JANUARY 5-11 2014
Experience
Discover a side of the country you have never seen before and fall in love all over again
Pakistan
JANUARY 5-11 2014
Feature
Cover Story
A Bloody Revolution
Experience Pakistan
Schools from India, Pakistan and Dubai learn about a one-rupee hygiene product
Discover a side of the country you have never seen before and fall in love all over again
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Feature
Rear View Race is on rally enthusiast Nauman Khan’s mind as he speeds through the 2013 Jhal Magsi Desert Challenge held in December
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36 Regulars
6 People & Parties: Out and about with beautiful people 40 Review: Delivery Man and Language, Gender and Power 42 Health: The right diagnosis and care for epilepsy
Magazine In-charge: Sarah Munir and Sub-Editors: Dilaira Mondegarian and Manahyl Khan Creative Team: Amna Iqbal, 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
Meesha, Mahmood and Janevi
Alizeh Waqar
Khadijah Shah and Attiya Noon
Nahzat Azam and Zainab Alam
Ammara Khan
Ayesha Noon Khan, Annie Khakwani and Mishel Malik
PEOPLE AND PARTIES The fashion brand Élan hosts a brunch at the Lahore Polo Club PHOTOS COURTESY PINHOLE STUDIO
Aamna Taseer and Anila Shah
PHOTOS COURTESY PINHOLE STUDIO
Mahgul Rashid Ammar Khan, Yasmin Khan and Yawar Noon
Deena Rahman and Sahar Zafar
Gauher Bano Qureshi and Meher Bano Chinoy
Maheen Ghani Taseer and Minhal Sadiq Saigol
Batur Muhammad and Zara Peerzada
Jarrar Shah and Nida Bano Qureshi
PEOPLE AND PARTIES
Moda Italiano unveils its western wear in Islamabad PHOTOS COURTESY AKASH MEDIA GROUP
Sidra Zeeshan, Sana Khan and Jazmin
Lubna Tasawar
Mehroo and Sabeen Khan Hamna Khalid
Seemi
Zarbab
Shavez Alam, Zara Rehman and Shahla Rehman
Anum Nadeem
Hina Ishtiaq
PEOPLE AND PARTIES
Johnny Rockets opens up at Dolmen Mall Clifton, Karachi PHOTOS COURTESY TAKEII
Amina Alam
Nazia Malik
Sadia Nawabi
Jia Uzma and Wajiha Bushra Khan and Samra Muslim
Farina and Kaz Sayal Aleezay Rasool and Ali Bilal
PEOPLE AND PARTIES
Shamraf’s flagship store opens up at the Centaurus Mall Islamabad
Rubina Hasan , Balina Khan and Raheela Khan Saba and Asad Shaikh
Sarah and Maryam Saleem
PHOTOS COURTESY REZZ PR AND EVENTS
Noor and Ayesha
Nashwa and Fozan Khan
Iram, Rubina and Muniba
Afeena and Rashid Farman and Subuhi
Saima and Madhu
Sana and Asad
PHOTOS COURTESY REZZ PR AND EVENTS
Anso
Hanna Lake Bahawalpur
Gorakh Hill Station
26 JANUARY 5-11 2014
Karachi
oo Lake
Batakhundi KPK
Islamabad
Banjosa Lake
Rawalpindi
Lahore
Experience
Pakistan Discover a side of the country you have never seen before and fall in love all over again
PHOTOS AND TEXT BY ADIL MULKI/ SHARJEEL AHMAD/DANIAL SHAH DESIGN BY MUNIRA ABBAS
An average Pakistani is reminded a million times a day of everything that is wrong with the country. But there are times when that takes a backseat. It may happen while you witness an unusual act of kindness by someone or walk along unexplored trails that remind you of just how beautiful this land is. This is why we have decided to take you on a journey through some magical destinations across Pakistan, which are easy on the pocket but will reignite your love for the country. 27 JANUARY 5-11 2014
COVER STORY Ansoo Lake and Batakundi If you get tired of the crowds that throng to Naran who send tourism prices through the room, then take a trip to Batakundi, a small town 16 kilometers (km) from Naran and an alternate base to explore the Kaghan Valley. You can stay at the Batakundi Hotel, which is located on a hilltop and offers a view of the meandering snake-like Kunhar River along with lush green mountains and wheat fields. Furthermore, the Lalazar meadows are a one-hour trek across the hill. Among the many day-trips it has to offer, the best one is a trek to the teardrop-shaped, Ansoo Lake. At a height of 13,550 feet above sea level, it is covered with snow almost throughout the year. A person of average physical fitness but a tough attitude can easily attempt the five- to six-hour trek from Saiful Maluk Lake. The climate is cold and unpredictable so loads of warm clothes, a raincoat and a local guide (which can be arranged from Naran or Saiful Maluk) are recommended. There are no restaurants on the way so don’t forget to carry your own supplies of food and water for the day.
