Cities hide their history in plain sight. Karachi is no different. The past of this city by the sea is not buried in books but is spoken every day by its people, and especially its bus conductors.

Indeed, the names given to Karachi’s areas and localities were not set at random; they have strong links to history. From a small fishing settlement called Kolachi, from which Karachi derives its name, to the various suffixes and affixes added to its areas during the pre-colonial and post-Partition eras, each name reflects an episode in the city’s evolution.

The famous neighbourhoods of Mithadar and Kharadar preserve this early history. In the 18th century, Karachi was surrounded by defensive walls, with two entry points or gates. The gate facing the sea was called Kharadar, derived from the Sindhi words khara [salty] and dar [gate], meaning “the gate of salt water.” The other gate faced towards the Lyari River and was called Mithadar, from meetha meaning sweet, or “the gate of sweet water.” Although the walls of the old city no longer exist, the names of these gates survived and continue to identify prominent areas of the city today.

Saddar is another iconic area of Karachi. The name derives from the Persian and Urdu word sadr, meaning centre. During British rule, Saddar became the administrative and commercial hub of the city, with government buildings, markets and offices located there.

Karachi’s history is not only preserved in archives and museums. It lives in the names of its neighbourhoods, each reflecting an episode in the........

© Dawn (Magazines)