Mysterious Case of Mai Kolachi (to be read as My Karachi)
City by the sea, city of lights, a city which welcomes everyone regardless of their race, background or any cultural differences with open arms is also known as Karachi. I was born and raised in Karachi, this is My City and my love for the city will never dimish.
I recently moved away from my city, having said that, I have developed a new kind of love for this city. A sort of love which makes me think of all the things which make Karachi so unique. Karachi literally has so many colors, and shades to it and the most fascinating thing is that they change with how you are feeling about it on that very day which makes it mysterious in a very interesting way.
Recently I went back home and explored Karachi from a new lens, you can say that it was more of a touristy lens which was on all the time. I was looking at things and places from an angle which I had never seen before. Karachi originally was a small fisherman village settles by the Bloch tribes from Balochistan and Makran. Their first settlement was near the delta of the Indus River which they named as Kolachi village. The original community yet Inhabitat the area on a small island of Abdullah Goth situated near Karachi Port. The well-known neighbourhood 'Mai Kolachi' of Karachi which still remains the original name of the City.
The British recognized the importance of the city as the trading post. So they captured the city and Sindh province. Fast forward, the 1980s, the 90s, and 2000s; Karachi is the role model city for Pakistan, and it continues to grow with the current economic boom. Pakistan got its independence from the British rule in August 1947, yet you can still feel the essence the British left behind. The buildings, streets, old markets still have the old look and feel. Though a lot of these buildings are in a dilapidated condition, then too, it almost feels like each one of them is telling a story about their roots and history.
It is one of the oldest marketplaces of Karachi, located in the heart of the city. It was established before independence, which makes some of these shops more than 100 years old. My mother and I can spend hours at this bazaar. Bohri Bazaar is famous for having everything in one market; more like a one-stop-shop. My mother loves getting her kitchen utensils from here.
Eduljee Dinshaw Charitable Dispensary:
Upon my visit to the most famous visit to the Bohri bazaar, I saw an old dispensary by the name of 'Eduljee Dinshaw' charitable dispensary. It is said to be one of the most beautiful building built in Italian style. It was designed by James Strachan, The Municipality engineer at that time and was commissioned by the well-known Zoraistran philanthropist Eduljee Dinshaw. This dispensary is situated in the heart of old Karachi and was opened for public in 1882. It is still being used and provides health facilities to the ones who visit this place.
Some other buildings in the surrounding areas:
Constructed during the peak of the British Raj in the subcontinent during 1884-1889, Empress Market is named after the then Empress of Britain, Queen Victoria. This market is the midst of Saddar's hustle-bustle where local shopkeepers have stores which sell absolutely everything you can think of.
Constructed in 1845, The St. Patrick's Cathedral is the headquarters of Karachi’s Roman Catholic Archidose. This Cathedral stands uniquely-tall against other Anglo-Mughal style designs of the city. The striking but straightforward exterior is accompanied with lovely wooden interiors and stained glass windows typical of many cathedrals across the world.
Random buildings in Bohri Bazaar:
Of course if you’re a foodie like me, you can never ignore Nimco Corner. It was established in the 1950s and sells a wide verity of savoury and sweet snacks. their beef samoosas are one of the best in town.
Jan’s broast is Pakistan’s take on southern fried chicken. The flavour is still the same as it was when it opened back in the 1970s.
Paper Market in Pakistan Chowk:
Despite the heavy traffic associated with it, Pakistan Chowk remains the go-to place for wedding planners, event managers, students etc. where you can get paper at a reasonable price.
Built-in 1947, this mosque was built by Muhammad Ali Jinnah trust foundation and was named after the founder of Pakistan, also known as Quaid e Azam (father of the nation).
Pioneer Books was built on M.A. Jinnah Road, in 1948. Unmodified to this day, the bookstore has been declared a protected site by the Archeology Department of Sindh. Pioneer Books remains a symbol of independent thought and intellectual reflection in Karachi, a microcosmic representation of the city’s rich cultural history.
Completed in 1970, the final resting place of Pakistan’s founding father, Quaid-e-Azam M.A Jinnah, is a marbled building situated inside a 53-hectare park that today serves both as a national monument and a place of recreation and relaxation. Each wall of the square structure has an entrance decorated with curved Moorish arches and copper grills. The design of the mausoleum was inspired by the Uzbek Samanid Mosque.
Aiming to promote learning spaces in Karachi, The Dawood Foundation (TDF) recently opened the gates of a restored house on MA Jinnah Road that was built in 1930. Now converted into a public space, the building, named ‘TDF Ghar’, provides antique surroundings with archaic paraphernalia to the visitors who come to socialise and share ideas.
TDF Ghar also offers a scenic view of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s mausoleum from its rooftop where one can sit, relax and enjoy the view.
My Karachi has to offer many exciting places where you can learn about its rich culture and history. Besides this, one can go on a food glore and never get disappointed.
Motichoor Laddo at Sohny Sweets, Defence
Halwa Puri at Fresco, Saddar
Bun Kabab at Rehman Burger, Tariq Road
Kachoris at Passport Office, Saddar
Karachi is my pride and my home where my heart resides forever no matter where I am. Karachi is an exciting city which is growing in every way you can think of be it population, economy, job market, or giving love. To a large extent, Karachiites redefine resilience – where people’s lives do go on despite everything. This is what Karachi means to me – Karachi is love; it has a heart of gold. This city is for everyone who can say they own Karachi – for only they will understand what I am trying to say.
