Moving back to Karachi
Mohammed Hanif, by now known to many as the author of A Case of Exploding Mangoes, writes in the Guardian about the reasons for his impending move back to Karachi from London after 12 years away.
When novelist Mohammed Hanif told friends he was returning to Pakistan after 12 years in Britain, they were aghast. Why would he and his young family swap London for a city with daily power cuts and rampant gun crime? The answer proved surprisingly simple … (Guardian.)
Beautiful article. people should learn from this. Khi is still the best.
I dont know if I can relate or not. I moved back to Karachi in August 2006, after 10 years in Toronto, Canada. Perhaps I shouldnt say moved back…because I had never lived here in the first place. Born and raised in the UAE, I used to visit Karachi every year and the city was a stranger to me when I landed from the UAE in the past, as well as now.
I suppose adopting a cynical attitude about the city may be the healthiest way to move back. Preparing yourself mentally for the challenges life in this city (or should I say country?) is always the first step. Having the luxury of 3-5 servants is always welcome, as is a 25 KV generator, but it only makes one’s home more comfortable. These luxuries dont help in preventing one from getting car jacked or stopping your phone from being taken away from you. Mind you, I dont know that mant people who have the requisite number of servants or a 25 KV generator ( I dont have either myself.
However lets be honest….even money has social limits. No amount of money spent on one’s comfort can hide the vast majority of people’s mentality or outlook. It even gets worse when you actually include Canada and the UAE in your introduction or identity. Yet despite all these shortcomings, the fundamental undeniable truth is…..this is home, and where we can ‘belong’.
Very nice thoughtfully worded article indeed. Heartfelt expressions.
Home is where the heart IS,
when i finally landed back at deserted Karachi Airport in December 1986 finishing my STUDENT LIFE (16 hours after the aligarh colony Mass Murder took place) to be home, I was like born again.
despite all the "negatives about karachi" since capital shifted from here, It is Home.
Living in Karachi is Luxary itself, for all classes & masses, and it sustains and rejuvenate from all calamities be it natural or man made
Hail Karachi !