NOVEMBER 1-7 2015
Breaking the stigma attached to breast cancer in Pakistan
NOVEMBER 1-7 2015
Spotlight
Cover Story
The education experiment
Think pink
Breaking the stigma attached to breast cancer in Pakistan
When a science class becomes a celebration
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22
Feature
Back from the dead Maha Pari Nirvana or The Death Scene of Buddha in Khanpur is the sole discovery of its kind in the country
16
Feature
Watch what you’re saying
What stops a therapist from divulging a patient’s deepest secrets?
29
Regulars
6 People & Parties: Out and about with beautiful people
32 Reviews: Art, book and movies 38 Positive Pakistani: Orchestrating a master class
Magazine Incharge: Dilaira Dubash. Senior Subeditors: Sanam Maher and Ali Haider Habib. Subeditors: Komal Anwar and Aesha Munaf Creative Team: Jamal Khurshid, Essa Malik, Mohsin Alam, Talha Ahmed Khan, Hira Fareed, Maryam Rashid, Eesha Azam and Sanober Ahmed Publisher: Bilal A Lakhani. Editor: Kamal Siddiqi For feedback and submissions: magazine@tribune.com.pk 4 Twitter: @ETribuneMag & Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ETribuneMag Printed: uniprint@unigraph.com
PEOPLE & PARTIES Nitin and Sabita Anand
Designers exhibit their pret wear at Ensemble in Dubai
Mashaal and Amani Moazzam
6 NOVEMBER 1-7 2015
Annie Mansoor
PHOTOS COURTESY SAVVY PR & EVENTS
Eram Nazir
Kaityln and Abdullah
Sana Javed
PEOPLE & PARTIES
Osman Bashir and Maha
Faiza and Angie
Aisha Imran
Mo and Aleena Shah
Rozy Khan
8 NOVEMBER 1-7 2015
Mehwish Usman
PHOTOS COURTESY SAVVY PR & EVENTS
Henna Asad and Wisha
PEOPLE & PARTIES
Mehwish Hayat
Sana Javaid
10 NOVEMBER 1-7 2015
Levi’s Pakistan hosts an evening to support the launch of Jawani Phir Nahi Ani
Momal and Nadir
Sidra Sajid
Mahira Abbasi
PHOTOS COURTESY CATALYST PR
Ayesha Khan
Sidra Younus and Amna
PHOTOS COURTESY CATALYST PR
Sarwat GIlani and Adnan Malik
Urwa Hocane
Frieha and Saqib Malik
Vasay Chaudry, Bilal Lashari, Sohai Ali Abro and Uzma Khan with a friend
Hasan Rizvi with his wife
Tara Mehmood
11 NOVEMBER 1-7 2015
PEOPLE & PARTIES
Ali Zafar and Ayesha Fasli
Asad Khan and Ammara Hikmat
12 NOVEMBER 1-7 2015
Aymen Hikmat
Ayesha Bilal
Ayesha Umer
Cybil
Anam and Goher
Aimen Khan
PHOTOS COURTESY ENCYCLOMEDIA PR
Pakistan Cricket Board launches Pakistan Super League at Expo Centre in Lahore
The Education Experiment When a science class becomes a celebration
BY LALA RUKH MALIK | DESIGN BY HIRA FAREED PHOTOS COURTESY SCIENCE FUSE
While I was studying Biotechnology at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, I started working as a science communicator at a social enterprise committed to promoting an interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education among young learners in Norway. I believe that science isn’t just a subject you teach or learn at school; it is in fact our ticket to understanding the universe. It’s vital that we not only change our children’s perception towards science but, also, through the process of teaching science, allow them to see themselves and the world differently.
From blowing giant bubbles to exploding water bombs, Science Fuse makes science more fun for kids. For the last five years, my work involved putting together STEM adventures for young learners and teachers across classrooms in Norway. With balloons, beads and straws as my tools I create a learning environment which feels more like a celebration, and less like a conventional science lesson. If you ever happened to walk in on one of these sessions, you would most likely see students blowing up balloons to design rockets as they animatedly discuss Newton’s laws. Or perhaps hear them talk about atoms and molecules to understand how we can peel back the layers of the world. You’d also notice that unlike a traditional classroom where science education is restricted to textbooks and monologues, these sessions create an informal learning environment driven by dialogue, teamwork and most importantly, a sense of adventure. Three years ago, I had my first opportunity to share this excitement with students in Pakistan. I partnered with my workplace in Norway to organise an interactive science workshop at the Garage School, a charitable institute based in Karachi’s Neelum Colony. My bags were filled with things one needs to blow giant soap bubbles 14 and explode water bombs and for the next four NOVEMBER 1-7 2015
hours, 30 children got to create, play, learn and ‘think’ like scientists. When it was over, they asked the same question: when will you be back? I learned that it didn’t matter which part of the world I was in — combining learning about science with play was equally exciting for children everywhere.
