The Express Tribune Magazine - April 13

APRIL 13-19 2014

TITANS ON

SPEED

There are very few things that come close to the rush of a Formula One race

APRIL 13-19 2014

Feature

Let there be light Shah Hussain’s annual death anniversary commemorations

Cover Story Titans on Speed Get your dosage of one second 100 metre bursts at the 2014 Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix

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Feature

Ovar[l]y Cautious Polycystic ovary syndrome causes anxiety among women

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32 Regulars

6 People & Parties: Out and about with beautiful people

38 Review: Movies and books

42 Green Thumb: Start your own cacti garden

Magazine In-charge: Sarah Munir and Sub-Editors: Dilaira Mondegarian and Zehra Qureshi Creative Team: Essa Malik, Jamal Khurshid, Samra Aamir, Kiran Shahid, Munira Abbas, S Asif Ali & Talha Ahmed Khan Publisher: Bilal A Lakhani. Executive Editor: Muhammad Ziauddin. Editor: Kamal Siddiqi For feedback and submissions: magazine@tribune.com.pk Twitter: @ETribuneMag & Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ETribuneMag Printed: uniprint@unigraph.com

PEOPLE & PARTIES Cinestar Cinema hosts the premiere of 300 - Rise of an empire in Lahore

Ali, Faisal and Taz

ad PHOTOS COURTESY BILAL MUKHTAR EVENTS & PR

d Inzar Farh

nu, Lubna an

Minahil, So

Eshaa Murad

Monica Paracha Fawad, Salman, Faraz and Ali Moin

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PEOPLE & PARTIES Gulaab Gang premieres at the launch of Taj Cinema in Lahore

Javeria Abbasi with her daughter

PHOTOS COURTESY QYT EVENTS

Natasha and Rachel

Sana and Nina

Hina and Chanda

Waseem

Fawad and Maham Gia Ali

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PEOPLE & PARTIES Sonia and Annie

PHOTOS COURTESY LOTUS PR

Maria B. introduces the embroidered silk brand Mbroidered in Lahore

a d Sidra Raz ena Khan an A n, sa as H Ammara hir

Maria and Ta

Xila and Fia

ar and Foha

Alyzeh Waq

10 APRIL 13-19 2014

Raza Risham Khan and Aimen

PEOPLE & PARTIES Alkaram launches its new designer lawn collection in Karachi

Abid Umer and Zain

Faiza Ansari

Umer Sayeed

12 APRIL 13-19 2014

Parwasha

FEATURE

Let there

be light Shah Hussain’s death anniversary commemorations mark a spirit of love, peace and tolerance TEXT BY SARAH ELEAZAR PHOTOS BY ZEHRA QURESHI DESIGN BY SANOBER AHMED

The heart of Shalimar town, Lahore, beats in sync with the dhol, its arteries clogged with thousands of people, shoving each other in a hurry to reach the alao (huge fire) at the center.

The flames light up the shrine of the Sufi saint and poet, Shah Hussain, on Mela Chiraghan or the festival of lights, the three-day urs marking his 426th death anniversary.

Thousands of devotees from all over the country flock to the shrine in the last few days of March, to pay their respects and honour the memory of the beloved saint.

The festival is a pre-Partition legacy and continued in the Shalimar Gardens even after Independence, until president Ayub Khan banned the location from being used in 1958. The celebrations then relocated to the winding streets and sloping terraces of the shrine.

The shrine is beautifully lit up over the course of three days. The path leading up to the shrine is choked with devotees holding up chadars that they have carried for several kilometres on foot. People throw their offerings in the chadars and dance to renditions of Shah Hussain’s timeless kaafis (short poems) and the beat of the dhol. Malangs robed in saffron and red, bellow out deep sorrowful notes with their horns. “Wearing varying shades of yellow and red is a tradition here. We wear it as an expression of love,” says Rashid Munir, a regular visitor to the shrine, who has a dupatta of the same colours wrapped around his neck.

The alao at the center is the main attraction of the festival. Hundreds gather around it, throwing packets 18 of oil and candles into the flames as chants of NaraaAPRIL 13-19 2014

The devotees make their mannats (wishes) by offering candles and oil to

feed the fire that gives Mela Chiraghan its name.

