Fatima Zubair
It was a rainy day when we went to visit the G11/4 slums in Islamabad. There was mud all around and the residents were nowhere to be seen until we moved closer and saw some kids playing in the rain. The elders were in their tents trying to avoid the rain but kids being kids were playing in the light showers of rain. Some were playing cricket, some were playing Pakran Pakrayi while others were just wandering around. The joy on the faces of those kids was priceless. Something hit me at that moment. “Why does no one show us the fun side of slums?” I wondered. We are all aware of their problems; poverty, lack of basic facilities such as clean drinking water, electricity, toilets, education and whatnot. But we were never told how they spend their leisure time or how they celebrate their festivals. So, let’s unveil the unseen side of the slums.
The slum kids posing for a picture When my two friends and I approached one of the local children, he escorted us to his tent, where his entire family—including the male members—was seated. They told us that when it rains, our everyday tasks are put on hold. A picture of washroom in slums during rain
We then chatted with them for a while. We learned that they have been living here for 11 years and experienced both good and bad times. They married their daughter during this time, and she is now the mother of three children. She, now 19, was married at the age of 13. They typically marry their daughters at the age of 13. The married couple then moves to their own tent after tying the knot. They organize a wedding by putting a wedding tent next to the slums in an open area, setting up the chairs, preparing food in cauldrons, and serving the guests. People from their villages and the nearby slums come as guests. They also practice the same three occasions—mehndi, baraat, and walima—that are traditionally celebrated during Pakistani weddings. In mehndi, the groom’s family brings henna trays that have been decorated with candles, to the bride’s tent. Then, for amusement, they perform some rituals and cultural dances like Bhangra. In baraat, the bride is taken to the groom’s slum by the groom’s family. Whereas, in walima, the groom’s family arranges a feast for the bride’s family. Picture of their dressing table where they had mirrors, hairbrush and a bottle of oil On Eid, they get up early and cook Seviyan for themselves. They spend Eid like any other day until someone gives them charity in which case, they visit a park or eat something special from the market.
Residents of slums celebrating Eid [AlJazeera]
Gulidanda, cricket, pakran pakrayi, and chupan chupayi are some of their regular games. In fact, they basically turn everything into a game; for instance, if they come across a tire, they start playing with it, and the same goes for a cardboard box. They find enjoyment in everything and don’t require pricey toys to be happy or have fun. They even chopped a wooden piece into the shape of a guli and played gulidanda in front of us. Kids in slums making guli and playing gulidanda Many nations with significant slum populations are currently taking measures to recognize the place of slum dwellers in society.
For instance, India has one of the largest slum populations in the world. 17% of urban India lives in slums. Thus, on the World Homeless Day 2022, the Delhi government launched its first-ever Slum Festival in an effort to raise awareness of homelessness and its problems as well as to recognize and honor the accomplishments of marginal homeless persons. The festival, which drew millions of visitors from throughout the nation, was a celebration of slum life. It emphasized that slums are not only a place for the poor; they are also a haven for artists and entrepreneurs looking to develop innovative technology that is specific to the requirements of their community. Every Diwali, people in the Indian slums light firecrackers, burn candles, and decorate their homes with bright lights as part of what has come to be a national celebration of the victory of light over darkness. In keeping with the festival’s theme, the lights and impending winter mist turn the usual state of decay into something mystical that symbolizes the triumph of hope over despair. Over 1 billion people in the world are estimated to be residing in slums or other informal settlements. As the number of residents of slums rises, they create a subculture that is worth recognizing. Slums are a place where people make their own lives. Despite the challenges they encounter, they manage to thrive. Even though the slums aren’t attractive, they are home to some of the toughest people on earth, who should be known for their ability to enjoy and make the most of what little they have rather than just for their poverty.
—The writer is a student of Mass Communication at Bahria University
