KARACHI: The moment one enters the TDF Ghar, a restored house on MA Jinnah Road built in 1930 by Hanibai Motiram, you are immediately teleported into a Pakistan that once was.
Situated in the Jamshed Quarters, an estate developed by Karachi's first mayor Jamshed Nusserwanjee for the growing middle class of the metropolis, where Muslims, Hindus, Chrtistians, Parsis and Jews resided in harmony - the heritage building begins to tell its story.
The yellow-painted house conserved by renowned architect Shahab Ghani under The Dawood Foundation, has many stories to tell to its visitors.
As Frank Lloyd Wright put it, "a building is not just a place to be, but a way to be."
Type writers, old chess sets, vintage books, the classic high ceiling fans, old mosaic tiles, a gramophone – the accessories which have now become a distant memory – are the attraction of the museum, "The Living Room", in the house.
Where 'The Living Room' is a reflection of past, right across it, is 'Sehan Café' – with Old Irani bentwood chairs and benches, offering tea and snacks to visitors – with WiFi access and electricity sockets to plug in laptops is a place where the past, starts to meet the present.
Ridhwan Khan, the administrator of the house said: "The purpose of adding a Café was to provide a platform to the young people of Karachi to socialise and spend their quality time."
As one moves from the ground floor to the first, where the rooms are still quite bare with old wooden plank benches and a dresser, one is presented with yet another flashback of what Karachi once was, in the form of pictures from the early days.
Along with the museum and café, the finest attraction of the TDF Ghar is the rooftop, which gives a stunning scenic view of Mazar-e-Quaid. Even the chaotic traffic noise surrounding the area does not dampen the beautiful view. Moreover, three 'Numaish Halls' and a training room are being planned to be used for non-commercial activities.
The entrance fee is a mere Rs50. The TDF Ghar is open to the public from 10 AM until 10 PM, seven days a week, except for the museum, which closes at 6 PM.
When inquired about the reasoning behind charging an entrance fee, Khan said, "the price is imposed because we want people to take ownership of the place. By taking Rs50 we won't be making any huge profit but it will give a sense of belonging to the people."
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