Most children in our country experience science as a mere collection of facts that they are made to memorise and recall during exams This is how Science Fuse came to be. Most children in our country experience science as a mere collection of facts that they are made to memorise and recall during exams. They grow up thinking that science is some abstract nonsense that doesn’t have much relevance to anything they can directly see or touch. We’re also a country where science doesn’t occupy much space in popular culture (the widely prevalent
Children carry out real
Make it work
Choose to invest your time and energy in building something that is impactful and meaningful to others. Have a vision as well as a plan for how you’d like to see yourself and your project evolve over the course of time. Value the relationships you build along the way. Take constructive feedback into account. Merit the value of self-learning. Follow your heart and have fun while you’re at it.
scientific experiments using balloons, beads and straws.
emotional blackmailing by Pakistani parents to coerce their children into medical school doesn’t count). We don’t make sitcoms on science or share science jokes on Facebook, and visiting the local science museum is never on our list of fun things to do. Speaking of local science museums, would you know where to go if you had to visit the National Museum of Science and Technology in Pakistan? The next step was to test a full-fledged STEM learning programme and I collaborated with a leading private school in Karachi to organise a two week-long summer camp. Additionally, my team and I visited three low-income schools to conduct STEM workshops and invited their students for a week-long camp. The idea was to build a self-sustainable social enterprise that could provide quality STEM educational programmes to all children, irrespective of their socioeconomic background. Our aim is to particularly engage students from public/ charitable institutions to inspire them towards pursuing STEM education and careers and I learned to keep in mind the range of academic backgrounds we were dealing with. While Pakistan doesn’t have many informal STEM learning environments, parents, educators and school administrations understand the importance of introducing and
nourishing such concepts. However, a little coaxing is always required because not everyone here is equally familiar with innovative ideas being tested out around the world in the field of education. My biggest challenge in this journey so far has been living away from my family to develop my skills. A month after getting married, I was back at work in Norway while my husband was settled in the UK. We lived like this for two years and while I was excited to be doing what I loved, I also greatly missed having a partner by my side. What makes it worth it? Seeing kids from Lyari travelling three hours by bus every day to get to our summer camp, or the text message we received from a mother who works as a cook, telling us how her son insists on becoming a scientist after attending our programme. Recently, I worked with a young girl, Farah, from a low income family, who gave up her education due to severe discouragement from her mother. She quit her education two years ago, after finishing the 10th grade. This year, Farah worked as an assistant teacher on two of our STEM programmes. These stories — these children — keep me motivated and excited about the work Science Fuse is doing. Lala Rukh Malik is the co-founder of Science Fuse and tweets @Lrukh NOVEMBER 1-7 2015
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FEATURE
Back from the dead Maha Pari Nirvana or The Death Scene of Buddha in Khanpur is the sole discovery of its kind in the country BY SHAZIA MEHBOOB PHOTO COURTESY: DIRECTORATE OF ARCHAEOLOGY & MUSEUMS, GOVERNMENT OF KHYBER-PAKHTUNKHWA
(Top) Student participants in the Bhamala Excavation 2014-15. (Bottom) The site of the newly-found Death Scene of Buddha in the village of 16 Bhamala, Khanpur. NOVEMBER 1-7 2015
Archaeologists have made a peculiar discovery in Khanpur Valley, unearthing the Maha Pari Nirvana or The Death Scene of Buddha, a unique piece from the Gandhara civilization. This colossal image made of Kanjur stone is the sole example of its kind in Pakistan’s heritage history. A team of archaeologists and researchers from Hazara University, Mansehra, in collaboration with the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Peshawar, discovered The Death Scene of Buddha and a cruciform stupa during the excavations at a UNESCO World Heritage site in Bhamala village of Taxila.
Sir John Marshall had dated this site from the 4th — 5th centuries AD based on coins discovered during the excavation Dr Abdul Samad Director, Directorate of Archaeology & Museums
Maha Pari Nirvana
The image of Buddha is about 14 metres in length. Remnants of Buddha include the right leg, a portion of the left leg which is covered in drapery, feet, and fragments of the shoulder. The Death Scene is perched on a huge platform, 15 metres long in the North-West direction, facing the East. Some pieces of the image, such as the upper left leg and both arms, are damaged, while the head was also found missing. The Buddha statue is an exception in the history of archaeological discovery in Pakistan, according to Dr Shakirullah Khan, Head of the Archaeology Department at Hazara University, Mansehra. The statue was probably damaged by illegal diggers even before the first excavation, which was carried out by Sir John Marshall in 1930-31, he said. The Maha Pari Nirvana scene, made from stones in semiashlar masonry, was exposed from a long chamber, access to which is through three openings at regular intervals. The walls along the southern, south-eastern, northern, and north-eastern corners have ledges for placing large terracotta sculptures. The floor of the chamber is made of lime, mortar, and pebbles. The statue is also damaged due to material fallen from the roof and illegal operations of antiquarians in the early 20th Century.
