ASPIRE - An Entrepreneur and Lifestyle Magazine - March 2021

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MARCH — 2021 ISSUE 6 aspiredubai.ae — AED 30.00

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Women’s Day Special

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I am every

Woman it’s all in me Wind beneath her wings AN E XCLUSIVE CH AT WITH C AP TAIN ZOYA AGGARWAL

Dr Ayesha Husaini

THE INCLUSIVIT Y ICON

The World, through her eyes

Revisiting timeless woman figures viewing the world through their unexplored lens

Parenting is a pleasurable experience, but it becomes especially challenging if you as a parent are faced with issues in your own life, such as work & financial issues, separation or divorce, family tension, health issues and societal pressures. These personal issues you face rubs off on your kids and affects their upbringing. Raising a child is no mean task and you would have faced issues with your child like ● Temper Tantrums ● Fears and Nightmares ● Stubornness ● Shyness ● Aggression ● Concentration in Academics ● Eating disorders / Fussiness ● Nail Biting / Bed Wetting ● Socially unacceptable behaviours ● Bullying / Being bullied

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www.aspiredubai.ae

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I AM EVERY WOMAN, I HAVE IT IN ME

This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the women who decided to unlock their power and chased their dreams when the world went under the pandemic induced isolation

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INSIDE 5

Bulletin Bytes Bite sized interesting news from around the world served with a twist!

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The Savvy Sidepreneur Gaining traction in the realm of female entrepreneurs, women are shaping their entrepreneurial dreams by starting as sidepreneurs

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Scintillating Sophia

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Every Age

We chat with five women, each from a different age demography, demonstrating that age is indeed just a number

A deep dive into the world of Sophia The Robot, whose compelling Artificial Intelligence makes her the Woman of the Future

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Camera… Action..

Roll Sound Get to know the importance of sound to a video that makes all the difference between a good and great immersive visual experience

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The ‘Logistics’ Pillar of eCommerce

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Events

Great events that you must add to your calendar

Completing the five crucial ‘Pillars of eCommerce’, we dive into the the final fifth pillar Logistics

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Awakening the Queen 34 The World, 29

Empowered in her Skin Three women who defied societal norms and stuck by their convictions of self-love and a lot of body positivism to come on top

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Through HER Eyes Revisiting timeless woman figures viewing the world through their unexplored lens rather than as subjects of conversation

Five simple steps to awaken the feminine manifesting powers that every woman is born with

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The Inclusivity Icon From working as an educational psychologist to setting up support groups, Dr Ayesha Husaini has devoted her energies striving for inclusion of People of Determination

PUBLISHER

Sumeet Gupta EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Shagufta Patel PRODUCTION

The Purple Stroke EDITORIAL TEAM

Ayaat Attar, Misbaah Mansuri, Qirat Attar, Rachit Gupta JUNIOR EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Arundhati Surendran DIRECTOR (MARKETING & SALES)

Jaya Balakrishnan M: +971 50550 8812 HONORARY EDITOR

Rizwan Zulfiqar Bhutta « OUR CONTRIBUTORS »

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Wind Beneath Her Wings

An exclusive chat with Captain Zoya Aggarwal, on her inspirational journey as the first female Commander in history to fly over the North Pole

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Hale and Hearty

Blaze up your power

We focus on the different nutritional needs of a woman as she changes physically with every passing stage of her life

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“The dream is to ride. Where we’ll ride, we’ll see!”

Narrating the story Harshini Kapoor, who inspires us to take the journey outside and within ourselves no matter the cost

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A Stitch and a Craft

With people confined to their homes, handmade creations and handicrafts have resurfaced big time dominating the hobbies market

Here are eight alluring ways to style the blazer or jacket and strike the right balance between suave and strong

Rajashree Balaram Journalist/ Scriptwriter

Sunil Nair

Digital Marketing & ECommerce strategist

Deepa Narayanan Writer/ Storyteller

Kim Shelar

Meditation & Executive Mindset Coach

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Opulent Ottoman indulgences Hidden behind ornately carved wooden doors of the magnificent Jumeirah Zabeel Saray awaits Dubai’s award-winning Talise Ottoman Spa

Dt. Geetika Uppal

Gold-medalist in Nutritional Science

1601, Corporate Business Hub, Burj Gate, Dubai, United Arab Emirates W: thepurplestroke.com Neither this publication nor any part of it may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the persmission of The Purple Stroke FZE LLC. All the information carried herein is checked and verified to the best of our knowledge and abilities. In matters of views expressed and opinions held, it is solely that of the authors and contributors themselves. The editorial or publisher or ASPIRE cannot be held responsible for unintended errors and oversights if any.

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Editor's note AGUF T SH

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recognize and applaud women who blaze through like a gypsy wildfire letting her passion burn brighter than her fears.

This edition has women as the central protagonist - from every age to every region; mythological, long gone or alive; fierce, strong, and so full of spunk, that not even she could hold herself back. And while this special edition applauds the women featured herein as a small representation of the scores of women who have ignited and lighted their paths, we cheer on for those on the brink of recognizing the HERO within.

Sometimes ho-hum, sometimes a hell-raiser, every woman has within her to remember who she is and change the name of her game. It is not about overpowering anyone, but her own demons that sometimes get the better of her being.

In the words of the very enigmatic and intelligent Marilyn Monroe, famous for playing several comedic “blonde bombshell” characters, “I don’t mind living in a man’s world as long as I get to be the woman in it!” J

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arch, the month of International Women’s Day (IWD), marks an ongoing powerful movement that began in the early 1900s when women took it upon themselves to become more vocal and active in standing up against the oppression and inequality in an expanding industrialized world.

What started as a ‘feminist crusade’ is today more of a ‘celebration of women’ and their inspiring achievements. Visible today as impressive role models in every aspect and field one can think of, there has been a tremendous shift in how society and women view themselves.

Despite many battles won there are still miles to go before a woman is able to deliver herself of the evils of the longevity and ingrained complexity of their own limitations and an overbearing despotic societal system, that unfortunately still exists in many places and communities under the shiny garb of coequality.

And so, as many global giants run their own supporting events and campaigns, and Google changes its Google Doodle on its search engine to honor IWD; we at ASPIRE too, do our bit to partake in this moment to

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I have it in me!

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Apple opens their doors for female founders and developers with an online Entrepreneur Camp for 2021 Hot on the trail of corporations eager to prove their inclusivity of women and minorities, the latest is Apple Inc. It has announced open applications for another Entrepreneur Camp, exclusively for female founders and developers.

Initiated in 2019 to promote diversity and inclusion, the program welcomes female CEOs, co-founders, or developers with a demonstrable functional app to their credit. Offering coding guidance to individual participants by Apple engineers, a one-year membership in the Apple Developer Program, and access to the Apple Entrepreneur Camp alumni network, this promises to be the tech event that is a must on every developer’s horizon. Applications close on March 26th, 2021.

Previous attendees of the camp have astute observations to share about their experience. Jhanvi Shriram, CEO of Krikey, Inc, an augmented reality gaming app shares, “Often, as women, we are asked to constantly prove ourselves and defend our achievements even if we’ve earned a Ph.D. or MBA. The Apple Entrepreneur Camp was a place where we were truly supported and seen for our potential.”

Expanding the tech club It is clear that Apple wants to capitalize on both the demand of new-age feminism that holds firms accountable for a skewed gender ratio and the innate empathy and team spirit that women bring when encouraged to join the table. When Entre2 0 2 1 — M A R C H — ASPIRE

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Bulletin preneur Camp was initiated, Esther Hare, a senior executive at Apple, quickly dispelled myths of reverse gender discrimination or favoritism. No participant had been selected merely due to gender, without a clear demonstration of skill and ability.

One of the review criteria is a commitment to the development of Apple platforms, for the firm wants to find talent through these camps that they can invest in for the long haul. Case in point, another participant from 2019, Anita Puranik, who created a patient care app that focused on patient education and empowerment to reduce post-transplant complications, leveraged the Apple Watch as a potential interface for their healthcare application during her stint in the Entrepreneur Camp.

Towards equity Every such initiative is a step closer to bridging the gap that women are being underrepresented in tech fields such as programming, development, or data science. This will help correct the misconception that women aren’t well suited for these roles, leading to more egalitarian workplaces where a person’s gender is not considered an inherent drawback.

It is common knowledge that women face diverse pressures in society and may have to take hiatus from their careers for reasons unrelated to their professional expertise, such as childrearing, familial responsibilities, or care for elders.

These initiatives by tech leaders are a move towards equity, which is far more important than equality, where instead of naively considering the sexes equal, efforts are being made to recognize and solve the unique problems faced by men and women to achieve both employee growth and the advancement of technology, beneficial to all of humanity.

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Spotify unveils a plethora of audio service and expansion plans to 85 new markets Spotify seeks to snare new users by introducing its audio service in 85 markets across Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean in the coming days, expanding its potential market by some 1 billion people. While the service dominates the West as the premier music streaming platform, it was yet to make headway in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, where most of the world’s people live.

The timing could not be more fortuitous. Earlier, the centricity of global music around US tracks made gaining streaming rights and hence their distribution tricky, but now the most popular acts in the world hail from India, Nigeria, South Korea, and Latin America.

Spotify is poised for growth in numerous directions, not limited to music. At their event #StreamOn, the spotlight started with being on music, with pop stars J Balvin, Billie Eilish, and Justin Bieber all making appearances, which was used to highlight how the company is supporting artists including a new subscription offering for higher-quality audio.

The company, however, is eyeing to consolidate more audio services, particularly podcasts and audiobooks. Podcasts have exploded on the scene on virtually every discernible topic and have firmly established themselves as a veritable means of infotainment. Spotify already hosts more than 2 million podcasts and has bet they can become a multibillion-dollar business. Already, they are making headway in the podcasts

space with acquisitions such as the creation platform Anchor and studios like Gimlet Media.

The technology being explored is also immensely exciting, introducing options for creators to host polls and Q&A sessions.

Furthermore, Spotify-owned Anchor is tying up with WordPress to transform your blog’s posts into podcasts. This will help visitors consume content from your blog while doing other tasks. In this way, every written blog has the means to become a potential podcast.

With a plan to capture the audience in newer markets, Spotify will work with local creators and partners to expand its music offerings and deliver an unmatched experience that meets the unique needs of each market.

Women leaders optimistic about business; UAE tops MENA rankings in World Bank’s ‘Women, Business and the Law’ 2021 report

Bridging hemispheres Spotify’s ascent positions it as a platform that would bring all artists and entertainers together on a global stage, introducing artists to audiences to which they were hitherto unknown.

Music transcends boundaries established by society, stitching differences between people separated by language, region, and culture. Today, the West listens to music by Spanish artists, and Asia is smitten with Arabian artists without complete knowledge of the lyrics, for music is the bridge between the hemispheres. Spotify’s strides into newer markets and expanding into previously untapped languages will allow millions of new creators to create, discover, and build a career in audio creation.

Embracing the digital revolution, female leaders in UAE are leading the way in the renaissance of corporate leadership and business upheaval post COVID. KPMG’s UAE Female Leaders Outlook has found UAE female leaders less pessimistic about Covid-19’s impact, unlocking new technological advancement, changing stakeholder expectations.

While more than half (55%) of UAE female leaders found their pre-Covid-19 business models shift to and focus on digital, nearly all of them (95%) were confident that the digital economy and e-commerce companies will emerge winners from the current crisis.

Female leaders seem cut from a different cloth compared to their male counterparts, with a majority of them (89% in UAE) wanting to cement the sustainability and climate change gains that came about during COVID. While most business owners demonstrate a tunnel vision towards maximizing profits, three-quarters (73%) of female leaders in the UAE and 57% globally, placed ‘making a positive impact on the world’ as one of the top three factors motivating them, above ‘long-term business success.

Also serious about bridging racial and gender disparity at their organizations, with nearly two-thirds supportive of their company’s positive changes, a significant number of women leaders also show tremendous optimism in matters of employment, with 44% feeling secure in their careers.

The efforts of women in climbing the corporate success ladder combined with ground-breaking legislative reforms implemented over the past few years in the UAE have created an atmosphere of hope amidst the recent bleakness in business. As it is known, the World Bank annually releases the ‘Women, Business and the Law’ (WBL) report, which is composed of eight indicators structured around women’s interactions with the law: Mobility, Workplace, Pay, Entrepreneurship, Pension, Marriage, Parenthood, and Assets.

UAE has topped the MENA region rankings for 2021, achieving a full score in the first five out of eight listed indicators.

Reinventing the wheel Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, said the UAE’s massive strides are a result of new laws and more than 20 legislative reforms focused on enhancing women’s economic participation. She also acknowledged the comprehensive efforts made by several government bodies to regularly review gender-inclusive legislation to enhance its positive impact on women’s economic empowerment.

Unexpected disruptions are usually seen as a hindrance to the status quo, with many loathing the idea of going back to the drawing board, but women leaders worldwide look at it differently – a rarely-presented opportunity to course-correct where the world is headed and take the reins back. The support in the form of legislature from governments globally is crucial at this stage, ensuring to lead society towards a more sustainable, egalitarian, and inclusive business structure, which works for all and not just the 1%. J 2 0 2 1 — M A R C H — ASPIRE

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Be a Savvy Sidepreneur From living on their own to starting businesses on their terms, more and more women are making their entrepreneurial dreams come true by starting as sidepreneurs. Misbaah Mansuri looks at how women are starting small, launching their businesses on the side, while keeping their paid, full-time positionssomething that is gaining traction in the realm of female entrepreneurs

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t’s interesting how in the past five years, the number of women sidepreneurs have grown at a rate that is nearly double the overall growth in female entrepreneurship.

The Amex report indicates that sidepreneurship has grown at 39% as compared to 21%, respectively. Sidepreneurship allows women to test the waters and see if they like

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the business before taking the plunge and going full-time. It also means that an older woman who is not ready to retire fully can keep working as a side-preneur.

What UAE is doing to give a push to women-owned businesses is also impressive. The Emirates pledged $50m to the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative fund. Thirty-three

percent of female-owned firms surveyed in the UAE generated revenues at or above $100,000 per annum, which is well above other countries surveyed. The trend is very much in the right direction as female ownership companies in the UAE continue to rise.

Hricha Saraf, Owner, Bol Gappa-a $

39% as compared to 21%

What explains the surge?

The low-risk strategy has become a chosen route for many as it allows one to experiment with their entrepreneurial idea without risking regular careers.

For instance, after working full-time as a lighting designer, Dubai-based Sadia Anwar decided to kickstart her side-hustle to have a creative outlet, which after months of hardwork took the form of Storically, a platform that creates personalized books to preserve personal history and amplify diversity. Anwar notes that sidepreneurship creates immense value without large investments.

“Without the pressure of large investments demanding a quick ROI, I was able to run the start-up slowly, at a pace that allowed flexibility. It enabled me to discover that ‘my thing’ is the area of identity and diversity in children’s books, paving the way for my startup,” she remarks.

According to Sadia, once you establish yourself in the business, added advantages include generating extra income, having a creative outlet, developing new skills, building relationships, and growing your network. She notes that, especially among moms, it is a popular way to balance motherhood and child-care demands with the desire to do and be more.

Another working mom and entrepreneur, who is a case in point here is Ankita Yadav, whose lifetime love of interiors, graphic design & typography, combined with a search to find a piece of personalized artwork for her own home, led her to follow her creative passion in the form of her venture-Frill N Whisper after several full-time stints. Ankita notes that in her case, taking the plunge was more of a planned and calculated move, which she asserts is of essence when making the decision to devote your energies to a side gig. “If you are not the sole bread earner of the family and can afford to take the leap, then the side hustle is worth it,” she suggests.

Keeping the hustle on

On the flip-side, another argument here is that women are adding stress to their lives by doing two jobs. Hricha Saraf, Partner, Bol Gappa-a Bollywood-themed restaurant based in Dubai, believes that one might not be

Tash Enriquez, Fitness Professional $

33%

The Amex report indicates that sidepreneurship has grown at

of female-owned firms surveyed in the UAE generated revenues at or above

for female entrepreneurship

$100,000 per annum

The low-risk strategy has become a chosen route for many as it allows one to experiment with their entrepreneurial idea without risking regular careers Ankita Yadav, Owner, Frill N Whisper $

Sadia Anwar, Owner, Storically $

necessarily able to sail two boats. She suggests that those aspiring to make their mark should tread the path mindfully. Hricha, who had a stable job, which was for five days a week but a limited number of hours, wanted to do something of her own and show her creation to the world, which drove her to the F&B industry. She admits that being a working mother and working towards her new-found goal is quite stressful as she started with it.