APRIL 13-19 2014

The shrine is decorated beautifully with paper and plastic flowers and fairy lights. Devotees line up to pay their respects and present chadar and offerings to the saints. i-Haideri followed by Ya Ali, Ya Ali (RA) resound through the packed arena.

The alao is ringed with tiny oil lamps and candles. Every now and then a person approaches the fire, dips a finger in an oil lamp and anoints himself with it. “It’s a sign of respect,” explains a bystander. “This oil is holy. The lamps represent the light that kills the darkness within.”

There is a throng of wide-eyed children, young men in jeans and older male devotees as far as the eye can see. Few women make an appearance until the third day which is reserved especially for them.

“I’ve been visiting the urs since I was a child. I was a visitor then, now I am visited by hundreds seeking blessings,” says Saeein Hussain who is there to pay his teacher Nana Saeein’s respects in his absence.

Saaein Ashiq Hussain is one of the several pirs who have travelled long distances with their mureeds (disciple) to pay their respects at the shrine.

Like many other pirs, he has also set up a small tent on the right side of the shrine, where tea is offered generously along with tales of spiritual genealogy.

At the opposite end of the compound is an enclosure reserved for those revelling in heated conversations and hashish joints. Their reason for attendance is simple. “To forget our sorrows. Don’t you read the papers? We are a sorrowful nation,” says Muhammad Naveed. He has been visiting the shrine for years, only to find the audience shrinking each time. “It’s terrorism. It has ruined the essence of our country.” He stresses following Hussain’s teachings of loving God by loving fellow beings. “Once Lahore used to celebrate Mela Chiraghan with as much fervour as any other religious festival, but everything has changed

Rabba mere haal da mehram tuun Andar tuun hai, bahar tuun hai, room room vich tuun Tuun hain tana, tuun hain bana, sabh kujh mera tuun Kahe Hussain faqeer namana, main nahin sab tuun

One of the many malangs who sits in the middle of the shrine reciting Hussain’s kafis.

“Langar is distributed at the shrine all day and night but inflation has robbed many of the ability to be so generous, taking away the spirit of the urs,” says a devotee sitting next to a decorated diya which will be lit throughout the festival.

Hussain’s kafis are lyrical, echoing the rhythms of despair, hope, questioning and faith. They are written in the style of Punjabi folk songs and their message has been immortalised

now,” adds another visitor Ali Iqbal.

Now security plays a huge role in determining the success of the festival. Strict measures are taken every year to safeguard the area where every visitor is required to pass the walk-through gates at the entrance and be checked thoroughly by the Auqaf staff. However, a lot more effort is needed to manage such a huge crowd.

“There are just so many people. They trampled over the barbed wire, broke the barriers and walk-through gates on the first day of the urs,” complains one of the security personnel.

But for Bala Pir Mir Saeein who claims to have attended the last 45 festivals, the serenity of the event ended eight years ago. “The mela now is a shadow of what it once was,” he says. As the crowd thins out in the early morning hours and the streets fill up with young men dancing in groups, it is clear that the festival is still an overwhelmingly engaging experience for many. T

Sarah Eleazar is a sub-editor at the Express Tribune in Lahore. She tweets @saraheleazar APRIL 13-19 2014

“I carry around photos of my murshid, and my spiritual genealogy, wherever I go,” says Bala Pir.

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COVER STORY

TITANS ON

SPEED On the tracks of one of the most glamorous sporting events

BY EMMAD HAMEED PHOTOS COURTESY AFP, REUTERS AND TOURISM MALAYSIA DESIGN BY MUNIRA ABBAS

There is little in sight aside from the signature black and white chequered flags as leading racers Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel whiz through the final two laps of the Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang, Malaysia — one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year. The rubber tyres burn as the bright March sun scorches the tarmac, sparks hitting the air from the monstrous glistening engines. As the racers cross the 300km/h mark, the cars suddenly seem louder than they were in the previous 54 laps. The trio’s minds, however, are uncluttered and the goal is crystal clear — life on the fast lane is all about winning.

