YEH HAI KARACHI - A love affair through the lens

by Sasha Scheherzade

Karachi is not only the capital of the province of Sindh, but the largest city in homeland Pakistan. Located on the coast of the Arabian Sea, north-west of the Indus River Delta, the mega city is the largest original capital and cultural, economical, philanthropic, educational, and political hub, as well as the largest port, of homeland. The metropolis along with its suburbs comprises of the world's second most populated city, scattered over an area of 3,530 square kilometers. Karachi credits its growth to the mixed populations comprising mostly of economic and political migrants and refugees with different and diverse national, provincial, linguistic and religious origins that have preferred to settle in the city, permanently.

Karachi is the birth and death place of Muhammad Ali Jinnah the founder of Pakistan, known to all as Quaid-e-Azam the city became his permanent abode after 1947, alongside being termed as the 'City of Lights' by its locals for its vibrant yet sophisticated culture. Residents of the city take pride in being called "Karachiites."

The mega metropolis besides being the hub of all economic activity, boasts of beautifully structured mosques, aesthetically designed churches and temples, distinguished bazaars and impressive food culture that is pretty much rampant at the dhabas in numerous glorious looking food streets.

The city opened its door to public in general at Commune Artist Colony, situated in the under developed confines of Maskeen Gali for an out of the box photography experience called Yeh Hai Karachi that not only exhibited but went a step ahead in celebrating the lens-work of Karachiites from all quarters.

From Tuk Tuk to Qinquis, from public buses to kaleidoscopic truck art, from street kids playing leisurely with water hoses to dhobighaats, from a hardworking old mason to rejoicing local women by the public parks, from regular chalked walls to the developed skyscrapers, from the pre-colonial remains of  Kolachi to the spectacular architect of Mohatta Palace and the beautiful KPT Head Office; the exhibition showcased through the creative lens of YEH HAI KARACHI brought together people from both sides of the bridge to unfold the real mixed-culture of the city reflecting the reality that makes the mega city an exceptionally resilient and a happening city.

An approximate 50,000 (plus) unadulterated captures and 10 short films were showcased at the Yeh Hai Karachi exhibition after a thorough scrutiny by the help of Yeh Hai Karachi faculty members with their in-class sessions held at 17 different locations in all the six districts of the city, undertaking 51 photo walks to 60 plus different locations to cater to 372 photo enthusiasts who made it to the walls of the majestic Commune Halls with a promise of continuing to show and explore the brighter and diverse side of Karachi to the world.

Yeh Hai Karachi was about celebrating the love of the city by the sea, about the ever inspiring stories by its surviving inhabitants and struggling settlers alongside the celebration of multiculturalism that weaves together all elements essential to form a vibrant cosmopolitan city.

Yeh Hai Karachi, a joint effort of The School of Writing with Karachi Youth Initiative, was completed in a span of twelve weeks with focus kept exclusively on the creative expressions of storytelling such as photography, videography and travelogues writing; thereby taking into consideration the bigger themes of peace, tolerance aiming to revive a sense of global citizenship. The exhibition successfully managed by Commune Artist Colony in collaboration with Peace Niche/T2F.

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Although SashaScheherzade is a freelance writer and certified blogger at Blogger.com interlinked via Google+; yet this event report is not a paid blog.

Photos - c2016|SashaScheherzade

For info - sasha.scheherzade@gmail.com