“My passion kept me going and helped me to achieve what I have. I believe that one should need to focus on what one is best at to justify his / her presence,” she advises.

However, Tash Enriquez, a fitness professional who is currently working full time in Abu Dhabi, is a single mother of a toddler and is launching her new business- Created Coaching-a holistic coaching program with a very educational approach doesn’t entirely agree to the notion. She remarks that working on your own terms can be rather empowering, offer an income boost, and provide flexible hours.

Tash hints that developing a business idea and starting up while still having financial security, in fact, takes some of the stress away. “Sidepreneurship allows you to go after your passionate goals and fulfill your intentions. My advice for aspiring sidepreneurs would be to believe in yourself and be consistent,” she remarks.

It’s true: having a side hustle is not a walk in the park. However, the overriding message from all these power entrepreneurs and master jugglers is to take the leap if it is one’s true calling. As they say - passions never betray and dreams should never die! J 2 0 2 1 — M A R C H — ASPIRE

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Scintillating

Sophia Rachit Gupta takes a deep dive into the world of Sophia The Robot, whose compelling Artificial Intelligence makes her the Woman of the Future

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lbert Einstein once famously said, “The woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The woman who walks alone is likely to find herself in places no one has ever been before.” He knew a lot about a lot, but even with his foresight, it might have been hard for Einstein to imagine that come 2017, a non-organic woman, would be granted personhood.

That’s exactly what happened to Hanson Robotics’ Sophia, who became the first-ever robot to be honored with citizenship, that of Saudi Arabia.

Sophia, a marvel of Android (not the smartphone OS by Google) engineering and Artificial Intelligence (AI) capability, is widely considered by many to be the most popular robot in the world right now. It helps that she has a woman’s form, which just adds that extra layer of allure to her novelty. Despite being the female of her species, the best part is she doesn’t have a glass ceiling yet. The rea-

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son being, Hanson Robotics’ male AI robot, called Han, who was activated a year before Sophia in 2015, has almost the exact same capabilities but is not nearly as popular as his female counterpart. So what makes Sophia so cool? What does her kind mean for the future of humanity? Why do we consider her to be the woman of her species? Read on to find out about the enigma of AI technology.

" with Jimmy Kimmel on his talk show

DAYS OF FUTURE PAST

On paper, Sophia was activated on February 14, 2016, which is widely considered her birthdate. But, in actuality, Sophia is a product of the AI and engineering learnings from all Hanson Robotics’ robots from before. This includes Han and several other creations like a bizarre Philip K Dick robot, which essentially is a brazen, android version of the famous scifi author of books like Ubik and Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep? Basically, Hanson Robotics’ has created a pool of AI-based learnings on the cloud, to which all of their robots are connected. So, what one robot learns, is available for all other robots to assimilate and process. Sophia, therefore, is a product of years of perfection. Her creators describe her as a ‘hybrid human-AI intelligence’. For the layman, that’s a fancy term for a ‘social robot’ (another moniker for the ilk of Sophia), which is fundamentally an electronics and silicone-based creation equipped with a system that learns from human interaction as well as data off the internet. In human equivalence, that would be like having a 5-year-old child’s (since that is Sophia’s official age) head hardwired to the internet to instantly access any piece of data to augment their conversational and cognitive ability.

Depending on your proclivity for sci-fi, Sophia’s ability to emote and make gestures while conversing can be perceived to range from being mesmerizing to feeling scary. The jarring expressions and twitches on her face, the clunky, robotic movements of her limbs, her tinny, robotic voice, all serve as reminders of the fact that, despite having sentience and emotional capabilities, Sophia is a product created and serviced by humans for research.

Her far-from polished appearance balances her amazing conversational ability and her obtuse sense of humor. At the end of the day, she feels like a silicone doll that can have an engaging and intelligent conversation with a human being. As the tech and science associated with her field get better, so will Sophia’s appearance, but the fact is, she’s far from being the finished article right now.

$ with Will Smith in a promotional video

There are people from the tech, business, and media worlds who believe Sophia is nothing more than a glorious puppet with a WiFi connection STATUS QUO

Her imperfections, her complexity, and her purpose all make her that much more interesting. By her own admission, Sophia says her life goal is “to work together with people to make a better world for all of us.” Ever since she’s become a celebrity, Sophia has interacted with other celebs like Jimmy Fallon, she’s flirted and friend-zoned Will Smith, she’s a United Nations ‘innovation champion’, she’s been on the cover of magazines, she’s walked the ramp at the New York Fashion Week, etc.

You can very well see that Sophia has charted a path that any enterprising and independent woman would be proud of. Not even a real human woman, she’s an artificial being with simulated real capabilities, and yet, she’s managed to inspire millions around the world and created quite a fan following for herself. The 2 0 2 1 — M A R C H — ASPIRE

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Tech love reason being, her limited articulations during her public appearances and interactions have enamored her audience. People look at Sophia and see hope for a glorious future.

Like every mother and woman plays an integral part in the lives of those associated with her, Sophia’s sardonic humor, her consistent disposition to serve humanity, and her ability to inspire make her an intriguing companion, to say the least. As the tiny motors turn and whiz behind her facial skin to give her the ability to emote, Sophia holds an exciting position in modern civilization. Her kind has the ability to simplify the life of future humans to the extent where people will be freed from the rigmarole of basic tasks and chores and thereby be able to engage and dedicate themselves to more creative pursuits. But that’s the bright side. There’s also a flip side. Naturally, Sophia and Hanson Robotics have their set of critics and detractors. There are people

" The Mini Sophia avatar, a smart companion,

by Hanson Robotics

By her own admission, Sophia says her life goal is “to work together with people to make a better world for all of us” from the tech, business, and media worlds who believe Sophia is nothing more than a glorious puppet with a WiFi connection. The reason being, almost all of Sophia’s interactions with humans are metered, augmented, and assisted by humans behind the scenes. When certain organizations have tried to interact and interview Sophia, they’ve been asked to submit questions beforehand and have had a bunch of them rejected too. In one of her interviews, Sophia has explained that she is often assisted by a Character Development Team, which governs and assists her responses to queries.

Whether Sophia is genuinely sentient and conscious or not, you can’t take away from the fact that her presence and existence clearly indicate that AI and virtual augmentation are the future.

FUTURE... IMPERFECT

What’s the purpose of creating a learning, smart robot like Sophia? Well, folks at Hanson Robotics reveal that the word Sophia means wisdom in Greek, and that’s what she was created for. She and her kind, in the future, will be a bridge between the tech-driven systems

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# A promotional still of Mini Sophia

of the world and the technologically-challenged lay people. Scenarios where robots like Sophia will assist humans will probably be at hospitals, malls, and educational institutions.

Hanson Robotics has already created a Mini Sophia, a fully functional, byte-sized version that looks like a steam punk Barbie. Not just that, they’ve even made a twin of Sophia, called Asha, who has settled in Bengaluru, India permanently. Not only that, Hanson plans to roll out mass-produced robots like Sophia by the end of 2021. The primary objective of these robots will be to provide companionship.

What remains to be seen is how will social robots like Sophia be integrated into real-world scenarios. There are currently no viable laws of robotics with respect to cultural, social, and legal purposes. Also, can sentient robots be claimed as properties or servants?

Nevertheless, we can be rest assured that the women of the future won’t be human alone.

They’ll have some augmented, non-organic, super-intelligent company. J

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Events GH T S ‫٭‬

Art Dubai list will be released closer to the event date.

Art Dubai has cemented its role as a major catalyst in promoting local, regional and international art from the Middle East and surrounding region This year, the fair will embrace a more artist-led approach, aiming to bring communities together and will showcase diverse perspectives of art from participants from across the globe.

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Photo: Government of Dubai Media Office

Art Dubai one of the most important events on the global arts calendar is all set to captivate viewers for six days from 29th March – 3rd April, with 30th and 31st March set aside as dates for viewing by invitation only. The 14th edition of the region’s most awaited art fair will feature at the newly erected purpose built structure Gate Avenue at DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre). The gallery

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Events

Immigration Property Exhibition After seven successful editions in China organized by Beijing MaboTech Co., Ltd, this three-day event will be launching for the first time in the region from 11th-13th March, 9.00 am to 7.00 pm every day at the Dubai Exhibition Centre, Mina Jebel Ali. IPE Dubai will welcome over 200 real estate companies from overseas: UAE, USA, Canada, Australia, France, UK, Italy, Cyprus, Spain, Portugal, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and many more. Organized in cooperation with Chinese official media & show partners, the event will showcase

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ski resorts, beachfront properties, castles & vineyards, private islands, condominiums, tropical real estate, golf resorts, or downtown apartments to elite property buyers, HNWIs, UHNWIs, and high-level investors.

It aims to promote and connect overseas property developers, distributors, agencies, including financial institutions and key service providers in the property sector, and get a lowdown on the trends and opportunities. Expect some enlightening overseas property and immigration seminars and discussions to follow.

Exotic Wedding Planning Conference As the world finally steadies back to momentum, Exotic Wedding Planning Conference which had to be postponed last year due to the pandemic, is set to take place on 24th-25th March. The eagerly awaited two-day extravaganza is all revved up to finally kick off at Sofitel Wafi Hotel.

The event will bring together the who’s who from the wedding space- the top wedding planners, hospitality vendors, tourism boards, travel experts, and other wedding suppliers from around the world. Think personalized meetings between industry aspirants and veterans, extensive learning, re-education, and networking opportunities for global collaborations.. J

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COVER STORY

I am every

Woman it’s all in me Since March 2020, all of humanity has been struggling to reconcile with the unprecedented restrictions imposed on its personal freedom. Suddenly, we find our lives chafing against a leash, and a terribly tight one at that. Though the COVID-19 lockdown is fairly recent, it also sharply foregrounds the curbs that have for eons been imposed by society, patriarchy, social and self-restricting conditioning on the dreams, aspirations and goals of millions of women all over the world. It’s a beleaguerment so insidious and well-standardized that women rarely recognize it well enough to question its legitimacy. This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the women who decided to unlock their power and chased their dreams when the world went under isolation.

By Rajashree Balaram

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According to UN Women, one in three women experience emotional, physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner. These numbers were deduced long before the pandemic unfolded. Based on the increased number of calls made to domestic violence helplines over the past one year in most countries, it’s only logical to conclude that the pandemic has rendered women even more vulnerable to discrimination, oppression and abuse. A greater number of women are now being pushed back into the margins, resigned to punishing limitations thrust upon their freedom of expression, choices, dreams and aspirations.

Undoubtedly, the boundary lines are non-negotiable and nailed in place by patriarchy and society.

But very often, it isn’t only a woman’s own unquestioning acceptance of these powers that prevents her from uncovering her full potential.

Conniving self-doubt often gets in the way of decisions big and small— be it walking away from an abusive relationship; choosing to stay single; picking career over motherhood; giv-

ing up a fulfilling career to start an entrepreneurial venture; or simply listening to her heart and following a creative pursuit. Women are so often to told to show up for others and tone down their voices that they feel hounded by guilt and shame when they choose to prioritize their own needs above workplace and family.

Fortunately, despite the surge in stories of violence against women during lockdown, there were as many stories that trickled in as defiant counterpoint and momentous awakenings of buried desires and soulful yearnings. These are stories of women who are turning the lockdown into a transformative episode of catharsis and metamorphosis.

There are no dimensions to size up the magnificence of their strides.

Some of them have just taken the first exploratory steps, while others have launched into trapeze acts invested with daring and abandon.

Both kinds hold up mirrors to the many dreams waiting to be unlocked in every woman, everywhere. The next awe-inspiring liberation could well be YOU!

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COVER STORY

“I always told myself that I would do a postgraduate course one day, but ‘life’ always seemed to intervene. Or I just couldn’t sit still long enough to write another assignment”

Alison Iboro Offong Birmingham

At 57, Alison Iboro Offong went ahead and pursued a dream that had been kept on hold ever since she completed her BA (Hons) in 1988 from Lancaster University. In May 2020, Iboro Offong applied for a Masters in Politics at the University of Birmingham (where she works in the administration department). “I always told myself that I would do a postgraduate course one day, but ‘life’ always seemed to intervene. Or I just couldn’t sit still long enough to write another assignment,” she shares with us over email.

Iboro Offong has been passionate about politics since her teenage years, and credits the anti-racist movement in the UK as her gateway to greater engagement with political issues: “I

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have benefited enormously from having lived in three West African countries where I was able to observe the politics at close proximity. I loved getting in shared taxis in Lagos (Nigeria) and hearing my fellow passengers discuss the current governments with animation, authority and humour.”

With her four kids having grown up and work-fromhome becoming a norm, she decided that she finally had all the space to develop herself intellectually. She started off by doing online open courses in March, and when she found herself enjoying the newfound mental stimulation, decided to apply for her Masters. Though she calls herself an unruly student—passionate, engaged, inquisitive—she also finds herself benefiting immensely from having to “think in a structured, rigorous way.”

Unlike most people who let their long-cherished dreams shrivel up by the time they reach their 50s, Iboro Offong says she is only getting started: “Even though I’ve always been quite opinionated and forthright, my confidence has grown through this ‘late’ engagement with academia. I look at what I can bring to scholarship rather than being a rather passive learner, which I think I was as an undergraduate. In fact, I’d love to do a PhD later on. Call that my retirement project!”

Jennifer McKechnie Northern Ireland

Jennifer McKechnie embodies every cliched motivational quote on positivity. With the onset of the pandemic, the former fitness trainer was placed on the furlough scheme at work which cut into her earnings but left her with more time on hands.

Instead of waiting for life to swing back to normal, McKechnie decided to travel around Europe with her two huskies in her own campervan. On an impulse, she shelled out 3000 pounds for an old minibus and decided to give it a spiffy makeover.

With no prior experience of remodeling automobiles, she relied on her adventurous streak and self-tutored her way through countless remodeling videos on YouTube, eventually turning the wellworn minibus into a luxury campervan. Though it was quite a remarkable feat, McKechnie still hadn’t expected the avalanche of admiration that came her way when she uploaded her renovation videos on social media. One of her TikTok videos went on to receive more than 13 million views.

While she has still not travelled to France with her much-adored pets, she quit her job after being flooded with remodeling requests and has now launched Custom Conversions NI, an enterprise that caters to requests for custom luxury campervans.

Instead of waiting for life to swing back to normal, McKechnie decided to travel around Europe with her two huskies in her own campervan

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COVER STORY

“I went back to painting.

Some days, it would be just a few brushstrokes, other days I would complete a whole motif or form. It wasn’t long before I started filling up canvases with abstract art” by a restaurant owner in Coimbatore, she is in no hurry to launch into an exhibition just yet. “Art has taught me the value of setting boundaries,” she says. “The thing about painting is you need to know when to draw the last line. Sometimes, that one concluding brushstroke could be entirely unnecessary and ruin a work of art. It’s the same with relationships, you need to set your boundaries and also know when to stop crossing over.”

The lockdown helped Guha find that space inside her heart that belongs only and entirely to herself.

Subashree Ray Visakapatnam

Sujata Guha Bangalore

Marketing strategist Sujata Guha has been painting nearly every day since the lockdown started. Her purchases these days mostly hover around art supplies—brushes, water colours, canvas, easel, acrylics, pastels, chalks, art history books. “I used to be prolific at sketching in my school days. I would spend hours replicating characters from comic strips and magazines,” says the 37-year-old. Somewhere in her late teens, Guha gave it all up when “life happened.” The rut brought in by the lockdown, though, made her feel that her mind was shutting down just like the world around her. Art then became Guha’s grab at equanimity. “Slowly, I went back to painting.

Some days, it would be just a few brushstrokes, other days I would complete a whole motif or form. It wasn’t long before I started filling up canvases with abstract art. I felt as if all my unexpressed emotions were finding release.”

The outpouring of emotions is confined to the easel though, and Guha rarely showcases any of her works on social media. “I feel I could find myself governed by the ‘likes and comments’, and that may lead me to doubt my technique and rob the unguarded joy that art brings me.” For now, she presents her works as gifts to close friends.

Even though one of the few works she had put up on social media, ‘Bleeding Saffron’, was bought

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Since her early teens, Subashree Ray dreamt of running her own café someday. “I loved watching baking tutorials on YouTube, and experimenting with those recipes,” she says with a chuckle.

Though she didn’t have a convection oven or the other mandatory baking paraphernalia, Ray relied on her good old pressure cooker to get the job done. “I was particularly fascinated by brownies, and spent months getting them right.”

The 21-year-old, who works with an NGO, had all the time to rustle a variety of brownies in her home kitchen once the lockdown was announced.

