Mehboob Zakir, who paints marine themes on the warm sands of Manora Island near Karachi, amidst the gusts of warm winds, is one of the many hidden characters in society that no one knows about.
Located in Karachi’s Kemari district and some distance from the port, the ancient island of Manora is known for many historical references including religious harmony and tourism.
Mehboob Zakir Manora, who has been working at the Karachi Yacht Club since 1995, is a resident of Salehabad.
Besides being a painter, Mahbub Zakir also specializes in the art of wind-powered ‘Kashti Rani’.
He told Independent Urdu that he has been painting for almost 30 years.
‘There was no technology at that time when I used only burnt charcoal to paint on the walls.’
He said that ‘I was fond of painting since childhood but my talent was buried somewhere. My boss Mansoor Ahmed played an important role in my painting skills.’
One day Mansoor Ahmed invited me to his hut for painting where he was surprised to see my painting. Because of him, two members of the club, Khalid Mehmood, Nadeem Khalid, gave me a six-month free course in the Indus Valley, which further improved my painting skills.’
Why do painting?
Mahbub Zakir says that in the beginning he made a painting of the sea or an animal or a bird, gradually he became proficient in it.
‘I make the painting in such a way that people can see something in it, somewhere in my painting there is the sea, there are fish and somewhere there are some birds flying.’
He says that with these paintings, the viewer is supposed to feel what these birds are saying and what the visible fishes are trying to say.
He said, ‘There was a time when I used to make paintings on the beach with pieces of wood, at that time I could not even afford to buy expensive and good materials.’
‘Slowly, by the grace of Allah, so much material came that I now paint with full passion.’
Why hunt fish?
Mahbub Zakir says that he is driving home after going to the depth of 15 meters of the sea and hunting fish.
‘Apart from painting, I am also fond of boating and diving. I started spear diving in the water and then spear fishing with a gun in the water.’
He said that ‘I have been living on the sea since childhood. I love the sea so much that I also do ‘sailing’ and ‘spear fishing diving’. I also give sailing training to the children of the club members.
‘The sea was clean 22 years ago’
Mahbub Zakir says that we have spoiled the sea ourselves. Plastic bags, garbage are thrown away by everyone. The sea has become a complete sewer. 22 years ago today, the water was so clean that I cannot tell. ‘We don’t seem to be standing in this clear sea.’
‘Kashti Rani had a lot of fun’
On the question of employment related to boating, Mehboob said that this boating ‘has made me visit around 15 to 20 foreign countries.’
‘I have traveled all over Europe because of this boat. Because of this sailing, China, the whole gulf has gone round, it gave me a lot of fun.’
History of Manora
Manora Island was built to protect the port of Karachi.
Originally built as a mud fort by the Talpur Mirs in 1797. This fort was captured by the British in 1839, after which they captured Karachi and Lower Sindh.
The British first hoisted the British flag at Manora during the occupation of Sindh.
!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)
{if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?
n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};
if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version=’2.0′;
n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;
t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];
s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,document,’script’,
‘https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js’);
fbq(‘init’, ‘2494823637234887’);
fbq(‘track’, ‘PageView’);
#Story #Anonymous #Fisherman #Painter
**Interview with Mehboob Zakir: A Beach Artist and Sea Lover from Manora Island**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Mehboob. Your story of becoming a painter is truly inspiring. Can you tell us more about your beginnings in art?
**Mehboob Zakir:** Thank you for having me! I started painting nearly 30 years ago. Back then, I had no access to technology or fancy materials. I used burnt charcoal to create wall art. My passion for painting was always there, but it wasn’t until my boss, Mansoor Ahmed, recognized my talent and encouraged me that I truly began to hone my skills.
**Interviewer:** It sounds like Mansoor played a pivotal role in your journey. Can you elaborate on how he influenced your art?
**Mehboob Zakir:** Absolutely! Mansoor invited me to his hut for a painting session, and he was amazed by my work. He introduced me to Khalid Mehmood and Nadeem Khalid, who offered me a six-month free course at the Indus Valley School of Art. That experience opened new doors for me and significantly improved my painting techniques.
**Interviewer:** Your paintings often feature marine themes. What inspires your artwork?
**Mehboob Zakir:** Living by the sea, I draw inspiration from the ocean and its creatures. In my paintings, you’ll often find elements like fish and birds intertwined. I want viewers to feel a connection with these elements, to sense the stories and emotions behind them. Each piece is a window to the beauty and tranquility of marine life.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned that you also enjoy fishing and diving. How do these activities influence your art?
**Mehboob Zakir:** Being an avid diver and angler allows me to experience the ocean in a deeper way. I often spear fish and explore the underwater world, which informs my paintings. The colors, movements, and scenes I witness beneath the surface enrich my artistic expression and provide authenticity to my work.
**Interviewer:** Starting with limited resources must have been challenging. How has your journey been in terms of acquiring materials for your art?
**Mehboob Zakir:** It was tough at first. I remember painting on the beach with whatever natural materials I could find, like pieces of wood. However, as time went on, I was blessed with better resources. Now, I can pursue my passion fully, and I’m grateful for the journey that brought me here.
**Interviewer:** It’s wonderful to see how your passion has flourished. Lastly, what message do you hope your art conveys to the public?
**Mehboob Zakir:** My hope is that my art brings people closer to nature and evokes emotions tied to the sea. I want viewers to appreciate the beauty around them and the delicate balance of life within our oceans. Each painting tells a story, and I invite everyone to see what lies beneath the surface.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Mehboob, for sharing your beautiful journey with us. Your passion for art and the sea is truly inspiring.
**Mehboob Zakir:** Thank you! It was a pleasure to share my story.
