escaping in some cases. Dr Leghari has suggested that the outdoor block be separated from the indoor block, with tests being made available in the outdoor block. Steps towards making this change have already been taken, he informed Kolachi. Psychological and psychiatric disorders should not be ignored simply for being intangible illnesses, and must be treated as soon as they are detected. With an increasing number of psychiatric cases in the country, it is imperative that more facilities be set up to accommodate them, and existing facilities be improved. When aided by proper rehabilitation facilities, recovering and being a functional part of society will be a goal easier to achieve.
The way we are Sixth time lucky? A comment on Karachi Strategic Development Plan 2020 By Dr Noman Ahmed A new master plan proposing an uplift of Karachi was presented before the City Council recently. This is the sixth plan that has been formulated since 1923, as the previous five lacked the legal cover to be carried out. After an effort of nearly two years, the designated consulting firm has been able to prepare a draft document of Karachi Strategic Development Plan (KSDP) 2020 under the overall supervision of Master Plan Group of Offices at the City District Government Karachi (MPGO-CDGK). The document has been submitted to the City Council for deliberation as per usual routine. Divergent views are being expressed by various groups, political parties, civil society organizations and professionals. Whereas the plan certainly needs a great deal of improvement in terms of fact finding, analysis and development of scenarios for implementation, it can be considered as a starting point of the planning process for Karachi. It is also obvious that the mere initiation of planning is found against the interests of very powerful vested interests who prefer the prevalence of nascent adhocism. This helps in taking spot decisions for short term gains of a few but jeopardizing the collective well being of the masses at large. In this retrospect, the launch of the planning initiative is a worthwhile step. However it needs to be taken to the apposite merit and rationality. The most important follow-up to the KSDP 2020 is the creation of a strong and potent planning agency for Karachi. This is not a new suggestion. It has been recommended by almost all the planning teams that have undertaken the preparation of master plans for the city during the past four decades. It has several merits. A strong and administratively autonomous institution will be able to gather information pertinent to planning work from an impartial perspective. This information can lead to sound analysis of various sectors and inbuilt issues. In its traditional capacity, the planning agency shall be able to interact with concerned interest groups in an effective and unbiased way. As a consequence, the trust of the stakeholders is likely to increase in the planning agency and the process itself. As planning is an ongoing process, the resident group of professionals shall be able to contribute to emerging problems faced by the government and people in a corresponding manner. A good plan is capable of addressing existing problems, offers a possible range of solutions, incorporates feedback of beneficiaries and affectees of all development works, possesses an institutional mechanism for conflict resolution and exists as a binding statute. If one compares the present document, it becomes evident that fulfilling the essential pre-requisites will take a long time. The challenges are tough but not unachievable. If competent planners, architects, engineers, economists, demographers, geographers, sociologists, statisticians, cartographers, IT specialists and field surveyors are periodically inducted in the making of proposed planning agency, the capacity to take on these assignments can be developed. The erstwhile Master Plan and Environmental Control Department (MPECD) of defunct KDA had a pool of competent professionals till the 1990s. They retired or resigned because the planning process was kept on a back-burner. Thus there remains a pressing need to bolster the human resource base of the institution keeping both the short and long term perspective in mind. To attract these highly qualified personnel, necessary efforts must be made. Revision of salary structures and fringe benefits, creation of a proper working environment, safeguard from political wrangling and lawful immunity from administrative harassment are a few suggestions in this regard. It may be noted that if and when the working conditions become congenial, the best professionals will automatically be interested to join the ranks. In many first world cities, top professionals take pride in working for respective municipal planning agencies due to the same reason. The KDSP-2020 in its present form has suggested to setup a Strategic Planning Unit (SPU). Though the required planning agency would normally be greater in stretch and terms of work, the proposed SPU may be pursued as a starting point. It will help address some issues of priority to transform planning into an output oriented exercise – something pressingly longed for by the city dwellers. karachicharacter A beautiful mind By Ayecha Ahmed Rehana works as a makeup artist for a local TV channel. Although she is a graduate and has a teacher-training certificate, the field she chose to make a career out of is entirely different and a new concept to the family she comes from. Rehana never wanted be part of the media in any way and at times wants to leave what she is doing and start teaching. Living with her parents, Rehana also contributes to the family income. She has nine siblings, almost all of whom are married. She realizes that her parents have seen hard times in the past, but is grateful for the way they have brought her up. When she gets time out of her hectic work schedule, she likes to cook and paint, which she feels is just an extension of her work. Kolachi: How long have you been living in Karachi? Rehana: I have been living