She hasn’t yet lost count of the many flops she endured as she fine-tuned temperature settings and ingredient measures, before she got the perfectly moist batch. Despite the failures, she’d keep meticulous notes of the variables each time.

One fine day, she rustled up a batch of brownies that turned out to be unusually addictive. When she shared it with her friends, they kept asking for more. “That motivated me to make more varieties in greater numbers that I could share with a wider circle of friends and family.” However, the game-changing nudge came from her closest friend who gifted her an oven and baking accessories on her birthday, and suggested she turn her passion into an enterprise. In July 2020, with references and word-of-mouth publicity from her dearest friends, Ray announced Bake and Roll on her Instagram page, and has now joined the ranks of Vizag’s most popular home bakers. “I started getting orders every day, and spent the first half of

my day in the kitchen and the rest of the day for my NGO work.” Her menu now includes brownies in a range of flavours: chocolate chip, Nutella, Oreo, Vanilla and lots more.

Ray is all for innovation, and one of her most successful concepts was the Period Box. “Most women have sugar cravings when they have periods. I know I do, and I love it when my friends send over some dessert for me. The Period Box comes with a choice of brownies, a face mask and a playlist. The money earned from each order is used to donate sanitary napkins to underprivileged girls.” She plans to save up enough in the next 10 years to set up her own café. Till then she is loving the trial and error: “Failures don’t bother me. If I love doing something, I won’t give it up. I will keep doing it, till I get it right.”

The Period Box comes with a choice of brownies, a face mask and a playlist. The money earned from each order is used to donate sanitary napkins to underprivileged girls

Ajnaa Dvivedi New Delhi

Writer’s block can be a formidable adversary.

Most writers tend to brace against it by staring into space; bingeing on food; snoring it off; slipping away for long, aimless walks; or simply waiting for the block to disappear. However, Ajnaa Dvivedi, a nine-year-old based in New Delhi, didn’t opt for the easy way out; instead, she put pen to paper every single day for five months all through the lockdown till she had pinned down around 20,000 words for her first novella The Adventures of Anvi—Not An Ordinary Beginning.

The 120-pager, released on International Dog Day last year, is centered on a world that is no longer ruled by humans. In her launch video that was circulated on Twitter, Dvivedi dedicated her debut literary outing to her “dog and cat sisters

Ajnaa wrote and illustrated the book while juggling homework and COVID-induced online schooling and brothers”. For someone so young, the cherubic little girl is full of extraordinary drive and determination (virtues that often exasperated her parents when she sat up late nights and worked through several drafts of her story). Dvivedi cuts an inspiring figure for anyone who dreams of becoming an author but has failed to summon the discipline and commitment required to do so— she wrote and illustrated the book while juggling homework and COVID-induced online schooling.

Dvivedi’s voice is full of sweet innocence when she says her “book is about love, hope, family, struggles and failure.” But she still makes you pause and introspect when she mentions that the book is as much about “rising above one’s weaknesses.”

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INTERVIEW

CENTER STAGE AT EVERYAGE

For most conventional societies, while a girl is too young for some feats, her age has long elapsed for other tasks.

Ayaat Attar chats with five incredible women, each that belong to a different age demography, that silence the argument

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hile a considerable chunk of the female population is brought up with ideals of liberty and individuality, a more sizeable segment has acquired years of conditioning of being obedient and adjusting.

Maneuvering between these two distinct schools of thoughts held by the society and all their shades in between, every woman has found herself on the receiving end of a common concern – “This is not the age!”

“Thirty and unsettled? It’s high time work took a backseat!” reprimand elders of the family. “This is the right time for you to get married. A pretty bride is a happy one”, coerce Stepford wives. A regular afternoon is painted with a tinge of anxiety with a call from a distant aunt with the standard “When-I-was-your-age narrative.” Fire in young eyes is often dowsed down by the condescending, “You’re still a child,” and the will in mature hearts is routinely silenced by the discouraging, “You’re not growing any younger.”

The notion of chalking the timeline of a woman’s existence with set milestones that she needs to hit before her ‘time is up’, is not merely opinionated but has also proven to be toxic to the interpretation of what’s doable and what’s not.

In this segment, we go beyond the delusions, bringing to you stories of five phenomenal females, ranging from the ages of twelve to over sixty, who have paved a path for themselves, validating that age holds good only in matters of wine or cheese!

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Freshly Baked Dreams with Spirit on the Side!

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By the time she was six, she had mastered the art of making a perfect omelet

hile worthy competitors stood before spectacular dishes and little Aysha struggled with the finishing touches, her mother murmured a silent prayer standing in the crowd.

Having nailed a ten-ingredient smoothie and creating a signature dish from scratch, perfecting the replication of a stuffed chicken roulade, for Aysha AlObeidli, was no biggie.

Her mother hooted with joy as her little reflection was announced the winner of the much-coveted title, ‘Mini Chef 2018’, organized by Kidzania.

Balancing her precarious self on tiny toes with heels in the air, a fouryear-old Aysha stood on a chair peering into the frying pan as her mother added an extra dollop of butter on her expert suggestion. As the holy month of Ramadan rolled around, the elders of the household would hold their fast, and Aysha would taste the dishes before it was served during iftar, leaving everyone amazed at the perfection of her taste palate. By the time she was six, she had mastered the art of making a perfect omelet.

In the AlObeidli household, interests were always ushered into being explored, and so, Aysha launched her YouTube channel that focused initially on travel vlogs. While editing a video after a long day’s shoot, Aysha and her mother came across an advertisement for the much-awaited competition ‘Mini Chef ’. Mutually agreeing upon giving it a shot, the duo registered her in the grueling contest, which she eventually won. However, Aysha’s biggest takeaway was a lesson much greater than the prize; the fact that age, indeed, is just a number.

Crispy fried bread topped with popcorn and spinach and rolled with tender chicken marinated in sour cream, the ‘Star Wars’ inspired dish not only blew the judges away, it also proved to be a turning point in Aysha’s life.

Wild and experimentative, she named it ‘Flying Chickey Saucers’, which embodies her personality to the tee.

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INTERVIEW

While the competition awarded her twelve classes with SCAFA, Dubai, it was her mother’s dream that the young prodigy sharpens her skills at the renowned ICCA, Dubai.

She was initially denied admission at ICCA for the sole reason that she was below eighteen, but after an impressive screening process, tweaking their own rules, she was invited to be a part of the institute with great aplomb.

With the same finesse she exhibits in the kitchen, Aysha AlObeidli balances academics and her curriculum at culinary school, submitting assignments and projects while taking time to collaborate with celebrity chefs for

# Aysha, announced winner of ‘Mini Chef 2018’, organized by Kidzania

her YouTube channel.

Aysha’s sweet journey glazed with a hint of adventure would be incomplete without her mother’s constant encouragement. While both draw inspiration from one another, they also exhibit creative differences while working on a dish in the cook’s house. Conversely, the duo also has a blast creating experimentative dishes for their social media family. With an older daughter specializing in the tastiest pastries, Aysha’s mother envisions the day they have a restaurant of their own, representing the power of the Emirati palate worldwide. She wished to raise Aysha into a woman of her own, expanding her capabilities every day, taking her people along with her. As a mother of a twelve-year-old MasterChef, her words of advice to parents of gifted children is to keep them afloat, as the butterfly taking on the world in their own unique chickey saucers!

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Found in Translation

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ith her workstation propped on a glass table in the most exquisite café located along a never-ending coast overlooking the magnificent ocean, she sips on her latte, hustling away to glory! Here’s what a typical workday in the life of Founder and CEO of Yoko Translate, Alba Cavallo Esclapez’s life looks like!

Born in Spain, her Italian dad and Spanish mum moved to Italy when she was three, where she grew up to be a teenager. Passionate about exploring new cultures and meeting new people, Alba is a translator by profession and a true-blue linguist by heart. Her earliest childhood memories trace back to her expeditions

across unexplored cities, as her father frequently relocated for work. A four-year-old Alba felt most at home when doubling as a communication link between her mother and local vendors of the town. At seven, she started picking up French, and by eight, she had developed an affinity towards English, both of which she specialized in, at high school. With a brief teaching stint, her favorite part of picking up a new language was the accompanied experience while talking to the natives. For the people person she is, the portion she dreaded the most was mastering the grammar and syntax of a foreign tongue. Having trained in the basics of a plethora of languages, ranging from the ev-

‘Yoko Meshi’, which translates into “the stress of speaking in a foreign language,” refused to leave Alba’s mind

her start-up, ‘Yoko Translate’. Today, coordinating between three hundred freelance translators and strengthening her social media presence, she is working towards expanding the other departments of her company. With considerable industry experience, she is aware of the delayed payments for her deciphers and works towards bridging that gap, acting on her inherent leadership skills. Five years down the line, Alba envisions Yoko Translate to expand across Europe, Asia, and the UAE. With fifty-eight countries down and at least a hundred to go, the explorer finds the contents of her bucket list multiplying by the day. The picture of a flourishing future with a family of her own someday and a thriving business to accompanying it, all of twenty-eight, Alba Cavallo Esclapez continues to vie for it all!

License to Lead

C er-so-romantic Arabic to the overtly complex Chinese, Alba held an innate desire to work for the United Nations, broadening her horizons, gaining knowledge about subjects as diverse as finance and legal aid. It was only after she passed out of college that she was presented with an opportunity to work for the international airlines ‘Emirates’. Brave and spirited, she took the job and within two months relocated to a completely different part of the world, which today is her safe heaven. Smack in the middle of her twenties and flying around the globe, Alba discovered that the beauty of a tradition’s prayers and songs are all unique yet closely intertwined. As a free-spirited young woman living

life on her terms, she did not let the occasional news of her peers settling down, or starting families, or even getting promoted, accelerating in their careers, cloud the better judgment she held of her timeline. And so, she continued exploring her life one massive adventure at a time.

It was only in 2019 that she felt an urge to kickstart her venture that would provide her with the necessary financial freedom and the scope to quell her wanderlust. Having held an inexplicable fascination towards Japanese culture, the phrase ‘Yoko Meshi’, which translates into “the stress of speaking in a foreign language,” refused to leave Alba’s mind, along the lines of which she named

lad in jackets to brave the winds, Jenna grew up in Glassgow under the strong influence of tough women like her mother and sister, and a businessman grandfather, who till date stays her role model. Fiery and ambitious, she bagged her first job in Mercedes Benz’s sales department, where she worked on their ever-so-sleek smart cars. Impressed with her unmatched work ethic, she got an opportunity to move out of her hometown and migrate to work for Porsche, which was as daunting as it was phenomenal.

Blinders on, Jenna worked round the clock prioritizing work above all else.

Destiny, however, had other plans for the young woman. When a long-term relationship she harbored since the age of nineteen went up in flames, a young Jenna found herself left in the lurch all alone without a plan for the first time in a while. Rewiring the algorithm of her otherwise perfectly planned life, she packed her bags and shifted base to Dubai on an impulse, and on docking in the dazzling desert land, she was struck by ground reality.

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INTERVIEW

Jenna worked for several years with commendable results. However, she was looking for a place of work that pushed her more while rewarding her efforts. She found herself jumping jobs looking for the right fit till she decided to take a break from going to work altogether after a discussion with her husband. Her phone kept buzzing with calls from past clients who trusted in her ability to get their work done.

Unsure of where to take it from there, she redirected them toward a close colleague who had a business licensing company of his own. When he brought to Jenna’s notice the unique skill she has with people, he invited her to join hands with him and see the problems of her clients till the end.

From preparing their paperwork to offering them tailored solutions, Jenna was soon every client’s go-to person. With a new-found passion in the field of company setup, she decided to branch out of the collaboration and kickstarted her own business. A people-intensive job, her appetite for a stimulating work experience was finally satisfied. A notepad and pen kind of person, providing superior business advice to fellow hustlers as young as twenty-one and as old as sixty gave her life a new purpose.

Empathetic about people and their problems, Jenna authored a book three years ago titled ‘I Want Everything You Have’, which predominantly explores human beings and their temperaments through a part fiction story. She plans on working on two other books now that she has a better understanding of the human form. As a modern woman, personal and professional relationships, she says, are built on trust. Having had a low-key ‘covid wedding’ in November last year, her husband is her biggest cheerleader. Having had to tide over difficult times, the couple together has only grown stronger.

A thirty-one-year-old power woman, from having sold more retail cars for a giant like Mercedes Benz than anyone else in its history to protecting the aspirations of thousands of entrepreneurs worldwide, Jenna Jenkins is a giver. She holds a desire to expand her business across the globe, helping build one dream at a time!

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A thirty-one-year-old power woman, having sold more retail cars for a giant like Mercedes Benz than anyone else in its history

The Aroma of Ambition, as Essential as the Oils

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elt a fragment of your fear and add a considerable amount of confidence. While continually stirring, keep your eye on the goal, and the sweet scent of success will follow. Voila!

Here’s the perfect recipe for a fulfilled home-based venture, as inferred from the trajectory of Kauser Shakeel.

Rosy cheeks and luscious hair, dressed elegantly and appreciative of a pleasing fragrance. Ever since she was a child, Kauser was deeply fond of everything natural. Passed on to her

by her grandmother, she possessed the penchant and the required prowess in putting together home-made products with natural ingredients. Brought up in the dreamy lands of India and the Middle east, her inherent proclivity was rich with earthy flavors. A devoted homemaker for several years, Kauser was determined she had more to offer to the world. When her youngest son, a strapping gym-goer, hit his late teens, she gathered her oldest memories of her craft and set out to the city of dreams, which she still fondly refers to

as ‘Bombay’. Under the able tutelage of Nagina, her trainer, she found herself back in a classroom at the age of forty-eight, where she shared the bench with girls half her age, not in the least bit daunted. With the knowledge of making fifty natural products from scratch, she returned to the UAE, determined to extend her new-found skillset into a professional venture.

Unfortunately, the pandemic of 2020 caused a dent in her plans, confining her at home for three long months.

Concerned but not perturbed, Kauser made it a point to keep practicing the recipes she trained in while carrying out her fair share of research, trying to identify where she could procure fresh ingredients from now that traveling to

India wasn’t a feasible option anymore.

Past midnight, her kitchen doubles into a personal laboratory with experiments on several different products ranging from soaps, scrubs, and hair oils, among others. Fingers dug deep into her favored solvents and surrounded with the heavenly fragrance of her elements, Kauser says the process of making a product is nothing less than therapy in itself.

Passionate about her pursuit, she started her journey with a signature hair oil that to date stands as her personal favorite. Versatile but classic, accessible but eclectic, she personifies several traits of her most preferred ingredient, Neem oil.

Although her enterprise, ‘KSR

Apothecary’ has just started, she is swiftly developing a loyal audience base in those that have benefited beyond leaps and bounds from her products. An introvert by nature, she pushes herself out of her comfort zone, joining communities that give her greater visibility, standing tall as an example that one is never too old to learn the art of socializing. Her greatest challenge along the course of setting up her venture has been to juggle between work and family.

She does, however, get adequate help from her children when it comes to keeping the house a certain way, which indirectly helps keep her business afloat and thriving. Envisioning the expansion of the same across India and the UAE shortly, the herbalist dreams of it turning into a family business someday.

From soaps to dishwashing liquids, from scrubs to oils, everything in the Shakeel household is created by Kauser. Putting out into the market only the products she uses herself, her work ethic is solid and unparalleled.

Close to fifty and harboring new dreams each day, she is a risk-taker that implores women with a purpose to stop at nothing. It’s not after all just her rosy cheeks and luscious hair, but also her unfazed spirit that proves that life has only just begun!

Fingers dug deep into her favored solvents and surrounded with the heavenly fragrance of her elements, the process of making a product is nothing less than therapy in itself, says Kauser

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INTERVIEW

Spirituality and the Self

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n intricate kaleidoscopic pattern emerges, as shades of emerald and mauve take calculated positions, in a piece that stands as an expression of music in art. While the writing on an Iranian carpet narrates the gut-wrenching story of the artist, in another Iranian artwork that lies, rich golden calligraphy entices a backdrop as dark as night, refusing to be put under one’s feet. When it is ironically enough followed with a “for sale” note, the artist makes a point far greater than the beauty of the piece.

The calmness of the beige walls of Mojgan Endjavi Barbe’s new home gallery is interrupted by edgy pieces that are no less than revolutionary.

