Keamari - Good ol' days

Note: Following are blips of recollections from cousins, Salmana Ahmed and Adnan Asar, also eldest grandchildren of Dr. and Mrs. Ikram

Salmana:

Adnan, Noaman and Meena we had so many lovely memories. Do you people remember “khatti metthi goli” from Nana abba’s clinic I still remember old water hand pump and nani amman’s “nemat khana”.

Adnan:

oh yes the khatti mithi goli was our favorite and nan abba always let us have a few; not sure exactly what they were 

the hand water pump is something i clearly remember because i used it to pump water on many many occasions. i also remember boiling water over a the stove for friday showers before prayers in winter in Keamari. For some reason, winter was unusually cold in those days too. and talking of stove, one of my fondest memories are sitting down, chukku mukku, with nani amma in the kitchen kneading the dough and flattening the dough to make chapatis. 

And the stove wasn’t anything fancy that we have these days but a simple (gasoline i think) burner that served as the cooking stove. Just thinking back i am just amazed how naani amma kept the kitchen going every single day and had fresh lunch and dinner served daily at 1pm and 9pm. the 1pm lunch and 9pm dinner cycle is so embedded in my biological clock that even today when its 1pm or 9pm, i think back that its meal time somewhere in my past life (i have always been focused on food  and then obviously the day was not over until you take all the dishes out to the tap outside the house, near nana abba’s dispensary office, and wash all  the dishes. 

I remember many evenings sitting with Nani amma and Naila baaji washing dishes … Naila baaji would do it grudgingly (just kidding). i am just amazed at the hard work ethics that Naani amma  had and in spite of all  the work she always had energy to make us all laugh with her zesty personality and attitude in her younger years. what a joy to be around. 

I love her and miss her very much.

Keamari - Recalled by the first son-in-law of the family

While much has been written in the article regarding mordern Keamari, my memories are limited to the period 1968-1972 when i lived at the doctors’ residence of  Bachu Bhai Edulji Dinshaw Dispensary, more commonly then known as BED Dispensary.

This dispensary owned by Karachi Municipal Corporation was managed by Abbi. Although a small dispensary it catered for a large population covering:

• People working for customs
• Army officers residing in the Embarcation Headquarter Compound
• People working for Karachi Port
• Residents of Manora,an island a few kms from Keamari.
• Journalists residing in Mules Mansion
• Business class having shops in Jackson Market.

Most of the serving staff of the dispensary  resided in the same compound. They were very loving and faithful. I remember Ooka, the man who will always be remembered for keeping the entire premises exceptionally clean.

My wedding was organised in the dispensary compound and the lush green garden on the rear. This was a unique reception of the time in which the residents of the area played an important role. I was told that Aziz Charia (also known as Captain Old Gold), contributed by helping the police in managing the traffic.

As Abbi was a doctor loved and respected by everyone, we enjoyed all the justified benefits from the custom officers, police officers, journalists, industrialists, barber, milkmen, meat sellers etc.

The 1971 India/ Pakistan war is yet another memorable event of the time.Keamari being a port with oil reservoirs, millitary and naval establishments, was on the hit list of India. With the declaration of war the Indian planes started bombing the area .Adnan was just  two years old . One early morning the Indian planes invaded the ares under heavy shelling.Qaiser and Adnan who were out in the compound tookm shelter under the doctors desk in the duispensary.We only knew when the planes returned and the shelling stopped.

It is sad that the BED dispensary no longer exists New roads have emerged in place. The only landmark is the railway crossing which was immediately after the dispensary gate.

The Jackson Market was just opposite the dispensary.

Close by before the dispensary was the Nagin Cinema which we often visited for a change, A new market has been constructed in its place.

Just opposite the gate was a mosque which still exists.

Behind the mosque and before the railway crossing was a road leading to the Junior custom officers quarters. At the corner of the road was a one  small room barber shop.which served the entire family.

Immediately after the railway crossing is yet another road leading to the Senior Customs Preventive Officers bungalows beautifully built in stone.

Further down was the Embarcation Head Quarter, followed by Clock Tower and finally the Keamari Passenger Pier from where motor boats, small passenger ferries and boats still move people around, to Manora or outer anchorage where the merchant ships are anchored.

Yaad e Keamari ab ek khab hai Yarab.

The Keamari residence is no longer there. We are dispersed allover and by the grace of God we are all happy. Let us cherish the memories and pray for a happy future.