Ecstasy on wheels

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Formula One (F1) — with formula referring to a set of rules that each participant’s car must meet — is the highest class of single-seater auto racing authorised by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). The F1 season comprises a series of races, held across the world on purpose-built circuits and public roads, known as the Grand Prix.

The results of each race are tabulated using a points system to evaluate two annual World Championships, one for the drivers and the other for constructors. While the race is a combination of speed, control and tactic, cars reach a speed of over 300km/h, making the sport every petrolhead’s fantasy.

Even though the first Formula One Grand Prix race took place in 1906, it did not receive global acclaim until the later half of the 20th APRIL 13-19 2014

25 APRIL 13-19 2014

COVER STORY

Driving at 300km/h is like covering 100 metres in a second and that’s what the drivers do when they go for the kill in the final laps.

Nothing can compare to that feeling, nothing much comes close either Brazilian racer Bruno Senna

Team Petronas Mercedes celebrating their first one-two in more than five decades. Lewis Hamilton, winner of the 2014 Malaysian Grand Prix sitting in the front row with the trophy.

century. While Europe is the sport’s traditional base and hosts about half of each year’s races, the sport’s scope has expanded significantly during recent years. An increasing number of Grand Prix are now held at various locations across the world such as Singapore, China, Bahrain, Japan and the United States.

Action in Sepang – much more than a race The second Grand Prix for the ongoing season took place in Sepang, Malaysia from March 28 to 30. The F1 season, which is renowned for its glitz and glamour did not disappoint with its non-stop action over the race weekend. Kuala Lumpur hosted a series of events from a grand gala dinner by the Malaysian prime minister to electric performances by big names such as Calvin Harris, Christina Aguilera and David Foster.

“Billions from around the world watch the coverage [of the race] and Malaysia is proud of successfully staging the event for the last 16 years,” says Hafiz Abdul Rehman, a motorsports enthusiast.

The atmosphere on race day was slightly subdued due to the tragic news of the missing flight MH370. However, the British racer Lewis Hamilton took the track in his shining Petronas Mercedes with such aggression that it left little room for the other drivers and fans to concentrate on anything else over the next two hours.

“Sepang is a good venue. It’s one of the better tracks but also challeng-

Closely cramped cars maneuver past a sharp turn on the Sepang track. ing because of the heat,” says Damon Hill, the 1996 F1 World Champion.

Jubilant fans cheered from the stands as Hamilton dashed past World Champion Vettel to claim victory.

Australian Grand Prix winner Rosberg followed him into the second slot, making it Mercedes’ first onetwo in more than five decades.

As soon as Hamilton jumped out of his car, an ecstatic crew clad in whitish grey uniforms flocked to congratulate their hero. Thousands of adrenaline junkies also poured onto the tracks hoping to catch a closer glimpse of the speed gods who cheat death for the title.

High stake theatre

The Mobil team crew working on one of the cars inside the pit.

“Driving at 300km/h is like covering 100 metres in a second and that’s what the drivers do when they go for the kill in the final laps,” says Bruno Senna, nephew of the late legendary Brazilian driver, Ayrton Senna, on the eve of his first commentary stint at the F1. “Nothing can compare to that feeling, nothing much comes close either.”

Thirty-year old Senna drove for two different teams, Renault and Williams, in a three-year Formula One stretch from 2010 .to 2012, but is now pursuing other alternatives since he feels he can no longer win the F1 with the teams he represented. “I drive to win, and if there is no chance of winning, there is no point in competing,” he says. Of course the young Brazilian is always reminded of the legacy of his three-time world champion uncle and the pressure that comes with sharing the genes.

The adrenaline of vicLewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg 27 celebrating after their unprecedented win.

Fans travelled from all across the world to watch the action unfold on the Sepang tracks.

tory, however, comes with a fair share of risks, even death in some instances, as in the case of Senna’s uncle, who was killed in an accident while leading the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. Twenty-four F1 drivers lost their lives between 1954 and 1994 with the 1970s being the deadliest period in F1 history. Countless others such as the three-time world champion and one of the central characters of the 2013 thriller Rush, Niki Lauda, also suffered from life threatening injuries. The poker-faced Austrian racer suffered from severe burns to the face and head and inhaled toxic gases that damaged his lungs and blood, when his Ferrari swerved out of control, hit an embankment and burst into flames during a race in 1976. His return to the track six weeks later and superb performances until his retirement years later, elevated him to such superstar status that his appearance on the Sepang tracks drove the crowd into a wild frenzy.

