The Express Tribune Magazine - March 3

MARCH 3-9 2013

MARCH 3-9 2013

Cover Story

17 They call him Patient Zero It’s been 26 years since the first Pakistani tested positive for HIV

Features

24 A Glimpse of the Magnificent Mughals From the splendour of Akbar’s Tasveer Khana and Babur’s Baghe-Wafa to the last gold crown of the defeated Bahadur Shah, the Mughal exhibit brings history to life

28 And Miles to Run How far will you go to help the survivors of domestic violence?

Travel

34 Small Wonders of the Maasai Mara “When you realize that nothing is lacking, the whole world belongs to you” — Lao Tzu

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Comment

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36 All the Shor about Chor Ahmer Naqvi tries to make sense of all the fuss about co-Ven’s latest music video

Regulars

6 People & Parties: Out and about with Pakistan’s beautiful people 40 Reviews: Cold Steel 42 Healthy Living: To Eat or not to Eat?

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Magazine Editor: Zarrar Khuhro, Senior Sub-Editor: Farahnaz Zahidi, Sub-Editors: Ameer Hamza, Heba Al-Adawy and Dilaira Mondegarian.

Creative Team: Amna Iqbal, Jamal Khurshid, Essa Malik, Maha Haider, Faizan Dawood, Samra Aamir, Sanober Ahmed.

Publisher: Bilal A Lakhani. Executive Editor: Muhammad Ziauddin. Editor: Kamal Siddiqi.

For feedback and submissions: magazine@tribune.com.pk Printed: uniprint@unigraph.com

PEOPLE & PARTIES

Fauzia and Nazia Malik

PHOTOS COURTESY SAVVY PR AND EVENTS

Sadia Nawabi

Koni

The new concept Movenpick boutique launches in Karachi

Huma and Pinky

Afreen and Shiraz Alyzeh Gabol

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Mathira and Asad Tareen

MARCH 3-9 2013

PEOPLE & PARTIES

Sonya Khan

PHOTOS COURTESY SAVVY PR AND EVENTS

Nadia Hussain

Anny Shahzad

Shiza, Hassan, Hamdan and Rayaan

Kiran

Asim and Sana

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Faryal Jumani and Asim Jofa MARCH 3-9 2013

Saneeya

MARCH 3-9 2013

PEOPLE & PARTIES

Munaf and Jia

Tayyab and Anadil

PHOTOS COURTESY TAKE II

Saima Azhar

Sana Nabeela and Eashal

The flagship store of Black & White launches in Karachi

Hira and Annas

Rida and Hafza Zohra, Neha and Hina

10 MARCH 3-9 2013

MARCH 3-9 2013

PEOPLE & PARTIES

Zarbakhtha Haute Couture launches in Islamabad

Cristina and Sophiya

Nida and Urooj Ahmed

PHOTOS COURTESY VERVE PR

Moniba and Sher

Kanwal and Gita

Gul and Fia

Madeeha and Nabeela

Anum, Fauziah and Nimra

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Samra and Sania

MARCH 3-9 2013

PEOPLE & PARTIES

Telenor conducts a three city tour in Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore

Subaib Baluch and Waqar Sheikh

Iram Umair Akhtar, Hena Iqbal, Anam Anjum and Hira Hafeez

Shoaib Baig, Kashif Haleem, Umar Jilani and Farrukh Rasheed

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Silkworm Design launches its new studio in Karachi

Nyla Jafri

Alia Aziz and Moomal Effendi

Nargis Chinoy, Meher Najeeb and Zeeba Korejo

MARCH 3-9 2013

MARCH 3-9 2013

COVER STORY

they call him

patient zero

BY MAHNOOR SHERAZEE

Hailing from Lahore and working in the Gulf, this migrant worker was the first Pakistani to be reported HIV positive back in 1987.

The same year, the first husband to wife to child transmission of the virus was reported in Rawalpindi.

1987 is considered a watershed year for AIDS in Pakistan. Spurred by worldwide hysteria and apocalyptic warnings of an incurable global pandemic, the government set up the Federal Committee on AIDS, which later became the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP).

“It was however a year earlier that the first death due to AIDS, that of an African sailor, was reported in Karachi,” says Dr M Ashraf Memon of the Sindh Aids Programme.

For a few short years, it seemed Pakistan may have dodged the bullet, but then in 1993, a baby tested positive for HIV in Karachi. He had been infected by his mother’s breast milk.

In the 26 years that have passed since Patient Zero, at least 5,800 Pakistanis have lost their lives as a result of the HIV virus and estimates of the total number of cases ranges from 14,000 to 125,000, depending on who you talk to. Pakistan has gone from being a ‘low prevalence high risk’ country to one that is in the ‘concentrated’ phase of the epidemic. It goes without saying that people are

17

neither screened enough, nor are all cases reported.

MARCH 3-9 2013

AIDS FACTS HIV and AIDS are not the same thing. HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, it decreases the body’s ability to fight off various infections. This leads to AIDS, which stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

HIV is the cause and AIDS is the effect. In fact, when you get AIDS, you don’t actually die of AIDS itself. The virus weakens your immune system, leaving you vulnerable to ordinary viruses such as TB or pneumonia which easily enter your body and kill you.

After initial infection, it can take up to ten tears for symptoms of AIDS to develop. It is true that it takes many years (eight to ten years on average without treatment) after initial infection with HIV for the symptoms of AIDS to develop.

You cannot tell whether a person has HIV or not by looking at his/her appearance. There are often no specific signs and symptoms of HIV infection for a long time. An infected person may look healthy and only a blood test for HIV can show whether a person is infected or not.

Blood donation cannot lead to HIV infectionBlood donation does not lead to HIV infection, if the blood collection equipment is sterilised and not reusable.

If you have tested negative for HIV during the “Window Period”, you may already be HIV infected and capable of transmitting the infection to others. When the body is infected with HIV, it produces antibodies specific to HIV. The HIV test (ELISA) detects such antibodies in the blood and does not detect the virus itself. It takes about 3-12 weeks from the date of exposure to HIV antibodies to appear in the blood. This period is called the Window Period.

If the HIV antibody test is taken during the Window Period, it will give negative result, since the blood test is looking for antibodies that have not yet developed. But the person may already be HIV infected and capable of transmitting the infection to others.

