Adil Najam
An absolutely fascinating documentary from Dawn TV on the Karachi music scene from the 1960s into the 1970s. About a Karachi that is no more. A Karachi where Duke Ellington and Quincy Jones fly in to play. A Karachi which had the only piano manufacturing facility in all of pre-1947 India. A Karachi that even the Beattles passed through.
Absolutely fascinating. Or have I said that already!
This is about a Karachi from a very different time. A Karachi that moved to a very different beat.
Nostalgia – and the glamorization of nostalgia – not withstanding, this does not mean it was a ‘better’ time or a ‘better’ beat. It was also a time with many many problems. And big ones. Of poverty. Of economic divide. Of intolerance of a different kind. In many ways – and for some people – it was a much more innocent time. In other ways – and for other people – it might have been harsher.
But it was, quite clearly, a very different time. And that, of course, is the point.
What one sees in this documentary was not the only face of Karachi of that time. Karachi had many many faces. It has always had many many faces.
It is too easy to forget that it still has many many face. And that, of course, is the point. And not just about Karachi. About any place, really.
Thanks for finding these videos Adil bhai. Wonderful collection
Don’t get me wrong. I would rather have a tolerent Pakistan, discos and all. But its just the simplistic “those were great days” nostalgia that bugs me. Which is why I like Adil’s writeup even more strong than the videos.
Very thoughtful write-up Adil.
I am not really sure if “those were the times.” Even though I am sure that “these are not the times.”
As you say, those were very different times. But there were plenty of problems then too. Although different ones. Most important society was even more divided economically and to those who were enjoying this music, the poor and the rest of Pakistan was just invisible. That is why they were able to enjoy themselves so much and that is why they remember those times so fondly.
Today, the problems are bigger and different, but partly it was because those people had ignored these problems then. Maybe they were too busy partying :-)
Those were the times and those were the people.
Can anybody enlighten me, when The Descent started in our society? Many people say all decline started in 80’s and Zia Ulhaq ruined Pakistan.
I want to know what he did? Whay people blame him?
I have only watched part 1 and it is a great find. Am diving into the next one now.
But what a difference time makes!