Karachi’s voices of art and dissent are rising above the suppression and lockdowns in the most unlikely little venue… Meghna Kundu reports.
In a corner of Karachi, on the second floor of a very nondescript building a hub for progressive Pakistani minds has emerged. Aptly named The Second Floor and more commonly known as T2F, it is a safe haven for artists and writers from different walks of life, providing a much needed platform for their work.
But in larger context T2F’s main aim is to become a mechanism for social change through enriching cultural activities, public discourse and the promotion of liberal ideas through new media.
Established in May 2007, T2F is the brainchild of PeaceNiche, a not-for-profit NGO, which is committed to becoming a vibrant centre of Pakistan’s developing civil society. T2F, has hosted several hundred events to date, like poetry readings, interactive conversations with writers, debates, discussions, film screenings, theatre performances, activist art exhibitions (including photography and design), and musicians’ open mic nights and jam sessions. They’ve even started monthly stand-up comedy nights. Among their latest ventures is Faraar, which literally means ‘escape’ in Urdu. It provides a medium for upcoming artists to escape the monotony of everyday life and gives them a space to showcase their work. They specially promote artists who take risks and experiment with mixed media and technology. Faraar encourages these artists to incorporate themes that spark debates and raise questions about pertinent socio-political issues.
Looking in from the outside, it’s perhaps difficult for us to fathom the kind of vision it would take to start such an enterprise. In one of her early blogs, Sabeen Mahmud, the founder, vents her frustration about how she came home to Karachi to find that it had become a “cesspool of chaos” through the multiple clean-up operations fragmenting the city. Everyone who could afford it was migrating out and those who couldn’t, stood as silent spectators watching the country change hands from one dictatorship to another, leaving the city a mere shadow of its former self. The unfulfilled promises of politicians on whom people had pinned their hopes had turned them passive and a sense of discontentment prevailed throughout the city.
It was perhaps the loss of her own voice and the complete unacceptability of it that made her want to bring about a change. Not just for herself but for all the others who were feeling the same. On her blog, she talks about how she began to ask herself a lot of tough questions like: How could we become agents of social change if our theater practitioners had no rehearsal spaces, if our underground musicians had no venues to perform in, if our emerging artists had nowhere to hang their work? How could creative dissidents even learn of each other’s existence, let alone build and cultivate a community, without physical spaces where people could talk politics?
T2F was born with the intention of recreating the environment Mahmud grew up in, surrounded by revolutionaries and poets, but more like a postmodern version of it. It would be a sanctuary for the thinkers and innovators, a refuge for writers and artists– basically anybody who needed to get away from the constant oppression they were being subjected to.
Almost a decade after its inception there are still several struggles they have to deal with on a regular basis. But Mahmud and her team have learnt to “roll with the punches.” Nimbly and efficiently, they utilize the city and the culture’s endless potential for new and creative ventures. Even though given the current political scenario in Pakistan and Karachi’s constant challenges like the incessant lockdowns and various other problems, T2F considers itself fortunate to be part of a growing community of progressive intellectuals who demand their voices to be heard. They believe in taking matters into their own hands rather than acting as passive spectators.
fdertolmrtokev
Hey very nice website!! Man .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your blog and take the feeds also…I’m happy to find so many useful info here in the post, we need work out more strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
gelatin trick
I discovered your blog web site on google and check just a few of your early posts. Proceed to keep up the very good operate. I just extra up your RSS feed to my MSN Information Reader. In search of ahead to reading more from you in a while!…
mantap555 login
Sweet blog! I found it while searching on Yahoo News. Do you have any suggestions on how to get listed in Yahoo News? I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Appreciate it
ice gelatin trick
Needed to create you one very small word to be able to say thanks a lot over again for your awesome advice you have shown at this time. It is so extremely open-handed of people like you to offer publicly just what many people would have offered for an e-book in order to make some dough for their own end, most importantly now that you might well have done it in case you desired. The ideas in addition served like the great way to fully grasp many people have the same dream much like mine to know lots more with reference to this matter. I am sure there are numerous more pleasant sessions up front for many who find out your blog post.
