By Ayesha Ahmed & Sarah B. Haider
Sitting amid a busy
commercial area, precisely on Barkati Street, Haji Sharif Balwani Road, off M A
Jinnah Road near Meriwether Tower, Kharadar, Karachi, stands out an edifice
like no other in its vicinity.
Overlooking
the tall, ancient buildings of the British era, Wazir Mansion, the house, where
Quaid-i-Azam, Mohammad Ali Jinnah was born and raised, is one of the prized
landmarks our nation possesses.
As
one enters the dimly lit mansion, one is bound to travel into the past. An aura
of antiquity, that is inherent to the building, captivates them.
History
The
parents of the Quaid-i-Azam, Jinnah Bhai Poonja and Sakina Bano, moved to
Karachi during the late 20th Century from their ancestral village
Paneli (Gujrat, India) and acquired two rooms on the first floor of this
two-storey building constructed during the Colonial period.
On
the auspicious day of 25th December, 1876, the founder of our
homeland and the great Muslim leader of the 20th century was born here.
When the Quaid-i-Azam left for London, in 1892, for higher studies, his parents
and siblings were still residing in this house. However, after the birth of Mohtarma
Fatima Jinnah, the house was sold and the Quaid’s family rented another big
house in Ramhee Patia building, Khori Garden, Karachi.
As
for the ownership of the mansion and the origination of its name, it is said
that Gowardhan Das was also among the owners of this building. From him, Wazir
Ali Poonawala, by whom this house had got its name, Wazir Mansion, bought it
sometime in the 1940s.
The
Quaid-i-Azam and his sister, Fatima Jinnah, were both born in the Wazir Mansion.
As a matter of fact, he spent over sixteen years of his life, along with his
entire family in the very house. Before
the mansion was turned into a museum, the ground floor was not a part of the
house but consisted of different shops. During early-1953, the government of
Pakistan purchased this building and on the 14th of August that very
year, the house was converted into a museum. From then onwards, the site was
opened for public.
Security measures
After
the tragic attack on the residency of the Quiad-i-Azam in Ziarat, Balochistan, on
the 15th of June, 2013, the Sindh government ensured to take
adequate security measures and to this end, rangers have been deployed outside
the building. A round-the-clock surveillance is provided to this structure to
counter any potential terrorist attacks.
Preservation
As
with any ancient building that is prone to wear and tear over the passage of
time, maintenance and repair is essential. Hence, the walls and pillars of the
Wazir Mansion have been built out of stone masonry in lime and jute mortar. This
revamping, which is carried out from time to time, has rendered the building
its sturdiness and durability. This is the reason why it has managed to exist
since hundreds of years providing support to the building. Also, the building
material used is capable of efficiently fighting the volatile weather of
Karachi.
Moreover,
apart from the custodian of Wazir Mansion who oversees all the affairs related
to the building, there are nine other staffers who take care of different parts
of the mansion. From cleaning to fumigation, archiving of books to looking
after the furniture, and attending to the visitors, they are always present to
execute their duties.
After
the government of Pakistan purchased the building, they completed all the
urgent and necessary repairs and handed the building to the Department of
Archaeology and Museums, Government of Pakistan, on the 13th of
August, 1953. This step was taken under the 18th Amendment of the
Constitution of Pakistan.
Furthermore,
in 2004, a project worth Rs 25.037 million was initiated for the evaluation,
strengthening, preservation and rehabilitation of the edifice. These activities
were carried out to revert back the birthplace of the Quaid-i-Azam to its
original form by the department of Archaeology and Museums. The project was
duly completed in 2010.
Problems
Wazir
Mansion is a heritage site. Being the place of birth of the founder of
Pakistan, the building is an asset for the country. Sadly, however, the
surrounding areas of Wazir Mansion are in shambles so much so that one cannot even
envisage it. Heaps of garbage is dumped near the building, situated in a very
congested area. During the monsoon season, the condition worsens because the
road is steeped and gutter water accumulates outside, making it extremely
difficult for people to go in and out of the museum. Also, the building is
located in an area which is not easy to find. There are no sign boards that
could direct people towards the building and since the area is so jam-packed,
people often get lost when finding the place.
Visitors
On
the 25th of December, a lot of people come to visit the building.
Though the number of visitors has sharply decreased over the years due to
various reasons, many patriotic people pay a visit to the mansion. Earlier, a
lot of foreigners used to come and visit these places but with the passage of
time, the number has become scarce.
The display galleries
After
the completion of the project in the year 2010, the Wazir Mansion was turned
into a museum comprising three storeys: a ground floor with a library and a
Reading Room, the first and the second floor.
The
first floor was where Jinnah was born. The museum has his personal furniture,
used by the Quaid as the First Governor General of Pakistan, on display. These
include his office chair, dressing table, a bed and a writing chair. Also, there
are two shelves that house hundreds of Jinnah’s law books –all present in
pristine condition. The historical impression of this place not only mesmerises
the visitors but also leaves them inquisitive to delve deeper into the life of the
great leader.
On
the second floor of the museum, the gallery displays various belongings of the
Quaid. These include the personal furniture of his wife, Maryam Jinnah (Rattanbai
Petit), smoking pipe, a walking stick, Muslim League badges, his neck ties, his
court dress, his shoes and many other personal possessions gifted to the museum
by Jinnah’s sister, Shireen Jinnah.
Published in The News Supplement, 25 December, 2014
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