Passu Passu, Upper Hunza Located at 150 km from Gilgit and 40 km ahead of Karimabad, Passu is not a spot to be missed. To reach Passu, one has to pass across the 20kmlong Ataabad Lake, but the contrast between the gleaming turquoise blue water and flat rigid mountains in various shades of brown on both sides of the lake, make the boat ride extremely enjoyable. For a nature lover, Passu is a dream come true as it offers everything from the glorious mountains of the Karakoram Range to a variety of serene lakes contrasted by roaring rivers, some of the largest glaciers in the world and a cultural cocktail of China, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan. 28 While you are in the area, a day trip to Khunjerab top and the ChiJANUARY 5-11 2014
l— Gilgit te Hote ilk Rou t City: S s i e Borith a r r . t a a h e N n: S r nig e io p t a e d v o o m d ab t. Camp Accom ,000 an er nigh 3 p s 0 R 0 r 6 fo Rs Rooms ms for ent. l — Roo ble on r e t o H v a e o enjoy s aila p Lak m a c mber t e d t n p a e S y it s are e to ing facil ll color it: Jun a F is . v r e o t m e endthe sum Best tim m mido fr t s e b at their . r s by e b Octo r 9 day flight o d y b s y bad an 7 da Islama ime for t m o m fr u road Minim : ip r t e back h t Chuper lley or a V l a a z h s un pper H in- Shim ces of ey in u ll la a p agar V N r e n d a Oth ad an rea: s b a a e h im t r in and Ka terest unza. lower H in y e ll va
Ansoo Lake Rawalpindi / Islamabad. Nearest City: ndi Hotel – Accommodation: Bataku 0 and above ,50 Rs3 for Rooms available and camps y ilit fac per night. Camping available on rent. till end of Best time to visit: Early June September. vel from IsMinimum time for 4 days to tra lamabad and back the trip: to Lalazar Other places of A jeep drive possible walk interest in the and then a through the pine forest. area: A day trip could also be made to Lulusar lake and Babusar top which is 13,690 feet above sea level.
Banjosa Lake, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Banjosa Lake is located in Tehsil Hajira, Poonch district, Azad Kashmir, at a distance of 19 km from the city of Rawalakot. The fourhour drive from Islamabad to Rawalakot, also known as the ‘Pearl Valley’ of Kashmir relaxes you instantly as you pass by lush green hills, small towns, fruit orchards and cattle grazing on green pastures. Once you reach the lake, the view of its frozen surface reflecting the early morning golden sunlight is bound to take your breath away. The whole area is covered with pine forests which offer a thick green shade over the lake. Commonly considered a summer destination, the place is a must-visit for those who love snow, even during the winter.
Banjosa Lake
na border is a worthwhile investment. The journey through the Karakoram highway is one of its kind in the world but is not recommended for the faint-hearted. Those who prefer to play it safe can instead take a dip in the lukewarm water of the Borith Lake, located on the way to the Chinese border. A walk across the Passu bridge and a visit to the glaciers is also a must as the grandeur of the golden brown Passu cones at sunset can even put the famous Italian Dolomites to shame.
Nearest C ity: Rawalp indi / Islam abad. Accommo dation: S wiss Cott House, Raw a ge Guest alakot — Rooms av Rs3,500 p ailable for er night. Banjosa L ment rest ake gover house — nRooms av Rs2,100 per ailable for night. Best time to visit: M id-June to to beat the end-August heat. End-D ecember to ary to enjo end-Januy the snow fall. Minimum time for th e trip: 3 d lamabad a ays from Is nd back Other pla ces of inte rest in th Peer, a 40k e area: To m drive fr li o m Rawalak top for an ot to a hillamazing v ie w of Kashm snow-capp ir and the ed mounta ins beyond .
Garam Chash ma Nea
rest C ity: C Best t hitral ime to visit: Accom May t m o Sept Garam odation: H ember otel Chash Innjig ma — from R aan, s400 Room to Rs8 Hotel range 00 pe Hindu s r nigh kush Room t. Heigh costs ts, Ch Rs6,0 night itral — 00 an d above Minim per um ti me fo from C r t hitral he tri p: 2 d Other ays place s of in The sw t e rest in immin the ar g pool local h ea: , smal ot wat l baza er spr ar and ing ba th cen ter.
