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Karachi: Our Stories in Our Words
The book is a collection of stories and voices from all over Karachi, written for a story-writing competition arranged by Oxford University Press Pakistan—and is based on the idea that everyone has a good story to tell. These stories, written by many individuals separately, together chronicle the city and its life.
Karachi as a cosmopolitan city of prosperity and opportunity is a strong theme—a city where people from all over the country and continent mingle and live in close proximity. There are stories of kindness and empathy. And there are themes of deep income disparity and social injustice. There is nostalgia for a time gone by in Karachi, a new awareness of its past history, a love of the beach and the sea. There is deep pain in these stories—of the loss of loved ones, of violence and murder and target killings—and a real sense of belief and hope for a better future.
Karachi as a cosmopolitan city of prosperity and opportunity is a strong theme—a city where people from all over the country and continent mingle and live in close proximity. There are stories of kindness and empathy. And there are themes of deep income disparity and social injustice. There is nostalgia for a time gone by in Karachi, a new awareness of its past history, a love of the beach and the sea. There is deep pain in these stories—of the loss of loved ones, of violence and murder and target killings—and a real sense of belief and hope for a better future.
- GenresFiction
360 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2013
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About the author
Maniza Naqvi
11 books25 followersManiza Naqvi is a novelist and short story writer. Born in Lahore, she lives mostly in the USA. Her four novels are Mass Transit, On Air, Stay With Me, and A Matter of Detail. She has also published a book of short stories: Sarajevo Saturdays. She writes fiction and essays as a Monday Columnist for 3Quarksdaily.com
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 12, 2017
Like any large urban metropolitan area Karachi has a little of everything: wealth, diversity, excitement, danger, humanity, crime and a lot more. Nonetheless, Karachi has no comparison with other cities in Pakistan.
Karachi is more than a mini-Pakistan. It's population contains large numbers of Burmese, (Swahili speaking) Africans, Filipinos, Bangladeshis, Afghans and so many more. It has over one million Christians; a similar number of Hindus and smaller numbers of Sikhs.
Karachi is home for all of these communities. They are not foreign talent on work permits and employment passes.
Mai Kolachi was and is a mother for all Pakistanis. She welcomes one and all with open arms. Unlike Lahore, Peshawar or most other Pakistani cities, Karachi asks no questions.
Karachi embraces. Arrive on Monday and call Karachi home on Tuesday.
However, until a few years ago Karachi had fallen under the spell of an envious Evil Eye. It seemed there was no end to Karachi's problems. Riots, crime, terrorism, kidnapping and all types of evil became synonymous with the erstwhile City of Lights.
It is this period of darkness which is captured in “Karachi: Our Stories in Our Words” edited by Maniza Naqvi. The book is a collection of short stories by ordinary Karachites. The stories are intimate and take you deep within the pain of the city, as felt by its authors. Indeed, after reading some of the stories one is left wondering how Karachi survived and even grew by millions even during this strife torn period.
Karachi’s strength also shines through in these tales. Karachites never gave up on Mai Kolachi's city. Today, Karachi is not only out of intensive care but well on the road to regaining her past glory. Indeed, maybe even a stronger Karachi has emerged following the pain of recent years.
Karachi is more than a mini-Pakistan. It's population contains large numbers of Burmese, (Swahili speaking) Africans, Filipinos, Bangladeshis, Afghans and so many more. It has over one million Christians; a similar number of Hindus and smaller numbers of Sikhs.
Karachi is home for all of these communities. They are not foreign talent on work permits and employment passes.
Mai Kolachi was and is a mother for all Pakistanis. She welcomes one and all with open arms. Unlike Lahore, Peshawar or most other Pakistani cities, Karachi asks no questions.
Karachi embraces. Arrive on Monday and call Karachi home on Tuesday.
However, until a few years ago Karachi had fallen under the spell of an envious Evil Eye. It seemed there was no end to Karachi's problems. Riots, crime, terrorism, kidnapping and all types of evil became synonymous with the erstwhile City of Lights.
It is this period of darkness which is captured in “Karachi: Our Stories in Our Words” edited by Maniza Naqvi. The book is a collection of short stories by ordinary Karachites. The stories are intimate and take you deep within the pain of the city, as felt by its authors. Indeed, after reading some of the stories one is left wondering how Karachi survived and even grew by millions even during this strife torn period.