here since I was born; my parents migrated from India after partition and Kolachi: What have you studied? Rehana: I have a bachelor's degree in art and have done a certificate course in teacher training. Kolachi: What did you want to do after graduation? Rehana: I always wanted to be a teacher. I think teachers are not given their due respect though they are just as important as parents are. They play a major role in shaping a child. I wanted to teach and bring whatever little change that I could in any child's life. A lot of women in this country teach not because they want to but because they have no other option and that has made this profession loose its value. Most of these women don't even know what they teach. If I ever teach I will because of my love for the profession. Kolachi: Why did you choose to work as a makeup artist? Rehana: I, like every girl was interested in makeup. After getting a teacher-training certificate I thought of learning the art of makeup professionally, but it was later at my sister's wedding that her boss saw my makeup skills and offered me a job here. Kolachi: Do you enjoy working here? Rehana: The media is not something I wanted to be part of. I don't like the environment of this industry and if I ever get a chance to work for another TV channel I will not go for it. I am here because this place is not entertainment related and everybody respects me. I do enjoy myself, but sometimes it gets very tiring; I come in at 7:30 in the morning and leave around 11 at night. That gets very stressful at times. Kolachi: Does working for the media pay better? Rehana: It pays more than what I would get at any salon, but that really isn't what is keeping me here. It's the respect that I get from everyone that makes me want to work here. I also know other channels can pay me more but what I get here is great, it pays my bills and I am able to contribute to the family income. Kolachi: Does anyone in the family object to you working? Rehana: My immediate family is very supportive, but the extended family has some people that do not consider this as a respectable profession, but they don't matter to me. Kolachi: What do you like about Karachi? Rehana: At times there isn't a better place than Karachi and at others I feel nothing for this place, I don't even see myself as a part of it. I like the fact that the city really never sleeps, that lifts my spirit even on the most tiring of days. I also like pani puri from Lalu Khet, and in all honesty, without it I would feel like a fish without water. Kolachi: Living here all your life what changes have you noticed? Rehana: We have advanced in a lot of ways. The traffic has increased and the city has become noisier. They have started preserving the monuments in the city; I especially like what they have done with Quaid's mazar. The city has seen really bad times and where I live, Orangi, we have even seen days with endless firing on the roads. The Bhutto and Sharif era were horrible. Now the same place looks beautiful Kolachi: So what did you think about the emergency in the country? Rehana: I am not interested in the politics of our country, but I think the emergency has taken us back to where we were 10 years ago. Kolachi: Will you vote this election season? Rehana: It's not like I have any option, people in my town are supposed to vote. I don't want to, but will be forced to. Though Rehana feels disconnected from her city at times, it is also the place where she can find solace when she is down, even if it just means having a plate of her favourite pani puri. In a city where one has to look far and wide to find beauty, she seeks it out in the little things around her, such is this Karachi character. – Photo by the author |
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sure
he can feed his family of eight.
father for 20 years, but he died before he could impart all his knowledge to
me." Inam is saddened by the fact that his father's specialised art
lays buried beneath layers of earth instead of having been passed from one
generation to the next.
while engraving the tiniest flowers on a dupatta adorning a beautiful
princess. "All etching on the vases is done by hand and even the
smallest jerk can ruin a day's worth of effort," Inam adds as he
painstakingly colours the tips of leaves on the dupatta.
holds only five per cent of brass made handicrafts, which can be found in
venture crashed and burned as in business oriented societies the bigger fish
devour the small before they can achieve anything."
exhibiting my work in galleries, I can't call myself an artist. Still I
believe that even the greatest artist cannot imitate my work."
health services, especially for psychiatric disorders, which are more
commonly reported in Pakistan now than ever. Regardless of this upsurge in
psychiatric disorders, there are very few hospitals in Pakistan which treat
such conditions.
have been settled in Karachi ever since.