Karachi - “Basta hai iss kohar kay peechay raushanion ka shehr”

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By Mystic Soul

Woh Sahilon pe gaane wale kiya huwa

Woh kashtian chalane wale kiya huwe

“Few days back, I received a forwarded email with some pictures of Karachi from year 1890. Pictures appeared very genuine (not photo-shopped) and said to come from British Library.

You can see pics here 1, 2, 3

Nostalgia took me to search for history of Karachi on Internet. (I loved this city before I loved any woman in my life). Here what I found in nut-shell:

“Population of Karachi was only 13000 in 1813 and today it stands somewhere around 10 million. Its original name was Kalachi-jo-Ghote. Kalachi is said to be named after a women whom people identified as Mai Kalachi or Mai Kolachee. Another less known name was Kolachi-jo-Kun (the ditch of Kolachi). Kalachi-jo-Ghote was a small fishing village, made up of a cluster of fishermen huts. on the three islands of Manora, Bhit and Baba. It has also been described as having name of Kolachee, Currachee, Crochey and Kurrachee. I also found mention (but no authentic record) that Karachi was first founded when Alexander-the-Great’s admirals, sailed back home from the Greek expedition to India, stationed at a point at the mouth of the Indus, and called it Morontobara (which later became Manora). Later 3 nearby islands, Manora, Bhit and Baba became together and called Kalachi-jo-Ghote.

In 1783, The Talpurs officially occupied Karachi which led British to identify Karachi as a very important port in region. In 1799, Lord Wellesley of The East India Company established a factory in Currachee. Factory closed within a year but Karachi continue to flourish as a important trading activities by sea with Muscat and Bahrain. Lord Wellesely kept his eye on Karachi and led the force into Karachi Harbor on February 2, 1839. The Talpurs surrendered Karachi’s Manora Port. The Agreement of Surrender of Karachi was signed on February 7, 1839, giving possession of the Fort and Town of Karachi to the British Forces. Within 5 years, whole sind was under British rule. By 1843, all of the Sindh province was annexed to the British Empire. Sir Charles Napier became governor of Sindh and made city of Karachi as the administrative capital of the province. Charles Napier was the first person who started building modern Karachi. Modern day’s Karachi Red light area “Napier Road” is named after him (Thanks!) In 1847, Sir Bartle Frere became the first Commissioner-in-Sindh and continue to built karachi (Frere Hall is named after him).

From the very beginning, Karachi, due to its location was influenced by international events. When Suez Canal opened in 1869, Karachi overnight became the crown port as it was the closest viable port to Europe. During same time, the American Civil War required a huge cotton export from British to their factories from Indian sub-continent and it blessed Karachi.

With arrival of “Muhajirs” in 1947 and “”Biharis” in 1971, Karachi took its current ‘modern’ shape. Karachi grew beyond its boundaries so much that now original Manora is almost forgotten. Per Nasir Kazmi

Woh Sahilon pe gaane wale kiya huwa

Woh kashtian chalane wale kiya huwe

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Filed under Art, History, Karachi, Pakistan, poetry

Tags: British Library, History, Karachi, Nostalgia, Photogrpahs, poetry