The deadly trend of the 1970s called for a drastic change in safety standards. In 1976, the FIA made seatbelts mandatory, increased cockpit sizes, introduced standards for fireresistant clothing and enforced a minimum driver evacuation time of five seconds. This was further enhanced in 2000 with the increase in load and crash test speeds, toughening of cockpit walls, higher cockpit padding and the introduction of devices providing extra protection to the driver’s 28 neck and hands. The measures have proved successful and APRIL 13-19 2014

the last decade has been one of the least fatal in the race’s history. It was perhaps the protective gear and enhanced technology that saved the life of Fellipe Massa in 2009, also a participant at Sepang this year. Massa was struck by a suspension spring that had fallen from fellow racer’s vehicle, on a high-speed part of the track. Even though the Brazilian racer’s skull cracked and he underwent several surgeries, the consequences could have been far worse had he not been protected by his gear.

Apart from the danger to their lives, the drivers also have to deal with the intense heat in the cockpit of their cars where temperatures have been recorded to go up to 70 degrees. Some, like Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg, resort to unconventional measures like frozen boxers to keep themselves cool in the Sepang heat.

Silent engines, loud debate The 2014 season has been labelled revolutionary in F1 history due to the introduction of low on noise, fuel-efficient engines — a stark contrast to the older roaring engines that produced ear-splitting sound that has even forced some fans to use earplugs. The new and ‘improved’ engines, however, have their fair share of supporters and critics.

While Hamilton and Co in the Mercedes team love the technology, Vettel is hardly amused. “The bars are better

[louder] than an F1 car these days,” he says. Many fans are also of the same opinion. “I have been to F1 races in Bahrain and the noise level here is really low compared to the earlier races. I am losing interest,” says Rizlan, a Qatar-based fan.

But for Hill, noise is inconsequential when it comes to the bigger picture. “Producing noise is easier than producing quality,” he says. “ These new engines are amazing because they are performing at the same level but with only one-third fuel consumption.”

On the other side The venues, engines and faces behind the wheels may change from season to season, but the adrenaline from the sport has remained constant. As the three racers pop open a bottle of champagne and spray each other with the gushing translucent bubbles, one can’t help but hope for these flashy roaring cars to complete 100 metres in a second on a Pakistani circuit one day. Senna was indeed right, there isn’t much that can beat this feeling. T Emmad Hameed heads the sports desk at The Express Tribune.

He tweets @Emmad81

(Top) The 2014 Malaysian Grand Prix winner Lewis Hamilton surrounded by the media after the race.

(Bottom) Concerts featuring big names like Christina Aguilera, Calvin Harris and David Foster were the highlight of the race weekend.

Photos courtesy: Mohammad Jefin

Pakistani fans marking their presence at the 2014 Malaysian Grand Prix.

Photo courtesy: Mohammad Jefin

Twenty-four F1 drivers lost their lives between 1954 and 1994 with the 1970s being the deadliest period in F1 history. Countless others such as the three-time world champion, Niki Lauda, also suffered from life threatening injuries

FEATURE

Ovar[l]y Cautious A few simple changes in lifestyle can help tackle polycystic ovary syndrome

BY ISHRAT ANSARI DESIGN BY ESSA MALIK

Puberty can be challenging, but combined with the polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) it can become unbearable. It is a hormonal imbalance that occurs in women, mostly teenagers, causing unwanted changes such as weight gain, irregular periods, acne, excessive hair growth on the face and body and fertility problems, leaving many women depressed or disoriented.

And although the condition is not fatal, it raises concern.

