Written by: Varda Nisar
Posted on: May 14, 2019 | 
| 中文
Photograph of Horeya Asmat, a female dhol player, by Fareeha Wahid
In the last few years, there has been an increasing focus on the narratives of women. The result has been a growing awareness of the kind of challenges women face due to gender discrimination: from trying to assert their presence in public spaces to balancing work and domestic life and breaking the glass ceiling. The “What’s HER Story?” exhibition, organized by the Lincoln Corners, Karachi in collaboration with the ‘The School of Writing,’ was conceived as a photo-story competition, with each image to be accompanied by a 100-word caption. The many themes of the competition included Equal not Less, Women of Substance, and Women Supporting Women. Open to both men and women, the idea was to look beyond the ordinary, and tell tales of inspiring women.
Out of the many entries received, ten were shortlisted, and three were awarded cash prizes. The finalists were exhibited at the Lincoln Corners of the Liaquat Memorial Library and Pakistan American Cultural Centre (PACC), Karachi. Several common themes could be seen in these images, the primary one being how difficult financial circumstances affected the lives of the protagonists, and how they managed to overcome these difficulties. Social factors have caused further hindrances in the lives of many. But what shines through each image is the strength and determination these women have exhibited in order to succeed in a career, or simply to nourish their families.
Consider the image by Taimoor Alam, who has received first prize in the competition. His photograph captures his mother, while the caption talks about how she, having devoted her entire life to raising her children, is only now pursuing her own dreams. In the photograph, his mother is clad in a black burqa, with a paint brush in her hand, busy creating something on a canvas. The power of the image not only lies in the caption, but also in that the anonymity of the subject makes her take on the form of countless other women, who have had to make similar sacrifices for their children.
Gulzar Nayani, whose image was awarded second prize, brings attention to the life of Permi, an affectee of the recent anti-encroachment drive at Empress Market, Karachi. Looking away from the camera, she is holding her granddaughter in her arms. Her face is engraved with lines that testify to her financial struggles. Her attitude, however, is in complete contrast to the little girl’s face, who stares directly at the camera, with a wide smile plastered on, holding the promise of a future made possible by the hard work of her grandmother.
The theme of monetary insecurity continues with Ayesha Irfan’s work, whose image won the third prize and tells the story of Raasti. Driven by her financial circumstances, Raasti continues to work despite being over 60 years old, and having had a recent eye operation which requires a two months rest. She looks out of the photograph, straight at the viewer with her kohl-lined eyes, which embody a certain resolve not to give up. Her simplicity is visible in her clothes and demeanor, but her eyes betray the strength and determination of a woman who never rests.
Hira Farhan’s image tells her own story, about finding her wings due to her father’s support. Her father ensured that she could continue her education, even when everyone else in the family thought that it would be a bad investment to let her study. Her image captures the joy of a girl who understands her own worth and value, through the support of a family figure.
Fareeha Wahid captures Horeya Asmat’s story, who stands center stage in her image, with a Dhol in her hands. Asmat has been breaking the walls of tradition, by entering into a field that has been primarily considered a male domain. Even though she is surrounded by men in the photograph, her posture shows her complete confidence in herself.
The narrative of feminine strength continues in the image by Aisha Irfan, which shows a mother seated in the middle of the frame. She seems to be struggling to contain her emotions, and one can imagine, even before reading the caption, that she must have faced a tremendous struggle while raising 5 daughters in a society where daughters are considered a burden. Yet, surrounded by her five grown up daughters, the image seems to assert that she has successfully raised them right, despite the odds.
All ten stories are a testament to strong women and their stories that not only teach us how to overcome challenging circumstances, but also how to just live a full and happy life.
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