On my way to work a few days ago, I saw a new sort of ‘artistic’ scribbling or in our ‘local terms’ I would say wall-chalking, which read “Karachi is ours, not yours” by a committee claiming to ‘save’ Karachi. Initially spotted in just a few parts of the city, now these messages have taken over the walls of houses in DHA, office buildings and other boundary structures around Karachi.
They mostly read, “Stop taking over our city, this behaviour wont work now”.
Who is taking over the city and who is this committee? They are slowly taking over the walls of Karachi, threatening the people who are trying to ‘take over Karachi’. Ironic? I think so.
If we must display our artistic skills over public walls, must they be restricted to political slogans and ambiguous threats? Taking ownership of a city or area means maintaining it and beautifying it, not scrawling sloppily-written threats on public spaces. – Eefa Khalid/Dawn.com
The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
Yes dear I am also thinking about it I also saw these in my area. God Bless Peoples of Karachi Just make dua for a great dawn.
How about this slogan. “Karachi hum sub ka hai. Yeh mulk hum sub ka hai. Ise upnaiye aur saaf suthra rukhye. “
You are 100% right. Karachi is not for Sindhi or Mohajir or Pathan… The whole of Pakistan is a gift from Allah to the whole Ummah. Pakistan Zindabad!
I dont know why there is a debate about Karachi humara or tumhara… Everyone knows what this word HUMARA means. Karachi is the part of Pakistan and every Pakistani loves Karachi and no one have right to write such things on walls and behave like an uncivilised citizen of Pakistan. We all understand the message in this slogan.
Karachi belong to the people of Karachi, one who earn and contribute to it. Not for the people who when going to their villages and say now going to our country.
There are many people who are karachi, earn from here, use the resources and think it is a transit place.
I agree with what Hasan says above.
According to Pakistan law of Fundamental Rights
” Every citizen shall have the right to remain in, and, subject to any reasonable restriction imposed by law in the public interest, enter and move freely throughout Pakistan and to reside and settle in any part thereof “.
This freedom of movement is given to the every citizen of Pakistan not a specific ethnicity or group of people. I believe Karachi is a territory of Pakistan
Karachi belongs to Pakistan. I think people who work here, contribute simply by working and it does not matter if they go back to their villages during holidays. People seek jobs in big cities the world over, why not here. There are Karachiites who have gone to other areas for jobs; I myself am one. But I never heard anyone telling me to go to my own city and that I don’t belong here. Pakistan belong to Pakistanis and thats it I think.
What, I understand from the slogan is, that it is meant for those who are either land grabber or terrorists, or come from all parts of the country here, earn but do not contribute any thing in return. Karachi is for ALL, provided they consider it HIS/HER OWN, contribute in return towards its well being, cleanliness, taxes, law and order, economic well being etc. All who claim to own it must fight against the menace of terrorism, destruction of a few left places, avoid wall chalking private and public property through dirty and obnoxious wall chalking[like naqli aamil, pirs,and maulvis, dawa khanas etc].
Make the slogan a reality ”Karachi hamara hay tumhara naheen” God bless Karachi and Pakistan.
A prized possession of my grandfather who came from Karachi was a 1946 souvenir of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce. All the members of the association were Sindhi Hindus. The Sindhi Hindus owned most of the commercial establishments in the city and dominated every sphere of life. Then came the refugees from India and we were forcibly driven out by them with full support from the Sindhi Muslims. And now the Sindhis and Mohajirs are fighting for what was rightly ours since centuries.
We ruled India for 600+ Years. So going by your logic, Mr. Motwani, the Hindu Majority is ruling the India which was ‘rightly’ ours since centuries
Rishi is talking about the achievements of his ancestors which were brutally nullified during partition. No matter who the rulers were, it was the bania who ran the economy – even today the Ismailis, memons, Bohris etc. who run the economy of Pakistan are descendents of Hindu Banias.
What is “We”, Sir?. If you go back to your ancestry you should not be surprised if you find the name Dhani Ram as one of your great great grandfathers and Laksmi Devi as one of your great, great grandmothers. Be aware of your true ancestry, be proud and be happy.
