Karachi: Sindh Jee Marui is a book written by Gul Hassan Kalamati, on Karachi, the capital city of Sindh, also known as the backbone of Pakistan’s economy. Marui is one of the seven heroines of Sindh and one of the symbols of the Sindhi people’s integrity. This city was a gateway to the Indus Valley, recognised as one of the world’s great civilisations, but after the partition of the Subcontinent and creation of Pakistan, it underwent a big cultural change due to the arrival of immigrants from India which reduced the old residents of the city to a minority.

This is one of the rarest books on Karachi in the Sindhi language. It covers hundreds of years of the city’s history. It discusses the controversy over its name being Karachi or Kalachi; its invasions by Alexander the Macedonian king and other conquerors; its topographical and geographical position; climatic conditions; economic importance, and different systems of governance, including administrative and judicial structures. 

Other topics included in the book relate to religion with details on temples (mundirs) and mosques, those who contributed to the building of the city, women’s activities, the city’s architecture and heritage, Karachi’s art and literature, tourism and the city’s revenue. Pictures, as well as maps and sketches of the city enhance the book’s appeal and value. 

Its research is based on municipal records, historical sources and archaeological searches. In total, thirty books, eleven magazines and journals, and eight daily newspapers in Sindhi have been consulted. Another thirty one books, magazines and dailies in Urdu and twenty-six books, periodicals and papers in English have been used as references as well. Besides using six libraries of the city, the author has interviewed around thirty intellectuals and local personalities for this work. 

Gul Hassan Kalamati explains that the partition and creation of Pakistan in 1947 caused the mass exodus of the old residents (Hindus) of Karachi, and subsequently the arrival of Urdu speaking people from other parts of India. As a result, the city lost its original ethnic harmony and underwent a massive change in a very short period of time to accommodate the huge migration. As such the city’s appearance and identity was distorted. 

The foreword of the book is written by Amar Jalil, a famous intellectual and writer who is bitter about these changes and believes that Karachi’s peace was ruined by the arrival of the new migrants. He concludes that the new culture and language has been accompanied by fundamentalism and sectarianism. 

Zulfiqar Shaikh