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In every city’s critical moments, a savior appears, and Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city that faces multiple challenges every day, is fortunate to witness the emergence of outstanding women who play the role of saviors and leave an indelible mark on the city. imprint. history. Among them, one stands out today – the brave and tenacious Marvi Mazhar.
“It’s so frustrating sometimes to find yourself alone in this fight,” Mazhar told me angrily on a quiet Sunday morning as we wandered through Saddar’s labyrinth of streets. The bustling city became the perfect backdrop for our conversation.
As an architect, urban planner and heritage preservationist, Magyar has dedicated her life and career to saving Karachi’s cultural and urban soul. She says she’s not hopeless and that’s what characterizes her – her resilience, her resistance and her willingness to keep going.
As the timeless charm of Karachi’s pre-partition architecture and its diverse ecosystem face the threat of relentless encroachment, vandalism and illegal demolition, preserving the cultural beauty of this megacity is Mazhar’s daily struggle. Follow in the footsteps of other brave women like the great architect Yasmeen Lari and the fearless social worker and urban planner Perween Rehman – despite their struggles Looks a little different than hers – she’s a force to be reckoned with.
“I am expected to be the face of it all, fighting for heritage justice in countless places with no respite, but if I leave too, no one, especially women, will be left to fight against the government’s senseless development projects. , if they realize it, its true nature is ‘anti-development’ and cannibalizing heritage,” she told me.
Magyar did not give up on her quest to prevent Karachi from becoming another contemporary gray jungle, she fought relentlessly.
From the extraordinary restoration of Karachi’s Cantt Railway Station to the stunning revival and restoration of Pakistan Bazaar, her list of bringing life to historic buildings and spaces is long.
She actively responds to complex and protracted legal cases social media Expressing concerns about illegal demolitions and government incompetence. Many times, the provincial government took action because of her persistence.
Reflecting on the love-hate relationship with government and its development-related agencies, which she describes as a necessary first step towards making better decisions on urban sustainability and envisioning a brighter future, it is both frustrating and A necessary first step.
“Many of us tend to avoid working with our government because of how frustrating we think our government is, but now I believe collaboration is necessary or change won’t come,” she said.
She called for partnerships and communication, adding that government officials were also responding to challenges and providing them with guidance would only help preserve the city’s heritage and thus its character.
The power of female influence
Just as a strong and beautiful structure needs a solid foundation to stand out, an individual needs the support of certain influences to stand out. For Mazar, the women in her life provided her with fundamental support that shaped her into the person she is today.
Although she lost her mother at an early age, her mother instilled in Mazhar and her sisters a deep love for Karachi from an early age. Her mother took them on a drive through the city, showing off the vibrant bustle of the city, especially during religious festivals, including a visit to the famous Old Clifton area with its architectural wonders and heritage sites – these themes Now constitutes the essence of Magyar’s work.
Another person who had a major influence on her life was master architect Yasmeen Lari, known as Pakistan’s first female architect and a giant in the architecture and urban planning industry.
Magyar’s eyes sparkle when she mentions Larry, whom she has worked with for about seven years. She describes it as one of the most valuable moments of her life – a time during which she learned how to be resilient and patient while standing up to the government and thugs.
“To say she has been the inspiration behind everything in my life would be an understatement; I give her full credit for the courage and resilience my career requires.”
Sharing an amusing anecdote about her first meeting with Larry, she recalled that Larry himself invited her to talk to her after reading the architect’s book. Looking back on that moment, she sees it as a learning experience and, as she experienced it, coming full circle. Contributed to a book about Larry himself.
Banyan Tree Conservation Project
Magyar is unique in her struggle and commitment to preserve Karachi’s monumental sites, rich cultural fabric and intricate ecological landscape, and her programs and initiatives have proven to be unique.
From planning and promotion Carrying out heritage walks, giving insightful talks on heritage and history, and even producing a film documenting the rich history of the area, she makes a real effort to improve the condition of the cities we live in and the spaces we inhabit.
When you visit Karachi’s old town – especially Old Clifton – and see historical buildings and even banyan trees, it’s likely that magyars contributed to its preservation.
Over the past few years, Magyar, along with a group of concerned Karachiites and advocates, has successfully saved many centuries-old banyan trees that are an important part of Karachi’s ecosystem and landscape, but There is always the risk of being deforested by the authorities in pursuit of “development”.
The persistence of Mazhar and the rest of the team paid off, and in December 2019, they succeeded in getting the authorities to declare the banyan tree a “protected heritage”.
Her success also inspired many others to continue her fight. Last July, 17-year-old Aneeqa Bashir approached Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab to convert Amir Khusro Road ) The historic banyan trees along the route have also been declared a protected green heritage. When she spoke to the media, she credited Mazar for inspiring her and providing guidance.
true to her name
Like her name “Marvi”, which is rooted in the history of Sindh and meant to redefine beauty, everything seemed to fall into place perfectly as she redefined the beauty and identity of our city.
By celebrating her, we honor history and the future, intertwining the past with the promise of the future.
This March, Images featured groundbreaking women who, in their own small and large ways, are driving change in our society. Women who inspire us and women who make us proud.You can read all our stories about inspiring Pakistani women here.
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