The sculpture depicting the Death Scene of Buddha after consolidation. NOVEMBER 1-7 2015
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FEATURE The Maha Pari Nirvana is located in the extreme Northern side of Khanpur Valley, on the right bank of the Haro River. The Buddha complex enjoys an important geographical position and is one of the very rare sites to have a cruciform stupa — the stupa that was usually reserved for Buddha or a Chakravartin.
Cruciform stupa
While excavating the Death Scene of Buddha, the team also brought to light another discovery in the form of a cruciform stupa with nine chapels which are rooms for placing sculptures. Fragments of the stucco sculpture can be noticed on the plinth of the stupa which has chapels to its eastern side. From the nine exposed chapels, five were excavated. Chapel one and two, which are located on the southern side, have been destroyed by illegal operations of antiquarians while the remaining two contain stucco sculptures of the most unique style. These sculptures in the chapels have double halos, which are very rare and do not
18 A terracotta broken head unearthed in Bhamala. NOVEMBER 1-7 2015
Consolidation of the stucco sculpture found in Bhamala.
Terracotta head from Bhamala 2.
This colossal image made of Kanjur stone is the sole example of its kind in Pakistan’s heritage history exist in the rest of the Buddhist sites in ancient Gandhara. “These sculptures were cleaned and consolidated with [thermoplastic resin] B-72,” Dr Shakir Ullah Khan added. The excavation revealed a total of 510 antiquities which include terracotta/stucco sculptures and other architectural elements. Iron objects, such as nails, hooks, door fittings, and hair clips, as well as copper artifices like the 14 coins of later Kushan, were also unearthed. The main approach of the current excavation was to reconfirm the date assigned to the site by Sir John
Marshall, said field director Bhamala, Abdul Hameed. For this purpose, samples were collected for scientific dating (Carbon 14), and the new date given to the site is 240 AD. Structural remains like the stupa or monastery, and the antiquities unearthed from the site are associated with the Gandhara civilization that flourished in present day Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa from the 3rd Century BC to the 5th Century AD. T Shazia Mehboob is a staffer for The Express Tribune. She tweets @shizrehman NOVEMBER 1-7 2015
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COVER STORY
Breaking the stigma attached to breast cancer in Pakistan BY KOMAL ANWAR
22 NOVEMBER 1-7 2015
DESIGN BY EESHA AZAM
eating breast cancer in Pakistan can be quite a fight. Despite claiming numerous lives every year, the stigma still sticks. It can be the most unforgiving disease, and yet, it is completely curable, provided it’s diagnosed at an early stage. Treatment can be incredibly expensive, but a number of health institutions provide medical care at subsidised rates. However, illiteracy and lack of awareness are the most pervasive obstructions to winning the battle against breast cancer. As a result, most patients are admitted at an advanced stage, when it’s too late.
Causes
While the exact causes of breast cancer are not known, those with a family history of the disease are more prone to it. “We need to identify whether Pakistani women have a certain kind of genetic mutation because of which we are seeing much younger women [with cancer] as compared to the West. For example, the Ashkenazi Jews have the highest incidents of genetic mutation and also have a hereditary type of cancer,” shares Consultant General Surgeon and Clinic In-charge Department of Surgery at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) Dr Shaista Masood Khan. Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist at Medicell Clinic Dr Azra Ahsan shares a similar view. “There are a lot of variables linked with cancer and I don’t think it is properly understood as to why there is an epidemic situation in Pakistan,” says Dr Ahsan.
23 NOVEMBER 1-7 2015
COVER STORY Dr Farzana Memon, a breast surgeon at Civil Hospital, suggests environmental factors play a huge role in the high cancer rates of Pakistan. “We are a nation with an atomic energy setup so perhaps [nuclear tests are] responsible for it,” she says. However, there is no study to substantiate Dr Memon’s claim.
Tearing down the taboo
Dr Khan is keen to debunk a myth associated with biopsy. “Patients believe that if you touch a tumour with a knife or a needle, it is going to spread. These are patients who do not have complete knowledge about the tumour,” she says. In fact, she says clinical tests that determine the stage of the cancer should be done before the biopsy to confirm the disease has not already spread. “It has been proven now that if you do a biopsy and if treatment is commenced promptly, the cancer does not spread.” Dr Ahsan, too, remains deeply concerned about women who are too embarrassed to talk about abnormalities related to their breasts. “Even educated women are ashamed to talk about the formation of a lump on their breasts. They don’t involve their families or husband until it is too late and the cancer has reached an advanced stage, when little can be done to cure it,” she says. Most women, adds Dr Ahsan, are not even aware of selfexamination procedures; others don’t share the information with anyone even when they do discover a lump.
