Karachi at the End of the Raj

[StephendelRoser]

UPDATED AND CORRECTED VERSION - For a more accurate storyline and more factual data, please use the version "Karachi and Bombay at the end of the Raj", which is posted as a video response on this page. (I have maintained the current page because of the existence of external links to it.) --- Many thanks to all those whose comments and messages have made this updating possible, Stephendelroser

[briltek]

Hi,

I've no words to say thank you for all of your efforts. These things we just have had heard and read in books and now seen in footage. Life was so simple, sweet and despite all hardships, worth cherishing every moment.

[ourpak1]

So nice & calm, my grand father told me how was those early days after partition, country speaks as 1, no ethnic troubles, every 1 love each odr & even if unknown prson is going people salaam to each odr. look at today karachi, it has become hell, street crime, terrorism, loot maar, afra tafri, corrupt mulla brain washing peoples,poverty etc. we Pakistanis have become really shameless.

[MsNankie]

I know nothing about Karachi (am a born and bred US girl) but loved this video! So simple and sweet, and interesting to see another way of life. Thank you for posting it.

[ahtisham6]

It is a very beautifull and a very best reminder , I m remembring my parents today after watch of the vedio.

ahtisham mahmood

[zaik2007]

Very interesting ,very good movie love it...

[Eindelik]

Cantonment - PLEASE pronounce the word as "cantoonment"

[StephendelRoser]

@Eindelik

Your wish is my command - I am at present editing a revised version of the film, incorporating corrections and additional information generated by viewer comments and other messages.

[newyorkavirex]

Those were the times people enjoyed the simple pleasures of life.. But now days its like people gone wild... Show off money and wealth to an idotic level.. If only people can realize that a citys pride is its cultural heritage ot macdonalds or nandos.... Peeps need to visit burns roads.... Can we still get. Ihari shipped

[iqbalkhii]

really is very good thx 4 this clip

[StephendelRoser]

@iqbalkhii Thank you very much for your comment

[coolraaga]

Awesome video, makes me so nostalgic. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[ChachaPardesi]

Fantastic post, as I was born in karachi it was breath taking to see things from the past seeing how my father and grand father lived, Thanks again please keep up with your great post. Seeing Karachi now I think we were much better in brithish rule. British did so much this land and developed it, they were blamed to take away but that is not true they gave it back too. Karachi being the major port was the british doing.

[ChachaPardesi]

Fantastic post, as I was born in karachi it was breath taking to see things from the past seeing how my father and grand father lived, Thanks again please keep up with your great post

[FireBenderKwyna]

I would've loved for my grandmother to see it. She's passed away now. This is the world she knew in her youth.

[saadawal]

Still pretty much the same..

[Khayyamally]

Amazing! Karachi was so much better and peaceful then. Thanks for posting this extra-ordinary video.

[hashpuppy101]

we've sold our pride. our nations have been ransacked by anarchy.And now we're going after eachother's throats. fuck this shit. love thy neighbor.

[skulz66]

Awesome

[SZAS1978]

I was a little boy when my family moved to Karachi in 1947. I remember the tramway. I used to ride from Lawrence Rd to Boulton Mkt for my schoool: Sheldon Seconday. Beautiful reminder. Thank you for this vdo.

Zaki.

[ahmed742]

@SZAS1978 our condition is deteriorated, we were polishing the shoes of our british lords and todays we are polishing the shoes of our desi lords. Do you think we are free?? If not then why people like you and your families have sacrificed for this country....need your reply with due respect.

[StephendelRoser]

Thank you to everyone for your comments, suggestions and subscriptions. The number of them has been overwhelming.

A few of the shots at the end of the film may be of Bombay. The view of India taken from the ship looks rather like that given in old postcards of the waterfront there. This may show that the last few days of the soldier's time in India were spent in Bombay.

[ZaraHayat84]

Great video very fascinating

[AghaZulqarnainPasha]

Thanks for uploading. Interesting .

[dramjadparvez]

Brilliant archives.

[KnowMaan]

It could be nostalgic for my grandparents but they ain''t here nomore.

[wasoodev]

Thanks Durriya Sahiba....Awesome

[stingsaintly]

ty

[rbtigress]

Brilliant input

[shamausman]

All this makes us think of future!

[bshah2007]

The opening scene is that of what is now Zaibunisa St.,

Most other landmarks and buildings are still there today.

Even the train station hasn't changed much!

[sakasus]

@bshah2007 Yes it is today's zaibunnisa st: I remember walking on it when it was Elphinston street. The next street is what we see towards municipal hospital / Jahangir Park today from NIMCO shop in Bohri Bazar. T0uching vdo for me at least.

[Jlodhi65]

completely mesmerized by this video clip as i always wanted to see my city in old times as i heard from my elders. thanks a million stephen for sharing this gem. by the way is there any luck to get copy of it. if so, please tell me how? thanks again

[sherazanwar]

Thanks for sharing this nice video. This is a masterpiece.