Simply living with a HIV positive person will not increase the risk you contracting HIV. HIV cannot be spread by touching, eating together, sharing clothes, hugging, looking after and caring for HIV positive people.

18 MARCH 3-9 2013

For a few short years, it seemed Pakistan may have dodged the bullet, but then in 1993, a baby tested positive for HIV in Karachi. He had been infected by his mother’s breast milk.

A spreading danger “The disease is much more prevalent now,” says Head of Infectious Diseases at Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) Dr Shehla Baqi. “Two decades ago, HIV cases in Pakistan were mostly persons who had acquired the infection from contact with commercial sex workers in Gulf countries. Most of them were then deported to Pakistan when they tested positive for HIV/Aids on pre-employment screening in the Gulf.”

Experts believe these workers, who returned to Pakistan with the infection, then spread it to their unknowing spouses and then on to their children. Since then, the methods of transmission have changed drastically.

The estimate of total cases is about 95,000, while those actually detected are less than 10,000 so if you do the math you see that well below 10 per cent of cases are actually detected

From a relatively limited group of deported migrant workers, the high risk groups have expanded to include long distance truck drivers, sailors, female sex workers, hijra sex workers, men having sex with men (MSMs), injecting drug users (IDUs), prisoners, children born to infected parent(s), street children and victims of unsafe medical procedures.

The first outbreak of HIV among IDUs was reported in Larkana

Do remember, these are estimates only.”

In 2010, the National Aids Control Programme (NACP) reported that the number had risen to an estimated 97,400 HIV cases.

And if determining the number of cases is a difficult task, determining the rate of the spread of the disease is even harder.

in 2003. Larkana, according to many medical professionals, is

“The rate of spread has to do with incidence, or the number of

one of the places that have played a key role in the spread of HIV

new cases per year, while the above figures are of the prevalence,

and Aids by virtue of it being a major trucking route. Globally,

or the existing cases. Thus these figures are not directly related to

it has been observed that locations which offer great population

each other,” adds Dr Sultan. “Incidence data is very hard to come

movement play a vital part in the transmission of disease, infec-

by in large, complex countries like Pakistan, which have mixed

tions and viruses. This is because as people gather at these spots,

health systems.”

others come to cater to the travellers; these include high-risk

Dr Salman Shahid, Director for the Punjab Aids Programme

groups like prostitutes and drug traffickers and addicts. Most-at-

disagrees, insists that figures for HIV and Aids in the country are

risk Populations (MARPs) are also at high risk of spreading the

nowhere near the six-digit mark. “Actually the figures are quite

virus to their spouses or partners.

low,” he says. “This is because the disease is not found in the gen-

If estimates are anything to go by, it seems like the disease

eral population, but in about 0.1 per cent of the population. But

has spread exponentially since the late 80’s. But what is unclear

it is true that the prevalence has increased, especially over the

is whether this is because greater awareness has led to increased

last two years, among specific groups.”

detection of the virus (known as the ‘detection bias’) or whether the virus itself has spread. “The fundamental technical tech-

Who is most at risk?

niques of HIV detection remain the same,” explains Dr Faisal

The obvious question is: who are these specific groups? At the top

Sultan, Chief executive officer for Shaukat Khanum Memorial

of this list are IDUs. These IDUs vary in age but most, if not all,

Cancer Hospital and Research Centre. “They are based on a fairly

are male. Many drug addicts end up sharing needles and syring-

simple blood test. The challenge is how and where to use the

es, either not realising or not caring about the great risk they put

test. In the US, there has been a movement to test pretty much

themselves at. If even a single person among them is infected, a

everyone — this was driven by the fact that they felt that even

shared needle means that the entire group is at risk. According

there the timely detection of cases was not happening.”

to data collected by the National Aids Control Programme (NACP)

The question of how many HIV/AIDS cases there are in Paki-

from 2005 to 2007, an IDU injects himself about two to three

stan is a hotly debated one in the medical community. Accord-

times a day. “The overall burden of HIV infection among drug us-

ing to members of the Punjab and Sindh Enhanced HIV and Aids

ers is about 20 per cent,”says Dr Altaf.

Control Programme, the number of HIV and Aids cases in Pakistan is only around 14,000.

“Pakistan is experiencing a concentrated level of the spread since 2004,” explains former head of the Sindh Aids Control Pro-

Others, like Sultan, say that those figures are only the tip of

gramme Dr Arshad Altaf. “The spread was initially driven by

the iceberg. “The estimate of total cases is about 95,000, while

IDUs but other risk groups have emerged since then such as hijra

those actually detected are less than 10,000 so if you do the math

sex workers and MSMs.” Then there are the ‘innocent bystand-

you see that well below 10 per cent of cases are actually detected.

ers’ comprising of the spouses, and ultimately the children of MARCH 3-9 2013

19

COVER STORY It is not possible to get HIV from a toilet seat or by sharing cigarettes. HIV cannot be spread from toilet seats.

Saliva cannot transmit HIV, hence sharing a cigarette with a HIV positive person cannot transmit the virus. Only four body fluids namely; blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk are known to spread HIV if they are infected.

While sharing of shaving blades may not cause HIV infection, it is still not advised. During a shave there are chances of micro injuries and small quantity of blood may stick on the blade/razor. However, HIV is a very fragile virus.

It cannot survive once exposed to sunlight.

A mosquito bite cannot cause HIV infection if the mosquito has bitten an HIV positive person. Unlike a syringe, the mosquito delivers salivary fluid through one passage and draws blood up another. In short, mosquitoes are not flying hypodermic needles. — LEECH A woman infected with HIV should not breastfeed her baby. Medical experts have evidence that HIV can pass from an infected mother to her child through her breast milk.

As a result the World Health Organization advises against nursing if you are HIV-positive.