When Uroosa first found out that her 15-year-old daughter, *Fatima, was suffering from PCOS, she was devastated. “Being a parent it was a matter of great concern for me because apart from excessive hair growth she was gaining weight and was 67kgs at the age of 14, which is disproportionate to her 5 feet 3 inch height,” she says. “After a year she started having irregular periods and failed to lose weight.” Along with the weight problems, Fatima has excessive hair growth on the back, belly, thighs and chin and ever since her diagnosis, avoids opening up to her mother about her concerns.

But even with the mostly overt symptoms, detection at times is difficult. Gynecologist Samrina Hashmi, has come across several women during her years of practice who suffer from PCOS but show no visible symptoms. While the causes are not fully known, genetics is widely accepted as the primary factor. “It’s a lifelong struggle because you cannot change your genes,” says Hashmi.

“The disease is quite common in South Asia because of the gene,” argues Iffat Ahmed, a gynecologist at the Aga Khan University Hospital. “Apart from genes, obesity is a trigger for PCOS. Previously obesity was not common but these days our lifestyle has changed,” she says. Ahmed traces the problem to the overconsumption of processed and junk food, as well as chicken. “Genes are not a trigger. In fact, the cause of PCOS is perhaps a complex genetic disorder. The condition is most common among diabetic families,” she explains.

Studies conducted in the UK show that South Asian immigrants suffer from diabetes putting their women at a higher risk of developing PCOS. Fatima has a family history of diabetes; her father, paternal grandmother and maternal grandfather are all diabetic. “I keep telling Fatima to eat healthy and exercise but she is too young to understand. She also gets angry over small things now, but earlier she was very patient,” says her mother.

32 APRIL 13-19 2014

And while diabetes is one of the causes, it is not the only determinant. Twenty-four-year-old Faria claims her family has no diabetics but she was still diagnosed with PCOS. When acne first appeared on her face, she went to consult a dermatologist. However, when the recommended medicines aggravated her problem she sought relief from a gynecologist who determined the acne’s causal factor. “Eventually, I was told I have small cysts in my ovaries,” she says.

In Pakistan, nearly 30 out of every 100 women suffer from a hormonal imbalance which in turn increases the risk of obesity. The condition is the result of a disorder in the female endocrine system when abnormal levels of folliclestimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) are secreted. The excess LH causes the ovaries to overproduce androgens which upset the ovulatory process, resulting in eggs dying within the follicle and forming cyst-like structures in the ovary. Similarly, elevated insulin levels in diabetic patients increase ovary size, trapping them. Eventually the eggs inside the ovary form cysts which are detected via an ultrasound.

Although the cysts are non-cancerous, they give women quite a scare. Treatment options are available but there is no permanent cure for the condition. “Most mothers refuse to take their daughters to a gynecologist but this should not be the case,” says Faria. “I underwent treatment for an entire year and I am completely fine now. I don’t have irregular periods, no acne, no weight gain and hair growth has also gone back to normal.” Her doctors have reassured her that she will face no fertility problems in the future if she exercises regularly and avoids carbohydrates to control the symptoms.

“A woman with PCOS can have 40% to 70% fertility problems which can be treated,” says Ahmed. It is important to get up and go to bed early, include more fruit and vegetables in your diet and consume less meat, she advises. According to Hashmi, it is important to consult a gynecologist even if no symptoms surface. “In PCOS some women have no symptoms and they have children as well, but later in life they can suffer from so many diseases,” she adds.

Unfortunately, most people in the country don’t adhere to a healthy lifestyle, Ahmed laments. Hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and uterine cancer are some of the possible long-term problems. And in the country where a woman’s worth is mostly weighed against her ability to reproduce, PCOS can be a lifelong sentence of anxiety. T

PCOS was discovered by Stein and Leventhal in 1935 and was originally known as the Stein-Leventhal syndrome. The 2003 Rotterdam consensus workshop on diagnosis of PCOS, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, has concluded that at least two of the following three symptoms should be present to meet the diagnostic criterion: 1.

2.

3.

Anovulation or menstrual irregularities Cyst-like formations present in the ovaries Signs of androgen excess

*Name has been changed to protect identity.

