STUDENTS are a strange lot. They either engage themselves in studies or look for extracurricular fun (the latter is open to interpretation). They cannot be faulted for not appreciating the architecture of the building they come on a regular basis to study in, unless they are students of fine arts or architecture. Why would someone flipping through thick books on how the economy functions take note of the even thicker walls made of stone or an old black and white photograph of the first principal of their institution?
In case this introduction is entering the realm of the abstract, well the allusion is to the building of SM Arts and Commerce College situated near DJ Science College, in fact adjoining DJ Science College?s second building which is these days being restored.
It is very easy to find SM Arts and Commerce College. Only a person with the navigational skills of a majzoob can-
not find it. If you are coming from the Shaheen Complex traffic intersection and heading towards die Bumes Road stop at the chowrangi and move right towards the overly crowded and sometimes inaccessible Sindh Secretariat Block, the first structure in the corner of the road that leads to Bumes Road is SM Arts and Commerce College (if you are still confused, opposite Burnes Garden; the building next to Bumes Garden is that of SM Law College).
Ostensibly there is nothing striking about the edifice. On the contrary, the land of political sloganeering that has despoiled the walls of the college puts off the viewer a bit. It looks more like an office of a political party than an educational institution. The top floor of the structure too is a little strange sight. It does not come across as part of the original constructional design of the building. But can you help it? There is hardly any college in the city which does not have strong political visual overtones. Yes, the squarish windows are the only architectural feature from the outside which invite the viewer to visit its past.
Once you enter the building through the gate you realise it is not a bad piece of construction. You cannot make out where to architecturally bracket the building because a reasonable portion of its rear side is still part of DJ College. The wooden staircase has been replaced with steps made of cement and the outer walls are layered with the colour yellow, perhaps lime plaster. The one prominent aspect of the structure is its big, hefty columns (not exactly Doric) that to date refuse to bow down to what the vicissitudes of time have done to the structure.
The principal of SM Arts and Commerce College, Fazal Mahmood, is a genrie individual. Moreover, he is fond of old Karachi buildings. He says, ?This used to be part of DJ College. After partition of the subcontinent, the Sindh Madressah Board successfully tried to bring it into its fold and this part became SM College. Even today you can see DJ College inscribed on the furniture, which by the way is pretty old and sturdy. Nothing much has been done about the maintenance of the building for quite some time. I personally take a keen interest in colonial buildings and often walk around the vicinity only to look at them up-close. As far as students? interest in our architectural history goes, sadly not many older people care about it leave aside the younger lot.?
Some old pictures adorn the principal?s room, including of Dr A.H. Siddiqi?s who is mentioned as the first principal of the college (1943-1947).
Fahim Shanas teaches Urdu here. He himself is a decent poet. According to him, many literary luminaries have either studied from or taught at diis institution, such as Dr Farman Fatehpuri and Dr Aslam Farrukhi. He also reveals that till 1976 the college was co-ed and technically it still is. However, you only see boys today moving in and out of the building.
Architect Noman Ahmed says: ?This college is not listed as protected heritage building. It is basically an early 20th century colonial structure. It has high ceilings which make it pretty spacious. It was built keeping in mind the weather conditions of the city at the time… a pretty useful work of architecture.?
PS: A strange thing happened when this writer visited the SM Arts and Commerce College. A student came up and asked why pictures of the college were being taken. He said he was sent by a senior member of the party he represented to inquire about it. When he was told that it was for a newspaper column, he returned rather quietly. It goes to show how different the student-teacher roles, not to mention political circumstances, have become compared to the time when DJ College was constructed in the 19th century.
mohammad.salnian@dawn.com