I respect about views of Mr Rashi Motwani but I am not agreeing with him that Sindhi Muslim of Sindh were against Sindhi Hindus. It was painful climax of so called struggle of Mr G.M Syed who was supporter of Muslim League in Sindh. But on the time of partition, Sindhi Muslims were not against Sindhi Hindus. Some incidents against Sindhi Hindus were happed in Sindh but it was proved later that Sindhi Muslims were not involved. Premier of Sindh at the time of Partition was Mr Ayoub Khuhro who visits Sindh and ask Sindhi Hindus that please don’t migrate from Sindh it is your motherland. Mr Hirchandrai Vishandas was called father of modern Karachi. His statue were installed in front of head office of Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC) but removed after partition. Modern Karachi was made by Sindhi Hindus.
I saw some of those sindhi hindus in jakarta.They are very rich and successful business people, next to the Chinese. Pakistani people have one big problem. They see everything through religion,yet there is rampant corruption in Pakistan.
Sir as my father & grand father remember it we were on your side because you are sindhi’s just like us.
Then why was the Hindu Gymkhana declared as evacuee property ! How could they do the same till the last Hindu was left in Karachi as it belonged to the community not any individual. Such taking over of community buildings and properties broke the Sindhi Hindus’ morale and was deliberate to make us feel unwanted and leave.
I don’t know if or why the Hindu Gym was declared evacuee property, what i can say is that there are still many Sindhi Hindus in Karachi many of whom i grew up with so one can’t say that all have left. There are not just fewer Sindhi Hindus in Karachi but fewer Sindhi Muslims too as due to the influx of migrants you will not easily find a Sindhi except in certain localities.
I still wonder what was the intention behind pushing all the migrants to Sindh and leaving Punjab as it is !
Karachi belongs to all Pakistanis. Period!
I wonder when we will become WE not Humara Tumhara?
Just hope for good ALLAH will do the good Inshallah
I think it is new game of political party.
In democratic nations everybody is allowed to have his say. Respect democracy.
But not public property – have your say as much you want but not by graffiti.
In no country graffiti is banned. When people have no medium to speak they use walls.
It’s a pity that our illiterate society is going downhill. The people need to be led by sincere people in Govt., if any.
Useless chat shows on politics, economy, foreign policies will not help. Electronic media should engage public issues of cleanliness, hygiene, sanitation etc with local officials & public.
Let there be Cleanliness Week every month, joined by all political workers of an area including the MNA, MPA and local Administration.
Let’s stop blaming each other. Time for concrete action. People will love and join this type of initiative; only if MNAs & MPAs come forward. Will they?
Karachi hum sab ka hai but nobody collects the garbage.
It more seems to be an art work rather then a political wall chalking.
But if it has a political back ground then it means educated and talented people are joining political parties.
Karachi is not yours… Karachi is ours. If you claimed that Karachi is yours then why you people are making mess in city and why making wall’s dirty like childrens.
‘Tumhara’ apparently is the land mafia & ‘Humara’ are the citizens of Karachi. Land grabbing is now a menace getting out of proportions. We are heading towards the abyss. The media is afraid to take up these issues but somebody will have to be bold enough. Wall chalking is definitely not the way forward.
I think Karachi Bachao Committee is to counter the Karachi Aman(Peace) Committee. Both Committees have political backing and ethnic colour…..
I am a US Pakistani. Last time I visited to Pakistan was in 1978, however, I read Dawn daily. I feel sad to know what is going on in Pakistan. I wish our prayers be answered one day so we can call our self proud Pakistani. I do not understand what the chalk writing is representing?
“Karachi Hamara hai Tumara Naheen” Who are those in Hamara category and who are those in Tumara category? By our faith we all Muslims should be one Ummah. Work hand in hand to build unite nation.
In my opinion, the wall chalking in entire country should be band and punishable. Look so cheap and no class. Can we learn some decency and make the city clean and presentable?
I believe the tourism in Pakistan is dead due to the current situation in the country. Please think seriously, how the other Nation is progressing.
Dear
I just want to tell you that before write anything about Pakistan please select positive words & think, I just copy paste your word here and let you know that whatever happen in Pakistan we always proud to be Pakistani
here is your wording
(one day so we can call our self proud Pakistani)
If you are that loyal to Pakistan so why don’t you comeback. Making comments from there is easy sir.
Whoever has srawlled over the wall with or without artistic talent expresses no desire in breaking into the artistic world, if exists, in Karachi, Pakistan. He is expressing concern. The object of concern is his or her beloved city, the city of Karachi. Karachi is the city of immense problems and one of them is the over population. The writer of the slogan may be someone who feels overwhelmed or threatend by the millions of others in an already over crowded city. The slogan may not appear harmonious with the theme of Pakistan Resolution but the sentiment underneath is divine. He or she wishes to save Karachi. The desire is to express care for the city. The writer Henry James has said that Civilization is always in need to be saved. Such an anxiety is loaded in the slogan.