First screening centre
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Amid the gloomy picture lies some good news too. The Federal Breast Cancer Screening Centre (FBSC) at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad is nearing completion. Once completed, it will provide holistic treatment to patients under one roof. “The centre encompasses screening, early detection, treatment and cure,” says FBSC Deputy Project Director Dr Ayesha Isani Majeed. She adds the centre has procured state-of-the-art equipment, including an ultrasound machine with elastography, and a mobile mammography machine with stereotactic biopsy facility.
Dr Majeed says the centre will also provide counselling facilities in addition to treatment. “The centre will have a psychologist to counsel patients, pre- and post-treatment. Volunteers will be encouraged to help form groups of patients for the specific purpose of counselling and supporting them,” she adds. Since the aim of the centre is to encourage breast cancer patients to seek treatment, there are plans to eventually draw government funding under the budget allocated to the centre for its recurring costs. In addition, funds from Zakat/Baitul Maal, Benazir Income Support Programme and philanthropy will be sought to ensure treatment for breast cancer patients, regardless of their affluence.
Survivor story
It was in March last year when Alizeh Ahmed*, a mother of two, was diagnosed with a breast cyst. She was in her final year of her master’s degree programme at the time. “I belong to the Aga Khani community and we have regular awareness programmes. One day, after self-examining my breasts, I discovered an abnormality and got myself checked by a physician who then suggested I go see a doctor,” she says. Ahmed’s advice for breast cancer victims? Stay strong and have will power. She credits
People used to ask all sorts of questions at social gatherings about my cancer and passed negative comments about how I wouldn’t survive. But my sons once came from behind, hugged me and said everything would be fine Cancer survivor Alizeh Ahmed*
TOP FIVE TUMORS
1,454
1,340
Head and Neck
Breast
1,192
815
753
Leukemia
G.I.T
Lymphoma
Age Factor 463 62
1,258 1,061
1,657
3-10 11-20 21-30
31- 40
2,010
41- 50
1,724
51- 60
60- above
Admission 1,332
1,462
1,741
1,841
1,875
1,964
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014 from 2004 to 2014
Total No of Patients: 8300 Cancer Unit, Civil Hospital Karachi.
25
Steps to self-examine your breasts Stand in front of a mirror that is large enough for you to see your breasts clearly. Check each breast for anything unusual. Check the skin for puckering, dimpling, or scaliness. Look for a discharge from the nipples. Watching closely in the mirror, clasp your hands behind your head and press your hands forward. Next, press your hands firmly on your hips and bend slightly toward the mirror as you pull your shoulders and elbows forward. Do steps 2 and 3 to check for any change in the shape or contour of your breasts. As you do these steps, you should feel your chest muscles tighten. Gently squeeze each nipple and look for a discharge. The breasts are best examined while lying down because it spreads the breast tissue evenly over the chest. Lie flat on your back, with one arm over your head and a pillow or folded towel under the shoulder. This position flattens the breast and makes it easier to check. Use the pads of the fingers of your other hand to check the breast and the surrounding area firmly, carefully, and thoroughly. Some women like to use lotion or powder to help their fingers glide easily over the skin. Feel for any unusual lump or mass under the skin. Feel the tissue by pressing your fingers in small, overlapping areas about the size of a dime. To be sure you cover the whole breast, take your time, and follow a definite pattern: lines, circles, or wedges. Some women repeat step 5 in the shower. Your finders will glide easily over soapy skin, so you can focus on feeling for changes underneath. SOURCE: JOHNS HOPKINS MEDICINE WEBSITE
October
is Breast Cancer Awareness month
26
her quick recovery to her family, especially her husband who managed both household work and his professional duties while she was undergoing treatment. “People used to ask all sorts of questions at social gatherings about my cancer and passed negative comments about how I wouldn’t survive. But my sons once came from behind, hugged me and said everything would be fine,” says Ahmed as tears begin streaming down her face. “I lost all my hair, eyelashes as well as eyebrows due to the side effects of chemotherapy. But with the grace of God, I got everything back. It also helped that I did yoga regularly and maintained a healthy diet.” Once at the verge of dropping out, Ahmed now gives lectures at the same university she did her master’s from, besides working with a health organisation in her community.
Raising awareness
Raising awareness about breast cancer requires a holistic approach. Dr Khan says this should not be limited to just patients. She feels family practitioners and general physicians should also be made aware to remind patients to get their breasts examined after the age of 35 and to get a mammography done at the appropriate time. Besides this, Dr Khan says public awareness via print and electronic media can encourage people to seek help at the earliest. Another reason breast cancer patients are diagnosed at the advanced stage is limited resources at hospitals. “It should be the government’s responsibility to provide facilities of mammography, if not free, then at a reduced price. Simply doing physical examination to find the lump cannot help in early detection of breast cancer,” warns Dr Khan. Consultant Medical Oncologist Dr Najeeb Niamutullah at Shaukat Khanum Hospital says they have a tough choice to make because of limited resources. He says only patients who can be cured are treated. For these patients, the hospital in Karachi provides chemotherapy along with all other facilities, including radiation, surgery and pathology.