[iSleepDoc]

Amazing video, wonderful job, .... Many thanks to the people involved in making and delivering of this master piece to us. Bravo !!!!!!

[rumiraaz]

Thanks for posting great video

[talpur]

Thanks Stephen for sharing this wonderful video of those peaceful days of the then great city of Karachi.

[Saudbajwa]

Good old days. Era of celluloid, early projector, the noise of pulleys. The coverage has a vast range of life in Karachi and then from India to GB. It's really fascinating. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks for Sharing.

[behrammagsibaloch]

great clip

[oceanbound222]

awesome !

[mdadnan]

now I see all corruption, ego and lies outside.

[471325]

Thanks Stephan for sharing this lovely video plz upload more if you have? 

[Sanetuber]

What strike me was child abuse/ labor and poverty of locals.

Yeah less traffic was nice.

[Omair110]

Thanks Stephan we want more about karachi plz plz plz upload more about my Karachi

[sickofya]

There was no traffic. How peaceful it was. Now Karachi's roads are full of traffic load and pollution :S.

[arphotodesign]

Fascinating video!! Today's Karachi is still very much the same in it's appearance other than a whole lot more people, traffic and structures. Most of the buildings still exist. The disparities appear the same. Then it was the Gora Baboo, now it is people from within the same society. Still living with the colonized mind set.

[litfest99]

This is fascinating! Such rare and precious images,they can be used by TV & film directors when making period dramas & movies.

[hrspk]

A Movie recorded by british solider stephen in 1942, our Karachi

[tipoozi]

Simply Lovely... Good experience for the generation who has never seen those old days of Karachi after & before partition...

[dryogi25]

Ar 144 you see BEST. Thats the Brihanmumbai Electricty Supply & Transport.

Fascinating the state own company in Mumbai had its mark running in Karachi....and what have we become now...an epic tragedy...

[atifhassana]

very interesting...would have loved to see more about ppl and places..but i guess the movie maker the soldier was on a short trip etc...btw what's the deail with the voice!..why its so somber...although it goes well with the black and white picture and the time its trying to relate to...good job though.

[rajennair1]

Priceless vintage video footage, we have so much in common that karachi could have passed off for any Indian city then and i guess now too. I wonder those two burly hair boys on bicycle, where are they now and if they happen to see this video what they would say

[alitruepaki]

interesting video and lots of buildings are still alive. Old bridges and railway tracks from British day still there means the architectural and materials used in that construction was so sold that they are still alive. 

[malihahasan2]

Thanks for sharing this; reiterates what karachi's lost in terms of serenity, land & time. Only differences i could detect, in this video from 60 years ago: Buildings & roads look much cleaner, a great public transport system, more men wearing pants, pyjamas and fez caps on the streets and obviously no cars,buses,rikshaws or bikes. Chipmunks in Karachi? Who knew? We still have beggars, camels, horses & donkeys transporting materials, naked kids walking around in clifton, & the same dhobighats :(

[845Hasan]

Good work done and preserved. I understand most memorable buildings are saved but some old memories like trams, old hotels, cinemas and book stalls are demolished to make plazas like 71 Garden building which was headquarter of Radio Pakistan is turned into a residential building but Irani hotel situated in front of it is still there.

[Djarian2000]

Interesting video. Unfortunate to realize that city perhaps just got dirtier and rudimentary. The general condition of poor inhabitants has not changed much. Shame on the people who run this city.

[aekpani]

Amazing!

[shuntoo]

Karachi YMCA is still there, I did my first computer science semister from there in 1991/1992 I guess :)

cotton exchange and freare hall and other old buildings are still there as you see in this video.

[shuntoo]

Nice and perfect commentary, good Job. Please share if you have more.

Thanks.

[imadbhai1234]

really a rare film.

i passed some best years of my life living side of frere hall mear cantt station.

now it is closed for the last so many years for the public,as American embassy and residence r near by.

chundrigar

[uruleworld]

Amazing!

[SHAMAGULL]

great document

[AMINSADRUDDINBHAYANI]

Thanks for uploading this great short film from my born place KARACHI and let us have a chance to see the past. Great Job.

[Urdulife]

very nice video!

[laisla3]

Amazing work....thanks for the video. This is a rare find.

[shabbirnoon2009]

Great work Man! thanks for uploading.. Do you have more like this? Thank you and thanks to that unnamed soldier who shoot it.

[stillif]

wow, where did you find this? I would love to get a copy for a film on my family. Who owns the original?

[FaSiiiii]

The cotton exchange is still there.. n i believe the imperial bank building is now the state banks old building near the arts council.. :)... thanx for sharing..

[qualitycontroller786]

Nice share :)