The walls of Karachi has become the battle field against the land mafia. Just a matter of time before another real war, few body bags and than these walls will be clean again.
I believe that this chalking is nothing different from all other chalking e.g. someone getting you rid of black magic, someone selling desi viagara, someone collecting funds for a mosque, someone cursing the one who urinates under this wall etc etc. The key word here is “IRRELEVANT”. This message and most of all others are simply irrelevant. Irrelvant by all means.
Even the worst enemies of MQM are happy with its entry to Punjab which to them will help lesser MQM’s ethnic stance but unfortunately nothing has changed on ground. The language of these wall chalkings and posters displayed in the metropolis clearly shows whose words these are and what does “Tumhara” mean.
Its a proxy for the fact that our social and political leaders still don’t have any constructive ideas. Or they don’t trust that long term approach. otherwise, places/cities belong to those who work hard. No body inherits any city or province. If you want to own a place, work hard and earn it. If you want to own a group of people, love them and work for their welfare. This is the only long term approach. Otherwise nobody can deceive others for eternity. The longevity of such periods of deceptive strategies depends on the how cunning are such leader or how innocent the people are. But both has their limits. Media should also constructively and consistently analyze the performance of different individuals/leaders/parties/organizations so as to help people get to know about their representatives and differentiate between the good and the bad. In this world everybody has been made in charge of something, everybody should play his role positively and constructively. I believe patience is the essence of success. Not only the leaders but also the people should be patient to see how governments perform. Then leaders should look for alternative strategies to please their voters by prioritizing their welfare and voters should look for better leaders if they are not satisfied with the current lot. Media should also help in this. Print media is in fact writing on the wall.
This Slogan may work as slow poison in vein of Karachiites. We should beware of these element who work against nation.
Oh well do we need any clue who would have written the slogan after already suffering the forced assertion of political parties in Karachi shouting slogan of hamara and tumhara Karachi despite critical economical meltdown? The show is yet to replicate in Punjab thanks to the ‘aamm awam’ party log-heads.
We should avoid writing on the walls.
All the political parties & people should avoid writing on the wall , it damages the beauty of the city .
– At the urging of Los Angeles officials alarmed about graffiti defacing the city’s many walls, California Gov. signed a measure into law that requires those convicted of the vandalism to remove the scrawls and, in some cases, keep the tagged surfaces clean for one year.
Can our local govt take similar steps and resolve vandalism??
That’s the price of having a big city like Karachi and the price of having terrorist roaming in the country like tourist capturing all the beautiful scenes in the camera…For GOD’s sake we must stop this kind of nonsense attitude…at least we should learn to live peacefully with each other if not lovingly…we are witnessing a great change under democratic rule where MQM is allowed to hold convention’s inside three big cities of Punjab…learn something and don’t become vicitim of the past…
Most of the issues related with KHI can be solved. Like for example the issue of chalking can be solved by letting these people write and write. Of course we should provide them a lot of space of every street marked as : RESERVED FOR WALL CHALKING. Looks stupid idea but it seems the solution.
Regarding the PUBLIC TOILET issue, please remember that no one likes the idea to do it publicly. We have people in our city which are living below poverty line. They are homeless and without food and sleep for days. They are forced to so this by circumstances.
Remember that this issue can also be solved. How many of us would like to share the 1/4 th of our single meal for these HOMELESS GYPSIES AND VAGABONDS WHO WERE MEANT TO BE THE PIONEERS OF TOMORROW.
Please give a little thought to what i said before you go to sleep this night. Remember that in our country we need to set examples by HELPING OUT not by blogging.
Let us all of us SHARE A SMALL PORTION OF EACH THING FOR THE BETTER FUTURE FOR ALL OF US: CO-EXISTANCE IS REALITY THAT CAN NOT BE DENIED TO POOR!
I guess that’s what most of this blog orbits around. But check out the essence guys. Most of the bloggers must be having some political affiliation, whether actively or impliedly. My purpose of stating that is, if someone’s favorite political party’s slogan is chalked on the wall then its Yipee Yay, otherwise ignorable. If male impotency or feminine enlargement and/or voodoo magic is discussed on the wall then its a must readable. And more fun would muster if the wall talks back by saying, Look A Dog/Donkey Is Peeing here.
This slgan is from Land Mafia. As law and order situation gets worst
such slogans will appear in Lahore and in other cities. Where is the government?