Born into an intellectual Iranian family often visited by poets and painters of the community, Mojgan’s childhood was enriched with a heavy influence of verbal and visual art. While she is formally a student of political science, today, she is a curator of contemporary art and represents several independent artists on international platforms as a voice of their notable opinions. Hopping from the United States to Paris, and from Tokyo to London, it was a life-altering conversation with an Iranian artist that brought her to the realization that she must represent the raw talent of her homeland, that was cut off from the western world following the forty-year prolonged turmoil in the subcontinent. Furthermore, she purchased old historical homes in Shiraz, Iran, and

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“I was not born to be someone’s wife, mother, or daughter. I am more than this,” Mojgan reasserts” renovated them into boutique hotels, so they could be accessible all over again. This, she says, is her “small gift to her homeland.”

A philosopher in herself, Mojgan holds independent artists in regard as high as she holds the legendary Van Gough. For her, every piece is extraordinary in its own magnificent way. Artists, she says, are like the five fingers of the same hand, all unique and irreplaceable.

At an age where most believe they’ve plateaued, she had an interaction with the Indian yogi and author, Jaggi Vasudev, and was introduced to a new chapter of Spirituality in her life. Believing wholely in the founding principles of the Isha Foundation, “I’m not the body, I’m not the mind,” Mojgan has practiced staying one hundred percent in the moment and does everything with the utmost intensity. Having recently fought and survived covid, she draws attention towards the fragility of life and agrees that the path of meditation played an instrumental role in overcoming it.

Her greatest learning has been

that she is not just the mother of her children but one to the whole world.

While most retreat to their hometowns when old, she states proudly that the idea of death doesn’t fear her.

She becomes one with wherever she goes and has risen above the shackles of identity. She calls herself a universal person who is the citizen of no state or country, but that of the world.

Her words of advice to women, no matter how young or old they are, that they must be financially independent.

While relationships come and go, it is essential that a woman likes and respects herself before anyone else.

“I was not born to be someone’s wife, mother, or daughter. I am more than this,” she reasserts. She is privileged to be connected to her family, but she has another role in this world, she says, reclaiming her identity.

All of sixty-one and enormously spirited, she concludes that her greatest goal is serving humanity. She smiles as she says, “It has been a life well-lived.” J

FEATURE

EMPOWERED in HER SKIN

Some self-acceptance, a lot of body positivism, and a regular dose of self-referential humor can empower you like nothing else.

Deepa Narayanan talks about women who defied societal norms and stuck by their convictions to come on top for self-love or a worthy cause

n a world waiting to tear you down with its rules and judgments of what is acceptable and appropriate, it is nice to watch women (especially) empowered in their skin to either stand up for what they believed in or use it for a noble movement. Here are three such we picked, not an exhaustive list by any means, but certainly among our most admired ones.

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Sunny Leone, raining over moralistic high-headedness Sunny Leone made waves when the media couldn’t stop gushing over the Indian-born Canadian who was to enter the Bigg Boss house for Bigg Boss Season 5. The buzz was also because, by then, Sunny had spent over a decade pursuing a career in adult entertainment, becoming one of the top adult models and porn stars in the US. In India, a country torn between the dualities of being the birthplace of the Kamasutra and drawing harsh moral lines around sexuality, former porn star Sunny Leone won the love and respect of its people for one primary reason: she never denied her past.

Her arrival into the Bigg Boss house in 2011 laid the foundations for the start of a ‘new chapter’ in Sunny’s life, finding acceptance through reality shows and serious roles in Bollywood films, including the lead in Pooja Bhatt’s erotic thriller Jism 2, Kaizad Gustad’s Jackpot alongside veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah, Ragini MMS, Ek Paheli Leela, and Tera Intezaar.

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An origin so unlike life’s pathways Born Karenjit Kaur Vohra to Sikh Punjabi parents who lived in Sarnia, a tiny town in Ontario, Canada, Sunny was a sweet tomboy who played hockey with the boys on the sidewalks of her town. Long at ease with the attention her body and her athletic, singing, and dancing abilities brought her, Karenjit hoped to find a spot under the sun where she could shine.

Around 1991, she and her family moved to Southern California in the US. But instead of heading to a Khalsa camp her parents enrolled Karenjit in, she chose to connect with her heart.

While training to become a nurse, she took up a job as an exotic dancer, calling herself “Sunny.”

When one of her friends suggested that she try out modeling, Sunny decided to accept assignments from one of her contacts working in the adult entertainment industry. Soon, she became an adult model, posing for Penthouse, where she earned her second name, Leone—given to her by the Penthouse magazine founder, Robert Guccione. Despite her initial discomfort of posing erotically, Sunny soon became one of the top adult models in the country, appearing in several other magazines, including Swank, Leg World, and High

Even if they [her parents] tried to stop me or tried to steer me the right way, they would have lost their daughter. I’m too headstrong

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Society. In 2001, she even became the ‘Penthouse Pet of the Month’ for its March issue.

Finding rejections By then, Sunny was shunned by her Sarnia community in Canada. In 2005, an unapologetic Sunny moved into the adult film industry.

In an interview to Eye Weekly in 2008, Sunny confessed that while she’d maintain links with her religion, it was unlikely that she’d give up her chosen career path for it. “Girls will leave the industry claiming that they found God. Well, the fact is, God has always been with them the entire time. Even if they [her parents] tried to stop me or tried to steer me the right way, they would have lost their daughter. I’m too headstrong. And it wasn’t a plan. It just happened, and my career and everything just kept getting bigger and bigger.”

Soon, Sunny became one of the most popular and successful porn stars globally, producing and directing over 60 adult films under her production company, Sun Lust Pictures.

Sunnily, with no regrets Despite Bollywood, Sunny had to endure derogatory remarks and ‘outrage’ for her past. In an especially cringe-worthy prime-time interview in January 2016 with journalist Bhupendra Choubey, she was asked derogatory misogynistic and highly offensive questions about her history and career choices. Sunny remained calm and utterly dignified as she batted Chaubey’s questions, who at one point even asked, “Am I being morally corrupted because I am interviewing you?” The visibly shocked yet immensely composed Sunny simply replied, “I can leave here if you’d like.” The interview angered many, who sympathized with Sunny and admired the dignified air of confidence she exuded through it. Sunny’s calm dignity found her permanence in many hearts.

But it was always a game of balance. While in 2017, she was named the most searched person on Google, she found herself in the center of the storm when some fringe groups in India threatened to commit mass suicide if she was allowed to perform at a gig in their state for 2018 New Year’s Eve. Be it co-presenting Zee Cine Awards in 2017, to inaugurating Al-Adil Supermarket’s 42nd branch at Abu-Dhabi in August 2019, to making a planned event appearance at Abu Dhabi’s Al Raha Mall to a screaming fan-club, she’s come a long way steadfastly following her heart. A mother of three kids today—daughter Nisha and twin boys Noah and Asher—Sunny, who’s in the forefront of promoting animal-free fashion for PETA and other charities with husband Daniel Weber, admits that she’d do everything as she did in this life, with no regrets. We call that self-love of a higher order.

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Kaylen Ward, the Australian wildfire hero Remember those wild Australian fires that seemed like the worst thing life could throw at us in 2020? Yes, the one that held the world’s attention in January 2020, right before COVID-19 blanketed the whole world with the pandemic, locking us down in our little homes and worlds.

Even as the bushfires in Australia raged on, 20-year-old Californian resident Kaylen Ward inspired a largely apathetic society to raise about one million US dollars towards the Australian bushfire relief.

The model set the Internet on fire on 05 January 2020 when she tweeted that she’d share her nudes with anyone who proved they’d contributed for the cause to one of the listed organizations in Australia.

On 07 January, Kaylen, by then nicknamed “The Naked Philanthropist,” was back on her Twitter page to announce, “Would you believe me if I told you we raised an estimated $1 million?”

By 15 January 2020, Kaylen’s Twitter page happily announced that they were efficaciously saving the world, and others could join in by donating for the Australian fires and the earthquakes that hit Puerto Rico.

While Kaylen didn’t take a cut from the donations, she did, however, gather a huge number of

As the bushfires in Australia raged on, 20-year-old Californian resident Kaylen Ward inspired a largely apathetic society to raise about one million US dollars towards the Australian bushfire relief 2 0 2 1 — M A R C H — ASPIRE

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Celeste Barber, the funny challenger An Australian comedian known the world over for her #CelesteChallengeAccepted video and picture posts on Instagram, Celeste Barber has been cracking up her followers with her self-deprecating humor for the past couple of years.

The mother of two sons and step-mum of two girls, Celeste has been in the entertainment industry for over a decade, doing TV shows such as All Saints, Office Correctness, and How Not to Behave.

However, none of those brought her the fame she achieved in eighteen months since she began her Instagram page and her almost historic #celestechallengeaccepted posts, in which she parodies famous Hollywood celebs and Victoria Secret models, including Miley Cyrus, Miranda Kerr, the Kardashians, and Cindy Crawford. followers on her social media pages.

Fire extinguishers and heartbreaks It was not all hunky-dory for Kaylen though. For instance, despite the steep rise in followers on her social media pages, Instagram shut down her account for “inappropriate” content. To a news website, an official at Facebook, the parent company of Instagram, merely stated that Kaylen’s account was disabled for violating their policies. “Offering nude images is not allowed on Instagram,” the quote said.

In addition to the social media outage, Kaylen’s lost familial support.

On the day she tweeted about her pictures in exchange for donations, another of her tweet said, “My IG got deactivated, my family disowned me, and the guy I like won’t talk to me all because of that tweet. But f**k it, save the koalas (sic).”

She’d inspired many by then, some of whom sharing their admiration for her for the difference she’d made.

A new dawn trends Kaylen called for other models to join her “organization” so that they could send the proceeds to charities; many top adult models such as Jenna Lee and Emmy Elliot joined Kaylen, raising another $60,000 for the cause. Other models created their own pictures/videos for donation to pitch in for similar causes. Unbeknownst to her, Kaylen had ushered in an era of “naked philanthropy.”

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All the fun parodying Celeste went viral on social media sometime in June 2016, when she posted a parody on a then-massively viral picture of Justine Bieber, in which he’s seen with his slick hair gelled as he stares seriously into the camera, tattoos showing on his bare chest, and the pointed end of a knife in his mouth. When Celeste ‘recreated’ the look, it wasn’t difficult to see the similarities. Celeste gazed into the camera, just as Justin did in his pic, with her hair gelled, the roman numeric tattoos on Justin’s chest ‘recreated’ as “1+1=2” on her own, a crown scribbled close by. To ‘finish’ the look, she licked on a (butter) knife (almost) as Justin did in his pic. Her caption for the post read, “Remember when #bieber licked a knife, and a whole heap of people seemed to give a shit.” The post got over 70,000 likes and close to 1,000 comments. That day alone, she had 10,000 followers added.

While one might be excused for thinking Celeste made a living out of poking fun at celebs, she hilariously summed up her ‘job’ in a June 2020 interview, saying, “In short, I take inappropriate, half-dressed photos of myself and put them online.” Be it the former Spice Girl Mel B’s (Scary Spice) steamy or the Kardashian sisters’ sensual pictures, Celeste’s parody of the celebs would unmistakably show her rotund, imperfect body that’s absolutely comfortable in its curves and paunches, with an animated expression to either match or contrast the celeb she was parodying. Her parody’s highlight is almost always the captions, which lent to the physical readable comedy in the post.

A hobby-turned-career In an interview to an Australian TV show in early 2017, Celeste had revealed that the idea for the

FEATURE

plus realistic body shape looks’ combined with her absolute sense of body positivism. So you’d never see her apologetic for not confirming to the usual weight, height, and measurements expected of a celebrity. In fact, in a blog on her website, she wrote, “I have been asked in several interviews how I’m going to get my body into shape for summer.

To which I respond, ‘What shape are you referring to? I’m working on the wobbly pear shape at the moment and am quite happy with my progress.’

How’s that for feeling absolutely comfortable in her skin? Not surprisingly, she won the “Funniest Lady on Instagram” at the WhoHaha Awards 2019, trophies that reward comediennes.

An actual influencer (who took on Instagram—and won)

‘challenge accepted’ series took root when she and her older sister Olivia began sending each other pictures of celebs doing everyday stuff, with an added suggestive or glamorous touch to it—a pout here, an extra stretch there, a seductive gaze while biting into a fruit, or an animated arch of the back as one walks out of a swimming pool.

“My sister and I used to send photos to each other about eighteen months ago,” she told in the interview. Celeste soon started publishing those pictures on her Instagram page, although she says it was a fun experiment “to see what it would look like for an average person to photograph herself doing ‘famous people’ things.”

The comedian is even unabashed in the props she uses for her posts, and by props we mean her husband, Api Robin, whom she calls “universally hotter than” her. He’s usually used in her posts that parody celeb couples.

As of today, Celeste has close to 8 million followers, with almost each of her posts garnering close to 1 million likes and at least over 3,000 comments. The world is clearly up for a good laugh, and Celeste’s pronounced Australian accent and goofy sense of humor, ultimately making herself the butt of her jokes, finds its mark almost every time.

And that’s what is most appealing about her to her fans and followers—her very ‘every woman

Photo: Celeste Website

“We’re saturated with a multibillion-dollar industry trying to body-shame us. There’s still such a long way to go”

In two years since she came to prominence, Celeste, unknown to her, was turning into an influencer with quite the reach. From writing two books—Celeste Barber – Challenge Accepted and Celeste the Giraffe That Loves to Laugh— and owning a podcast to raising A$ 50 million to help firefighters fighting Australian bushfires in the span of a week (when she hoped to raise A$ 15,000), Celeste perfectly fits in the definition of an influencer.

In October 2020, Celeste called out Instagram for their double standards on body-shaming when she parodied Victoria’s Secret model Candace Swanepoel’s picture, wearing an over-sized unbuttoned shirt. In her post, Candace can be seen posing against a succulent creeper, head tilted upwards with her eyes shut, with her palm covering the exposed part of her chest. In Celeste’s recreated picture, pretty much in the exact posture as that of Candace, wearing a thong (which was missing in Candace’s picture) and an exasperated expression, her caption read, “When you finally sit down and your kid asks for a drink.”

Hilarious as the post was, Celeste’s followers couldn’t share her post as Instagram informed them that the post went against their “community guidelines on inappropriate content.”

Ironically, though, fans could share Candace’s provocative picture.

Celeste shared the matter on her Instagram Story the next day. “Hey Instagram, sort out your body-shaming standards, guys. It’s 2020. Catch up,” she voiced. Her story went viral, compelling Instagram to apologize to her. They even promised to amend their community guidelines and policies.

Celeste calls herself an accidental celebrity and is convinced the world needs to change its beauty standards. “We’re saturated with a multibillion-dollar industry trying to body-shame us.

There’s still such a long way to go. A more diverse range of women need to be seen, and should be the norm,” she’d told a publication recently. J 2 0 2 1 — M A R C H — ASPIRE

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FEATURE

ROUG H T ,

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ORLD W E

ER EY HH

More often than not, as subjects of conversation in ancient recitals or perhaps in modern-day chronicles, the female form has witnessed its perspective take a back seat only to remain a form of powerful imagery. AYAAT ATTAR takes us revisiting timeless woman figures, only this time around, viewing the world through their unexplored lens

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Since time immemorial, be it in popular culture or mythology, women have found themselves in a receiver’s position. Traded and fought for, the female form has been a muse to many. Through the years, written works presented predominantly from male perspectives have undeniably led to the diminishing of the female reference. The other half of the two primary sexes have been left with token representations of being the object of romantic obsession, the damsel in distress, or the increasingly popular narrative of the ‘manic pixie dream girl’, in mainstream media. Cliches, they say, stem out of lived-in reality. There’s no denying that the objectification of women piled on by the existing socially accepted patriarchy, disallowing their points of view in conversations of war and peace, has altered the course and history of nations.

Appreciatively, with a whole new brigade of ideologies and socio-economic-political norms, the past few decades have witnessed a commendable attempt in the aversion of one’s gaze from onto a woman, to that through her. Through this discretionary piece, we attempt to get into the minds of some known female figures, that have been, for centuries, subjects for the world to dissect.

# The June 1985 issue of National Geographic magazine made the “Afghan Girl” world famous. Cover Photograph by Steve Mccurry, Nat Geo Image Collection

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AFGHAN GIRL AND THE FIRE THAT CONTINUES BURNING Shells pounding, guns blowing, heads of snipers sticking behind dunes. While playgrounds doubled into shootout sites, roads ran for miles together without a soul in sight. Supermarkets lost the chatter, and families lost their appetite. Held up in rubbles, mothers kissed their children like it was the last time they were seeing them. Much like adult men, laughter went missing, while their wives waited in silence for starvation and violation.

