Adil Najam
Links to this historic video from Karachi as it was in the 1940s (not much after 1942 but probably well before 1947) have been floating into my email inbox recently. I now have had nearly a dozen readers suggest that this would make a good post for All Things Pakistan.
I agree. It is a most fascinating and quite rare glimpse into what life was (as seen by a British colonial soldier) back before 1947. It is a remarkable video precisely because it is done by an amateur and not for a newsreel. It is remarkable also for the many thing it shows that one had not seen before. And for all the things that it does not show. Obviously the soldier doing the filming was traveling through Karachi and onwards towards the Middle East. One would love to learn so much more about what he saw and thought of the lands he traveled through. But what little one sees here is itself a treasure trove.
I realize that some of you would have seen this already. If you have, and if you are like me, you might want to see it again and maybe share your reaction and thoughts on this. Those who have not already seen this, I hope you find it as interesting as I have.
Lovely! Some questions for the cognoscenti:
1. What’s the provenance of the commentary? Is it from the BBC?
2. Why are BEST buses running in Karachi? (See 1:48 mark.) Is that perchance a Bombay scene spliced in?
3. Are the phrases in Devanagari script (at the 3:00 and 4:40 marks) Sindhi?
How the world changes and how quickly.
Although I am not sure that world was better. It was cruel and unfair and the poor are not there because they were not supposed to be there. In many ways I actually think that despite everything things are better today. At least our miseries are in the open and not locked up or swept under carpets.
Are you sure if this is Karachi? The city seems so calm and peaceful?
Hmmm Overpopulated or not I think the” jungle day” should be celebrated only one day just to honor our ancestors.
I would give Karachi to British Police supervision any day. Question would be if they would take this task or would wanna to discipline and manage this god forsaken city’s mess willingly.
If my memory serves me correctly,for the last 20 years, I twice came in contact with the California police. Once a moving violation and the other was as an eyewitness and both times I was impressed with their handling of the situation, professionalism, decency, tidy and good looks
and pleasant behavior.
So much so that I am tempted to commit a minor crime just to meet them??? No! that was a stretch.
Very nice find. Enjoyed it so much.
This is brilliant right? I found this last week and shared it – what a gem!