The New Generation of Pakistani Architects

hammad,

sorry but i`m about to abuse your board.

ifran...

two thoughts...

one...if i must run with a pack, i think i`d like to run with this one, if thats all right with you of course.

two...whenever i read about the masses, i always wonder why the fact that i read/write/speak predominantly english means (to some) that i`m not part of them. i live in karachi, have lived here for 25 of my 27 years. i drink the water, i eat the food, use the electricity, the roads, have a vote, hate the city nazim, get upset when i don`t get the things i pay taxes for...strange that others with guilt or self esteem issues project them onto me. should i consider myself less worthy of help or solace or even water (which i get for about an hour a day, much like the residents of the katchi abadi that are my neighbours) than those who are worse of than me? the way i see it, there is a life of the mind and there is the life of the body. i am privileged in that my body has it better than most others (three square meals plus snacks, a nice ac car, some lovin when i really need it etc), but when it comes to the life of the mind mine is just as subject to the ravages of pakistani life as my cleaning woman, and yes i mean that in all seriousness. so guess my point here is, the value of discussion on chowk is pretty much what you make it, and for me its been a way to keep the life of the mind toodling along. most days its wasted time, but some days its enlightening, reflective, cathartic, or just plain funny. and if PTV and ARY and INDUS can`t give it to me, and i don`t have enough bangles to clink together at an NGO meeting, then i`ll just take it anyway i can get it.

shandy

...almost overlooked the extra ordinary pakistanis living in pakistan (in #28) while elaborating on ``masses`...that was my fault...

...you and others with a live conscience who are working and living there to make a difference are perhaps more extra-ordinary pakistanis...

lve,

t


PM

have responded to the msg elsewhere...mail responded

that`s a very good analogy shandana -- life of the mind and body -- btw there`s an article in there !

irfanhamid

There is something called doing your little bit, according to your interests, and your abilities, at your place, one person at your time. Nobody has to turn into a saint. Neither does one have to give up, unless that`s what makes the person happy.

If you have any ideas about how Chowkies can add to the `value` as you define the term, share your wisdom with us. Else, beat it.

Shandana:

I feel I must apologize, not just to you but to all the other people who interact here as well. I was insensitive and wrong. I may not be smart, but I`m not stupid enough to be not able to see when I`m not right, not to mention that Ralph`s ``Else, beat it`` threat made me almost (but not quite) lose bladder control with fear. Therefore, duly rebuked, rebuffed and reprimanded, I bow out of this discussion thread/board. Being a new member I did not know there was an etiquette of not abusing a board (a word of thanks Shandana, for extending the constricted boundaries of my knowledge of how things work here), therefore, apologies to you as well Hammad.

PS (Ralph): Anonymity and the absence of the threat of reprisal really does wonders for one`s bravado does it not? By the way, you do a nice impression of the knight in shining armour.

A fond farewell to one and all,
Irfan.

temp:
wouldn`t they be the extra-ordianary intraordinaries?

Thank you everyone for an interesting discussion. I think not much has been written on architecture before, on this forum. I hope to write here regularly - though it will only be on architecture and our built environment!

Best Regards,

Hammad Husain

To Hammad:

I am not an architect, my opinion is purely a layman`s....having said that i would like to say that Pakistani architecture as you enquired.....would actually be in essence what Pakistanis have made.....Pakistan as such has only come into existence since 50 years....i don think thats sufficient to build up an identity. The region was ruled by the british for 200 years, so whatever was built those days is very conveniently called British architecture (And IndoPak labour if u may)......The only claimable architectural master piece which Pakistan can claim wast the Taj...but then thats one Muslim building which the Indians would secularize on...not to mention the amount of tourism it flocks.....so basically the bottom line is.....we have very less to beat the drums about in architecture.....lest India decides to hand over the Taj :-)


welcome to chowk...may i ask you one question?...is there any utilitarian value in >pakistani architecture that sets its apart... ...ok make it two queries...in what way are the >aesthetes in pakistani architecture different from others?