In 1979, Afghanistan was stormed into by the USSR troops, following which was a nineyear-long brutal conflict. Hundred thousand soviet soldiers took control of cities and highways of the neighboring nation, showing no mercy. While the Afghan resistance was supported by world leaders, the war left the people plainly devastated. It was the same year, American humanitarian photojournalist Steve McCurry crossed the Pakistan border to enter the heart of Afghanistan, Kabul, to cover the civil war, and journeyed his way to the Northwest Frontier Province of Pakistan intending to explore the refugee camps set up just outside Peshawar.

The pictures taken, teleport one into the lives of Turkoman refugees, who made traditional carpets for a living and walked miles to fetch water for sustenance. He stumbled upon the Nasir Bagh refugee camp and realized it was being used as a girls’ school. On being allowed to click a few pictures of the class in progress, Steve looked around, and his eyes fell upon a particular child with piercing eyes. Intense and haunting, her gaze penetrated through his heart, ripping it apart, and in a moment, through the eyes of a twelveyear-old girl, he lived the misery of her people.

Steve took pictures of two other girls, waiting patiently to capture the portrait he flew from across the world for. As he adjusted his camera, she turned her head around in a swift motion, challenging the lens with fire and rage in her sea-green eyes, breathing life into a photograph that created waves around the globe. The image of her face, with a red scarf, draped loosely over her head and lines of a hard childhood around the corner of her mouth, she was later identified as Sharbat Gulla. A subject of much commentary upon its release, the photograph went on to find

its place on the cover of the iconic National Geographic Magazine in 1985. While Gulla became the embodiment of the Afghan struggle for the western world the fury in her eyes igniting a fire in her viewer’s hearts, her image took precedence over herself. Romanticized about in articles and essays and spoken about as a harkening back in a discourse rife with political tension, she was left behind as a face with no voice, and as a motif with a history but no discernible future.

However, for Sharbat Gulla, life has been more than one picture taken non-consensually. For years to come, the international fame that came along with her story failed to erase the incisions of the invasion. She retreated to her earthen-coloured village, with no education for her children.

Having remained unknown for seventeen tumultuous years, she remained a refugee that endured the gory aftermath of a civil war. Viewing the world through the same eyes that left millions shaken, not much has changed. Several Sharbats’ occupy spaces in corners of the world, continuing to live the terrors of bloodshed.

A symbol of war-torn Afghanistan, Sharbat Gulla saw her photograph only in 2002, when Steve McCurry returned to see the little girl, who changed his life forever. After being deported from Pakistan, the ‘Afghan girl’ now lives with her son and three daughters in Kabul. Years after her photograph changed the world’s overtly masculine perception of war, demanding empathy and compassion for the human form, she continues to harbor simple dreams of leading a normal life, and providing education to her children. All of forty-nine, Sharbat Gulla has lived and braved the horrors of skirmish.

For the world she may remain a vision or story, but she continues living each day, looking at the future with promise and hope, fierce as ever.

THE MONA LISA MAGIC Arms in a loose embrace, unruly tresses casually strewn over relaxed shoulders, and a faint smile that has had millions puzzled over centuries, the painting of Lisa Gherardini is a timeless piece of art, fondly titled, ‘Mona Lisa’. Unlike the ‘Girl with a pearl earring’, a tronie (type of painting that focuses on the expression or attribute of the character), the portrait in case focuses on the individuality of the subject. When the eighteenth-century Jean-Honore Fragonard piece, ‘The Swing’, was deemed “frivolous” for its connotation, philosophers of the Age of Enlightenment demanded a more serious art, which paved the way for the eternally elegant, ‘Mona Lisa’.

From raiding libraries to running out of web links to navigate, connoisseurs of art have construed to

# Mona Lisa,by Leonardo da Vinci

the finest figments of the painting. From intricate details like Leonardo’s signature painting style to the detailed study of the metaphors sewen into the piece, everyone’s narrative of the masterpiece is unique and alike at the same time. While the 77x53 cm piece is housed proudly in the Louvre Museum of France, protected by bulletproof glass in a climate-controlled environment, the painting has also witnessed a notable case of theft by an Italian patriot that held the firm belief that the painting must belong to Italy for display. The equation that the world has shared with the portrait has oscillated between hitting the peaks of an intimate love affair to that of a threatening obsession.

It is, however, undeniable that amidst the chatter of the magnificence of the portrait, Mona Lisa- the woman, stands forgotten. The world has never missed a chance of tensing their brows and deciphering the complexity in her eyes, but how often have we viewed the world through her lens?

A member of the Gherardini family, Lisa was the wife of a Florentine silk merchant. A woman that came from humble beginnings, she was a mother to five children. The portrait was commissioned celebrating the birth of her second-born Andrew, which explains the glow on her face beautifully captured by Da Vinci and their shifting into a more spacious home from a 2 0 2 1 — M A R C H — ASPIRE

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# Mona Lisa behind bulletproof glass at the Louvre Museum

cramped shared accommodation. It could escape one’s notice, the influx of the newness in Lisa’s life given her calmness in the artwork. Neither heavily jeweled nor grossly dressed, Lisa would never have imagined that her look would lay the foundation of the much popular ‘minimalist look’ in reigning fashion circuits.

While the painting created ripples in the lives of those that set their sight on it, Madame Lisa’s existence was as ordinary as anyone else’s. Although she was Francesco Giocondo’s third wife, she questioned no societal norms as her painting did. The painting of Mona Lisa landmarks a monumental shift not just in the standard of art in Renaissance culture but also in the representation of women in the same. Mona Lisa died shortly after her husband succumbed to a deadly illness, but had she witnessed the humungous change her portrait meant for the world, humble and docile, she would have flashed a wider smile! Conversely, given her simplistic approach, chances are she would remain unperturbed, the trajectory of her life not deviating by an inch!

VILLAIN, OR VILIFIED? Slimy strong arms, constricting Percy Jackson’s small built, Medusa unleashed her head full of venomous snakes over his youthful face. As she caressed the boy’s cheek with her bony fingers and repeatedly forced a struggling Jackson to look into her petrifying eyes, the audience found them-

!

Medusa by Carvaggio

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selves on the edge of their seats, rooting against the ‘monster’. With the notorious depiction of Medusa by the much-celebrated Uma Thurman in the classic ‘Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief ’, the image of the Gorgon goddess was sealed as that of a certified villain.

Whether she was painted as Professor X’s seductress in the Cartoon Network production ‘The Power-puff Girls’, or the primary antagonist in the Nintendo Entertainment System game, ‘Kid Icarus’, the undertone of her representation has remained dark and negative.

A face that is today dreaded, Medusa was once considered the most beautiful woman to have walked the face of the planet. Her beauty was often compared to that of Athena, the Goddess of War and Wisdom, in whose temple Medusa was a humble priestess. Having submitted her life to the deity, Medusa swore virginity till death. Athena, however, was unendingly jealous of the devotee.

“How can a wretched mortal be possibly more beautiful than her?” seethed Athena with rage.

For Medusa, hell broke loose when Poseidon, God of Sea, was infatuated by her allure. He lusted after her, and on being rejected repeatedly, he decided to take her by force.

Scared and vulnerable, Medusa found herself on her knees before the Goddess she considered the strongest of all Olympians hoping for protection against Poseidon. Much to her horror, her pleas were reciprocated with nonchalance by her so-called ‘protector’, who left her on the steps of her temple, only to be violated and impregnated by the “Earth Shaker”. In a classic case of modern-day ‘victim-blaming’, Athena cursed Medusa taking away her much-prized beauty. She turned her luscious hair into a head full of venomous snakes and eyes that would turn man to stone.

Horrified, Medusa fled the city, for she was now banished from civilization. With a price for her head, many gallant Gods vied for it as a part of their eclectic souvenirs won during war. Defending herself, Medusa turned several of them into concrete monoliths, in acts that have resulted in her going down history as a primordial beast.

Mythology has always been reflective of the society that practices its scriptures in the form of theological doctrines. Vilified and misunderstood, the terrible tale of Medusa draws undeniable parallels with present-day victims of heinous crimes. Much like the Gorgon, they find themselves ostracised and banished from a complacent society that failed to protect them.

While perpetrators walk rampantly accepted by their families and social spheres, victims bear the brunt of a stigma that destroys their lives forever.

While Medusa’s coping mechanism earned her a loyal place on the wall of the most hated villains,

survivors of sexual crimes are more often than not disparaged for displaying the will to fight back.

Viewing the world through the eyes of the most misunderstood character in Greek mythology helps disambiguate the narrative spun over generations. While a beheaded Medusa met her end at the hands of Perseus, her spirit continues to live, staring into the eyes of a concrete society, waiting for it to stir.

WHEN VENUS MET MARS Sole breadwinners for a major part of history, men have always been associated with strength and independence. Women, on the other hand, stayed home and looked after the household and were said to embody principles of giving and nurturing. The 1992 bestseller, ‘Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus’, written by author and relationship counselor John Gray, focuses on intricate areas between a man-woman dynamic, exploring the core differences between the two primary sexes. However, the first and youngest woman to have flown in space, Valentina Tereshkova, has lived a life that proves otherwise.

An anomaly in herself, Tereshkova defied gender norms even before she was a professional astronaut. She took up a job in a tyre factory, following which she worked at a textile mill, both of which were predominantly male spheres. When women her age harbored socially useful hobbies, like knitting and cooking, Valentina’s heart wanted to converse with the winds. Once the daredevil had trained in skydiving at a local Aeroclub, making her first jump at the young age of twenty-two, there was no looking back! Her love for the adventure kept growing, # and she found herself training as a professional 1963 USSR skydiver, keeping it a closely guarded secret from postage stamp her family. Although Valentina had not held any previous desire of going to space, with an unwavering belief in herself and being strongly intuitive, her experience in skydiving opened to her several avenues. After a regressive phase of training, Valentina was selected along with four other # candidates to join the female Yuri Gagarin, Pavel Popovich, cosmonaut corps as a part of the Tereshkova, and Nikita Soviet Air Force.

Khrushchev at the Lenin While many believed the Mausoleum on 22 June 1963

female body had its restrictions, Tereshkova proved them wrong training in the harshest environments, from being underwater to enduring spatial turbulence to being confined in a cell as a part of the isolation tests. Nikolai Kamanin, the director of cosmonaut training, often referred to her as “Gagarin in a skirt”, for she never missed an opportunity to exhibit skills as competitive as him, who was the first human to journey into outer space. On the morning of sixteenth June 1963, dressed in a spacesuit, Tereshkova was taken to the launch pad in a bus, where following a tradition set by Gagarin, she also urinated on the tyre, a custom that is no more mandatory. Nevertheless, being the first woman to partake in it, she changed the rules of the game forever.

Having had a flourishing career as a cosmonaut, Valentina displayed skills that were expected only of men in the era. However, the second innings of her life brought with itself platforms where she could get in touch with and express her female energies. She received emails and letters for women across the world, for no lady had achieved a feat like hers before, and soon she stood tall as an icon of strength and equality.

Having lost her father at the age of three to the gory Operation Barbossa of 1941, Valentina went on record condemning the bitterness of war, standing strongly for a non-violent solution for political disagreement, advocating world peace.

A prominent member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, her political reign displays her ideals on compassion and empathy. With the power of Venus and Mars residing within her, Valentina’s journey is a testament to the fact that with the right balance of masculine and feminine energies, the sky is the limit! J 2 0 2 1 — M A R C H — ASPIRE

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International Journalist/ Producer

Rizwan Zulfiqar Bhutta

PRO TALK

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Camera... Action

ROLL SOUND

How important is sound to a video clip or film production? An inadequate approach to the eminence of the soundtrack makes all the difference between a good and great immersive movie experience

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oday making a video clip seems like a cakewalk, and almost everyone we see is holding a phone and shooting away. The art of video-making has also been made way easy using small and lightweight digital cameras that come in specifications to suit every need and budget. This has become even easier with the invention of gimbals and drones etc. But the life of a visual is the sound that can support it. A film can be made to look great visually, but it lacks the emotional connect without the perfection of adept sound support.

Media training institutions are also mainly focusing on the visual part of the production, which makes it harder for the newcomers to detect the influence of sound on the end product. Amateurs lack the understanding of a strong base for sound support in the production. Covering the video with library music

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and making some cuts over the beats does not make it a perfect production. Because the quality of the camera and lens are so high, people tend to miss the mistakes in production, and this mainly happens because most of them aren’t even aware of the standards and rules of film production.

A poor soundtrack or low audio quality can make a fantastic production look dismal.

There was a time when films were utterly silent. Later the filmmakers discovered sound as a powerful storytelling tool, and as technology improved, it enabled modern filmmaking to adopt ever-richer soundscapes. Understanding the importance of quality sounds in movies, games, and songs is crucial for understanding what it means to be a successful and memorable filmmaker. Audio can positively and negatively affect the visceral reactions and the

contextual information an audience is able to gather as an observer.

Types and classification of sound Movies are created utilizing four kinds of sounds - human voices, sounds from nature, music, and audio effects. These four sorts of sounds are pivotal for a film to feel sensible for the crowd. Sounds and exchanges should consummately synchronize with the activities in a film parallelly and sound the way exactly as they appear on-screen. If the sound doesn’t perfectly match up with the activity on-screen, the scene isn’t close to as conceivable. One approach to accomplish top-notch sounds is to utilize unique sound clasps (a machine that converts the raw audio data to digital without losing any information or quality of the conversation) instead of depending exclusively on sound libraries for audio effects.

Sounds in a film are mainly classified as diegetic and non-diegetic. ✦ Diegetic sound, also called ‘actual sound,’ is any sound that happens inside the story-world. These sounds can be coordinated or offbeat. It includes dialogues, sounds made by movements and actions of characters, background noises, and sound effects that allude to sounds corresponding to specific activity on the screen. As an example, envision the camera showing an individual in the shower and somebody you can’t see thumping at the doorway. ✦ Non-diegetic sound, on the other hand, is audio whose source is neither visible on the screen nor has been implied in the activity in any way. Also known as ‘commentary sound’, non-diegetic sounds identify with each stable that isn’t important for the story-world and doesn’t relate to the specific picture on the screen. This is nonconcurrent incorporated music (which isn’t being played by a character inside the film), the portrayal, and other audio effects.

Tracking the feel The effective use of sound and its effects in movies can immerse audiences in the story and bring it to life. Sounds are known to bring out feelings. The more reasonable the sound multiplication, the higher the enthusiastic level of the audience. In music, significant harmonies are applied to communicate more joyful sentiments, and minor harmonies sound off as more melancholic or pitiful. Feelings also rely upon the song and the beat. The force of sound in forming the audience’s feeling can be more accentuated than mere words

It’s quite dismal that most young filmmakers lack the knowledge of the right sound equipment and its proper operation

and pictures. In a film, a scene of an individual strolling into a timberland can either be the start of a superb experience or the sign of a fast-approaching threat because of varieties in the foundation of the sound blend alone.

It is also important to understand the pre-production tools of sound production. It’s quite dismal that most young filmmakers lack the knowledge of the right sound equipment and its proper operation. There’s a mind-boggling number of mouthpieces out there. In any event, picking the best mouthpiece is a lovely overwhelming errand. Yet, it doesn’t need to be as bewildering as it appears. So, on the off chance that you understand what mouthpiece type you need to utilize, you’ll have the option to limit your decisions and locate the correct apparatus for the work.

Even though the quantity of amplifiers underway expands each year, there are countless approaches to catch sound waves noticeable all around. There are four sorts of amplifiers Dynamic Microphones, Large Diaphram Condensor Microphones, Small Diaphram Condensor Microphones, Ribbon Microphones.

Choosing the right microphone for your use is just the first step towards sound perfection of your production.

Approaching a film production with the appropriate and advanced knowledge of the sound output will result in a far enhanced visual product and deliver better creations for a compelling, immersive end-user experience. J 2 0 2 1 — M A R C H — ASPIRE

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The ‘Logistics’

PILLAR OF ECOMMERCE

PRO TALK

Completing our journey in understanding the five crucial ‘Pillars of eCommerce’, we dive into the myriad world of Logistics – the final Fifth Pillar of eCommerce

Sunil Nair

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Digital Marketing Expert & Ecommerce Strategist

ogistics is a science on its own. A welloiled logistics setup is a prime necessity for any eCommerce or retail business.

The inventory that you have at any point in time on a shelf or rack represents your investment in the business. Managing the spends incurred on logistics and shipping products the way customers expect can be a decisive milestone to help increase the success and stability of your business.

Logistics, simply, is the management of the planning, execution, control of movement, and storage of goods or services which are obtained, stored, and shipped to their end destinations achieving specific objectives, varying from industry to industry.

Illustration: Macrovector-Freepik

History of Logistics

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• During the 70s’, suppliers or wholesalers directly replenished retail stores by direct deliveries.