HIV/AIDS: A Global Snapshot Ranking

Country

Adult (15-49) prevalence %

People with HIV/AIDS

1

South Africa

17.80

5,600,000

3

India

00.30

2,400,000

4

Kenya

06.30

1,500,000

43

Malaysia

00.50

100,000

Pakistan

00.10

98,000

Guinea

01.60

87,000

45 46

Source: CIA World Factbook 2011 20

IDUs and sex workers. According to a study by the National Aids

“[As we are talking about prepubescent children] the obvious

Programme in 2004, ‘nearly half of all IDUs and sex workers are

conclusion is that the disease was not being sexually transmit-

married.’

ted. This is of course is what makes sense but cannot be said

While the prevalence of HIV among IDUs is considered to be around 20% of the total IDU population, the figures vary from

with confidence as there is no proof to substantiate it,” Sultan says.

area to area. Some surveys found 42 per cent prevalence in Sindh

On the other hand, Dr Rajwal Khan says the case in Dera

and up to 50 per cent in some cities in Punjab. Some sample

Ismail Khan is “one of unscreened contaminated blood be-

surveys conducted by social welfare groups reported over 50 per

ing transfused to the child at a private medical centre.” But Dr

cent prevalence among IDUs in Peshawar.

Memon argues that blood transfusions at both public and pri-

“Injecting drug use is the major risk factor in the spread of

vate centres, especially in rural areas and suburbs, are unsafe.

HIV, but [the problem is compounded because] injecting drug

Among the new high risk groups are people with thalassemia,

users are also likely to engage in high risk sexual activities.”

who have to have regular blood transfusions, women who have

Baqi says. “However, they most likely acquired HIV through

suffered maternal haemorrhage and patients who require regu-

IDU,” she adds.

lar dialysis.

The next high-risk group is comprised of sex workers, and

HIV is a slow killer, and in most people it may take up to 10

even within this group, there are distinctions. A study titled

years to show its deadly effects. So it is safe to say many people

HIV epidemic in Pakistan published by the Journal of the Pakistan Medi-

who were infected through blood transfusions may have very

cal Association reads, “HIV infections in male sex workers preced-

well been exposed over a decade ago. This is a grave cause of con-

ed those among female sex workers likely because of more ef-

cern for medical professionals, especially those working in rural

ficient transmission through anal intercourse and the fact that

areas. “Those who require very regular and huge loads of trans-

although clients of male sex workers while more limited, may

fusions could have been infected anywhere between two years

have more interlinked and dense sexual networks.”

ago to just a few months back,” says Dr Anita Zaidi, the Chair of

Despite conflicting data and disputes over methodology, the

Paediatrics and Child Health at the Aga Khan University Hospi-

fact remains that more and more HIV and AIDS cases are being

tal, who has also worked extensively with people infected with

detected, and the consensus is that this is because of greater

HIV.

awareness and better monitoring.

Another growing risk population, perhaps the most exposed

Take the situation in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa as an example.

and unprotected of all, is that of street children. Once again,

“In 2005 we had 35 cases admitted,” says Dr Rajwal Khan, the

the old detection debate crops up here as well. In Dr Zaidi’s opin-

Monitoring and Evaluation specialist for the Global Fund’s

ion when a new population, such as the street children for ex-

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Aids Control Programme. “Compare that

ample, are being tested, it is “very tough to sort out whether

with last year, when in October alone we had 18 new cases ad-

the virus is spreading or whether the population was simply ig-

mitted in our centre in Hayatabad and another five in our other

nored before and now detection [among them] has improved.”

centre in Kohat.”

She adds, however, that “The bottom line is many street chil-

Some areas in Punjab, such as Jalalabad in the Multan district, have also reported alarming prevalence rates. For a small

dren are HIV+ …they are exposed to sexual exploitation and could also be forcibly made addicts.”

population cantered in just three to four villages, hundreds of

But no matter how you cut it, the consensus is that HIV cases

cases have been reported, some of prepubescent persons with

are on the rise and outside of the medical community, ques-

both parents testing negative for the infection. This indicates

tions of methodology are largely academic. For the rest of us,

a very high possibility of a dangerous new method of transmis-

the only real question is how to avoid becoming infected.

sion through contaminated surgical tools and unscreened blood transfusions. Dr Sultan explains the situation in Jalalabad. “In

How do I protect myself?

this particular situation some of the children [who tested posi-

“Education, effective prevention techniques and good infection

tive for HIV] were prepubescent so they had not contracted the

control practices are needed,” says Sultan. “The role of effective

disease through sexual transmission. Other cases were where

treatment of infected individuals in preventing the spread (by

the wife was positive but the husband negative and vice versa.

reducing the viral burden in each patient) is being increasingly

There were also children who were positive with parents who

recognised. Circumcision has likely blunted the rise of HIV in

tested negative for the virus.” Such cases, with both parents

Pakistan as compared to other countries. At the same time the

testing negative but the child testing positive are reported at

rising numbers in some high risk populations (eg hijras and

one of the largest hospitals in Karachi every year while Dera Is-

drug users) is of major concern, since this way the infection can

mail Khan reported one such case last year.

“bridge” into the general population,” Sultan says.

21 MARCH 3-9 2013

FEATURE

a glimpse of the magnificent mughals

From Babar’s Bagh-e-Wafa to Bahadur Shah Zafar’s defeated golden crown, the Mughal exhibit brings to life the journey of a legendary empire

BY GINA HASSAN

Entering the softly lit space with sitar harmonies delicately wafting through the air, one is apprehensive that the Mughal India: Art, Culture and Empire exhibit may present a narrow, clichéd, gift-shop approach to the Mughal dynasty. Exhilaratingly, it turns out to be a spectacular treasure trove of imperial life, unearthed by curator Malini Roy, from the vaults of the British Library.

The knowledge of Mughals that exists around the edges of one’s memory comes to life in the exhibit, pulsating tangibly with the excellence and the grandeur of the legendary empire. The poets, scholars, statesmen, warriors and kings that the Mughals were, is highlighted beautifully as the exhibit unfolds through three centuries of achievements in architecture, literature, astronomy, science and the unparalleled patronage of the arts.

Descendants of Genghis Khan and Timur, the Mughals ruled over South Asia from 1526 to 1858. At its peak, the empire encompassed most of present day India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and eastern Afghanistan. Babar, a Central Asian prince, conquered Kabul, Lahore and ultimately Delhi in 1526. He became the first of 15 Mughal emperors followed by Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb Alamgir, who are collectively known as the ‘Great Mughals.’ The gradual decline of the empire began when the later Mughal emperors began to face consecutive wars of succession as well as multiple invasions, and struggled to maintain control of a diminishing empire.

