Nestled between the two empires of H block and Y block in DHA Lahore lies a small katchi abadi. This settlement is not very easily accessible with one main entrance near the LESCO office. However, it is an intricate microcosm thriving within the larger ecosystem of DHA and greater Lahore. Life at Charrar Pind reflects a different Pakistan. It reflects the rest of Pakistan, existing as a testament to the disparity between DHA & Bahria wala Pakistan and the real Pakistan.
The pictures below are accompanied by small conversations which really make the entire journey as immersive for you as it was for me while walking through the abadi one fine afternoon.
(Do you like going to school?)
‘Nahi.’
(No.)
‘Kia cheez achi lagti hay phir?’
(What do you like then?)
‘Juice aur biscuit.’
(Juice and biscuits.)
(Congratulations on the match!)
‘Shukria. Jeetna hi tha humnay.’
(Thank you. We had to win.)
‘Kyun?’
(Why?)
‘Kyunkay hum Pakistani hain.’
(Because we are Pakistani.)
(How old are you?)
’11 saal ka.’
(11 years old.)
‘Cricket pasand hay?’
(Do you like cricket?)
‘Haan, lekin waqt nahi hay mere paas.’
(Yes, but I have no time.)
‘Allah da shukar hay’
‘Bakrian kithay lay kar jarahay ho?’
‘Jithay Allah di marzi hosi.’
(Tell us about the best moment of your life.)
‘Meri jab shaadi hoyi thi.’
(When I got married.)
‘Aur sub say bura kisa.’
(And the worse?)
‘Meri jub shaadi hoyi thi.’
(When I got married.)
‘Le lo. Puchnay wali keri gal hay?’
‘Shukria’
‘Jalebi khaso?
(What do you guys want to be when you grow up?)
‘Doctor’ (blue shirt)
‘Policeman” (red shirt)
‘Policeman kiun banna hay?’
(Why do you want to be a policeman?)
‘Takay burray logon ko jail me daaloon.’
(Because I want to put bad people in jail.)
‘Aur tumne doctor kiun banna hay?’
(And why do you want to be a doctor?)
‘Takay isko theek karoon agar kuch hojaye.’
(So I can fix him up if he gets hurt.)
(Can we talk to you?)
‘Nahi, hum parhay likhay log nahi hain. Saamnay wali dukan walon say baat karein.’
(No, we are not very educated. Try the shop across this one.)
‘Tasweer lay saktay hain?’
(Can we take a picture?)
‘Meri beti kay saath tasweer lena.’
(Take a picture of my daughter too.)
(If you had 10,000,000 rupees, what would you do?)
‘Aik makaan. Bachon kay liye kapray. Aur mazay ka khaana.’
(A house, clothes for the children, and a tasty meal.)
‘Baaki peson ka kya karein gay?’
(What would you do with the remaining money?)
‘Jis ko zaroorat ho gi, usse dey doonga. Meray kya kaam phir?’
(I will give them to someone who needs it. What use are they to me then?)
‘La Ilaha Illallah Muhammad Ur Rasulullah’
‘400 rupay ki.’
‘Yaar thora to khayal karo. 400 zyada hay thora.’
‘Acha, chalo 300. Meri tasweer to lo inkay saath.’
‘Le li. Yeh dekho apni tasweer.’
‘Mey bohat acha lag raha hoona?’
‘Allah bhi hay. Chadar bhi hay. Aur kya chahiye.’
‘Sajid.’
‘Sajid, kitnay saal kay ho?’
’12.’
‘Khanay may kya pasand hay?’
‘JELLY!’
‘Afghanistan.’
‘Pakistan kaisa mulk hay?’
‘Meray ko samajh nahi aata.’
‘Pakistan acha hay?’
‘Mere ko Pakistan ki bhi koi samajh nahi aata.’
