The city of lights, Karachi, incorporated itself along with innumerable regions that witnessed historic events. The city’s walls are waiting to be heard, and the land is eager to tell the history. Amid these stories, the Soldier Bazaar stands tall in the heart of Karachi with reflections of diversity and classics. From being the center of British soldiers, it transformed into a diverse region inhabited by folks belonging to different beliefs.
History of the Area
The history of the bazaar dates to 1857, when it was first constructed. However, the Soldier Bazaar market was established almost a century later, in the year 1954. During the British tenure, a soldier quarter was built, and soldiers used to come to the market. Since then, it has been referred to as the Soldier Bazaar. Earlier, Englishmen, Parsis, and others who came to visit Karachi used to roam the city via Victorian chariots, and Soldier Bazaar was the hub of carriages. Carriage drivers feed their horses and rest in the shade near the bazaar while waiting for passengers.
Location
The historic Soldier Bazaar is in Sindh province, in the east of Karachi. It was earlier administered in Jamshed Town. The Soldier Bazaar market runs from Medina Road in the west to Gurumandir in the east. One of its neighborhoods is Nishtar Park, which is named after Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar, who was a renowned leader in the Pakistan Movement.
Besides, the well-known Parsi Colony near the bazaar makes it more of a historical value. The bazaar is surrounded by significant monuments. On the top of the list comes the Panchmukhi Hanuman Temple, which was built around 1500 years ago and holds crucial religious importance in Hinduism. Another monument is Hyder Manzil, in which Hyder Bux Jatoi was the founder of Sindhari Tehreek. A church named “St. Lawrence” also happens to stand here, reflecting the diversity that became a parish in the year 1912.
The Soldier Bazaar Market
Nowadays, the bazaar is a peaceful neighborhood, and the market is known for its low-priced and high-quality products. The shops are mainly kiryana stores (grocery stores) providing fruit jams, pulses, pickles, and seasonings. Imported edibles from Iran are also increasing the value of the bazaar. In addition, thrift clothes at cheaper prices and fresh fruits are also available. The Soldier Bazaar food street is known for its diverse cuisines, including Baghdadi Beef Pulao and Haji Yameen Haleem. Vendors of sugarcane juice are present to give chills in heat waves.
Residents of Soldier Bazaar, Karachi
Currently, the Soldier Bazaar is inhabited by different factions of Muslims, i.e., Shia and Sunni. The rallies of 9th Muharram and 72 Taboot Juloos also occur in the region with its great hustle and bustle. Individuals of varied ethnicities like Memon, Muhajir, Sindhi, and Balochi also happen to reside here. Besides, Hindus and Christians also coexist. It is a low-income area where word-of-mouth marketing occurs. Residents are happy without getting stuck in the regions of the global village: the internet. Apart from the entire Karachi, anyone can freely roam here without getting robbed.
Conclusion
In conclusion, several places have obtained recognition from past events. Soldier Bazaar is one of them. Not only a place of historic significance, but it is still a market of great value and a posh locality for residents of Karachi.
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Ayesha Khan is a student at the University of Karachi. She's a critical thinker and has an interest in writing.