Garam Chashma, Chitral Located at a two-hour drive, north-west of Chitral, Garam Chashma is a town named after its hot water spring. The water from the spring, which comes from several sources, is so hot that it is impossible to dip your finger in it for more than five seconds. But if you really want to turn up the heat, go to Hotel Innjigan, for a swim in the pool with fresh hot water straight from the spring. The water is also said to cure a lot of skin diseases and people from different parts of the country flock to the area to bathe in it. The trend is at its peak around March and lasts for two months every year. But the spring is not the town’s only claim to fame. It is also famous for the woolen cloth (locally known as patti) that is used to make Chitrali topis, shawls and jackets which are sent all over the country.
Bahaw alpur
Neare st City : Bahaw Accom alpur modat i on: PT walpur D C Mote Hotel a l, New nd Hot Best t Bahael Abas ime to e e n v isit: A the sco ny tim rching e othe hot sum Minim r than mers um tim e for th Other e trip: places 3 days of inte rawar rest in Fort in t he are Cholist Nation a: Dean dese al Park r t , Lalsu and Uch Sh h anra arif
Bahawalpur , the Royal range For those travelling from Karachi to Lahore by road, Bahawalpur is often treated as a mere stopover. But with its rich history, architecture and royal heritage, the city is a treat on its own. The state of Bahawalpur, governed by the Abbasi nawabs acceded to Pakistan in 1947 but continued as an independent state, with their own prime minister, until 1955. The royal heritage of the region is visible in its architecture and prestigious institutions such as the central library built in 1927 and Sadiq Public School. The palaces of the nawabs, such as the Noor Mahal, Sadiqgarh Palace, Gulzar Mahal and Durbar Mahal are also a must-see. Although access to interiors of palaces other than the Noor Mahal might be restricted, a drive through the city is a treat for every architecture and history enthusiast. For the more adventurous souls, a desert safari to Derawar fort is a must. The fort is still the private property of the nawabs and requires permission, which is usually granted easily. A visit to Bahawalpur would not be complete without a stay at Lal Suhanra National Park that is home to a healthy population of Black Bucks, Chinkaras and Neel Gai (Blue Bulls). The park has acres of forests, sand dunes and wetlands and must feature on every nature-lover’s bucket list.
Hanna Lake, Quetta Hanna Lake, the water reservoir built by the British during the late 19th century and located 15km from Quetta is the most visited tourist destination for people living in the area but unknown to the rest of Pakistan. The irrigation dam rises majestically out of the water on one end while the eastern side is dominated by the Hayat Durrani Water Sports Academy, which is the only rowing, canoeing, kayaking and sailing training center in the province. The greenish-blue waters of the lake with goldfish swimming up to the shore make an excellent backdrop for photography or just walking around. You can also enjoy the boat ride that gives you a tour around the lake and the artificial island in the center. The lakeside restaurant also offers a meal with a fantastic view under the shade of pine trees.
Hanna La ke
Gorakh Hill Station, Dadu, Sindh Situated at a distance of roughly 450 km from Karachi in Dadu district, Sindh and riding high upon the Kirthar range, the Gorakh hill station is approximately 5,600 feet above sea level. Driving from Dadu, up to the Wahi Pandi village, only 50 km away from Gorakh, one cannot imagine the presence of a such a high spot nearby, but then the Kirthar range gains altitude abruptly, creating some spectacular mountain passes. Visiting Gorakh remains a proposition for the adventurous only, as the road is difficult to drive on and facilities at the top are less than luxurious. Until recently, tourists had to get their own water supplies from Wah Pindi but the arrival of electricity recently has improved the water availability. A two-room rest house is the only accommodation option available but the drive through the mountain passes, a bonfire under the twinkling stars and the early morning view from the cliff is enough of a reason to embark on this trip. Due to the logistical difficulties and the law and order situation in Dadu, it is recommended to plan your trip with some local support.
Nearest Cit y: Quetta Best time to visit: May to September Accommodat ion: Serena Hotel, Quetta — Room costs Rs8,000 and above per night. A rmy huts ar ou nd the lake, which requ ire permissi on fr om the army headqu arters in Que tt a. Minimum ti me for the tr ip: 1 day from Quetta Other places of interest in the area: Hanna Urak Valley, Spin Karez Lake and Quetta ba zaar
n Statio l l i H h Gorak
on hi oms e ro Karac s : u y o t i h est est C n: R t Near datio o excep g m n ampi round c Accom s r r e a o k e ll y g ta h top isit: A land slidin v Gorak o t time when Best ason e s y s from n ai 2 day : the r p i r t r the place eme fo i t m ea: S u he ar t Minim nd back n i azaar est hi a inter ar’s m d f n o Karac a l s Qa Karaplace hbaz from a h y S a Other l w a e with L on th Lake hwan r a h c an and M . Dadu o chi t
The cult of foreigners that flocks to Pakistan every year despite all the negative attention is a testimony to what all the country has to offer. For the people at home, it should be a reason to brush off that cynicism, pack up their bags, set aside a small budget and get ready to fall in love with Pakistan all over again. Adil Mulki works for a private bank and is interested in the outdoors, wildlife and science. He can be reached at vagabonds.odyssey@gmail.com Danial Shah is travel writer and photographer who is always on the lookout for positive stories. He tweets @DanialShah Sharjeel Ahmad is a freelance consultant and budding entrepreneur. He tweets @thisissharjeel JANUARY 5-11 2014
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A Bloody Revolution Schools from India, Pakistan and Dubai learn about a one-rupee hygiene product TEXT AND PHOTOS BY MAHIM MAHER DESIGN BY ASIF ALI
Seventeen-year-old Kunal Singh’s first reaction to handling the rectangular object was: “They’re so soft.” In his hands was a sanitary napkin — that cost just one rupee to make. Kunal had never touched one before in his life. “It’s so awkward,” he said. His education had just begun. In fact, many of Kunal’s classmates were having the same reaction. These boys of 32 the famed boarding Scindia School in Gwalior (five hours by road from Delhi) were JANUARY 5-11 2014
Arunachalam Muruganathanam receiving the best invention award for the betterment of society from the Indian Institute of Technology in Chennai in 2006 from president Pratibha Patil.
hosting six schools for a Round Square community service project from December 15 to 20. Attending it were students from Karachi’s Lyceum School, Maharani Gayatri Devi school in Jaipur, The Millennium School in Dubai, The Daly College in Indore, the Scindia Kanya Vidyalaya of Gwalior, the Pinegrove School of Shimla and the Indian High School in Dubai as the Round Square is a worldwide association of schools. The focus of the project was improving the hygiene of a village called Nathon ka Pura outside town. Part of it included a visit to the girls school, Scindia Kanya Vidyalaya (SKV), that had acquired an award-winning invention to make the dirtcheap sanitary essentials for the women there. The SKV girls had discovered that the women in the village, who could not afford branded sanitary napkins, would use rags, leaves and even sand each month. “Their dignity and health [are affected],” remarks Medha Inamdar, an SKV biology teacher, who was due to make another delivery of napkins the next day. The napkins are produced by a patented machine created by the now world-famous Arunachalam Muruganantham, who started Jayaashree Industries in Coimbatore in 2006. Muruganantham discovered that his wife was using rags as they couldn’t afford the products of multinational companies. He started experimenting and discovered that wood pulp and biodegradable materials like banana fibre can be just as good. He was given the Best Innovation Award by the President of India, Pratibha Patil, for his work which became the subject of a documentary, Menstrual Man, in 2013. “We
have [sent] 1,300 machines across India and to countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh, Nigeria and even the US,” he tells The Express Tribune over the phone from Coimbatore. But he refuses to give it to ‘commercial’ businesses and will only entertain self-help groups. The machine needs an investment of just INR75,000 and today stands in a small room on the ground floor of the SKV school. The girls make the napkins, package them into blocks of five and distribute them in the village each month for free. “It’s the kind of invention in which you say, ‘Why didn’t I think of this?’” remarks SKV Principal Nishi Misra. The machine is laid out on stations, that will fit on eight desks. First you tear up raw cotton sheets or any of the other raw materials, strip them of the fibre in a stainless steel container like a bucket with a motor at the bottom. This defibration machine whips the material so it becomes fluffy. You then compress 12 grammes of the fluff into a rectangular mould. The water-proof strip is slipped under and the napkin is sealed into an absorbent tissue-cloth, after which the adhesive strip of oil paper is applied. The napkin is heatsealed and sterilised in a UV chamber. Muruganantham favours schools taking up this work. “Why don’t we [get them] at the girl stage,” he says, explaining that he felt that while women empowerment was all well and good, sometimes villages had trouble with women getting permission for such projects. Girls telling their mothers was a bottom-up approach that he felt made sense too. Women in Pakistan are doing pretty much what many women in India are during their cycle. Not all of them have 33 JANUARY 5-11 2014
Students worked for four days to mix cement and pass bricks to help build the four toilets for women at the edge of Nathon ka Pura outside Gwalior. The village children are the only ones who helped. easy access to affordable feminine care products. Datamonitor, a London-based research company, estimated that by the end of 2009, Pakistan’s market size for napkins was Rs1.1 billion and would grow to Rs2.1 billion by 2015. But surprisingly few here have contacted Muruganantham. “We have received many commercial inquiries from Pakistan,” he tells The Express Tribune, “but none from social [welfare/community] groups, NGOs or the government.” Aside from being inspired by the self-help sanitary napkins, the Round Square project schools wanted to accomplish another essential: build four toilets in Nathon ka Pura where the women had to go to the bushes and had little privacy. For four days, the 60 students from the seven schools sifted through gravel, mixed cement, carried it in tubs to the site and passed bricks from the roadside pile. This included five students from The Lyceum School in Karachi who had been quizzed at home on why they would want to build a toilet in India? The principal of the host Scindia School was well prepared to tackle this cynicism. “These things are actually global,” says Samik Ghosh. “[It is the thinking that] I’ll help somebody and do something for someone less privileged.” The four toilets were constructed at the edge of the village at the bottom of a small incline. The run-off grey water from the village hand-pump was channelled into a tank. This recycled water would be used to flush the toilets and a septic tank was constructed at the other end to dispose off the waste. The hardest part, because of its sheer repetitive nature, was passing the bricks. The students attacked the task with
There are no unmarried girls over the age of 13 years in Nathon ka Pura as they are married off. There are several water pumps in the village but the superstitious parents generally don’t like bathing the children as one child once died the morning after being given a bath. Scindia School teacher Jasman Preet tried to break the myth by bathing one child here. good cheer but slowly started to notice that the men of Nathon ka Pura were completely ignoring them and not offering to pitch in. In fact, the squatting men just played round after round of cards; at one point an inebriated lush came and started spewing abuse. The women didn’t come forward either, but that was perhaps understandable. They stayed at home for the most part. It was the children, weighing little more than the bricks themselves, who came forward to take ownership and inserted themselves into the students’ ranks to lend a tiny hand. The destitute Nathon ka Pura was not always this hard up and its men not so apathetic. Some of them said that the turning point came two to three years ago when the Indian government had banned snake charming. Snake charming was the main profession here — hence the name ‘Naath’ ka Pura. Actually, the ban on possession of snakes dates to 1972 to protect wildlife and thus applied to the sacred pythons and cobras. The decision was partly based on the fact that the snakes would starve to death as their fangs were removed. From time to time since, the government has cracked down on the public display of snakes, particularly during the Shrawan month when the festival of Nag Panchami falls. The law was amended in 2003 to make punishments stricter. And in 2009, snake charmers formed a union to try and defy the ban as it had affected over 100,000 families. One of the out-of-work snake charmers at Nathon ka Pura was 35-year-old Jagdeesh who used to own a “Kala Phan Wallah,” or black cobra. “We defanged it and extracted the poison,” he explains. “I didn’t have a flute so I’d make it sway with a chutki [snap of my fingers].” He and the other snake
charmers would still be able to make a little bit of a living by either entertaining people from village to village or by taking part in Naag Panchami. “We would go to homes where they would call us for pooja,” he said. “We would hold the head of the snake and the women would apply a teeka.” With the crackdowns though, the villagers lost their source of income and had to release the snakes into the wild. The onus of earning fell to the women who started gathering wood and selling it for INR100 a bushel. “The women mostly earn and bring the money home and then the men take it and drink it away,” explains Khemsingh Yadav, a 74-year-old retired school teacher and social worker who comes to help from the neighbouring Sonsa village. Today the people of Nathon ka Pura rely on ration cards. The yellow below-the-poverty-line booklets are for the people who earn just INR1,200 a month. They are thus eligible for 20kg of flour among other essentials. But many people claimed that they needed to give bribes just to get a yellow booklet. “We are cheated on the weight of the flour as well because we don’t know how to read,” says Jagdeesh to Rahul Pandey, a student from the Scindia School, who was doing a village survey. But Pandey quizzed Jagdeesh on how he could claim he couldn’t read his ration card entries given that he played cards and used a mobile phone with numerals on it. It was, of course, with irony that when Pandey reported this back to the group, someone mentioned a 2010 UN report that had pointed out that Indians have easier access to cell phones than toilets. T Mahim Maher is an editor at The Express Tribune. She tweets @Mahim_Maher JANUARY 5-11 2014
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Rear Race is on rally enthusiast Nauman Khan’s mind as he speeds through the 2013 Jhal Magsi Desert Challenge held in December BY NAUMAN SARANJAM KHAN PHOTOS BY CYRUS NADER
Each time a car jumps over the bumpy terrain of Balochistan, the onlookers skip a heartbeat. The excitement is palpable and the competitive spirit almost contagious. At the Jhal Magsi Desert Challenge Rally each year, the speedsters of Pakistan get an unrestrained opportunity to show off their talent. They reshape the concept of car rallies in the country by competing at par with international standards. The off-road event, which was started in 2005, is now in its ninth edition, and took a bigger spin this year with increased local participation and an even more aggressive terrain for the rally that covers over 200kms. Contrary to the previous challenges, in the absence of corporate-sponsored international racers such as Abdo Feghali from Lebanon and Burcu Cetinkaya from Turkey, many local champions including the likes of Nadir Magsi, Asad Khoro and Ronnie Patel stole the spotlight at the event. Even though it may not be the biggest 4x4 car challenge in the world, like the Dakar Rally in South
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America and the Baja 1000 in Mexico, it is certainly the country’s most challenging. With a higher probability of claiming the trophy, many racers like myself revved up our car engines and speeding strategies to finish first at this year’s rally. Participants and vehicles need to prepare months in advance for the challenge, something veteran racers take very seriously. Every driver chooses his car carefully, and my Vigo 3.0 diesel met my need for speed this year. Rally cars require the right engine upgrade, ranging from a heavy 3501cc engine (and above) to a 1400cc, depending on the opted category ranging between A, for high performance engines, to D, for low performance engines. Most race enthusiasts go the extra mile to fit their cars with a turbo-charged intercooler and powerful shock absorbers to enhance performance. Excluding the actual cost of the car, it takes around Rs500,000 to Rs1,000,000 to get the car ready for the rally. While many professional racers happily bear the cost of modification, others pursue this passion on a lower budget.
And to encourage increased participation this year, new categories, Stock 1 and Stock 2, were added for factoryfitted or minimally modified cars. Once the vehicle and navigator have been carefully selected, the journey, to what I call every ‘driver’s paradise’, begins. While making my way to Balochistan from Karachi, I passed by some of the most visually captivating sights, including peaceful villages surrounded by green fields. Most racers believe in leaving nothing to chance and travel with their mechanics, navigators, guests and car equipment (that includes spare parts) to avoid any last-minute glitches. The wise reach the destination a couple of days in advance to practise and to familiarise themselves with the track, climate and most importantly, to prepare for the imminent challenges. Upon reaching the venue, team meetings and pep talks are organised by the racers. The camp buzzes with excitement as they prepare for the qualifying round. All three meals are provided by the organisers to racers and co-drivers and full-proof security is ensured by the Mag-
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FEATURE
In the absence of corporatesponsored international racers such as Abdo Feghali from Lebanon and Burcu Cetinkaya from Turkey, many local champions including the likes of Nadir Magsi, Asad Khoro and Ronnie Patel stole the spotlight at the event 38 JANUARY 5-11 2014
si tribe. What follows next is three days of adrenalinefilled, action-packed adventure. From sand dunes to salty plains and hard surfaces to loose gravel, the Jhal Magsi race track can cause great fear or nervousness in even the most senior racers. This year, fifty participants enrolled for the challenge despite the risk of accidents and injuries that accompany this extreme sport. The challenge has two stages, the qualifying round, which determines the starting sequence for the rally drivers, followed by the actual race the next day. The start and finish point remains the same with the route comprising two legs and several checkpoints. Every vehicle has to pass through these checkpoints in order to get their official timing card stamped by the checkpoint marshal. All this is made clear during the driver’s meeting that takes place before the rally in which racers are
Ibrahim Khan Khoso (left) and Ronnie Patel (right) receiving awards at the prize distribution ceremony.
briefed on the clear markings throughout the route and the exact number and location of checkpoints. The National Motorsports organisation takes charge of this by providing consultation and management services to the event’s hosting body and distributing roadmaps among drivers. It acts as a governing body for the rally each year. While many make it to the finish line victorious, there are also those who return home disappointed. This year was no exception when a veteran racer wrecked his car during practice and was rushed in an ambulance to a hospital in Larkana having sustained serious injuries. But in the midst of all danger, Nadir Magsi, also known as the undisputed king of rallying, proves his mettle time and again by winning the rally from category A. Category B was won by Asad Khoro despite the strong fight I put up along with my navigator, Saad Tariq, and
Mukesh Chawla and Gohar Sangi came out top in category C. Once the race concludes so does all rivalry and the competitive atmosphere is replaced by a boyish camaraderie. All participants gather for the prize distribution ceremony with the first prize being an award of Rs100,000 followed by runner-up prizes of Rs75,000 and Rs50,000. Racers share a meal and laughs over the day’s race, ready to head back home in the morning. The Jhal Magsi Desert Challenge is one of the few platforms available to motorsport enthusiasts in Pakistan and is anticipated eagerly by new and seasoned racers. And while we continue to live our passion, we also silently pray that the event will one day put Pakistan on the international motorsports map. Nauman Saranjam Khan is a professional driver who has participated in many car rallies including the Jhal Magsi Desert Challenge JANUARY 5-11 2014
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Fatherhood, served
Delivery Man provides comic relief but lacks the much-needed sophistication BY NIDA AMEEN
Viewers who are expecting to watch a typical, obnoxious, motor-mouthed Vince Vaughn movie are in for a disappointment. Delivery Man is not an average American comedy that will make you go hysterical over a plot that lacks soul. Rather, it celebrates the warmth and unpredictability of parenthood by approaching several significant social issues like drug abuse with a logical dose of satire. Based on the French-Canadian comical drama Starbuck, the film is about an apathetic underachiever David Wozniak (Vince Vaughn) who drives his family’s meat delivery truck for a living. And even that seems more of a burden considering his diminutive abilities. Like any other lazy dreamer, David too keeps trying his hands at making some quick easy money — his current scheme involves growing marijuana at home. Clearly, his family has no hopes attached and his newly pregnant girlfriend also decides to give up on him. To make matters worse, David hits his lowest ebb when an unprecedented visit from a lawyer unravels one of the most shocking truths of his life so far — David has fathered 533 children in total. In an attempt to earn some cash, David had donated his sperm around a dozen times 20 years ago, and an administrative fluke led to a reproduction of this magnitude. Now, nearly 142 of his children have filed a lawsuit against him demanding to know his real identity. From there on, the film takes a slight plunge the emotional terrain as David struggles with the dilemma of revealing his identity while trying to make way into each of his kids’ lives and becoming their benefactor. Director Ken Scott, who also
headed the original French version, knows exactly how to play with the audience’s emotions and where to tickle the funny bone. By positioning the idea that a man can father an array of personalities, Scott celebrates diversity and the satisfaction one receives from the mere act of parenting. Vaughn unveils his softer side and to some extent does justice to his character. The reason why he manages it only to a certain extent is because he appears to lack emotional desperation. While his comic timing is perfect, he fails to exhibit the right amount of impulsiveness during emotional scenes. Cobie Smulders, as Vaughn’s disgruntled girlfriend Emma, does not have much of a part to play, and hence, has no scope to show her acting abilities. Each of the other supporting characters, especially the children, are genuinely refreshing. The star of the film is surprisingly actor Chris Patt who plays Vaughn’s best friend and lawyer. His hilarious interpretation of a frustrated father and his relatively degrading comments to David over his eccentricity are spot on. Without a doubt, Delivery Man is Patt’s funniest performance to date. With minimal flaws and a few high points, the adaptation is not as great as the original foreign version, but it also doesn’t fall completely on its face. If you enjoyed films like The Hangover series, then Delivery Man is certainly not your cup of tea. However, if you appreciate a light-hearted yet exaggerated storyline, then this heartfelt celebratory film is definitely a safe bet. T
Rating: Nida Ameen is a sub-editor for the Life & Style desk at The Express Tribune. She tweets @ameennida
Tickle my fancy
40
Starbuck (2011)
Admission (2013)
We’re The Millers (2013)
If you fancy foreign
A light-hearted comedy/
A story of four different
language films, then the
drama about a Princeton
people, who are
original French version
admission officer
struggling to make ends
of Delivery Man titled
struggling with the
meet and have pretty
Starbuck will be a best bet
dilemma of choosing a
much failed at everything
in terms of an enjoyable
candidate who might just
in life, end up together
and heart-warming comic
be her own child who
as a pretentious family
drama. The Canadian
she gave up for adoption
to earn some quick cash.
comedy about a perpetual dawdler David Wozniak
years ago. Quirky Tina Fey reveals her serious
Although rated R for strong language, the star
and his unexpected fatherhood has been declared
side and carries off the emotional character
cast takes you on an outstandingly hilarious
far more stimulating than its American counterpart.
with ease.
rollercoaster ride.
JANUARY 5-11 2014
BOOK
Language speaks
Language, Gender and Power: The Politics of Representation and Hegemony in South Asia studies the role of language in relation to the complicated issues of power, gender and representation while placing them in a Pakistani context. In this new book (which is said to have been in the making for a decade), Dr Shahid Siddiqui provides a contextualised view of how language does not represent anything through its communicative function, but rather shapes our perception and consciousness. This gives it the power to change the way we think and perceive the world around us. The book is simple and has been written keeping students in mind. It tackles complicated subjects like the control of power or construction of identity through language with immense simplicity. The book also addresses the study of language and its role in disseminating a particular idea of gender through literature and other cultural practices that include proverbs, sayings, jokes, as well as advertisement campaigns. It highlights the propagated desire of a particular kind of gender behaviour and how it is injected into the viewer or reader’s mind through the strategic use of language. The specific local examples such as associating modesty or docility with women which in turn reinforces gender stereotypes, make the concepts relatable and easy to understand. The author also explores the use of language to represent gender in the educational material. In this part of the book, Siddiqui intensively dwells on the study of nursery rhymes, fairly tales for children and other educational practices which have been stereotyping women and limiting them to domestic roles for generations
The first step towards breaking stereotypes is changing the way we talk about them BY AQSA IJAZ
Book available at The Last Word for Rs995
in the subcontinent. The chapter, Language, Gender and Media which constitutes the larger part of this book, extensively studies and questions the role of the media in gender construction. The author analyses gender stereotypes in popular entertainment mediums such as advertisements, television plays, films and songs in a manner that presents his thesis in a chronological totality. The crucial argument here is that the representation of gender, of women through a certain kind of language used by the media also becomes the natural way of perceiving them, which may often be far from the truth. However, the book concludes on the idea of language as a form of resistance which can be equally powerful and influential. The author proposes multiple reforms in our personal and collective understanding of language in order to change the sociopolitical understanding of our realities. The strongest element of the book is the fact that it deals with the interrelationship of language, gender and power in the context of the subcontinent and is the first of its kind from the local academia. While the book builds its thesis on the significant theoretical insights provided by twentieth century thinkers such as Michel Foucault, Edward Said, Roman Jakobson, Simone de Beauvoir and Judith Butler on the language-gender issue, it also aims at reforming the indigenous socio-cultural practices in order to make language an active agent that shapes human discourse in this part of the world. Aqsa Ijaz is a lecturer of Literature and Cultural Studies at Beaconhouse National University, Lahore. Write to her at amtalaqs@gmail.com
41 JANUARY 5-11 2014
HEALTH
EPILEPSY A recurring battle The right diagnosis and care can help epileptic patients lead a fulfilling life BY HASSAN MAJEED DESIGN BY TALHA AHMED KHAN
What causes epilepsy? Although the exact reasons for most types of epilepsy cannot be traced, head traumas, strokes, poisoning, electrolyte imbalance, drug and alcohol abuse and certain medications commonly precipitate an attack. Many environmental factors such as sleep deprivation and highly emotional states can also cause an epileptic fit.
Assistance during a seizure If someone is having a fit, try to stay calm. Help the patient lie down in a safe place and try to place a blanket or jacket gently under their head to prevent injury. Make sure the patient is not fed anything, including water, until he or she becomes fully conscious. Also, do not try to hold or restrain the patient. Take notes of the length of the seizure, movements of the body and associated injuries as this may prove to be very useful medical information and should be communicated to 42 the treating physician. JANUARY 5-11 2014
Most stories in the epilepsy battle are filled with agony and despair. But not all end on a tragic note, and modern medicine makes sure of that. However, for patients suffering from epilepsy, the nightmare is still not over, as many cases remain incorrectly diagnosed and treated. According to the World Health Organization, around fifty million people worldwide have epilepsy, a neurological condition that results in recurring seizures. When the brain experiences a brief and temporary disturbance of electric activity, too many nerve cells being fired simultaneously in an uncoordinated manner, it scrambles one’s thoughts, feelings and movement. And once a patient has a seizure, there is a higher likelihood of another. Childhood seizures with fever and a family history of epilepsy are the two most important predictors for developing epilepsy. Some people have episodes that may resemble a seizure, but after further investigation are found not to be epileptic in origin. These seizure-like behaviours are mostly emotionally generated. Thankfully, not all forms of epilepsy are lifelong conditions with some being confined only to childhood. There is so much that is still not known about seizures but a diagnosis can at least establish whether one has epilepsy or not. This requires thorough history-taking, complete physical examination, blood work, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and electro-encephalograms (EEG). The diagnosis must be clinical to find any anatomical or other pathological processes that may be causing the seizure. In a study titled “Epidemiology of Epilepsy in Pakistan” published in the 2003 Journal of Pakistani
Medical Association, researchers found that the country’s rural population has almost double the number of epileptic patients with children forming a majority. Unfortunately, less than one in four receive any treatment. Once the diagnosis is established, patients need to be put on medications to control the next possible seizure. Compliance with medication is extremely important as surgery is reserved for treatment-resistant cases despite its success rate. And with the looming threat of developing other psychiatric conditions such as anxiety, depression, attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder and autism, it is important that parents opt for immediate treatment. Uncontrolled epilepsy can seriously impair personal, social and professional functioning, and can lead to serious injury or even death. Patients with uncontrolled seizures should avoid driving and working on heavy machinery for their own safety and that of others. “He wants to get his driver’s license now. I am worried about his safety [and] it is causing a conflict. I want him to be medically stable before he can get behind the wheel,” says a concerned father about his son’s battle with epilepsy. While driving is one of the primary concerns for epileptic patients, others involve societal concerns. “She is a girl and one day she has to get married. If her epilepsy continues, then we will not be able to find her a good match,” expresses a worried mother. Unfortunately, there is a strong stigma attached to epilepsy in the country and unless there is awareness about treatment and control, the losing streak for many patients will continue. Hassan Majeed is a child and adolescent psychiatry fellow at the Long Island Medical Center, New York. He tweets @HassanMajeedMD