The Mughals were highly cultured and cultivated a sophisticated lifestyle based on both the Iranian and Indian examples. Architecture flourished under their patronage; they commissioned

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fortresses, palaces, mosques and mausoleums as a representaMARCH 3-9 2013

tion of their powerful stature. One of the greatest accomplishments of the Mughals was to initiate a new tradition of painting. Court historian Abu’l Fazl documented Akbar’s interest with these words: “His Majesty from his earliest youth has shown a great predilection for this art and gives it every encouragement.

Hence the art flourishes and many painters have obtained great reputation.” Akbar’s Tasveer Khana was led by eminent Iranian artists and employed more than 100 Hindu and Muslim artists of various skills, for projects that included Hamzanama, story of Ameer Hamza, which took 15 years to complete. Akbar encouraged artists to follow a realistic depiction of subjects, drawing attention to the individual’s features and physiognomy. Many painters and calligraphers collaborated to create manuscripts

A painting depicting one of Babar’s gardens, Bagh-e-Wafa being laid out in Kabul in 1504, hangs alongside a detached folio from Babarnama (Memoirs of Babar), where he lovingly describes the details of Bagh-e-Wafa and the nights he spent there

primarily for the emperor’s private library. The works of miniature painters are riveting representations of their skill and excellence.

The Mughals were keen patrons of literature and Babar himself was a poet and a diarist. A painting depicting one of Babar’s gardens, Bagh-e-Wafa in Kabul in 1504, hangs alongside a detached folio from Babarnama (Memoirs of Babar), where he lovingly describes the details of the garden and the nights he spent there.

Turkish Chaghatay was the original language of the Mughals but the literary language was Persian, which was also the preferred language for those who sought a position of influence. Shown here is the outstanding, 17th century, Turkish-Persian dictionary. Commissioned by Akbar, it was arguably the most important Persian dictionary till the end of the 19th century.

Great bibliophiles, the Mughals loved the traditions of fine arts and works of Iranian and central Asian masters. There were 24,000 volumes in Akbar’s library at the time of his death. A folio from “Shahnama” (the book of kings) remains from many books that were looted or given away in later years. Hamida Bano Begum, Akbar’s mother was one of the few Mughal women who had a library of her own. A late 16th century volume of Diwane-Hijri from her collection can be seen here. As are Shah Jahan’s books such as “Kabutarnama” — a treatise on the art of keeping pigeons. “The Notebook of Fragrance” dated 1698 is an interesting manuscript intended for gentlemen, containing formulae for perfumes and soaps, techniques for arranging a house, a garden or a library and for igniting fireworks.

Sciences were actively cultivated and significant advances were made in many fields by combining Indian and Islamic scientific traditions. Humayun had his own observatory where astronomical observations were recorded in tables and treatises. Geography, cartography and gazetteers were vital both for administrative purposes and for data used in compiling astronomical tables and calculating prayer times. Mughal physicians produced detailed medical manuals, some of which are on display. They were aware of the ancient Ayurvedic and contemporary European medicine but were greatly influenced by Unani Greco-Arabic traMARCH 3-9 2013

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FEATURE dition, which still flourishes in India and Pakistan today.

The Mughals ruled a vast empire, accommodating the culture and religion of the diverse peoples inhabiting the land. Peace and harmony of the empire depended on maintaining a balance between the Hindu majority and the Muslim, Christian, Zoroastrian, Jain and Sikh population. The tolerance of the Mughal emperors is a part of their legacy. Depicted in the exhibition are also Akbar’s efforts to hold inter-faith debates, his appointment of Hindu ministers and encouragement of multi-faith marriages and finally, his formation of Din-e-Elahi, a religion of his own, albeit controversial, which combined the features of various faiths.

The exhibit also brings out Aurangzeb’s commitment to religion and Shariah during his reign, symbolised by al-Fatawa Alamgiria, a vast compendium of Islamic jurisprudence in Arabic which took 50 Islamic scholars eight years to complete. The displayed copy originally belonged to Sir William Jones, judge of the Supreme Court in Calcutta.

Presented alongside is Dara Shikoh, a depiction of the diversity

Peace and harmony of the empire depended on maintaining a balance between the Hindu majority and the Muslim, Christian, Zoroastrian, Jain and Sikh population

of religious thought among the Mughals. Interested in the Sufi, mystical aspect of Islam, Dara Shikoh tried to reconcile Islamic and Hindu doctrines. Also on display at the exhibition is his last work, the translation of the Upanishads, a philosophical thesis of Hinduism, which he called Sirr-i-Akber. It was completed in 1657 and it was through this Persian version rather than the Sanskrit one that the Upanishads reached the West.

There is also a glorious display of the early 19th century collection of exquisitely artistic and calligraphic copies of the Quran, with Persian translation.

In a lit glass case sits the last emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar’s gold crown, set with rubies, turquoise and pearls in floral patterns and arches decorated in gold filigree. Many of the artefacts were acquired from various auctions by Robert Tytler, with the gold crown being sold ultimately to Queen Victoria in 1861.

Tytler, an officer of the Bengal Army and an ardent photographer, is known for capturing the famous last photograph of Bahadur Shah Zafar II — a bleak, melancholic image of defeat and ruin. The emperor stares at the camera with vacant eyes, while he awaits trial at Delhi’s Red Fort — reduced to an object of curiosity for European residents, who visited him frequently. This black and white image along with others of the Crystal throne, the Friday Mosque and derelict Delhi are symbolic of the decline of the dynasty. Their inherent greyness is in sharp contrast to the opulence and jewel tones of the illustrations of the lives of the Great Mughals at their peak.

By the end of the exhibit, one has viewed 200 pieces, 20 of which are not part of the Library’s own collection. And just within the span of an hour, we have witnessed an enthralling journey of the empire, from the heights of power to a gradual and tragic

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decline.

MARCH 3-9 2013

FEATURE

and miles

to run…

“My mind was set on doing what it takes to help survivors of Domestic Violence. For that, I did what I do best: I ran.”

BY MARIYA TAHER

When I set my mind to something, I do it. This is how it has always been. When I was nine years old, my family visited Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and I made sure I was in charge of the amusement park map. We had just three days to see every single attraction and so I systematically divided the Magic Kingdom into sections. This allowed us to visit each ride in the shortest possible amount of time. Stopping to eat a churro, drink a lemonade, or use the bathroom would irritate me, because unscheduled stops meant I would have to reevaluate my strategy. My family probably wanted to “lose” their militaristic daughter in the crowd somewhere, and pick up Mickey Mouse or Tinkerbell instead. But I achieved my goal.

Over time, I may have mellowed as a person, but I am still goal-

oriented and passionate. And my latest passion is to do whatever it takes to help survivors of Domestic Violence (DV). For that, I did what I do best: I ran.

Why I run Running, in itself, is therapeutic. Not only is it a great cardio-

vascular workout that strengthens and tones muscles, it’s also

mentally relaxing. On a rough day, when I put on my running shoes, I literally leave anxiety eating my dust.

In August 2009, I ran my first half marathon ever. To complete

that distance of 13.1 miles was exhilarating and I knew I would have to sign up for another race. Something I finally accomplished in June 2011.

In those moments of my life when the world seemed like it was

crashing down on me from all directions, running gave me back

my sense of control. It gave me a sense of peace. And there’s no better place to run than San Francisco. The opportunity to run up and down rolling hills, jog through Golden Gate Park and meet

the American Bison, to take in the view of the Golden Gate Bridge while running the Lands End trail near the ruins of the Sutro bath houses — exciting to say the least!

28

Perhaps most importantly, running teaches you that, with

MARCH 3-9 2013

enough patience and determination, you can reach any goal.

Domestic Violence — Invisible scars Studies show that DV affects one out of four women in the USA — a startling statistic that reminds us that each one of us, or someone we know, will likely experience domestic violence in their lifetime. Many of my close friends and family have suffered at the hands of people they have been in relationships with.

Domestic violence takes on many forms, including physical,

sexual, financial, or emotional — all of these happen behind closed doors. And the scars are not always visible. This form of violence does not discriminate, and occurs among people of all

races, ages, socioeconomic classes, religious affiliations, sexual orientations, occupations, and educational backgrounds.

Survivors are not weak Survivors are some of the toughest people you will ever meet.

Everyone is entitled to a peaceful home, but survivors are thrust into a war zone. Everyday they must learn how to cope with this

situation. It is important to give survivors the tools they need to improve their situation and help them recognise the inner strength they possess, the choices that are available to them, and empower them to make the changes they need.

Running to end Domestic Violence I work for an agency called WOMAN, Inc (Women Organised to Make Abuse Non-existent). As a woman, I believe that the cause of helping victims of DV needs to be supported by both men and

women — by everyone who feels that DV is unfair and unjust.

The agency I work for does just that, but it went through a financial crisis a couple of years back. Determined to help, I pored over

ideas which could effectively help generate a revenue stream and also raise awareness about the essential services we provide to survivors of domestic violence. This marked the beginning of our campaign “Running to End Domestic Violence Quest”. It allowed

me to combine my passion for running with my fight to end violence against women.

In a span of six months, from June 3, 2012 through December 2,

2012, six half marathons were on the list for me.

The idea for this campaign began back in May 2012 and it has

grown rapidly since then. To keep supporters up to date, we partnered with Runway Junkie, an online marketplace where

you can buy and sell women’s designer clothing and accessories while supporting pro-women organisations. My blog entries on

the website also allow supporters to follow me through the training runs and the competitions via photos and videos. Shortly after, the WOMAN, Inc Board Chair agreed to match the $5,000

raised in my campaign, which brought in a total of $10,000 for survivors of domestic violence. Now many like-minded groups in our locality have partnered and cooperated with our cause.

Survivors are some of the toughest people you will ever meet. Everyone is entitled to a peaceful home, but survivors are thrust into a war zone MARCH 3-9 2013

29

FEATURE

Domestic violence takes on many forms, including physical, sexual, financial, or emotional — all of these happen behind closed doors. And the scars are not always visible

As 2012 ended, so did the “Running to End Domestic Violence”

Campaign. My final race was run in Las Vegas, Nevada on De-

cember 2nd along with over 40,000 people who ran along the Las Vegas strip to support the cause. That night, messages of en-

couragement and congratulations were displayed to the runners in fluorescent lights along the running track. It was a thrilling

sight and a wonderful way to end a campaign that raised around $4,000.

But the fight against DV is ongoing. In 2013, WOMAN, Inc

has launched the “Moving to End Domestic Violence Wellness” Group. Open to all individuals, this group seeks to connect with the community, support healthy lifestyles, and provide people the support needed to overcome their physical challenges whilst also raising money for this great cause.

This agency’s ultimate goal is to abolish domestic violence by

promoting a violence-free society through advocacy, education, and public policy. Since 1978, the agency has been providing do-

mestic violence survivors a 24-hour multilingual crisis line as well as other culturally sensitive support programs within the San Francisco Bay Area.

Empowerment — not just a buzz word Empowerment — I first recognised this word as a student at San

Francisco State University, pursuing my Master of Social Work degree. Empowerment is a buzz word used in the field of social services. And there is a reason why everyone uses it.

To empower survivors, it is important to meet them “where

they’re at.” We must honour all survivors. This cannot be done

by advocating for one model, or providing one solution to ending

abuse. Instead, it is important to connect with the survivor who reaches out for help, and to learn how they envision their life improving, and what action they are choosing.

For me, running is symbolic. It gives me a sense of empower-

ment and allows me to connect with the survivors of DV. Through

my own race to cross the finish line, I can identify with them, as they struggle to overcome all odds with their strength and resilience. That is why running is the most meaningful tool I can use to raise awareness against DV.

78 miles later…

I look back and I realise I have run over seventy-eight miles

(excluding training runs). There were a few bumps along the way — one of them included spraining my ankle. But if

anything, I helped a woman somewhere. I realised that violence must not be suffered in silence, that if she believes she

is strong then no one can harm her, and she is empowered enough to protect herself. Even if one person got that message,

my job is done. I would run hundreds of miles more for this.

To learn more about the quest, please visit http://wwwstay-

30

classy.org/fundraise?fcid=200917 MARCH 3-9 2013

TRAVEL

small wonders of the maasai mara It is better to be poor and live long than to be rich and die young ~ Maasai proverb TEXT AND PHOTOS BY FARAH KAMAL

“We are comfortable living like our ancestors; it is our pride and identity. I am a proud and independent Maasai and will never give in to slavery,” said Sumaria, son of the village chief in the Maasai Mara. It was my second visit to Masaai Mara in November 2012. Sumaira recognised me as the woman who had brought bags of chocolates for the kids four years ago. I was happy to see him once again, now married with two daughters.

Sumaria is one of the many proud Maasais living in the Great

Rift Valley. The Maasai are one of the many ethnic groups called ‘Nilotes’ made famous by their geographical proximity to the

river Nile. Despite the invasion of modern technology and western influences, the Maasai have managed to preserve their tradi-

neously, they have kept pace with education and development, learning Mathematics, English and immersing themselves in the sciences. During my visit, Sumaria spoke in comprehensible

English and proudly showed me the school that he had attended.

The school was a respectable centre of learning in his community.

During our trip, my colleague and I had an amazing time living

tional way of life and their ancient beliefs. The majority of them

in the Kraal and chatting with women, children and families. It

‘Kraal’ is a semi-circular settlement of 350 people belonging to a

my camera. Owing to the endless visits of tourists, women and

reside in ‘Kraals’ near the many game parks of East Africa. Each clan. Sumaria’s ‘Kraal’ is a fenced territory of Acacia houses, loafshaped structures built with mud, sticks, grass, and cow dung.

34

tion, the Maasai have retained their distinct identity. Simulta-

The fences are there to protect from the invasion of wild animals.

Even amidst the tidal waves of modernisation and urbanisa-

MARCH 3-9 2013

was interesting to observe their daily life as I clicked away with children were completely at ease being photographed. Sumaria

proudly introduced me to his wife who had come back with a

herd of cattle. Cattle are the centre of life of Maasai tribes rep-

resenting food and power. The more cattle you have, the richer

looking after their children, these women are not intimidated by building huts or fetching water in even the most difficult of terrain. These strong family figures were easily identifiable by their shaved heads, bright clothing and beaded jewellery.

Both men and women wore typical Maasai dress consisting of

red sheets (shuka) that is wrapped around the body. The Shuka

comes in bright shades of red, blue, yellow and also floral prints,

patterns, checks and broad stripes. Beaded jewelleries were worn

Each young man jumped as high as he could while the others remained in the circle, singing. Sumaria told me that the one who jumps highest gets the best girl to marry!

by both men and women, varying in color depending on the occasion, and as a sign of beauty and prosperity for the Maasai tribes.

Under the shade of trees, young girls sat alongside their grandmothers engrossed in designing jewelleries and carving wooden figurines of animals and wooden masks.

At the sight of my camera, the craftswomen boasted their cre-

ations proudly. One of the girls told me that these handicrafts would be sold in game parks and at tourist sites.

Two things about the Maasai’s physical features were instantly

striking — their stretched earlobes and a deciduous canine tooth.

There is an old practice observed among Maasai people which entails removing the canine tooth buds in early childhood. It is their belief that this will keep them safe from many illnesses and an early death.

On our last day, we were hauled to one side of the Kraal by

a sudden thick glottal sound, typical of African tribes. There a

group of Maasai Mooranis, the youth warriors, were gearing up

to perform ‘adamu’, their traditional jumping dance. They stood you are, and the more power and influence you have within your

tribe. As I walked around the Kraal, captivated by the sights and sounds of this nomadic lifestyle, I found, all of a sudden, some children and women running towards a heap of hay with a roar

in a circle as one singer lead the others in chorus. Each young

man jumped as high as he could while the others remained in the circle, singing. Sumaria told me that the one who jumps highest gets the best girl to marry!

Even though I did not understand the lyrics of the songs, I

of excitement. A newly born calf was being bathed, a moment of

found the melody and the rhythm totally mystical. The people of

Maasai women are very strong. Although they are family

was moving. The days I spent with them are now a fond memory,

joyful celebration.

oriented, they could easy give the men a run for their money through the tasks they perform. In addition to milking cows and

Maasai lived no lavish lifestyle, but their sense of contentment

and the rhythm of the ‘adamu’ still rings in my ears as I reminisce on quiet Karachi evenings.

MARCH 3-9 2013

35

COMMENT

Why does co-Ven’s Chor bring all the trolls to the yard?

BY AHMER NAQVI

Chances are you haven’t seen the new video called Chor of the Pakistani rock band co-Ven. Chances are that the channels you get on your local cable will not be showing, under any circumstances, any of the versions of this video. Chances are you haven’t been using the internet proxy sites needed to access Youtube where the three different cuts of the video reside. Well, allow me to begin by describing it.

The song’s lyrics condemn society’s chors, decrying their greed and depravity. The condemnation is at the heart of the song, which is why its video initially appears to be contradictory, as all three versions are essentially images of the band performing at a mujra, which is being attended by a gaggle of unsavoury, unkempt and unabashed men. While the video doesn’t really compare in terms of scandal levels to an average Bollywood item number, social media doyens have been calling it the ‘most shocking Pakistani pop video’ ever.

Of course, there is no objective metric available for gauging that claim, but I would

venture that it doesn’t really come close. Plenty of pop songs have women in more re-

vealing clothes and dance moves (Nirma in Jab Larki Jawan Ho Jati Hai, Mathira’s ‘songs’) and there have been more subversive themes in other videos as well, including one Najam video from the 90s which seemed to show Iraj castrating her rapist.

But I think the Chor video is very important for another reason — it fits into a vein of

Pakistani visual culture which for varying reasons is rarely seen anymore. In order to understand this context, let’s zoom out a bit, and start with films.

South Asian films are often referred to as ‘masala’ films, owing to the fact that they

36

involve a mixture of several genres and themes in the same story. The masala film’s cenMARCH 3-9 2013

tral discussion is on right and wrong, and characters are often very

simple and easy to identify in terms of whether they are good or bad. In all these features, the South Asian masala film carries on the

traditions of the oral narrative — religious epics and folk tales that used to be the primary means of social entertainment and guidance.

The narrative in a masala film inevitably begins with a disruption

in the moral universe of the film — someone gets killed/wronged/

falls in love with the wrong person etc and the film comes to a conclusion when said disruption is resolved and a new equilibrium is

reached. But during this process of moral disruption, something very interesting happens.