It should be the government’s responsibility to provide facilities of mammography, if not free, then at a reduced price Consultant General Surgeon at AKUH Dr Shaista Masood Khan
Senior Consultant Clinical Oncologist Dr Noor Muhammad Soomro says he took the initiative to establish an oncology ward at Civil Hospital, Karachi. He said he had no support from the government and had to ask his friends and donors to pay for the building’s construction. At present, there are five breast surgeons at the hospital; however, there is a dearth of latest techniques and medicines. After girls reach puberty, self-examination of breasts should be a monthly ritual. “Water retention is at its least soon after a woman finishes her period, so it is much easier to feel lumps,” says Dr Ahsan. Similarly, Dr Memon maintains young girls should be taught at schools to self-examine from the age of 13. The general consensus remains that the state alone cannot fix everything. “If you look at the worldwide phenomena, advocacy for breast cancer has not really come from the government and the state. In Europe and the US, private groups are pretty active because they understand it is such an immense responsibility. It is a service that cannot be completely provided by the government,” argues Dr Khan. Having said that, Pakistan needs to look towards other countries for inspiration. And it doesn’t need to look very far either. India has recently launched a breast cancer awareness media campaign. Pakistan, too, can do the same. And with a little help, it can save several precious lives. T *Name has been changed to protect privacy. Komal Anwar is a subeditor at The Express Tribune’s magazine desk. She tweets @Komal1201
27 NOVEMBER 1-7 2015
H C T WA you’re
whsaatying st erapi nt’s h t a s stop patie What vulging a i ID from d st secrets? RASH RYAM e A p M BY dee ist ESIGN
erap sit a th oured. i v o t ée s ided n* dec th his fianc urged him a y a f f i Ali Su elations w e therapist ushing the t p r after session, th e felt was s. “I did no n r e h At on uss what ocky wate en called i e r e c to dis nship into ncée had b rtain at th relatio that my fia ehind a cu s. b t know as sitting he recoun ” , w e c d i ff an ist’s o therap D AUF |
EHA R
L BY SA
FEATURE During the session, Suffayan confided in the therapist, discussing aspects of the relationship that he was hesitant to bring up with his fiancée. His fiancée was furious. “Our relationship was hanging on by a thread and the therapist just pushed it over the edge,” Suffayan says, adding that he know realises that his issues stemmed from miscommunication. “The experiment only made things worse.” Suffayan was not aware of any means of redress in his case. Had there been any provision to sue for medical malpractice or invasion of privacy, he feels the damage had already been done. “Its useless crying over spilled milk,” he muses. He blames the deficiencies in his therapist’s education and training, saying there was a total lack of patient-doctor confidentiality in his case. The notion of patient-doctor confidentiality ensures that a person seeking medical or psychological help will be comfortable in sharing all aspects of his or her condition as he or she is guaranteed privacy. The confidentiality helps professionals in their diagnosis, as it encourages patients to be as forthcoming and honest as possible, with no fear of the information being misused or divulged. However, patient-doctor confidentiality is a concept many psychologists in Pakistan do not understand well, says Ravale Mohydin, who worked as a counsellor in Pakistan before pursuing higher education. She recalls that her patients’ parents, spouses and in-laws would routinely inquire about their progress. “I had to remind them that I had signed a contact guaranteeing my client’s privacy.” There are some exceptions to the confidentiality clause. “If I think a patient has suicidal tendencies or is going to harm someone, I discuss it with someone close to them,” explains Mohydin. “Anything else, according to international standards, cannot be disclosed to anyone, no matter what.” In some cases, psychologists think it is okay to discuss a patient’s condition with their family. When her brother was sent to a counsellor for behavioural issues after not doing well in high school, communications designer Shehla Waheed says she received a call from
In many cases, relatives use ‘family unity’ as an excuse to probe therapists about sessions 30 NOVEMBER 1-7 2015
“Anyone who has a university degree in psychology is free to practice as a psychotherapist here. There should be a council to regulate who gets to practice as counsellor Dr Tariq Attique, psychiatrist
his therapist. “She told me everything about his case, including his feelings toward various family members and his resentment toward us,” Waheed says. “After some reflection, I realised that my brother’s case was quite complicated and had to be dealt in a different way.” Asked why some therapists share information in such a manner, Mohydin says that in many cases, relatives use ‘family unity’ as an excuse to probe therapists about sessions. “They want to know how well the patient is doing,” she explains. And in legal terms, these therapists are not breaking any laws. “There is no law in Pakistan that protects patients against a breach of privacy — there is just a confidentiality contract that some therapists sign,” Mohydin emphasises. Many psychologists don’t sign contracts listing the terms of privacy. “I have heard horror stories where therapists have shared sensitive information with the wrong person at the wrong time, thereby worsening the patient’s condition,” Mohydin confirms. Former head of the Psychiatry Department at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center in Karachi, Professor Saad Bashir Malik concurs. “I have come across many psychiatrists and therapists who are very unprofessional when it comes to maintaining their clients’ confidentiality,” he says, adding that many therapists and psychiatrists with celebrity clients openly discuss details of the case and diagnosis. In some cases, these professionals utilise details of a case for teaching purposes. “Medical teachers need to use case studies for