Karachi’s strength also shines through in these tales. Karachites never gave up on Mai Kolachi's city. Today, Karachi is not only out of intensive care but well on the road to regaining her past glory. Indeed, maybe even a stronger Karachi has emerged following the pain of recent years.
October 12, 2015
I don't think I've ever read anything worse than this book. I was excited to buy it from the literature festival because from the synopsis at the back I figured it would have unique stories about Karachi that aren't just about the target killing or the political unrest etc. But I was wrong. There were many things that were wrong with this book and I will list them down as follows:
1) Editing. I could not get past how many grammatical mistakes and misplaced punctuation marks there were in this book. I was surprised to find that an actual writer edited it. It didn't seem like that at all
2) The stories. None of them were unique. Most of them sounded like O level essays you write in the short time of one hour. But there are still many who write much better within that time frame than most of the writers of the stories in this book. They were poorly structured, depressing to read, even painful. Not to mention half of them followed the same theme- tragic endings.
3) Was it really necessary to include all the corruption that happens in Karachi in all of the stories? Was it really necessary to include target killings and bombings in EVERY. SINGLE. STORY?? There's way more to Karachi than that.
Overall this book was a huge disappointment. What fate will Pakistani English Literature have if it keeps churning out such awful stories? I couldn't even finish it.
1) Editing. I could not get past how many grammatical mistakes and misplaced punctuation marks there were in this book. I was surprised to find that an actual writer edited it. It didn't seem like that at all
2) The stories. None of them were unique. Most of them sounded like O level essays you write in the short time of one hour. But there are still many who write much better within that time frame than most of the writers of the stories in this book. They were poorly structured, depressing to read, even painful. Not to mention half of them followed the same theme- tragic endings.
3) Was it really necessary to include all the corruption that happens in Karachi in all of the stories? Was it really necessary to include target killings and bombings in EVERY. SINGLE. STORY?? There's way more to Karachi than that.
Overall this book was a huge disappointment. What fate will Pakistani English Literature have if it keeps churning out such awful stories? I couldn't even finish it.
August 15, 2019
"Karachi, Our Stories in our words" 1st book that I finished reading this year. A gift from "Karachi Literature Festival". A book that narrates the stories of inhabitants of Karachi in their own words. Stories of misery, pain,helplessness, terror and hope. It is a collection of 99 stories of people of Karachi,Written by people of Karachi for a story telling competition held by Oxford University Press. Stories are well written and edited by "Maniza Naqvi". As these are real stories, some of these stories have the ability to make you cry.. I have never been to Karachi, but this book took me to all those areas of Karachi, that I haven't heard of before. It made me feel pain and hope, the way that I never felt before. Do Read if you want to know more about Karachi(the city of lights) and it's inhabitants..
Karachi, the city that is called "city of lights " , the city where darkness have prevailed for last few decades..😔 😢
Karachi, the city that is called "city of lights " , the city where darkness have prevailed for last few decades..😔 😢
April 18, 2021
A good effort! Thats all you can say. Because the purpose of this book, is hardly to select the best literature on and about Karachi. It seemed to be helping some not so well read writers make it as a writer ie get published. But even then, if Maniza had taken it easy on the readers, especially ones who do not read as little, as some of these wanabe writers, writing as from a magazine from heyday of the progressive movement, by consigning, some of the 'student effort" to the backpages. I abandoned the dammed thing, less than a quarter of the way. If it werent for the OUP, usually publishing some great anthologies, and Naqvi having this halo with her work in rescuscating a dying old Karachi bookshop, I wouldnt have wasted my money on it.
December 2, 2016
This book was a present (thank you, Ayesha!).
This book contains short stories about people whose lives have been touched, moved or changed forever by the City Of Lights, that is Karachi.
Some stories were amazing, some I skimmed through. In a loaded short stories book, normally I get distracted as every story requires a new warm up to the plot and characters. I guess, I just run out of patience.
A good book with some unforgettable stories.
This book contains short stories about people whose lives have been touched, moved or changed forever by the City Of Lights, that is Karachi.
Some stories were amazing, some I skimmed through. In a loaded short stories book, normally I get distracted as every story requires a new warm up to the plot and characters. I guess, I just run out of patience.
A good book with some unforgettable stories.
November 10, 2013
Worthless book. A really horrible picture of our city.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews