Written by: Subboh Jaffery
Posted on: January 19, 2019 | 
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Keamari Tram, Karachi (Source, Life Magazine)
The Dawood Foundation (TDF) is an organization owned and run by the Dawood Hercules Group, an investment company working tirelessly to support and promote educational and social causes in Pakistan. From running institutions like the Dawood Public School in Karachi, to running the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) in Lahore, to promoting culture through the TDF Ghar in Karachi - TDF is a front runner in their league.
Frere Hall, Karachi
In their mission to retain and revive the culture, history and heritage of Karachi, TDF is hosting an exhibition called ‘Karachi in the 1950s and All That Jazz’ at the TDF Ghar. TDF Ghar is a beautiful old house, constructed back in the 1930s and originally owned by Hajiani Hanifa Bai, situated in the Jamshed Quarters neighborhood of old Karachi. TDF renovated and restored the house and opened it to the public in 2017, in an attempt to keep the old spirit of the city alive.
The Drifters - A Goan Band
The exhibition is celebrating the ‘Jazzy’ and exuberant era of the 1950s in the City of Lights. Back in the day, Karachi was a hub of culture and entertainment not only in Pakistan, but also internationally. It was a popular tourist destination for the elites of the Middle East, as well as Western tourists. With beautiful clean roads, an efficient tram system, and architectural masterpieces, the city was a delight to not only visit, but also to live in. Karachi remained the capital for most of that decade, and was home to the privileged of the country. During the day, the city would be booming with great business and economic activities and as the sun went down, the city’s vibe would turn into a thrilling, buoyant mood. Karachi would come to life as the pioneer of a booming night life with bars, pubs, clubs, casinos, balls, hotels, cinemas – you name it. The alluring 50s were also a great time for the progress of the arts in Karachi, with legendary musicians like Mehdi Hassan, Nayyara Noor and Noor Jehan gracing the great city. Legends of literature like Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Nasir Kazmi and Saadat Hasan Manto would often honor the city with their presence.
Dizzy Gillespie charming snakes in Karachi
The exhibition featured several different aspects from the 1950s, allowing the visitors to relive the golden era. A corner dedicated to music featured a gramophone, with wall posters that showcased information from the decade. Pakistan wasn’t left behind in the wave of Jazz and Rock n Roll, which took the West by storm, and several Jazz musicians visited and performed in Pakistan, such as Dizzy Gillespie. Locally, the music scene was quickly developing, as Pakistan saw its first all-girls-band in the form of The Xavier Sisters. Beach Luxury Hotel and Club 007 served as popular destinations for such concerts.
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The Xavier Sisters - The first Pakistani all girls band (Source, Ralph Dajango)
Similarly, a certain area was dedicated to the cinema and movie scene in Pakistan, bringing to light the role of some cinemas like the Rex and Rio. Places such as the Odeon, Ritz, Taj Mahal and Regal were in vogue. Roaming around, feeling a bit overwhelmed, I found myself in a room that played a video documentary about the nightlife culture of Karachi, featuring some posters from back in the day of dance performances by dancers from Beirut and Turkey, and concerts by musicians from France. Following this, I found myself in a room that contained what was my favorite exhibit: interviews of people who spoke about what the city was like back then. Among the people interviewed was a 90 year old transgender named Mai Mulani. Listening to these stories really helped put things into perspective.
I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again, I was born in the wrong generation. Karachi, one of my favorite cities of all time, has seen it all. Unlike other cities of Pakistan, Karachi was and is a truly cosmopolitan city. It has lived through a brilliant period in the 50s, where art, culture and business flourished, and it has lived through a deadly 90s and 2000s. My beautiful city has seen some absolutely fantastic years, and I hope it gets to see them again. To the folks at TDF, great job at arranging the exhibition which wasn’t perfect, but was nevertheless an enriching experience.
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