teaching purposes, but even in that case, a client’s identity must never be revealed,” Malik says. Professor Malik reiterates that even in cases where the doctor and patient do not sign a confidentiality contract, the right to privacy must be ensured. “It should be implicit,” he says, with the exception of cases wherein doctors must divulge information on court orders or if the patient could harm someone. Dr Tariq Attique, a psychiatrist at Lahore’s Sheikh Zayed Hospital, points out that while psychiatrists must hold a licence to practice from the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, there is no body governing psychotherapists’ practice. “Anyone who has a university degree in psychology is free to practice as a psychotherapist here,” he says. “There should be a council to regulate who gets to practice as counsellor.” “In Pakistan, we are not aware of our right to privacy,” Advocate Tipu Sultan Makhdoom says, explaining that cases of breaches are usually dealt with by the licence-issuing authorities. He has never come across a lawsuit wherein a therapist has divulged confidential information. So, how can you ensure your safety and privacy? Firstly, check out a counsellor’s credentials. “Make sure they’re from well-reputed universities and inquire about their professional methods and philosophy,” Mohydin advises. Additionally, demand a contract listing the terms of confidentiality that both the therapist and the patient must sign. T *Names have been changed to protect privacy. Saleha Rauf works for the Lahore bureau of The Express Tribune and tweets @SalehaRauf
ART
Room full of mirrors
Nude but not naked, Numair Abbasi’s subjects exude confidence and childlike vigour BY AMIR BUTT
The week ends the week begins.
PHOTOS COURTESY: SANAT GALLERY
Art can either be comforting or confronting and Numair Abbasi’s work, with its strong narrative, falls in the latter category. An opinionated and talented young artist, Abbasi graduated from the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture Karachi last year, and has participated in several group shows at Sanat, VM and Full Circle galleries. He was also invited to be a part of the prestigious AvantGarde and Kitsch residency and their show titled ‘Hatchery’. His art got a myriad of responses from the audience — some appreciated it and a few were offended — but not one person could ignore the themes he sought to highlight. The current show at Sanat Gallery titled “{It takes} All kinds of kinds” is his first solo show where the entire spectrum of his talents is on display. Abbasi questions the stereotypes of our hypocritical society in which men and women are pigeonholed into typical roles, and taboos like ‘men don’t cry’ and ‘women don’t sweat,’ prevail; where female nudes are acceptable, male ones are not. Abbasi’s models may be nude, but they’re not naked. He has taken his models out on the streets, in full glare of the public eye, letting them evoke all sorts of different emotions. They exude confidence as they do domestic chores which are associated normally with women, like hanging the laundry on clothes-lines, working in the kitchen, or even grooming themselves in front of the mirror. You also see them bursting with child-like playfulness 32 while performing their mundane and back-breaking NOVEMBER 1-7 2015
Sell it till your last days. responsibilities, like the piece with a balloon-seller riding a unicycle, who looks like he believes that the balloons in his hands will lift him to some ethereal realm. These characters seem to have shunned their straitjacketed roles, shaken the ennui and are having fun celebrating the little joys of life. The
All work and no play makes everything suck.
Working out at the gym to fit my underwear.
Little puppet don’t die.
Lat uljhi suljha ja re balam.
Hurry up now ’cause I can’t wait much longer.
image of a surgeon trying to butcher his own foot, almost out of curiosity, suggests that he wants to dissect and analyse his own self. The one holding an umbrella in heavy downpour, stands in his flooded room but is holding his fort, biding time by looking keenly at his wrist watch. Abbasi’s works force viewers to stop and ponder. Abbasi believes that his works are a social commentary and serve as a mirror to society. Since they are a reflection of the inner self, people who get offended should ask themselves why, which would encourage a constructive dialogue
with his work. Offence is always taken, not given, according to Abbasi, and it is merely about perception and reaction. He says he savours all kinds of responses from his viewers. Abbasi’s works have been criticised by some for being homoerotic and voyeuristic which he vehemently denies and says that sex, sexuality and gender are totally different issues like the idea of ‘man’ and ‘male’. Some tend to derive sexual innuendos from his paintings but they are actually entirely gender-based because he wants to push the frail gender boundaries. Why is it that a woman is always portrayed as a victim in movies and TV soaps, fulfilling all her obligations under the most difficult of circumstances? This hackneyed image makes it seem like men do not suffer, sacrifice and go through the similar milling processes, and prevents this side of the society from featuring in public discourse. Abbasi maintains that male figures are just vessels for him to express his thoughts and make a social commentary. He has no inhibition in using female models in the future. The exhibition, currently displayed at Sanat Gallery, is a visual treat with an array of beautiful and thought-provoking paintings. Abbasi has a lot of potential and seems set for a bright career ahead, changing stereotypes and doing what he loves most.
