From Dibai to Karachi

Summary

The author reflects on their personal heritage, recounting their birth in Karachi, Pakistan, and their family's roots in Dibai, India, alongside musings on their childhood and the influence of their cultural and religious background.

Abstract

The author, born in Karachi, Pakistan, delves into their familial origins from Dibai, Uttar Pradesh, India, sharing anecdotes and reflections passed down through generations. Despite never visiting Dibai, the author's identity is deeply intertwined with the stories and struggles of their ancestors, particularly those surrounding the partition of India. The narrative touches on the author's lethargic childhood, their family's tumultuous dynamics, the role of television as a unifying force, and the somber undertones of their Shia Muslim heritage. The memoir is a tapestry of personal and historical musings, highlighting the interplay between past and present, and the resilience found in the face of life's unpredictable nature.

Opinions

The author draws a parallel between their birth and the partition of India, suggesting a fateful connection.
They speculate humorously about the involvement of angels and jinns in their birth, dismissing the notion that Jews are behind every global event.
The author describes their childhood self as being often lost in thought, to the extent of being oblivious to their surroundings.
They depict their childhood home as a place of chaos and violence, yet also of shared experiences, such as watching television together.
The author acknowledges the inherent grief in their Shia Muslim family background but also implies that this grief can lead to unexpected blessings.
They believe that life's struggles and tragedies are part of a healing process, suggesting a philosophical acceptance of fate.
The author hints at a fatalistic worldview, citing the adage that making plans can be humorous to a higher power, indicating a resignation to life's unpredictability.

From Dibai to Karachi

A brief memoir of my heritage

I was born in Karachi, Pakistan, but my roots belong to a small town, Dibai in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, India. I never got a chance to visit the place, but I have heard many interesting stories from my elders. Gandhi and I were born on the same day, October 2nd. The only characteristics we share are sexual frustration, anorexia and a deep need to realise Truth. I’m not sure if those 3 are related in any way.

My birth, just like the partition of India, was no coincidence, in fact, I believe it was a great conspiracy of angels and Jinn (demons). It’s not necessary that Jews are behind every strange event that occurs in the world, as many people in the Muslim society like to believe. If the Jinn were Jewish, then that’s another story. How my ancestors left everything behind and migrated to Karachi, was indeed a painful journey. All that struggle lead to my creation. It was agonising yet liberating, for us Mohajir (migrants)

I was an extremely lethargic child. While eating, I would place the bite on the corner of mouth like naswar (tobacco snuff) and lose myself in my dream world. It seemed as if I was stuck in limbo. Sometimes, flies would start roaming around my mouth, celebrating my death, and suddenly, I would wake up, distracted by their buzzing, leaving them disappointed, otherwise, my parents would snap me out of my trance, just before the food would begin to decay. This is how I grew up, mostly day dreaming. You can imagine how my childhood must have been. If you can’t get a clear picture, then please allow me to explain further.

In the early 90s, I came to my senses, and found myself in Nanoo’s (grandmother) house in Sea View Apartments. We used to live in a joint family, and it was quite a violent household, with everyone arguing and fighting. Some one would either pull the other person’s hair or you would hear them cursing. Things would hardly be fine. If it was quiet, it was most likely because they were ignoring each other.

Besides neurosis, we all had a disease called TV. No, that’s not an abbreviation for “too-much violence”, it’s the original term, television. This common but non-threatening condition had no cure, back then. It made us all sit together in front of a huge box with an antenna. We would all be mesmerised by the transmission on the screen. Every weekend, my aunt and cousins would join us, and we would watch our favourite show, Alpha, Bravo, Charlie.

Grief runs in our blood, since we belong to a Shia Muslim family. That explains the lack of peace. The noise of my dysfunctional childhood still echoes in my mind. But sometimes, a curse can also be a blessing in disguise.

In the last 31 years, there hasn’t been any struggle or tragedy in my life. Like any other person, I carry the burden of my past. I too have suffered from loss and heart break, but life has its mysterious ways of healing you.

They say, if you want to make God laugh, then tell him about your plans.”