Alex Shams participated in +921HeritageTalks, on the theme of “Learning from Archives, Walking and Documenting,” in January 2023, sponsored by Pakistan Chowk Community Centre.
“The idea of history as neatly categorized events, which occur in a linear, chronological order is being greatly challenged in this day and age. The history passed through official sources, stored in books, is only a fraction of what has occurred. History is best explored through a multifaceted approach that challenges the hegemonic historical narratives and by doing so democratizes the process of documenting history. As learners and observers of history and heritage, it becomes imperative for us to not limit our observations and our methodologies. Perhaps, this is where the independent practice of archiving comes in.
Independent methods of archiving are inherently a political practice of documenting our history and our present. As a method it is more participatory, opening up the venue of history to those cultures and communities who otherwise are obscured from national historical accounts. In that sense, one can perhaps ask how independent archives have helped uncover syncretic histories of our cities? There are alternative forms of understanding what has previously happened. Our environment carries with it the marks of history, it is produced in response to and damaged because of previous events. And as our cities experience increased urbanization and urban development, a collaborative approach to experience and record history becomes more important than ever. It is important for us to get a holistic sense of our own heritage. What is pertinent to this era is to recognize the ways that we can carry our history with ourselves into our day to day life, as the objects that carry our history are slowly decaying and being replaced.
Migratory patterns can be witnessed in cities along the Indian ocean, which have always been home to a multitude of cultures, languages, faiths and as well as cuisine.”