Amir Butt is an art collector based in Karachi. NOVEMBER 1-7 2015
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BOOK
Adrift in rift Kehar’s narrative engages the past and present, bringing to life a story of love, rivalry and the pains of Partition BY ZAHIDUNNISA
Partition remains a sensitive issue to this day. Subsequent generations continue to feel the aftershocks of the jarring separation of 1947. To this day, people on both sides can conjure up bleak images through the residual emotions and indifferences left behind by Partition. Taha Kehar’s debut novel, Of Rift and Rivalry, explores the sentiments of people in divided India and the effects of Partition, which wreaked havoc in private as well as public spheres. Kehar isolates this single event and the rest of the things go down like dominoes, establishing the flow of the novel. A story spanning three generations and written 68 years after Partition, this book explores the socio-political effects of the event. The book has been published in India, while its release date in Pakistan remains unconfirmed. The story is a flashback of memories, oscillating between the past and present. “It struck him that any form of separation, however violent, could not hurt you if you managed to walk away with your memories intact,” says one of Kehar’s characters. The importance of memories forms the basis of this fast-paced novel. The division of the subcontinent was not just about land but about fragmenting an entire society and leaving everyone with something to say. Most of us have grown up listening to horrific, heartwarming and emotional stories about Partition; so, it isn’t a surprise that Kehar chooses this massive event to build his story and show the growth of his characters. The marriage of Hanif Khan and Anita Waterhouse during the days surrounding Partition is a major symbolic element which brings to light the excitement and hope associated with the ‘prospect’ of a new country for Muslims. The narrative explores the eventual partition of two people from different cultures who came together in a nuptial bond only to see it ripped apart. Kehar uses this relationship beautifully to colour his idea of love which is fascinating as well as heartbreaking. With Hanif cocooned in his shells, first of selfishness, then of indifference and later of regret and guilt, it is only Sheikh, his domestic 34 employee, who tries to pierce through. NOVEMBER 1-7 2015
Most of the story is set in Karachi. The author could have referred to famous public spaces — pre and post-partition — to engage the readers and help them delve into the heart of the story. However, Kehar does take the liberty to highlight a pre-Ziaul Haq Pakistan which many from his generation have only heard of. At one point, the story lands in Pakistan’s northern areas and the emphasis on Waterhouse’s knee-length dress gives the readers a glimpse of Swat before rampant militancy in the area. Such instances, though infrequent, are pleasing to someone with a keen eye for historical facts. References to the halcyon days of the past could have been more vivid if Kehar had chosen to use places and spaces that were functional in society at that time, like bars and clubs. The storyline allowed him to, as both Waterhouse and Hanif did not mind occasional drinks. Memorable because of the well-paced plot and the refined language, this novel sticks with readers because of the universality of the idea of love. The book hinges on the rifts that led to a country’s birth which went on to become the roots of rivalry between a man, his life and the people who dwell in the shadows. T
ZahidunNisa is a student of media studies and social sciences. She tweets @ZahidunNisa
Falling short Everest fails to make it to the top because of lack of details and limited depth of characters BY SAMEEN AMER
Despite (or perhaps because of) the inherent danger in the quest, thousands of people have tried to summit the highest peaks in the world. But the smallest misstep or misfortune can leave climbers exposed to the severest elements of nature, struggling for survival. Everest is the story of one such ill-fated attempt that ended in tragedy. Based on real events of the 1996 Mount Everest disaster, which, until last year, was the deadliest day on the world’s highest mountain, the film tells the story of a group of climbers that were caught in a severe storm while trying to conquer the daunting peak. The movie commences as several commercial expeditions — most prominently the teams led by guides Rob Hall (Jason Clarke) and Scott Fischer (Jake Gyllenhaal) — set off to ascent the summit of Mount Everest. Hall’s clients include pathologist and mountaineering enthusiast Beck Weathers (Josh Brolin), mailman Doug Hansen (John Hawkes), who is making his second effort to climb to the top, experienced climber Yasuko Namba (Naoko Mori), who has already scaled all but one of the Seven Summits, the highest mountains of each of the seven continents, and journalist Jon Krakauer (Michael Kelly), who has been poached from Fischer’s team. Amidst delays because of overcrowding, Hall persuades Fisher to cooperate during the mission. But a series of misfortunes await the mountaineers. Soon after summitting, the climbers find themselves 36 in the middle of a fierce storm, leaving NOVEMBER 1-7 2015
them in a life-or-death struggle in brutally harsh conditions. With Icelandic director Baltasar Kormákur at its helm, the film does a terrific job in capturing both the splendour and the hostility of Mount Everest. But despite a considerably slow build up, the movie doesn’t really explore or define its characters beyond unoriginal archetypes. Not many of them are given much back-story, and the lack of details and personality makes the characters seem underdeveloped. To his credit, Kormákur doesn’t ‘Hollywoodise’ the disaster by slathering the proceedings with over-sensationalised cinematic peril. But as affecting as the story at Everest’s core is, it has already been told numerous times through various mediums, including books, documentaries, and even a made-for-TV movie, some of which present a significantly more comprehensive look at the events that unfolded during that fateful expedition. If you already know the tale that this film is retelling — or even if you are just expecting someone to thrillingly save the day — then you’ll find the film lacking in suspense, bereft of a cliff-hanger. Still, while it doesn’t quite keep you on the edge of your seat, Everest does succeed in conveying what a harrowing experience it was for the climbers to be trapped by a blizzard near the summit, and is, on the whole, worth a watch, thanks largely to its solid cast as well as spectacular cinematography and the gripping real-life circumstances it is based on.
