I am Pakistani
With her Mac on one side and a host of notebooks and papers on the table in front of her, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, journalist and independent film-maker (Reinventing the Taliban and the upcoming The Promise A journey through Afghanistan) invites me to sit on her see-saw sofa in the house she grew up in. She is energetic, loud, open and most importantly, shes on a mission. Teaming up with a group of individuals, shes formed the Citizens Archive of Pakistan (CAP) and theyre on a mission to do exactly that archive the history of Pakistan in whatever way or form possible. And communicate it as well.
Some of the paintings on display include six life-sized murals based on every decade in Pakistans history; the photography is predominantly a contemporary look by prominent photographer on Pakistan itself. The documentaries includes those based on the last days of Lord Mountbatten as the viceroy of pre-Partition India, how different film-makers view Partition and also a documentary examining the social and political issues predominant such as poverty and inflation as well as the remnants of the British rule over South Asia: the bureaucracy.
Sheema Kirmani along with Tehreek-i-Niswan presented a play yesterday based on Lahore in 1947 on an immigrant family coming to stay at an allotted haveli, seemingly vacated, after Partition only to discover that the matriarch of the previous household continued to inhabit it. The dialogues had been taken from the poet, Nasir Kazmis original letters and writings and the story line itself was based on an actual incident that had taken place.
Talking about how the CAP formed, Sharmeen says, Last year in the summers, I was having a discussion about Pakistan: its history, where we are and where we are headed. I realised that there was no place where you could absorb Pakistans history, adding that there was a lack of national identity that the common Pakistani has, she mentioned that we are lost as people. Hence the idea of creating a platform through which one could know Pakistan, where it came from, who were the people who chose to support its formation along with the stages through which the country has progressed, both culturally and historically, took birth.
Realising that the project itself was too big for her to handle on her own, she brought together, in her own words, a group of mad, creative but ambitious individuals. These individuals happen to be Sarah Taher Khan (CEO Radio1 FM91), Omar Rahim, Amean Jan Muahmmad (photographer), Durriya Kazi (HoD Visual Arts, Karachi University), Minal Rahimtoola, Sabeen Mahmud (COO b.i.t.s.) and Altaf Qureshi (lawyer).
We dont give the general public any form of entertainment that requires them to use their brain cells, says Sharmeen, talking about the content of the festival itself. The partition of 1947 was a traumatic experience and remembering it gives a sense of how Pakistan came into existence. And who were the people who made it happen. According to Sharmeen a lot of the photographs and material used in the festival had been donated to them by like-minded indivduals, also including some of the documentaries. Looking at them you realise: we were civilised as a nation, she says, observing thus after going through some of the photographs, and now in some cases, its become so bad, its unrecognisable. Talking about the murals exhibited in the festival, based on Pakistans history she say that tidbit of history will be more alive than by just reading it in textbooks.
An interesting aspect of the festival is that it is completely free of cost. From the exhibitions, plays, documentaries to the open discussions, street-theatre and musical performances, this is an event that costs the attendee nothing. At the minimum it requires that one simply to attend or as in the case of closed events pick their passes up early since they will be given out at a first-come, first-serve basis. It doesnt end here, to ensure that people do not have a reason not to come, CAP has taken care of transporting interested individuals to the venue as well: There will be free buses available on the 10th and the 14th the two holidays from 11am to 8pm, every two hours, back and forth from Nipa Chowrangi, Society Office near the Quaids Mausoleum and the Korangi Chowk, says Sharmeen. We dont want to give people an excuse for not coming, she adds.
Every person working for the festival has done so willingly and without expecting any monetary benefits in return. Perhaps a first in the history of the Karachi Arts Council, but they have provided the venue free-of-cost as well. Even the logo which had been designed by Khizra Munir from Interflow to the vocal booths provided by Radio1 FM91 has been done pro bono.
Speaking of the future of CAP and what it hopes to achieve, Sharmeen says: A lot of this work will be electronically available on our websites. My hope is that next year well be doing something different along those same lines. Were hoping that old buildings in Karachi that we can either have donated to us or given to a trust so that we can build a museum. I imagine in 10 years time that this will be the place where people will give lectures and talks, she adds about what they have currently collected so far that everything that is being received is going to the museum. Till then well look for a temporary place to house them.
At the end of it all, more important than whatever goes on in the Shanakht Festival itself is what people will take home with them a sense of renewed identity and a stronger sense of belonging and connection to the country they belong to as well as a desire to help bring it forward into the future. There arent many individuals willing to take time out and work for the enlightenment and betterment of the society itself, let alone doing it without expecting any materialistic benefit CAP happen to be some of those creative, mad but ambitious individuals who are doing precisely that. And it is important because: We need to celebrate 60 years of Pakistan. I have walked across the border to Afghanistan and Iran and I have seen the other side, says Sharmeen, adding that while we have what we have, we need to learn to appreciate it and move forward.
she delivered a wonderful speech
