Karachi as an Urban Center of Nationalism
Colonial Urbanization and Political Mobilization (1913-1947)
Abstract
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This article explores the transformation of Karachi as an important urban center of nationalism during the late colonial period (1913–1947). It focuses on its historical trajectory, beginning with its capture by the East India Company in 1839. And its subsequent role as the capital of Sindh from 1843 to 1847. After Sindh's annexation into the Bombay Presidency in 1847, Karachi remained a divisional capital until 1936, when Sindh was separated from the Bombay Presidency and Karachi once again became the provincial capital. The period from 1913 to 1947 is critical as it marks the emergence of Karachi as a center for political mobilization, first during the movement for the separation of Sindh from the Bombay Presidency and later as the center of the Pakistan Movement. By analyzing the interplay between colonial urbanization, political activism, and the role of Karachi in nationalist movements. This study argues that Karachi's urban landscape became a site of contestation and collaboration, shaping the trajectory of anti-colonial struggles in British India.
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