Ishrat Ansari works at The Express Tribune Karachi desk. She tweets @Ishrat_ansari

33 APRIL 13-19 2014

TV

Good girls

gone bad

Nothing unsettles an audience more than a bunch of girls venturing into unchartered territory

BY MYRA KHAN

When the HBO series Girls first hit our TV screens two years ago, it instantly found an audience for its brutally realistic and bold take on life after graduation. The show gives you a glimpse into the life of four friends struggling with romance, career and survival in New York City. There is Hannah, a struggling, overweight writer waiting for her big break; Marnie, her insecure best friend, who ends up hurting more people than she helps; Jessa, a free spirit who seeks solace in reckless relationships and substance abuse and Shoshanna, the eager-to-please fourth wheel in the equation.

A lot of loose ends that were neatly tied up in the last season — Hannah and struggling actor Adam’s fling maturing into a relationship and Marnie and her former beau Charlie getting back together in the show’s current run. The season kicks off with Hannah and Adam’s newly found comfort zone being impinged on by the arrival of Adam’s sister. The situation is aggravated as Hannah struggles with the death of her boss and the resulting cancellation of the publishing deal for her book. While Hannah’s self-centeredness makes her one of the least likeable characters this season, it is the very same quality that also allows the viewer to relate to her the most.

On the other hand, Marnie’s life this season is the opposite of what she imagined it to be. She lives in a one-bedroom apartment with poor job prospects and her personal life does not show much promise either. Not much rationale is given for her actions, especially her relationship with Ray, a generally harmless person who is also Shoshanna’s former flame. Their ‘arrangement’ is amusing at first, but ends up becoming painfully monotonous. Moreover, the pairing seems forced, as if there was no other cast member she could have been lumped with.

Jessa doesn’t do much this season other than coming in and out of rehab and floating around temporary jobs. There is also a constant reminder of how her lifestyle is wrecking her closest relation38 ships yet she does nothing to save them. Shoshanna on the other APRIL 13-19 2014

hand treads a slippery slope and gives in to her neurotic tendencies.

She is seen snapping at everyone while juggling university life and her casual interactions with the opposite sex are uncomfortable to watch.

Even though the first two seasons of Girls have been labelled a variety of things, from being revolutionary to downright vulgar, the show has never been guilty of being forgettable. Unfortunately, it loses that edge in the current season. The third season lacks fluidity and the character development seems a bit skewed for the average viewer to take in. The thinly spread plot and introduction of many new unlikable characters further diminishes the show’s overall charm. Even though, the writers did bring back Elijah, Hannah’s ex, to redeem the show, his overblown acting defeats the purpose. The likable characters too are underappreciated and not given due credit with Hannah’s co-worker being a case in point. Hopefully, creator Lena Dunham has a few tricks up her sleeve to revitalise the show in the upcoming season.

Rating: Myra Khan works in the education sector and loves to write on the side. She tweets @myrakhan

BOOK

Fear me not

Stay close to the facts as by doing so you will never stray far from the truth. This fundamental rule of journalism has been effectively deployed by award-winning Canadian journalist and author Doug Saunders in his book The Myth of the Muslim Tide: Do Immigrants Threaten the West?

Digging into and analysing mountains of data spanning several continents, this well-researched book is a powerfully argued debunking of the myth that Muslim immigrants to the West (mainly to Europe, USA and Canada), by procreating in large numbers, will overrun western civilisation.

The ‘clash of civilisation’ theory, which famously extends the idea that Muslims have a political agenda, driven primarily by their faith, has been frequently deployed by numerous commentators and politicians across North America and Europe. Left unchallenged, this myth has slipped into the margins of mainstream politics.

Saunders challenges this myth, anchoring his arguments with demographic, statistical and historical documents. He constantly reminds the West that less than a 100 years ago the USA and Canada were populated largely by waves of Irish Catholics and EastEuropean Ashkenazi Jews. Both started off by having large families and living in insular communities centred round the Catholic Church and the Jewish synagogue, and a few generations later have seamlessly integrated into the western way of life. Their 40 birth rates have fallen to that of national APRIL 13-19 2014

Doug Saunders addresses the Islamic threat that has engulfed the West in flames of hatred

BY TEENAZ JAVAT

averages, and demographic data proves that this is indeed happening to the second and third generation Moroccans in France and to some extent with Turks in Germany.