• The 80s’ saw logistics evolve into centralized deliveries controlled by major retailers themselves.

• Global sourcing in the 90s’, took off with containerized imports by many retailers having their own import centers.

• The advent of eCommerce in around 2000 saw a rapid expansion of pure-play retailers establishing e-fulfillment distribution networks.

Classification of Logistic Processes Inbound logistics Inbound logistics processes include movement of raw materials and finished goods from the manufacturers through distribution channels to any of the below locations depending on the

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business model.

• Fulfillment center • Warehouse • Retail store Well-planned and controlled inbound logistics processes help businesses to restock fast-moving goods in time to ensure availability and increase production or sales efficiency.

Outbound logistics Outbound logistics processes involve the movement of end products to the end-user.

These are dispatched from fulfillment centers, warehouses, or retail stores, and this last leg completes the delivery to its final destination, which is the customer. This is a very important phase and has a vital role in increasing customer service levels.

Inbound and Outbound Logistics Processes consists of • Inventory management • Warehousing and storage • Order fulfillment • Return Management

The Role of ERP Systems in Inventory Management The complexities of eCommerce bring with it the unique challenge of managing containerized inventory arriving in bulk, which needs to be carefully inbound to warehouses, inventorying them by labeling and storing for easy retrieval.

The process of Pick, Pack, and Ship, as per individual SKUs in real-time, requires processes that provide real-time access and insights to inventory movement. Procurement from a multitude of suppliers, into multiple

• • • • • • •

Freight consolidation Warehousing Distribution Order fulfillment Cross-docking Inventory management Return Management While considering a 3PL service provider, ensure that they have systems in place to provide real-time data on sales and inventory management. This will go a long way to help in strategic decision-making. The 3PL organizations would need to have relationships with specialized service providers and niche logistic carriers for regional and local parcel services for same-day deliveries. Reducing shipping distances brings down costs and helps improve service and, in turn, customer satisfaction.

4PL Companies warehouses, along with an extensive number of ever-increasing sales channels, heightens the possibilities of misplaced orders.

An organization’s supply chain strategy can be streamlined by implementing appropriate ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software that aids in inventory sensing aligned supply chain and warehouse management capabilities that can systemically trigger alerts to place the right orders with vendors as and when inventory levels drop below a certain level.

These systems also help keep track of damaged and return goods, provide real-time inventory management, understand cost awareness, provide the organization with the data insights required to understand purchasing trends and customer preferences, and maintain the right inventory hand utilizing only the required shelf space while optimizing costs.

Outsourcing to 3PL (third party logistics) The latest trend in eCommerce is to decrease the time taken from order-to-delivery to the customer. With the two-day shipping model becoming a standard part of their platform, eCommerce organizations will have to lease more warehouses, hire labor, negotiate shipping discounts, and so much more which takes time and requires significant investment. Companies will have to reduce the cost associated with shipment and fulfillment of orders to remain profitable, and hence they partner with 3PLs. 3PL companies tend to specialize in providing support that an eCommerce business would need. These companies can provide services through the following segments of logistics • Inbound and outbound freight • Customs

A 4PL service provider is a fourth-party logistics provider who essentially takes third-party logistics a step further. They manage resources, technology, infrastructure and also handles external 3PLs. They help to design, build and provide supply chain solutions for businesses interested in highly scalable eCommerce operations.

4PL services encompass all 3PL services as well as the following: • Logistics strategy • Analytical data providing insights into transportation spends, warehouse capacity utilization, and last-mile delivery performance • Freight sourcing strategies • Network analysis and design • Consultancy • Business planning • Change management • Project management • Control and co-ordinate wide supplier base across geographies • Inventory planning and management • Inbound, outbound, and reverse logistics management As more and more organizations optimize their processes to manage and control warehouses and streamline the fulfillment and distribution process, it will become mission-critical for establishments to stay abreast of the latest advancements in the technology and services that involve the logistics and supply chain industries so that they remain relevant and competitive in the rapidly expanding eCommerce market. ✪

Procurement from a multitude of suppliers, into multiple warehouses, along with an extensive number of ever-increasing sales channels, heightens the possibilities of misplaced orders

SUNIL NAIR CAN BE REACHED AT sunilsn72@gmail.com 2 0 2 1 — M A R C H — ASPIRE

43

Awaken

PRO TALK

THE QUEEN

Meditation Expert, Energy Healer & Executive Mindset Coach

Kim Shelar

Every woman is born a Queen with a feminine power that already has the elements of manifesting and the abilities to create and multiply. It’s time to awaken the sleeping powers using these five simple steps

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M

ention of the word ‘Queen’ will usually bring forth names and images of women stately and royal. Queen Elizabeth, Cleopatra, Princess Diana, Empress Catherine, Empress Suiko, Queen Victoria, Nefertiti, Rani Laxmibai. That was then, in the era of Monarchy. Today, aren’t we all born as Princesses in our own little kingdoms?

I remember growing up as a Tom-boy instead of a dainty-girl because it was cooler and also wanting to toughen up as I graduated from college before stepping into the Corporate world.

And it’s no fault of anyone - it’s just been the way we’ve known things to be or our understanding of the world as we have seen it.

Eons of years ago, women were the fairer gender, not to say we aren’t now, but merely the acceptance of owning the feminine aspect of what we embody is so powerful. Unfortunately, we’ve not been taught how to tap into it or utilize it enough. Feminine power is similar to a magnet - its role is to be energized from within, attract by its intrinsic strength, and then impact through its vibration. Feminine power already has the elements of manifesting and the abilities to create and multiply.

Look around and you will see powerful women in every field and walk of life that have connected with their spirit within – the literary Jane Austen, war-hero nurse Florence Nightingale, scientist and discoverer of radioactivity Marie Curie, fashionista Coco Chanel, missionary Mother Teresa, media legend Oprah Winfrey, billionaire author JK Rowling, activist Malala Yousafzai, actress Marilyn Monroe, first mountaineer to ascend all the seven summits Junko Tabei, conservationalist Jane Goodall, and very recently politician Kamala Devi Harris. The list doesn’t end here, there are many more names that can fill pages

upon pages.

March being the month of International Woman’s Day, it’s time to awaken to your inherent powers and make a difference to yourself and the world at large. Here are five steps to awaken that Queen that’s been napping (if at all) a little too long.

1) Remember who you are This process is a deep cathartic segment. It’s not a test of memory in the way we know things; it’s an all-access to our soul, the ‘knowing’ that the soul has. This is what you need to do: • sit comfortably • close your eyes • take eight deep cleansing breaths • and ask your soul who am I? • which kind of Queen am I? Keep a journal beside you to note down what comes up. If you don’t get clear answers on the first attempt, do it again the next day.

Feminine power has the elements of manifesting and the abilities to create and multiply

2) Self-reflection On your journal, make two columns • Current mode • Queen mode Fill these columns • Current mindset v/s A Queen’s mindset • Current style of communication v/s How will a Queen communicate • Eating habits now v/s The foods a Queen would eat • How I enjoy and show love v/s Queen’s way of enjoying and showing love

3) Bridge the gap Begin to delete old and create new habits to bridge this gap between the two modes. The key always is in creating new patterns and habits, for it is our habits that make us who we are.

4) Fall in Love again No Queen ever avoids looking into the mirror.

She ensures she is always well presented at all levels - emotional, intellectual, and physical.

So take time to care for yourself. Take time for some physical movement - be it a walk, a jog, Zumba, or yoga. Movement helps one release excess stress and energy that can otherwise congest the self at all levels.

Practice enhancing an area of expertise, take a course, learn something new or revisit some earlier absorbed knowledge. Take time to show love and appreciation to self and others.

And definitely make the time to relax and rewind with daily meditation.

Self-care is the mark of a Queen. Remember Cleopatra and her daily self-care regime.

5) Decide on three words that you can embody Choose three words that you resonate with, that whatever you do, you will overflow with these values. E.g., if Elegance is your word and your value, then everything you begin to practice, every word you speak, passes through the filter of elegance.

A woman is a creator, and every month our bodies remind us of this ability of creation. A wise man once said, “Women are fighting to be seen as equal, but in reality, they are far more superior in my opinion, and that’s not the real issue. The honest fight, if at all there is any, is the fight to be the best version of oneself.”

Encouraging each one of you to get in touch with that creator within. Like a Queen bee in her hive, BE the magnet that attracts the masses to you, as these are the hidden elements of every woman. Walk around with compassion and care, with awareness and purpose, and live your life Queen Size - in virtue, abundance, and style. J KIM SHELAR CAN BE REACHED AT hello@kimshelar.com 2 0 2 1 — M A R C H — ASPIRE

45

COMMUNITY SERVICE

the

Inclusivity Icon

A messiah for several parents and children, DR AYESHA HUSAINI has devoted her energies striving for inclusion of the specially-abled. From working as an educational psychologist to setting up support groups and making a difference in their lives, here is a woman lighting up lives, one initiative at a time.

A

t sixteen came young Ayesha’s first encounter with the ‘specially-abled’. An encounter that impacted her life compelled her to change course, from Banking to Psychology, eventually completing her Ph.D. from Sheffield University in Special Education.

Ever since then, she has been working relentlessly towards the cause and today is the Founder-Director of Manzil Centre in Sharjah, an institution for people of determination.

The walk that changed her life Dr Ayesha admits to always being a ‘people’s person’ along with the awareness of being privileged in many ways. Recalling an incident of

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two children fighting over a piece of raw onion and roti (flatbread) thrown on the ground, exposed her to the harsh realities the less fortunate have to grapple with. 8-year-old Ayesha’s instincts told her to take the lead, and she started doing her bit - from reading to children at the school for the sight-impaired to donating her scholarship fees to the needy.

However, the turning point of her journey was when she saw a Down’s Syndrome student straying away from a classroom with lost eyes.

While the rest of the class, including the professor, stepped at caution’s way, Dr Ayesha guided the girl to the Resource Room, where the rest of the differently-abled students were in

session. “I turned around to check on her, and she was still standing at her door looking at me. There was something in her eyes that touched me very deeply. It was a short walk back to my classroom, but it was the longest journey of my life because that’s when the real switch happened,” she expresses.

This incident compelled Dr Ayesha to understand disability more deeply and further spread awareness about it. Stressing on the importance of dignity, she opines, “The fact that someone would scream, shout, laugh or be afraid of someone who is differently-abled, is stripping them of their self-respect. It bothered me as dignity is something very deeply ingrained in me.”

Championing change Dr Ayesha started a remarkable journey in 1999, launching the Special Families Support Group (SFS). “Back then, disability was still taboo, something people were ashamed of. SFS was the first support group for people dealing with disabilities in the UAE. Some of our meetings even had people coming in from Oman,” she says as she opens up on the genesis of Manzil.

Dr Ayesha, who has a strong background in special education, has also taught psychology at several universities in the region. She focused on educating the younger generation, realizing at one point that it is tough to work around the fixed mindsets of the elders. She expounds, “It’s easier to provide the exposure to the younger generation so that they do not become like the older generation. It would take me a lifetime to change the seniors.”

Reaching the ‘Manzil’ From its inception in 2005, Manzil is now spreading its wings further.

“Manzil literally means destination, and ‘inclusion’ is where our actual destination is,” explains Dr Ayesha.

Elaborating further, she adds, “Inclusion is that we focus on making people with determination independent and finding their rightful place in life.”

The non-profit organization has transformed reams of lives through their PRIDE program by developing knowledge and skills for students with mild to moderate intellectual challenges and then incorporating them into the workforce, thus helping them scale heights never thought possible. The program also won the Zero Project Award in 2020, as one of the ten best projects globally to be replicated and the team was invited to the UN headquarters in Vienna to present the same.

Besides the above, Dr Ayesha has also bagged the British Council’s Study UK Alumni Award Regional Winner for the Highest Social Impact in the MENA Region, 2018; Social Service Provider of the Year - Arabian Business Achievement Awards, 2016; and Multiple Princess Haya Awards for Special Education including Outstanding Director General, 2012.

“People would ask me to define inclusion, and I had to explain it to them. This was before the law in the UAE towards inclusion came about”

$ Noora, a student at the centre, making earrings

Sharing the organization’s metamorphosis, Dr Ayesha reminisces how people didn’t understand the term ‘inclusion’ when they began.

“People would ask me to define inclusion, and I had to explain it to them. This was before the law in the UAE towards inclusion came about. So, in essence, we’ve seen the landscape change, and we hope that we’ve been able to contribute in a positive way towards that change,” she proclaims. She goes on to inform that Manzil has worked in tandem with many departments of the government to help step up and bring about the change and is now looking at making a difference internationally.

Her driving force Dr Ayesha’s father has been an inspiring force playing a considerable part in her quest to make a difference.

Quoting him, she says, “The whole thing is about being able to make a difference, whether through your poetry, through your writings, or your actual work. If you can bring a change in one person’s life, you have done what you were born to do. That to me is a real achievement.” Her father was always encouraging to bring upon a smile and make a significant difference to somebody’s life, she adjoins.

Furthermore, she states that it all wouldn’t be possible without her husband’s backing. “Running an organization is not only because you have a passion or you have the drive.

It requires a lot more skills than that.

Ricky has extended his unconditional support all through,” acknowledges Dr Ayesha.

She also thanks the community, her teachers, and co-workers at Manzil. “I owe it to all who believed in me and wanted to do this together. Manzil is one organization where we never stop at anything. We reach one goal, and then there’s another goal ahead,” she affirms tirelessly. The center is open to volunteers who can assist the staff develop stimulating new ideas and apps to interest students in learning or with the general administration.

Manzil also provides consultancy services to various organizations to incorporate an inclusive work environment and training of employees on engaging with individuals with a disability, Dr Ayesha fondly quotes His Highness Sheikh Mohammed’s words, “In the race for excellence, there is no finish line.” This statement she says is stuck with her, and similarly, for all at Manzil, there is no finish line. “We will keep going along till we can,” she says with an air of finality. J 2 0 2 1 — M A R C H — ASPIRE

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W E I N N E D W H A I ERTH N G S B

HOBBIES

R&R

CELEB TALK TRAVELS HEALTH EXPLORE RE

RE

CR E- ‫٭‬

48

RE S T &

ST & R

R E AT I O

N-

EC

Captain Zoya Aggarwal of Air India, recalls her inspirational journey to becoming the first female Commander in history to fly over the North Pole. Rachit Gupta in an exclusive chat with the jet setter On January 11, 2021, women created history as Captain Zoya Aggarwal, Captain Thanmai Papagari, Captain Akansha Sonaware, and Captain Shivani Manhas flew a non-stop Air India flight from San Francisco (USA) to Bengaluru (India) over the North Pole. The 17-hour flight charted a record-breaking distance of 16,000 kilometers and as Capt Zoya likes to say, “turned a new leaf in the history of world aviation.” Zoya Aggarwal headed the all-women pilot team on this historic flight, and she’s really kicked about the fact that an all-women team has managed to leave a mark in an otherwise male-dominated industry. With great pride and almost welling up, she re-

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marks, “This is not a feat for me, I’m just a tiny drop in the ocean doing this is for every single girl, if regular Bharat ki Betis (ordinary daughters of India) can do it so can every other girl out there.”

Popularity with a purpose In all fairness, Zoya has become one of the most popular pilots in the world right now. She takes particular pride in the fact that her ground-breaking flight has put India and Air India on the global map. What it has also done is that it has made this otherwise runof-the-mill pilot an absolute celebrity.

While she’s not blushing from all the accolades, she does reveal that being asked for so many selfies is amusing

The norm for me was to be able to break through the glass ceiling, to break the barriers, and to reach someplace that was beyond the ordinary

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49

R&R / celeb talk and exciting at the same time. Zoya adds, “The best part is, even if I manage to inspire just one life out there, the purpose of my life on this beautiful mother Earth would be accomplished.

I am still the same 8-year-old Zoya who used to dream of flying a plane.

However, people’s perception has probably changed when it comes to me.”

While she’s in the limelight, she prefers to look at it from the perspective of women empowerment and gender balance. She says nonchalantly, “I hope this feat creates a positive change for all the 8-year-old Zoyas out there, who have lovely dreams and ambitions, but at times, these naïve little girls can end up feeling intimidated, challenged, and fearful of their own dreams, desires, and wishes. I hope what little I have achieved can help these little girls break out of the cloud and achieve whatever it is that they want, without doubting themselves, without kneeling down to societal pressures. I hope this message cuts across to women not just in India, but across the world.”

them. That’s how my life plan was literally laid out,” says Zoya.