จัดงานแต่งงาน งบ 300000
Greetings! I know this is kinda off topic however , I’d figured I’d ask. Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe guest authoring a blog post or vice-versa? My site covers a lot of the same topics as yours and I feel we could greatly benefit from each other. If you happen to be interested feel free to shoot me an email. I look forward to hearing from you! Superb blog by the way!
orange peel trick
I don’t even understand how I ended up right here, however I assumed this post was once good. I do not recognize who you’re however definitely you are going to a well-known blogger in case you aren’t already ;) Cheers!
lavanderia
Some times its a pain in the ass to read what website owners wrote but this web site is real user pleasant! .
pink gelatin trick
Great write-up, I am normal visitor of one’s website, maintain up the nice operate, and It’s going to be a regular visitor for a lengthy time.
زيادة لايكات إنستقرام
Great goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you’re just extremely magnificent. I really like what you’ve acquired here, certainly like what you’re stating and the way in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still care for to keep it sensible. I can’t wait to read much more from you. This is actually a great website.
servicio canon mallorca
Your style is so unique compared to many other people. Thank you for publishing when you have the opportunity,Guess I will just make this bookmarked.
ayuda PFC arquitectura
Very wonderful information can be found on site.
ayuda PFG arquitectura
You actually make it seem really easy along with your presentation but I in finding this topic to be actually one thing that I think I’d never understand. It kind of feels too complicated and very extensive for me. I’m taking a look ahead for your subsequent post, I’ll try to get the cling of it!
gartenpool
Very nice style and design and great subject material, practically nothing else we need :D.
poolfolien shop
very good submit, i certainly love this website, carry on it
ayuda TFG arquitectura
I appreciate, cause I found just what I was looking for. You’ve ended my four day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye
mega888
Well I definitely liked studying it. This information procured by you is very effective for good planning.
best delta 8 tincture
Hi! I know this is kinda off topic but I’d figured I’d ask. Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe guest authoring a blog post or vice-versa? My site covers a lot of the same topics as yours and I think we could greatly benefit from each other. If you happen to be interested feel free to send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you! Excellent blog by the way!
bosbayar
Together with every little thing which appears to be building inside this specific subject material, a significant percentage of viewpoints happen to be somewhat radical. Nevertheless, I am sorry, but I can not give credence to your entire plan, all be it exciting none the less. It would seem to everyone that your opinions are generally not entirely validated and in reality you are generally your self not even thoroughly certain of the argument. In any case I did take pleasure in reading through it.
streamate lolasteven
Good info. Lucky me I reach on your website by accident, I bookmarked it.
streamate kimberlybanks18
Some times its a pain in the ass to read what people wrote but this website is really user pleasant! .
steamate cam
The following time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as a lot as this one. I imply, I know it was my option to learn, but I actually thought youd have something attention-grabbing to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you can repair if you happen to werent too busy on the lookout for attention.
passport translation
I like what you guys are up also. Such clever work and reporting! Carry on the superb works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it will improve the value of my web site :).
como instalar iptv
Keep working ,impressive job!
audifort
great points altogether, you just gained a new reader. What may you suggest about your publish that you just made a few days in the past? Any sure?
eva bloom soulmate sketch
We absolutely love your blog and find the majority of your post’s to be just what I’m looking for. Do you offer guest writers to write content to suit your needs? I wouldn’t mind publishing a post or elaborating on some of the subjects you write in relation to here. Again, awesome web log!
soulmate sketch
You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be actually something that I think I would never understand. It seems too complicated and extremely broad for me. I am looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!
audifort reviews
Way cool, some valid points! I appreciate you making this article available, the rest of the site is also high quality. Have a fun.
eva bloom
This is a topic close to my heart cheers, where are your contact details though?
prodentim oral supplement
This really answered my drawback, thank you!
flores para presente Balneário Camboriú
I would like to thnkx for the efforts you have put in writing this blog. I am hoping the same high-grade blog post from you in the upcoming as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own blog now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings quickly. Your write up is a good example of it.
tonic greens
I am not very good with English but I get hold this real easy to interpret.
anti-aging stem cell clinic kl
Awesome site you have here but I was curious about if you knew of any message boards that cover the same topics talked about in this article? I’d really like to be a part of group where I can get suggestions from other experienced people that share the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Many thanks!