As the academic R Vasudevan (1989) writes, “within the appar-

ently clear moral universe of the [South Asian] melodrama there is an ambivalence which addresses the forbidden fears, anxieties and

pleasures afforded by the narrative.” In other words, while the disruption in the moral universe occurs, the film/narrative is allowed to show things which would normally be forbidden by the morality

the film itself upholds. To give some basic examples, risque songs and forbidden romances are allowed during these disruptions.

Let’s take the 1976 film Society Girl directed by, and starring, San-

geeta. The film shows the ‘Society Girl’ as someone who is deplor-

able and condemnable, yet in order to make that statement, it also has many scenes showing her dancing in skimpy dresses and delivering salacious lines to her one-night stands.

At first, this strategy seemed curious and hypocritical. Why

would a film condemn something that it is showing itself? If what is being shown is condemnable, then surely it would make sense

to not show anything like it, rather than going through the ef-

fort of finding an actress, dressing her in such clothes, giving her raunchy lines and seductive gazes, and eventually condemning all of it.

However, if we reconsider Vasudevan’s words here, we realise

that such contradictory ideas are shown so that they are rejected eventually. In essence, the formula seems to be that you show the contradictory, condemn it and preach conformity.

The best way to understand this formula is through romances

in masala films. Almost inevitably, the romance falls foul of the

morality inherent in the film. Either the guy-girl are from differ-

ent socio-economic classes, or their parents/families/clans are

at war, or simply, they are conducting pre-marital friendships, which is ‘wrong’ in and of itself. Yet, by the end of the film, with

the villains defeated and good triumphant, the couple’s romance is given the blessings of the elders, their union sanctified through

the institution of marriage, and hence their relationship goes from being condemnable to an idea of conformity.

This strategy suffered from an intriguing dilemma in the 80s.

The financial and moral policing of the film industry, coupled MARCH 3-9 2013

37

COMMENT with the runaway success of the gandasa-action-hero genre, led to

a change in films. Despite the censors, and the state, becoming more sanctimonious a cursory overview of film songs from the 80s as compared to earlier decades would show that these were becoming far more risque.

Yet at the same time, this increasing raunchiness largely be-

came the sole purview of the heroine/female characters. They

were the ones shown to be gyrating in suggestive, and often soaking wet, outfits while the heroes would scowl while stoically standing and resisting the seductions of their lady. While

the early 90s saw a brief resurgence of the dancing hero, these

soon returned to scowling mode. In essence, a more conservative society seemed to be producing, or demanding, greater contradictions.

During this era, we also saw the ‘golden age’ of television

dramas on PTV, and later, NTM/STN. Inevitably, these also displayed morality as a prime motivator for the narrative, employing a strategy which the blogger/critic Umair Javed describes as

‘reflection and reform through awareness.’ As you can tell, this is a variant on the strategy being employed in films, but the subversive, risque elements were toned down, if not removed altogeth-

er in favour of more family-friendly depictions and nudge-wink

insinuations. Consequently, films started losing a lot of their credibility, and were increasingly seen as vacuous and corrupt, particularly in comparison to TV dramas. Crucially, the nuance

conform strategy. Now, they are not allowed to show any-

being lost, as both filmmakers and their audiences reacted to the

the purpose of showing such things is to condemn them.

required to appreciate the condemn-conform strategy was also prevailing social situation in contrasting ways.

Let’s pause here and return to the co-Ven video once more.

Seen in the light of the discussion above, the video can no longer

be seen merely as a scandalous mujra. Instead, it can be argued that the dancing women serve to condemn the ‘chors’ shown in

the video. While the women are in complete, and stunning, control of their bodies — as well as their audience — the men are

totally out of control, barely being able to contain themselves,

thing contradictory to perceived cultural values, even if

This doesn’t mean that our society no longer wants these

“forbidden fears, anxieties and pleasures” to be articulated.

Instead, we get our fix by turning to Indian films and Turkish dramas, which are desi enough in the fact that they have

morality as a central drive for their narratives, and yet are foreign enough not to be laden with the burden of showcasing our moral values.

And therein lies the tragedy of the reception that “Chor”

before descending into outright violence by the end.

has gotten. Instead of being understood as a clever and tra-

mentary condemning chors?

es, it is seen — by both its supporters and detractors — as a

So why is this video seen as a desi strip-tease, instead of a com-

The answer lies in our innate ability to criticise any local

art form if it doesn’t subscribe to our perceived cultural val-

ues. A Pakistani art form must carry all the imagined morality of the entire nation, thus Pakistani songs can’t be subversive, Pakistani heroines can’t be sexy, a Pakistani stage show

ditional (yes, traditional) way of condemning society’s vicdaring attempt to show skin in Talibanistan. In essence, it shows our decreasing intellectual capacity as an audience,

where we are no longer able to understand art beyond its

most literal interpretations. We’re left hanging between either this “Nangi aurat? Haw haye” or this “Nangi aurat? Hooray,

can’t be vulgar and Pakistani dramas cannot show Western

we’re defeating the Taliban!”

expectations, we break their ability to follow the condemn/

ion. Those of us obsessed with being titillated or shocked by

or Indian values. By lumping our cultural products with these

Well, here is my humble yet clearly condescending opin-

the video, and those of us seeking to enjoy it as an example of liberal values translating into empty materialism, and

those of us who hate/love it as something that pushes our

38

outrage button, are in effect the chors the video refers to.

MARCH 3-9 2013

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REVIEW

cog in the machine

BY ANTHONY GALLI

Directed by Craig Zobel, Compliance definitely ratchets up the tension level in subtle degrees of gradation, like a frog placed in a pot that goes from warm to boiling.

Much of the discomfort comes from the claustrophobic atmosphere as the action takes place in one setting, at a slow pace, with very few scene changes. The opening scene is at a fast food restaurant staffed by teenagers and managed by a woman who is stern but fair. The whole episode is a flashback to Milgram’s experiment on obedience, and the title of the movie seems to be a nod to that.

Worse, it’s based on true events, with little narrative deviation from the actual crimes.

At the humdrum ChickWich restaurant, the local manager Sandra (Ann Dowd) receives a call from a police officer accusing one of the employees, Becky, of stealing money from a customer’s purse.

