KARACHI: Following its Lahore and Islamabad sessions of Qissa Khwani Bazaar, The Citizens Archive of Pakistan’s (CAP) concluded its unique series of storytelling sessions in Karachi.
The event paid tribute to the fabled market of Peshawar renowned for its acclaimed story-tellers of yore. The sessions featured prominent Pakistanis who shared anecdotes and milestones from their lives and careers, deeply intertwined with Pakistan’s own rich past and traditions.
The second day of the event drew a sizeable crowd to the Pakistan American Cultural Center (PACC). As on Day 1, CAP Executive Director Swaleha Alam Shahzada initiated proceedings by apprising the august audience on the project and talked about the importance of storytelling as a means to preserve history. She was followed by moderator Nazish Brohi who briefed the audience on the topic of the session before encouraging the panellists to share their stories and experiences on the subject. Dr. Ruth Pfau, Hilda Saeed, Norma Fernandes, Cyrus Cowasjee and Dr. Amarnath Motumal spoke passionately about the contribution of Pakistan’s minorities to the fabric of the nation through their work in education, health, philanthropy and civil society.
A Tribute to the Qissa Khwani Bazaar by The Citizens Archive concluded its series on the 3rd and final day by focusing on Social Movements in Pakistan. Karachi, in the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s was an epicenter of social activism that brought about long term change in the country. The event speakers were; noted writer and student activist Syed Mazhar Jameel, feminist activist Anees Haroon and established journalist Zubeida Mustafa. The event was moderated by Yusra Askari. Zubeida Mustafa started off the session discussing the role and place of media in society. She noted the censorship regime of the past and contrasted it with the current situation. She shared moving anecdotes about her past and how journalists used to find new and innovative ways to subvert government controls.
Anees Haroon furthered this discussion with mentioning the women’s movement in the same era. She spoke about how the Zia era was particularly tough for women and minorities, but it also sparked movements that led to long term change. She spoke about the first instances about the Hudood Ordinance being applied to the Fehmida Allahbaksh case and how those efforts galvanised the population against Zia and his repressive laws. She said, “In Zia’s time, everything about women was challenged. Huge billboards were put up on Shaheed-e-Millat road, blaming all evils of society on women’s progress.” She also narrated of a famous incident of a story when a woman was flapped in a bakery in Lahore, for not wearing a dupatta, back in the 80’s. Humourously, she recalled how at that time even Noor Jehan was not immune, as she used to wear sleeveless blouses which would be censored in the newspapers with a black strip. Later, people would make fun of the black strips and inquire about her new tailor. Here she very strongly discussed the need for the separation of religion and state for a better society.
Syed Mazhar Jameel added the importance of student movements and education in society as a harbinger of social change. It was stated that the student unions was very strong at that time and how these initiatives have weakened over a period of time. He also noted the importance of inter-cultural collaboration to bring harmony to society, such as between Urdu and Sindhi speaking populations. He gave examples of his work with these communities and how recent efforts and literature have tried to bring these people together. He specifically said, “language plays an important part in bridging cultural gaps. If more texts are translated from Sindhi to Urdu and Urdu to Sindhi, then some gaps can be bridged.”
All three speakers noted the importance of the youth and their necessary role, and their hope about how they would bring about change in the nation today. Mazhar Jameel said that a “change will not come until an effort is made and an effort will not be made until there is a platform which could be the media in this day and age.”
Yusra Askari also asked the panellists about the role of social media and they agreed it could be an alternative to mainstream narratives. It could also be used as a tool of mobilzation. Anees Haroon also spoke about how volunteerism in the past and her time helped in these movements. She said that “people should say what is right; otherwise you will leave room for the wrong to come in.” She said that the Womens Action Forum had never accepted outside funding, because “people movements only work, when there are no economic strings attached.” Zubeida Mustafa added here about how journalism has also become more subservient to other vested interests. She spoke about the presence of idealism in her career, and journalism at that time, and how it is needed even in the present. Echoing other panellists, encouragement was given to CAP to further its work in creating peaceful avenues or environments of dialogue.”
With an aim to keep the tradition of storytelling alive, CAP endeavours to recreate the essence of the historic Qissa Khwani Bazaar, which translates literally from Persian to ‘Storytelling Market’; which unfortunately now solely exists as a physical structure only. The Peshawar based market used to be a commercial hub that attracted travelling merchants of all ethnicities, where they would trade their wares, frequent local tea houses and exchange stories and experiences over a hot cup of qahwa. This practice elevated Qissa Khwani Bazaar from a simple marketplace into a living, breathing celebration of the tradition of storytelling itself. The Qissa Khwani Bazaar is part of CAP’s Oral History Project.
“With a past as rich and glorious as ours, we feel it is extremely important to elucidate upon it and hold events such as the Qissa Khawani Bazaar as reminder of that past”, adds Amean J., the Co-President of CAP. “This effort is also made on our part to revisit the milestones that helped us build Pakistan in the hope to remind and inspire our present generations to set a higher bar for a more prosperous future”
Swaleha Alam Shahzada, Executive Director of CAP said, “We all have stories that need to be told, cherished and preserved. The Qissa Khwani Bazaar represented a tradition that is now lost while our first generation of story tellers are also leaving us quickly – With this tribute, CAP’s Oral History Project hopes to revive and preserve the tradition.”