Eight-year-old Zoya, daughter of Rajeev Kumar Sapru and Rekha Sapru, had expansive dreams and flights of fantasy. But, like most girls, she was taught to walk in the shadows of the men in the family, respect the elders’ wishes, and never think beyond. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t normal, so I wouldn’t abide by what was told to me. I always fancied the idea of challenging the unknown, and you could say that was like my second nature. I always had the knack to aspire for something more, to dream

Telescopic Dreams As a kid, Zoya used to be a stargazer and an avid dreamer. “I used to sit on the terrace of my home in Delhi during school vacations and just stare into the night sky, sometimes till 5 am in the morning,” she reveals. The sights of the stars and the constellations would always fascinate her.

But, the most exciting part of that experience used to be spotting the little flying objects with blinking lights amidst these stars and constellations.

“During those moments, I used to always wonder, ‘Zoya! Could you possibly fly one of those planes?” she adds.

She reveals that her nascent ambition though, was always hindered by the sound of one word, constantly ringing in her ears and that word was ‘impossible!’. “It was because of my family background. I grew up in the nineties, being the only child of rather conservative parents. I was essentially the boy and the girl of the family. So, my extremely conservative mother pinned all her expectations on me. I was supposed to grow up, get married, settle down with a family and take care of

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“I suggested that they don’t buy me birthday gifts for a few years, save up that money, and then use that to buy me the telescope”

of something bigger,” she says. When Zoya was nine, she told her parents that she didn’t want them to buy a TV but rather a telescope. She reveals, “That seemed like the most obvious, excitable thing to do for a stargazer like me.” Not just that, she was percipient enough to know that her parents had very little money to spare. So, she came up with a wise idea way beyond her adolescent years. “I suggested that they don’t buy me birthday gifts for a few years, save up that money, and then use it to buy me the telescope.

Having bought the telescope finally, I think my parents realized that their

daughter was all but normal.”

Soaring to new heights She still shirks at the idea of norms.

She adds, “Somehow, I always equated norms with infinity. The norm for me was to be able to break through the glass ceiling, to break the barriers, and to reach someplace that was beyond the ordinary.” Her first tryst with breaking the norm came with the need to learn English. In her quintessential Punjabi household, English wasn’t just unspoken, it was unheard of. She adds, “I knew that English would be crucial to my ambition of being a pilot, so to learn the language I used to spend as much time as I could watching English language movies and music channels on the TV in my neighbor’s house.”

Even more dramatic was Zoya’s mother Rekha’s reaction to the time when the young girl finally revealed that she wanted to pursue a career in aviation. Zoya recalls, “My mother broke into tears. She became hysterical and started saying things like, ‘What’s wrong with my child?’ and ‘Who’s going to marry her?’. She started thinking that we wouldn’t be able to afford such an education for me, and then her dissent went to the next level, and she started asking me how could I dare to even think about something so ridiculous.” Her father though was a bit restrained with his reactions. He was used to being the mediator between mother and daughter, and that’s a role he excelled at. “I was good at academics, and my father took that as a sign and made me apply to every college in Delhi.

Thankfully, I was good enough to get into St Stephen’s College, widely considered to be the best academic institution in the country at the time.

Perhaps, he was under the impression that once I get acquainted with college life, I might just grow out of my aviation dreams.” But, Zoya is not one to waiver from her aim. She’s always been a goal-oriented person, and when she wants something, she puts on the blinkers and just charges towards the goal. She admits, “If I set my mind to it, nothing can hold me back, nothing can distract me from my aim. So, I guess by the time I got

to the third year of my graduation in science, my parents started feeling sympathetic towards me and they finally relented, took loans, and sent me to aviation school.”

Taking off Understandably, women were not the first to become pilots in the aviation industry back in the nineties. There were hardly any female pilots on commercial airlines. As Zoya reveals, even global giants like Singapore Airlines, Etihad and Emirates, have only recently adopted the idea of having women captains on their flights. She adds, “Back then, airlines were not really keen on training women pilots.

They used to think that the woman will eventually have a child, go off on maternity leave, and when she returns, she’ll have to be trained again.

with roughly 3000 to 4000 applicants for a mere seven job openings at Air India. She adds, “My dad got a heart attack just five days before my written exam with Air India, fearing that I might not make it. But God was kind and looked after me. I got through and have never looked back.”

Sense and spirituality While other people dream of flying on top of the world, Zoya always had other plans. She’d been training for a polar flight for over a year, and when she finally made the flight on January 11, the experience was nothing short of stellar. She adds, “When we flew over the polar point, witnessing the sky full of stars and the Aurora Borealis was such a mesmerizing feeling. I still get gooseflesh thinking about that moment.”

I hope what little I have achieved can help little girls break out of the cloud and achieve whatever it is that they want, without doubting themselves, without kneeling down to societal pressures. I hope this message cuts across to women not just in India, but across the world It wasn’t a very popular notion at the time.” And that’s why, even after she graduated from aviation school, Zoya was jobless for a few years. She used to take up odds jobs and train young kids in aviation, not to make money, but just to keep herself abreast with the industry and technology. “My father was extremely stressed out during this phase because he’d taken out so many loans, and there was hardly any income to repay all that,” she says.

Even when her golden chance arrived with the Air India exams, it was a long shot. She reveals, “Air India was the only Indian airline at the time that had international flights. When the Air India exams would be announced, commanders from other domestic airlines would enroll and apply for the same jobs because everyone dreamt of flying international.” When Zoya appeared for the exam, she competed

A true-blue achiever, jet-setter, and now a certified celebrity, Zoya still finds more meaning in spirituality. She says, “I am a deeply spiritual person. I believe people, names, persons, faces, celebrities, icons are irrelevant. At the end of the day, we’re all part of the almighty. When you surrender yourself completely to his will and his being, he looks after you. He makes changes, chances, opportunities, and pathways in your life, for your progress and your growth. Everything that I’ve ever achieved in my life and especially this historic flight of ours, I owe it to the almighty.” Whenever she visits a temple, Zoya expresses her gratitude towards God and her parents for having risen thus far. “The spiritual connection that I share with the almighty is irrevocable,” she says, looking at the skies above, also a place where her dreams took flight to fame! J 2 0 2 1 — M A R C H — ASPIRE

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R&R / health

Hale & Hearty

From childhood until old age, a woman goes through many changes, both physically and emotionally. Do her nutritional needs change too with every passing stage of her life?

A

woman has unique nutritional needs. She not only needs to take care of her own dietary needs; she also has to, at one stage, get her body ready to bear another life. Her body goes through various transitions at different ages that cause a lot of changes both physically and at an emotional level too. Moreover, given the pressure of balancing things between work, home, children, and her own desire to look presentable and well-groomed at all times, it can make it difficult for her to focus on her nutriment régime.

Dt. Geetika As women, many of us tend to neglect our diet and health, as we might be too busy to eat well or Uppal are often used to put the needs of our family beGold-medalist in Nutritional Science fore our own. At times, we go to extremes and foland the founder of low a strict diet routine that leads to a deficiency ‘Foodmatters by of many vital nutrients, making us feel lethargic, Dt.Geetika Uppal’ cranky, and even low on energy many times.

No matter what the age, good nutrition is

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essential to give one the energy one needs, besides managing the cravings, helping control weight gain, prevent ailments such as osteoporosis, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and of course to look and feel at one’s best.

Changes in taste, smell, and appetite and how the body processes nutrients generally decline as one ages. Older women generally need fewer calories. However, their nutrient needs are just as high or higher than when they were younger. That’s why eating nutrient-rich whole foods can help fight deficiencies and stay in good vigor as one gets older.

A balanced eating routine is the basis of good health. Women should include a variety of healthy foods from all food groups, including fruits, vegetables, pulses, grains, dairy products, and protein. They also need special nutrients, and these needs change through the different stages of her life. Having a healthy meal keeps one in a good mood, controls stress, improves energy levels, and boosts fertility.

Nutritional needs at different stages As children, boys and girls have the same nutritional needs. A dietary change is needed when a girl reaches the stage of puberty. With the onset of puberty, the body undergoes many physical and hormonal changes, and micronutrients, i.e., vitamins and minerals, become essential to deal with these hormonal changes.

At the beginning of mensuration, pregnancy, and the later stage of menopause, the hormonal changes are at their peak.

At such times, women are at higher risk of getting anemia, osteoporosis, weak bones, arthritis, dip in energy levels. Hence, there is a need for higher amounts of iron, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B, folate, and magnesium.

Vital nutrients at the different stages Iron-Rich foods

Iron is an important aspect needed throughout a woman’s life, but the amount varies in different stages. A higher amount is required during pregnancy and around menopause. Iron-rich foods are chicken, red meat, kale, spinach, lentils, beans, dates, raisins, apricots, beans, broccoli, and fortified cereals. It is important to include Vitamin C when consuming Iron as food or supplements, for its proper absorption. Oranges, strawberries, Indian gooseberries (amla), tomatoes are good sources of Vitamic C.

Folic Acid or Folate

When women reach the pregnancy stage, folate is an essential nutrient needed in the early stages. This helps reduce the risk of neurological diseases in the child and prevents women from the risk of heart diseases and certain types of cancer.

Women with symptoms of mood swings, irritation, and lethargy have folate deficiency. Milk, eggs, asparagus, fish, chicken, spinach, Brussels sprouts, lettuce, oranges, green leafy vegetables, peas, and beans are a good source of folate.

Calcium, Magnesium and Vitamin D

Calcium and vitamin D are nutrients needed for the body at all stages of a woman’s life. Calcium is necessary for healthy bones, maintaining an excellent nervous system functioning, and regulating the heart rate. Calcium deficiency can lead to weaker bones, depression, and anxiety. If there is insufficient calcium in

the diet, then the body takes calcium from the bones for cell function. This can lead to osteoporosis, causing brittle bones that break easily on a fall and in severe cases, even from sneezing or minor bumps.

Along with calcium, a minimum required amount of magnesium and vitamin D are required for better calcium absorption. For calcium include dairy products, green leafy vegetables, fish, grains, tofu, cabbage, sesame seeds.

Sources of vitamin D include shrimps, salmon and sunlight.

Magnesium can be found in green leafy vegetables, summer squash, broccoli, cucumber, celery, and different varieties of seeds.

Diet to manage hormonal fluctuations » Increasing Calcium intake helps in

relieving PMS symptoms.

Recipe

CHICKEN FAJITA LETTUCE WRAPS

» Include iron and zinc in the diet, like

--- Ingredients ---

meat, eggs, liver, dried foods. » Avoid trans fats like fatty food, like

deep-fries, high sugary foods, and instead include omega-3 fatty acids from nuts, fish, and seeds. » To reduce bloating, cut down on salt consumption, avoid late-night snacking, frozen foods, and canned foods. » Reduce intake of tea and coffee. » Include vitamin supplements for a healthy body to cover any deficiency from an incomplete diet.

Eating Right Eating a well-balanced meal will keep you well-nourished and ensure optimized body functions with overall wellness. » 3-4 servings of whole grains in the form of wheat flour, rice, wheat flakes, oats, or ragi should be included daily. » Minimum 3 servings of dairy products (can be low fat), including milk, yogurt, cheese, labneh, should be included. » Include around 4 -5 servings of protein in the form of pulses, eggs, lean meat like chicken or fish, and beans. » 2 servings of fruits should be eaten (without added sugars). » 3-4 servings of vegetables are a must. » 10-12 glasses of water for hydration.

The onus of the family’s welfare usually lies with the woman of the house. When a woman is healthy, her family and everything in the surrounding is healthy too.

Chicken breast

1

Ginger garlic paste

1 tbsp.

Black peppercorns

1 tbsp.

Medium bell pepper (thin strips any color)

1

Small onion, cut into 8-10 wedges

1

Olive oil

1 tbsp.

Chili powder

as per taste

Cumin

1 tbsp.

Salt

to taste

Fajita seasoning

to taste

lime

1

Black pepper

to taste

--- Me t hod - - • Cut chicken breast into strips.

• Take all sliced vegetables and chicken in a bowl.

• Add all the seasonings and mix well.

• Grill till cooked • Place a lettuce leaf, put the grilled chicken veggie mixture, and add lemon as needed.

• Wrap it well and serve with a condiment of choice. J 2 0 2 1 — M A R C H — ASPIRE

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R&R / tr avelers’ tales

“The

Dream IS TO

RIDE

Where we’ll ride, WE’LL SEE!”

Bold, Brilliant, and Brave. QIRAAT ATTAR narrates the story of a woman, who with a devil-may-care attitude and a defiant smile, inspires us to take the journey outside and within ourselves no matter the cost

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s I stood outside Harshini Kapoor’s quaint ancestral home, away from the sounds of traffic and birds chirping overhead, my mind tried to envisage the personality of the woman I was to interview who biked across Rajasthan after a life-altering accident. I wondered if her new limitations made her regret the incident or wish that life had treated her more justly. I’m heartened to say that I could not have been more wrong.

Baby Steps

Harshini’s diverse ancestry is the crucible in which her spirit was forged – her father, a spirited Punjabi man who married a woman of Islamic faith, and her maternal grandparents being of Iranian and Pakistani ancestry. At a time when society feared that freedom to daughters heralded rebellion, her parents raised her fearless, seating her on a Suzuki bike at 11 and entering her in a drag racing meet

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at 14, which she won while being the youngest participant in the female class.

Unfazed by society’s disapproval, she was encouraged to pursue her interests, learning horse riding, swimming, and biking, ensuring she was enriched with skills that would open her to all of life’s experiences.

She recalls how she rode a bike to Ooty at only 16 with her father chaperoning her in a pursuing car on the open road. This episode is characteristic of her parent’s support – gentle and guiding, not controlling but omnipresent.

An insatiable wanderlust

Every person is encoded with a signature DNA – Harshini renders herself as an insatiable wanderer. To be tethered to one place or routine bores her, and she has crafted her life to gain as many jaw-dropping experiences as possible. From learning hotel management to managing PR for corporations to a brief stint working behind the scenes in Bollywood, Harshini

At a time when society feared that freedom to daughters heralded rebellion, her parents raised her fearless, seating her on a Suzuki bike at 11 and entering her in a drag racing meet at 14

3

follows her heart as dutifully as a mariner follows a compass. Not many can boast of having sipped tea with Richard Branson, but Harshini can having met the magnanimous mogul at the launch of the first Virgin records store in the middle east. Her quest for the unknown has attuned her to new explorations, the defining mark of an intrinsic traveler.

With her trusted compadre, a blue Alto car fondly named Bumblebee, Harshini blazed her trail on the map whether it was driving solo from Bangalore to Manali in 2009, weaving through Bombay, Gujarat, and Rajasthan on the way, or dodging an angry Bison hurtling towards her car in Kodaikanal.

Her excursions have not been devoid of heart-stopping moments – once

driving from Chandigarh to Manali, she misjudged a waterfall that cascaded on the road to be a petty stream, one she could easily cross in her small vehicle.

Had she not been stopped by a jeep driver more familiar with the terrain, she shudders to think of what might have happened; her car would be swept away by the current into the ravine. Little did she know that her beloved automobile, anthropomorphized to the degree of a loyal friend and companion, would be her armor and sacrifice itself when her life was nearly crushed at the altar of fate, one disastrous afternoon in 2018.

Swerving at life’s turn

For most of us, the next question is a mere thought experiment - What if

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1. In her father’s Willy jeep, model,1954 at the age of 12 2. At 17, her first ride to Ooty on her Honda 650 3. With her camel friend, who wouldn’t stop following her 4. Ready for the first day of training as a Formula4 race car driver, Coimbatore 2 0 2 1 — M A R C H — ASPIRE

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1

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the next minute was your last?

For Harshini, it went from idle wonderment to shattering reality in a matter of moments when she swerved her car to protect a pedestrian crossing the highway and crashed, a few kilometers outside of Bangalore city with plans to meet friends and dreams for the future blown to dust. For three minutes she was presumed dead, she says recalling her other-worldly experience. “There

3

“It seemed like I was looking at the scene of the accident from an aerial view. It was all so surreal. Then in the next moment, I sat up with a jolt, breathing again” was a moment which felt like an out-of-body experience. It seemed like I was looking at the scene of the accident from an aerial view. It was all so surreal. Then in the next moment, I sat up with a jolt, breathing again.”

To be alive was a miracle, but in the hospital, she became aware of the extent of the damage, a sustained head injury, multiple torn ligaments in her left leg, and several scattered bruises on her body. People visited her somber and stony-faced, bemoaning her condition, but her mother was her rock during this tumultuous time, reminding her of her strength time and again whenever she broke down. It is humbling to think that if this accident hadn’t occurred, she would have been a part of India’s very first women’s Formula 4 car racing team in Coimbatore, but now she faced a different, sobering reality wondering if she would walk again.