While the police officer is busy searching Becky’s home, he instructs Sandra to call her to the office. Sandra summons young Becky (Dreama Walker), who is under the illusion that this is about a previous freezer accident at the restaurant, and lo and behold, she fits the description of a thief. Sandra seems to have a hard time fathoming how Becky could have done it. Still, she carries on with her apparent

cold steel

BY MAHVESH MURAD

NYPD Detective John Tallow has had a really tough day. His partner just had his brains blown out by a naked stranger with a shotgun who Tallow then had to shoot down. As if that isn’t bad enough, he’s just discovered an apartment full of guns — mounted on every available surface like a mad man’s abacus. Each gun turns out to be connected to an unsolved homicide spreading as far back as twenty years. Each gun appears to have been specifically chosen for its victim. Each gun has been used to kill just one person. Each gun is an artifact, a piece of code, of information forming the whorls of an insane killer’s thought process, ‘rippling patterns of gunmetal, from floor to ceiling’.

As intriguing as this apartment full of guns seems, it is a huge Pandora’s Box for Tallow, who is forced to deal with the consequences alone, in a department of under-staffed police officers. Tallow forces himself out of the ennui that has shadowed most of his professional life and throws himself into finding the man who is responsible for hundreds of seemingly unconnected deaths. With guns that have been stolen from police evidence storage facilities and even the gun used by the notorious Son of Sam, the case gets deeper and more complicated with every new piece of information Tallow unearths.

40 Tallow is helped by two trusty sidekicks — a pair of Crime Scene Unit MARCH 3-9 2013

civic duty to comply.

Officer Daniels (Pat Healy) demands that the manager keep the young employee in her sight at all times. He presumes guilt without formal charges, and gives orders that violate Becky’s privacy. Gradually, he moves from being stubborn to verbally abuse and perverse. One is left wondering whether the real issue at hand here is the pathology of power.

Soon, things don’t seem to add up. Standard police protocol isn’t being followed, and we are left wondering whether the cop has some ulterior motive because Becky seems innocent and there’s no proof against her.

What is most disturbing about the movie is that it shows how our normally sound instinct to trust authority figures can work against us. It’s not just that a girl is victimized, but that good people with fair intentions can let this happen. It speaks volumes about our human condition and about the relativity of morality. It raises self-awareness in the viewer about the price of complicity. The potential lessons learned can, perhaps, redeem the film of its squirminess.

officers who provide much of the comic relief in Ellis’ dark, cynical look at America’s aggressive gun culture. The incongruity of the violence posed against the flippancy of two uber-smart and socially awkward CSUs raises Gun Machine well above regular ‘serious’ crime fiction. Of course, that this is written by Warren Ellis is perhaps enough in itself to make it significantly better than standard police procedural books.

Gun Machine’s anonymous villain is known only as ‘the Hunter’ — a perfect example of how Ellis sharpens his characters down to one perfectly defining aspect. It helps Ellis maintain his relentless edge, the narrative aggressively rhythmic, and all dialogue quick fire and whip-smart.

While this is an incredibly entertaining, smart book, it is all flash and very little flesh. The actual plot is a little tenuous, and it is a little absurd how easily Tallow seems to put everything together, like a savant detective whose incredibly convenient epiphanies and experiences allow him to connect a string of incredibly convenient coincidences. It’s all of course entirely implausible but in the end, what does it matter? Gun Machine is glorious pulpy entertainment at its very best.

to eat or

not to eat?

BY KIRAN ZAHRA

When you get up in the morning with just enough time to go for a jog before going to work, there is hardly any time to grab a bite of breakfast. Besides, your aim is to lose some weight and make the most of the calories you just burnt, why then ‘waste’ the calories having breakfast?

Eating incorrectly may result in ineffective workouts; skipping meals can make you feel giddy and lead you to faint during the workout while overeating afterward might not do you any good either. Your body cannot digest a big meal while you are busy exercising, so it is vital to know how much, and what you should eat and when.

18 to 24

F i n d a healthy balance

ounces pound

A well balanced diet

of

body

weight lost after the

is immensely vital for staying healthy. But it gets

of

fluid for every

workout. fumes. That’s why it is essential to feed on light snacks an hour before you exercise. Always keep some nutritious

Replenish afterwards

that limit the intake of certain

convenient foods on hand. Breakfast

During a workout routine you use

food groups and fats don’t always

smoothie also makes a quick protein

muscle glycogen stores for fuel.

give your body the fuel it needs to

boost and is a great pre-workout snack.

Those stores must be replaced for

work out well. Your body requires

Be wary of meal replacement bars

ultimate recovery as well as muscle

even more crucial when you exercise regularly. Chronic diets

yourself

carbohydrates and protein for muscle

Most of the power bars are just as good

repair and growth. Having some

build up and a little quantity of good

as a candy bar. Look for bars that are

protein and carbs are the optimal way

fats to have energy to exercise properly.

low in fats and sugar and have three or

to do so.

Try

to

incorporate

a

serving

of

carbohydrates, such as brown rice, whole-wheat

pasta,

fruits

and

four grams of protein and 20 grams of carbohydrates.

Try to have food within one to two hours of exercise to aid your body recharge. Here are a few foods which

vegetables for your pre-exercise meal or

Make sure you eat enough

snack. Also add a moderate amount of

A small amount of snack is enough to

lean protein eg cottage cheese, with a

boost you up for a 30-minute walk or

few whole-wheat crackers or a small

an aerobic class. If you plan on more

veggies, grilled chicken and feta

intense training or a lengthy workout,

cheese

orange with a hardboiled egg.

Please remember foods that are

add more nutritious foods to your before

high in fibre and fats take more

workout snack to pump up your calorie

time to digest and may lead to stomach problem during workout.

Time it right

intake.

A bowl full of oatmeal, skim milk and banana A bowl full of vegetable soup Whole wheat pita filled

It is very important to stay well hydrated

hummus, tomato and

before, after and most importantly

lettuce.

during your workout routine. Drink 18

to work out

to 21 ounces of water two hours before you begin to exercise. Then drink 8 to during exercise. Afterwards, drink

MARCH 3-9 2013 3

Whole-wheat roti with black beans,

with

10 ounces of fluid every 15 to 20 minutes

42

whole-grain carbs:

Stay hydrated

You don’t want on

strike the right balance of protein and

sliced

turkey,