The book offers factual counter arguments to works by Mark Steyn and the right-wing political ideologies of Geert Wilders, who implied that Muslim immigrants cannot be assimilated and that their high birth rates will eventually dominate western civilisation.

It goes on to debunk the ever popular Eurabia movement, in which commentators subscribe to the Islamisation of Europe. This idea has led to a fury of hate crimes and is partially held responsible for the Norway massacre in July 2011 when 77 lives were taken over a right-wing belief system that is based on myth rather than fact.

The author, who is the Europe bureau chief for Canada’s national newspaper The Globe and Mail, goes on to explore ideas that are dominating elections across the western world: “The fear of a Muslim tide is the fear of being swept away, a fear that they are powerful, consistent and changeless and that we are fragile, temporary and malleable... Many of us in the west have forgotten how tough it was during

Author Doug Saunders.

previous times and how difficult integration may have been for our ancestors.”

Generously interspersed with data and demographic detail, this short book is not in any way a defence of Islam. Saunders neither admires nor endorses, but produces an antidote to the poison of hate. He cautions us that the real risk to Western democracy and values is not in these immigrants but in our response to them.

Published by Random House Canada and available for CAN $24.95 (Rs2,235) Teenaz Javat writes headlines, news alerts, tickers and tweets for a living. She tweets @TeenazFromTo

Desert Rose Cacti provide gardens an eccentric beauty TEXT AND PHOTOS BY ZAHRA ALI DESIGN BY ASIF ALI

A garden without leaves can only be a cacti garden. Its striking landscape and distinct architectural form strays away from a conventional one (rich in palms, seasonal plants and creepers), giving the space a cuttingedge look.

There are more than 1,500 varieties to choose from and some cacti can live up to hundreds of years and produce countless offspring with their seeds, eliminating the need to buy new plants. “Cacti live for as long as you can take care of it,” says Fahim Siddiqui, founder of the Cactus and Succulent Society of Pakistan. His collection consists of more than 5,000 cacti and 800 succulents and the oldest cactus in his garden is almost 35 years old. “The thing about cacti that attracts me the most is its tactics to survive in the most difficult conditions… a trait rare to us.”

The shape of a cactus is determined by its capacity to store water or minimise water loss. This makes it an ideal plant to grow in the country, where water shortage is a perennial problem. The slender, finely toothed Yucca variety grows slowly and can reach up to 3ft, while the Golden Barrel species, covered in rows of sharp spines, takes a spherical shape and produces yellow flowers. “A Mammillaria’s bloom fascinates me the most and there are more than 170 varieties that one can grow as a beginner,” says Khalid Suhail. His cacti collection of over 15 years features interesting red, yellow and white ones.

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Buying a cactus Start by buying potted cacti first which cost somewhere between Rs100 and Rs500, depending on the type. A wide variety of ornamental species are imported, primarily the eye-catching colourful, grafted cacti.

Although they look vibrant, they do not last long as grafting means slicing your cactus in half which could go terribly wrong if not done properly. Also the colour is injected in the plant which overshadows its natural beauty.

Caring at home Well-drained soil is ideal for a potted cactus. It can be 20% organic compost or animal manure and 50% sweet sand, with the remaining 30% covered in a layer of stone chips. Weekly watering patterns work best as the plant requires minimal water only when the soil dries out and during winter most species don’t require any watering at all. For this purpose, get pots that are barely one to two inches bigger in diameter as bigger pots allow the soil to store water longer. And the best time to re-pot or divide the plant is during spring.

The Queen Victoria Agave cactus.

Conservation alert Over-collection and habitat destruction has led to a threat of extinction. Preserve the endangered species by growing them in your own garden or donating to a botanical garden.

Cacti take several years to grow large enough to be used for landscapes. If you come across one at a very low rate, it has probably been sourced from the wild unless the seller can prove otherwise.

Zahra Ali Husain is a sustainability education specialist, writer and an environmentalist. She tweets @Zahrali APRIL 13-19 2014

Gardening enthusiasts like to collect unusual cacti.

Pink blossoms of a Mammillaria.