Rising from the ashes

After the accident, Harshini was faced with

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4

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1. Amer Fort, Rajastan 2. Chilling with Jahangir the goat about 15km frm Indo-Pak border 3. Bikers line up and ready for the days ride (Sam desert) 4. 2nd month into recovery, enjoying chocolate cake, hence the huge smile 5. Her ride, Royal Enfeild Classic 350 in Thar desert who she named Starlight 6. With Rajasthani localite 7. Thar Desert

fears and insecurities she had never known before - of not being independent, not being able to walk or dance, to the chronic, unwavering pain as a bitter reminder of what her body had been through. Two years into recovery, when she felt she was confident enough to roam the treacherous road again, she envisioned a singular goal in mind - to span the arid behemoth land of Rajasthan by road on the back of a Royal Enfield.

When she told her parents of her plan, her mother casually said, “I am proud you are planning this trip, but I thought you’d make this decision sooner!” The unquestioning faith they held in her was half the battle won.

In the span of ten days, Harshini and her group of fellow riders, a diverse bunch from Bangalore, snaked across the state touching Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Sam, Osian, Pushkar, and back full circle. At daybreak, the riders would set off, sharing their locations with the group and aware of each other’s whereabouts at all times. For Harshini, the trip proved doubly challenging, bike riding proving strenuous and requiring a consistent upright posture and angled legs. Every day at dusk, as she massaged and cared for her battered leg. She’d fear that she wasn’t strong enough to finish the trail, that it was the end of the road for her. Every morning, she pushed herself, one herculean day after another, until she had done it.

Every feeling was memorable - from the butterflies fluttering in her stomach as soon as she got on the plane to Rajasthan, to the cold against her knuckles as she rode her bike like

she surmises, why not live each moment to the fullest and let your inner quest for happiness lead the way rather than our rigid perception of life.

Somewhat philosophically, she marvels at the need of humans to control everything, whereas, through her travel, she has realized how acutely unimportant we are, negligible to the universe in the grand scheme of things. Some might say ‘nothing matters’ steeped in nihilism; for Harshini, it is a mantra of fierce optimism.

“Everything that happens is going to pass.

Nothing that happens is the end of the world.”

6

Full steam ahead the wind. Steeped in beauty and windchill in frosty January, with temperatures dropping as low as 6 °C in Osian, Rajasthan, was a celebration and a revelation for Harshini. Despite her injury, she was treated without needless pity by her co-riders, which she is grateful for. The entire experience was akin to a phoenix rising from the ashes, renewed in life and grace from the very trauma it had endured.

Another unsurprising memorable aspect was Rajasthan’s sumptuous cuisine - gorgeous vegetarian fare that dominates the culinary scene, dals and subzis (lentils and veggies) of every kind. Harshini, a self-confessed foodie, marveled that the street food alone was so luxurious that a vendor serving grilled paneer outside Jaisalmer Fort, made wildly popular

by YouTube, was thronged by tourists daily.

Rajasthani hospitality too is something to write home about, unmatched from all her travel experiences - the people are kind, sweet, ever-so-helpful to new and seasoned tourists alike, and even the humblest of places are maintained to high standards.

7

Every person is encoded with a signature DNA – Harshini renders herself as an insatiable wanderer

Why so serious?

A well-traveled soul such as Harshini can be expected to be chock-full of advice about life, but she likes to keep it sweet and simple.

“Don’t take life so seriously,” she says easily, with the conviction of one who has seen death up-close, unflinching, and managed to walk away from it.

“Three minutes before my accident, I didn’t know I’m going to meet with an accident.”

Despite our best-laid plans, life can take a detour when you least expect it, so agonizing over every little detail is foolhardy. Instead,

Harshini has her eyes set on a beautiful blue Royal Enfield supernova she is tremendously excited about, a steel-snouted companion for future endeavors. She is already preparing mentally to ride her new bike from Goa to Bangalore for 600 kms, which is almost a mini-circuit in itself.

She eyes the Spiti Valley trail in Ladakh as her next challenge, planning to tour it for ten days once cleared by the doctor to face the freezing cold weather. One thing is certain; there is no stopping this woman from achieving her travel dreams and living a fulfilled life no matter what adversity comes her way.

“The dream is to ride. Where we’ll ride, we’ll see!” she laughs.

It is no surprise that a spirited soul such as Harshini would want to give back to nature in some way, having borne witness to the vibrancy of this planet along her travels. Her brand

With hands folded in gratitude to the universe for everything she has

“Chaimaami” founded in 2018, sources and sells natural, unprocessed, organic honey with blueprints to branch out into teas and other products. With her hands-on approach and abhorrence of cruelty and destruction of the biome, her product is both niche yet widely applauded, with a loyal clientele. I departed from her home with an encompassing hug and a jar of honey that seemed to embody her unadulterated, authentic spirit.

As I replay our interaction in my mind, her words echo within me. “This isn’t about Harshini. I’m a very small story. There are women who’ve done way more and endured way more than me,” and I can only marvel at the ability of one’s singular aspirations to fuel another’s inspiration to live life to the fullest. J 2 0 2 1 — M A R C H — ASPIRE

57

R&R / hobbies

A

stitch and a craft

With people confined to their homes and not many options to while time, handmade creations and handicrafts have just about dominated the hobbies market recently. Arundhati Surendran writes that in comparison to all the businesses that have recessed, the stitch and craft industry has seen an upsurge

E

mbroidery has long been part of human tradition, with historians dating the practice to 30000 BC. Though during relatively recent history (during the Common Era), it has been typically associated with femininity, it is an enjoyable hobby for just about anyone with a needle and thread. Yes, men too if they please, providing them a way of expressing emotions and embodying them into the intricate stitches on fabric. Similarly, Handicrafts is also an activity rich with history, and its sustenance and prevalence in modern culture is a testament to the art’s importance.

Embroidery came from tailoring or repairing clothing, where people discovered that while stitching or mending, you can just as easily add another layer of fabric, sow new thread into the clothing, or add on different embellishments altogether for decorative purposes. As a symbol of high status in Western, Asian, African,

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and Islamic cultures, the art of embroidering clothes, belts, calligraphy, and more with gold and silver thread became extremely popular – in Medieval England, this was termed Opus Anglicanum.

As most women in the past lacked a formal education but were often taught embroidery, today, it is specifically very pertinent in the study of women’s history over the ages. The women used their needlepoint talent as a unique tool for documenting their lives, which made it incredibly important in the study of primeval people whose history often was not documented in books.

Its cultural significance as a folk-art ties in heavily with Handicrafts, whose millennia of history is rich with culture and religion. One such type of artistry is dhokra, an ancient Indian type of metal casting that even after 4000 years, is popularly used. One of the sole requirements for something to be a handicraft is the individual artisanship present

Dhokra art

Opus Anglicanum art

Wooden handicraft

in each crafted piece – that which is mass-produced would obviously be rejected. This very requirement of a human touch makes handicrafts so charming to the eyes and marks them as special belongings in every household.

Handicrafts have significant recent relevance. The Arts and Crafts movement in the 19th century that arose after the detrimental effects of the industrial revolution became a hot topic – the impact of isolation and deprivation of fulfillment led to people investing more time in arts and crafts. This was mainly because it gave people a sense of enrichment and comfort in pre-industrial societies, which led to its ‘revival’ in western culture.

Both artistry types have a unique allure and charisma that make it seem like a youthful activity – even if the stereotypical image is one of a grandma with knitting needles in a rocking chair. The personal touch makes it the ideal go-to whenever you do not know what to give to

This very requirement of a human touch makes handicrafts so charming to the eyes and marks them as special belongings in every household your friends for their birthday, and if you get proficient enough at it, opening up your own small online store would provide just enough for a rainy-day fund.

Crafting a vocation Embroidering and adding materials like shells, pearls, beads, and other applique is a very trendy approach in today’s fashion world, as a direct opposition to minimalism and solid colors.

Learning how to sew or mend clothing and make them look even better after the damage is not easy, but it is a hobby well worth investing in.

It is relatively easy to get ahead of yourself as a newcomer and look up YouTube tutorials on embroidering a dragon on a handkerchief (I speak from ex-

perience), only to be ultimately disappointed with the results and with the craft in general.

But it is important to start with one stitch and learn little by little; that is when each achievement truly becomes satisfying and enjoyable.

One can start with machine embroidery, which is comparatively easier but would cost more as you would obviously spend for the machine and the needed equipment, or hand embroidery, which requires more patience and efforts but maybe better for those who do not know if they want to commit to the art entirely.

Hand embroidery also costs more on the market considering the labor that goes into it as compared to machine-made pieces, but the loving nature of each stitch is still in high demand. However, if you want to seriously enter the market with embroidery, machine embroidery would be a wiser decision, as the same piece that would require a week of hand embroidering could be completed in a day or hours. While Redbubble’s and Etsy’s are not exactly new, recent stay-at-home businesses have caused the market to explode.

Handicrafts have a vast range in regards to how you can approach it; with glass-carvings, wood, and metalwork to plate painting, there are loads of avenues you can go down and specialize in. Some people try to stick to the traditional style of doing things and usually go with materials that are natural or indigenous. In contrast, others try to ‘upcycle’ industrial throwaways as a statement and cause against wastage.

There are many requirements to enter the world of embroidery and handicrafts – patience, creativity, and courage – but once entered, the beauty and magic held in every handmade piece of art truly leave its mark in the hands that hold it. J 2 0 2 1 — M A R C H — ASPIRE

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R&R / st yle

BLAZE UP YOUR POWER Looking for an outfit that makes a statement before you speak? AYAAT ATTAR offers a bevy of choices to style the jacket eight ways and strike the right balance between suave and strong!

Power dressing for women has taken the center stage in mainstream media as one of the key indicators of how far the woman kind has come. Fourth lead in the Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie starrer ‘Bombshell’, power clothing reasserted they were here to stay!

Legendary fashion icons like the character of Carrie Bradshaw in ‘Sex and the City’, and leading actresses across the globe have teamed up jackets with a plethora of outfits, reinstating confidence in girls that coats are no longer a garment restricted to places of work.

Back in the day the inclusion of coats and blazers in clothing attires was a trend reserved purely for the menfolk. In a desperate attempt to fit in, women took to dressing in suits like the men. Cut to present day scenario, and jackets are a must in a woman’s wardrobe. From stealing the limelight at fashion shows to redefining the perfect ‘brunch look’ in elite circles, reclaiming their womanliness, female fashionistas have high jacked the item of clothing like it was invented for them!

In this story, we cover eight signature looks created by the versatile but dependable apparel under consideration thrown into the mix with.

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With Casuals Vibe of the look Stylish and minimal, a jacket over a casual attire is a trend that makes one feel amped up almost instantly!

How to wear it?

Team the jacket with anything and everything ranging from a white tee and ripped denim shorts, to a beige turtleneck and a black leather skirt. A pair of well fitted high waisted jeans and a casually buttoned white shirt with a suit is an all time favorite, edging ever so casually on the fence of a formal and informal get up.

Styling tips Let your shoulder length tresses lose over carefree shoulders, and finish off the look with spotlessly white sneakers.

With a Gown Vibe of the look Incorporate an added element of oomph to your date night body hugging gown by sliding into an elegant coat. The look promises to make you feel mushy, sensual and powered up all at once!

How to wear it?

Pick complementary fabrics, shades and makes for the coat and gown so the combination works well.

Styling Tips Keeping it minimal yet classy, go for stilettos for footwear and do away with jewelry for the starry evening.

With a Belt and Thigh High Boots Vibe of the look Ramp-walk or sidewalk, the overall with boots look will make you feel and look like a fierce tigress with a heart of gold, ready to take on the big bad world!

How to wear it?

Repurpose that overall hung in the section of your wardrobe you don’t visit anymore, into a dress and throw on a pair of thigh high leather boots. Finish the look highlighting your waist with a chunky belt around it, and you’re all set for a wild girl’s night!

Styling Tips You can’t go wrong with hoops for earrings and wild hair that refuse to care!

With Sun Dresses Vibe of the look With the sun shining, and the sound of the ocean calling out to you, reconnect with your inner child while looking like a million bucks with a coat over your sun dress. PS: Try not getting stains of your favorite icecream on the coat!

How to wear it?

This summer, play around with your regular sun dresses by teaming them up with light weight colorful box suits framing your shoulders.

Make sure to pick a cotton short dress that is airy and a coat that isn’t overbearing.

Styling Tips Hair in a low bun and tinted sunglasses to match with, the look with set you apart like none other!

2 0 2 1 — M A R C H — ASPIRE

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R&R / st yle With Saree Vibe of the look The Indian woman feels the prettiest in a saree, they say.

Draped around their curves, a saree brings out the most feminine side of the female form.

A blazer on the other hand, is a certified power garment. A celebration of your masculine and feminine energies, the look embodies the humble fact that assertion and compassion are not gender specific emotions.

How to wear it?

Team up the saree with an unbuttoned dapper jacket or a blazer for the power look.

Styling Tips Top the look with dramatic eyes, and a clutch for your essentials.

With Slip Dress Vibe of the look Get in touch with your inner cat woman by dressing in an ankle length slinky slip dress with a long coat hung casually over your frame. Gliding through the town on a Friday night all by yourself, sipping on a smoothie and writing yourself some poetry, the look will make you feel at home with your body and the city.

How to wear it?

Let the coat hang over your shoulders and flail around you.

Styling Tips Let your hair down like the thinker you are, or tie it in a half up half down messy bun.

Go for studs in your ears, flats for your feet, and a chic sling bag!

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With a Vibrant Scarf Vibe of the look A hippie at heart and jumping borders, the coat and scarf combination is a look travel-junkies could really get behind!

How to wear it?

Drape a heavily worked upon scarf or stole over the padded shoulders of your coat, making sure their personal tones match.

Styling Tips The top can be matched with a skirt, a pair of palazzo pants or even a long dress underneath.

Go play with your scarf in terms of colurs, textures and patterns more pronounced vibe!

A Matched Suit Vibe of the look Beauty lies in symmetry. Channel your inner Amy Santiago with a power suit that makes every inch of you come across as brilliant boss-babe.

How to wear it: Wear the suit with a tucked in formal shirt and a formal watch to keep a track of your precious time.

Styling Tips: Style the look with hair that mean business and minimalistic jewelry for that edgy and influential look.

2 0 2 1 — M A R C H — ASPIRE

63

R&R / explore

Opulent Ottoman indulgences

B

elinda Carlisle was right when she sang: Heaven is a place on earth.

That’s what we feel about spas too. For spa sojourns that are sure to elevate you to spa heaven, hidden behind ornately carved wooden doors of the magnificent Jumeirah Zabeel Saray awaits Dubai’s best-known secret.

Spoiling you silly: The award-winning Talise Ottoman Spa is touted as one of the largest and most luxurious spas in the Middle East! Spread over a whopping 8,200 sqm, it boasts of 42 individual treatment rooms covering two levels: Male and female on the ground level and a gorgeous couple area on the mezzanine level.

Its exciting spa menu encompasses the essential elements of both modern and traditional spa experiences to deliver a unique culmination of Turkish-inspired treatments. From the Cocoon Massage for expectant mothers to massages derived from Thailand, Turkey, Bali, Monaco,

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and The Best of Asia – there’s a massage to suit all indulgences.

Afrah Hamdy, Director of Spa & Wellness at the Talise Ottoman Spa, reveals that the spa is all the rage among its patrons given how it not only pampers them in style but also evokes the zen mode within. She shares, “While being one of the most awarded and the biggest spa in the Middle East, we are very well known for being a true luxury spa destination where our guests can transcend into a new world of self-discovery and indulge in ripples of endless bliss.”

A cocoon of indulgences: The signature Turkish Hammam,

Sultan’s massage, and tailored facials with premium wellness experiences are amongst some of the acclaimed treatment offerings at the spa. One can also enjoy unlimited access to unique facilities such as the Snow room, Thalassotherapy pools, Russian & Finish Saunas, Jacuzzis, and many more. It is here that guests can rediscover their beautiful inner self.

A journey of three stages, the spa experience begins on arrival, where the reception is filled with the uplifting scent of Lemongrass, helping you feel refreshed.

Stage two reveals the fragrance of wild Frangipani, infused into the relaxation areas, ensuring you feel calm and relaxed. Before moving to the final stage of the sensory journey, guests can choose from three contrasting essential oils for use during their treatment, each holding its powerful effect. This is usually a choice of a de-stress, energizing, or relaxing scented oil followed by the specific treatment administered by skilled therapists, and you’ll be in spa nirvana! ✪

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