Aks @ Baithak

View from Kalam

Friday, July 15, 2005 | 5 comments

by

Amir Saleem

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One of the most beautiful places in the north of Pakistan; Kalam is a land of many colors and textures. The best thing though, is the people of that whole region. They may be financially in challenging circumstances, but their kindness, generosity and hospitality is an everlasting characteristic.

I was there a few weeks back and tried to capture some of the natural beauty of Kalam...

Later in the evening, the sun scatters its dying rays on the distant mountains.

On our way to Lake Mahudand; while passing through a glacier, turned back and saw one of the most majestic scenes of all.

A pasture right next to the Lake Mahudand; a young boy relaxes in the mild sunshine.

There used to be wild horses roaming around the lake. Now there are only a bunch of domesticated horses. The splendor remains the same.

Looking back at the pasture, from the lake. This could only be a part of heaven placed on earth.

Sunshine dances over the lake. There was nothing else but utmost silence.

On our way to Lake Mahudand, in an isolated place, someone has placed this bench right in the middle of the river. I wanted to sit there and relax for hours. Since the river was mildly flooded, there was no way to get to the bench; all I could do was the capture the memory of it.

There is never a better sight than sun rising from behind a think tree-line. There is no better sight than this.

Tall and majestic, trees have a personality of their own. They don’t add to the beauty of a place, they are the beauty of a place.

This tree stood alone in the middle of rocky ground, turning red the twilight.

Of Black Sky and Swinging Lights

Thursday, April 07, 2005 | 9 comments

by

Madiha Aijaz

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For us, the Pakistani children of the early eighties, Funland has always held high reverence. Karachi's narrow spaces and abundance of high-rise apartment buildings never allow Karachiites the privilege to enjoy outdoorsy activities. I spent most of my childhood cycling or skating in cramped apartment compounds, finding my way through swinging cricket bats and misdirected balls and dodging over-zealous cricket fans.

The 80's was the period of Zia's regime in Pakistan when all forms of entertainment came under strict censorship. The female clan was to cover their head; it was horrifically called the 'dupatta policy of PTV'. Unlike the sixties and seventies when cinema-going was part of urban culture, clubbing was always the elite's favorite pastime, alcohol wasn't illicit either and tambola parties were amongst the many available options to unwind and enjoy.

The eighties became a little too stifling for the liberal middle class. The children, oblivious to the political make-over, nonetheless had fewer available choices - a couple of fast-food joints like Mr. Burger and Jan's, Baloch Icicles - the only ice-cream parlor, the sea-view beach, the one-rupee-ticket aquarium next to Lady Lloyd's pavilion, and the open spaces of glittery Clifton Funland.

The ads expounded the family feel; the 80's lot grew up with 'ammi, abu, muno, chhotu, abb sub chalein gae funland' -- so our desi-style theme park became the epitome of entertainment, for it was our version of Disneyland, our real-time fantasy of oscillating motion and swirling night sky, our very own roller-coaster ride, our make-believe world of Vegas's glittering lights with a huge but never operational casino in the background.

The Hully-gullies, the Merry-go-round, the Pirate-ship, the Electric balloons, the Bhoot-bangla, Dodging cars in disco-lit-Indian music-blaring-dome and our one and only bowling arena constituted Funland then. The soft ice-cream cones, the gentle sea breeze, plenty of Suzuki FXes, Charades and Sunny Nisans in the parking lot ... make for my vivid Funland memories. Twenty five years down the line, I am not sure if things have changed for better or for worse. There are many such theme-parks around the city now. Air-conditioned malls have sprung up in every nook and corner. Eating places are multiplying every day. Gaming and bowling seem to be the hot sports for the young. Family outings are no more a frequent occurrence, for such things are categorized as obsolete these days.

The good old Funland has tried to retain its glitz and glitter but with no success. The only people who seem to be frequenting the place are the young men with their burqa-clad dates, hoping that no one looks at them straight in the eye, or the migrant workers from the Frontier and Punjab who bring their visiting families to impress them with the Karachi 'lights'.

Hand-Painted Boards Make for the Boundary Wall of the Electric Helicopters

Every now and then, one of these NGOs organizes afternoon melas at Funland, to entice the nostalgia-struck people, but they haven't had much success. Perhaps modern Karachi doesnt want to live in the past any more.

Views from Gadani

Thursday, March 31, 2005 | 3 comments

Mithra Birdie

focuses on the two faces of beach life in Southern Balochistan, Pakistan.

Photographs taken in February 2004

The tranquil scene captured at Gadani Beach, Balochistan, is in contrast to the activities taking place a stone's throw away. This deserted stretch of the coastline is used to scrap old ships. These ship breaking yards are fascinating places, gigantic metal structures pulled onto the shore, heavy chains and discarded parts of ancient ships strewn the beach.

Shipbreaking activites at Gadani.

Sacred Fire

Thursday, March 24, 2005 | 2 comments

Hemanshu Kumar

captures the element in Benares, Uttar Pradesh.

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Cremation. Photographed at Manikarnika Ghat, Benares, November 2004.

Arti Lamp. Photographed at Dasashwamedh Ghat, Benares, November 2004.

Arti. Photographed at Dasashwamedh Ghat, Benares, November 2004.

Arti 2. Photographed at Dasashwamedh Ghat, Benares, November 2004.

Arti 3. Photographed at Dasashwamedh Ghat, Benares, November 2004.

Night Lights

Thursday, March 24, 2005 | 7 comments

The darkness that night casts on us wouldn't be quite so enigmatic were it not for the dim, bright, natural, man-made, yellow, blue and all manner of lights that dispel the shadows in playful ways and hide and show what they will.