Stories of Karachi: Two tales in one city

I have made a habit of asking the many rickshaw and cab drivers where they come from.


Vishal Farid Raza December 17, 2014

KARACHI:


The most interesting part about being at a university in a city besides your hometown is the daily travels. If you choose to take out a minute, you can be at liberty of enriching yourself through the experiences of others.


I have made a habit of asking the many rickshaw and cab drivers where they come from and rarely have I met someone who hails from Karachi or even, surprisingly, Sindh. I hear the tales of why they left their beloved hometowns in Punjab or Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and undertook the journey to the once hope-laden ‘city of lights’.

Two such cab drivers had stories worth sharing, not because they were incredulous or extraordinary; but when juxtaposed to each other in terms of the difference in timeframe and outcome, I was left a little aghast at the bigger picture at play.

The first story is of a gentleman who must be in his fifties now. A rotund, jolly fellow he told me with rigid belief that dreams can come true if you truly work for them. He said that where there is a desire, a way unfolds.

Some 30 years ago, as a young man embarking on the adventures of life and earning a livelihood, this gentleman decided to discontinue his studies and become a ‘seaman’. He had many friends at the time who had become sailors and had a licence issued. Initially, he decided he wouldn’t tell his father anticipating anger and disappointment. Plus, he had to arrange Rs30,000 to procure a licence and a ‘visa’.



He managed to collect some money through friends and acquaintances, eventually turning to his father for help. With his ‘seaman’ licence in hand, this gentleman came to Karachi to be sent off to a port and shipped away.

His first stop was Bombay and from there he travelled all the way to Europe and found himself exploring many new countries, experiencing the wonders that were offered. Soon after he retired, this man decided to settle down and returned to Karachi, where he stayed. Content with his life’s journey, he continued to keep hope and a cosy optimism in the face of the economic hassles and let-downs of today.

The other gentleman I met was possibly in his late twenties. He had heard tales of boys from his village cutting deals with a certain man, who promised to send these lads to different countries and securing different occupations for them. “Hundred per cent guaranteed, sir,” he was told. It was a classical rags-to-riches tale and he had seen some of the families in his neighbourhood getting monthly remittances from their sons, who were now making them proud.

After spending a hefty sum that he collected after much hard work, this man made his way to Karachi. After spending a night, he was to be whisked to a promise land, the name of which was to be revealed to him as he made his way to the airport, with documents in his hand that were a golden ticket.

Soon after he arrived at the airport, he learnt that his documents were not only fake but they amounted to nothing. This was two years ago, and he’s still working in Karachi; quietly sending home as much as he can meagrely save up to keep up pretences. He hasn’t told his family as the fear of shame outweighs the burden of this lie. He awaits in anticipation to repay the sum he owes to people in loans, though his family does continue to pay back some as he sends back a part of his earnings; so he can return to his village and his family and finally move on.

Hearing these two stories, I wondered to myself. “What could these two stories tell?” It was clear, that in thirty years, the country, if not the world we live in, has changed drastically. Perhaps, it’s a generalisation but the gain-gain principle hardly holds true.

It’s worrisome because that cosy optimism and the contentment in the older man’s voice and in his demeanour have been lost in between the transitioning of a generation, giving way to worry and a realism bordering on pessimism.

We all now play a part, in moulding the next transition, and the cards we deal soon will truly be dictating the shape another generation could possibly take.

The writer is a medical student at Aga Khan University

Published in The Express Tribune, December 18th, 2014.

COMMENTS (3)

Bharat Nain | 9 years ago | Reply

Hi,

Such is the story in all large cities, even here in India & I am sure in other parts of the world. Harsh economic realities have given way to increasing pessimism in an increasingly materialistic world where the only benchmark is success. And yet, optimism does have a way of shining through.

Btw I am a Sindhi from India & hope to visit Karachi , the city of my late father someday...hopefully sometime soon !!

zavi | 9 years ago | Reply

@sane , as there is a quota system in Sindh unlike KPK or Punjab . You yourself divided it .

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