More mountaineering films Vertical Limit (2000) A climber (Chris O Donnell) must rescue his sister (Robin Tunney) who is trapped on K2, the world's second highest and most dangerous mountain. North Face (2008) Inspired by a famous 1936 attempt to conquer the unclimbed north face of the Eiger, the film tells the tale of two teams involved in a competition to scale the most dangerous rock face in the Alps. Nanga Parbat (2010) Based on the true story of two brothers, famed mountaineer Reinhold Messner (portrayed by Florian Stetter) and Günther Messner (Andreas Tobias), the movie relays the climbers’ 1970 Nanga Parbat expedition and the tragedy that occurred during the descent.
Rating: Sameen Amer is a Lahore-based freelance writer and critic. She tweets @Sameen
POSITIVE
PAKISTANIS
Orchestrating a master class Abandoning traditional teaching methods, Sheikh Jawad Ahmad aims to empower the deaf BY MUHAMMAD DAUD KHAN DESIGN BY ESSA MALIK PHOTO COURTESY: SHAIKH JAWAD AHMAD
Shaikh Jawad Ahmad teaches a class of 16 deaf students.
I
t’s 7pm and the small room is completely silent. A young man begins his lecture on effective communication. He is teaching 16 deaf students using sign language. This is Sheikh Jawad Ahmad, a sign language expert who is deaf by birth. Pursuing an ACCA degree, Ahmad works as a full-time accountant. He also manages a volunteer class at home in Islamabad, where he teaches Basic English to 16 young and energetic deaf students. Ahmad is critical of traditional teaching methods employed for disabled persons. He has an innate talent for observing and understanding the psychological perspective of the deaf and explaining everything in a humorous manner. “I successfully explained the use of ‘OF’ in sign language to my friend once and since then, many of my deaf friends have asked me to teach them English.” Having no resources to conduct this course in a commercial space, Ahmad decided to hold classes in his own house. “My father, being deaf, understands the importance of this course,” he says. Ahmad created a Whatsapp group for the class. “The aim of the group is to improve their communication skills. I introduce students to latest IT tools and apps,” says Ahmad. The class also has a Facebook page where Syed Muhammad Esa, a student and photographer, uploads class videos and pictures. Syed Muhammad Kumail Kazmi, a leg-break bowler in the national deaf cricket team, says his English has improved greatly. “I can now reply to emails and communicate with 38 people in a professional manner,” he says. Naeem Zafar, NOVEMBER 1-7 2015
another enthusiastic student working in NADRA’s stationery department, also says he has learnt a lot from Ahmad. Atif Saleem works as Ahmad’s assistant and travels almost 160km from Nowshera to attend the class. “Communicating with people was very difficult for me but these language classes have polished my skills,” he says. He plans to follow his teacher’s footsteps and spread this knowledge in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Ahmad has not asked any national or international organisation for help yet. “We believe in action rather than claim and once we have implemented our initial plan successfully, we will share our project with stakeholders,” he says. Standardisation of sign language is one of the major challenges in teaching the deaf. “There is no proper sign language for prepositions or helping verbs,” Ahmad says. Ahmad recalls his first day of class when he explained the difference between ‘happy’ and ‘excited.’ Writing ‘happy,’ he started smiling. Writing ‘excited,’ he jumped and used animated expressions. “Everyone understood and enjoyed my teaching method,” he shares. In the future, Ahmad wants to target areas with traditional barriers for the deaf community. “Our aim is to make them more independent and empowered,” he says. The first batch of the course concludes in the first week of November but sessions will soon resume in the first quarter of 2016, in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. “We will then move forward to other cities,” says Ahmad. Muhammad Daud Khan is an Islamabad-based freelance journalist. He tweets @daudpasaney