The Express Tribune Magazine - October 12

OCTOBER 12-18 2014

Binary Battles Social media can be a game changer in global conicts if utilised accurately and efficiently

OctOber 12-18 2014

Feature

Wheeling for change

Cover Story Binary Battles

The man on the cycle has a message everyone needs to hear

The role of social media in conflict

18

Feature

24 Feature

A man and his music

A candid conversation with Iranian musician Shahin Najafi

36

4

Runway Rundown London Fashion Week bowls over audiences

32 Regulars

6 People & Parties: Out and about with beautiful people

40 Reviews: Movies and Books 42 Health: Matters of the Heart

Magazine In-charge: Sarah Munir, Senior Subeditor: Dilaira Dubash and Subeditor: Simoneel Chawla Creative Team: Amna Iqbal, Essa Malik, Jamal Khurshid, Munira Abbas, Mohsin Alam, Omer Asim, Sanober Ahmed & Talha Ahmed Khan Publisher: Bilal A Lakhani. Editor: Kamal Siddiqi For feedback and submissions: magazine@tribune.com.pk Twitter: @ETribuneMag & Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ETribuneMag Printed: uniprint@unigraph.com

PEOPLE & PARTIES Fawad Khan hosts a party after the special screening of Khoobsurat in Lahore

Bilal Lashari and Fawad Khan PhoToS couRTESy LATITudE PR

Mr and Mrs Ali Zafar

Mehak and Amna

Mr and Mrs Hassaan

6 OctOber 12-18 2014

Nimra, Sarah and Namrah

Noor with her sister

Mr and Mrs Hasil with Ahmed Butt

PEOPLE & PARTIES chenone participates in the Aalishaan Pakistan Lifestyle Expo in New delhi

Umair Tabani and Simran

PhoToS couRTESy TAKEII

Tapu Javeri

Amina Faisal

Mini Bindra

8 OctOber 12-18 2014

Amina Javeri

Saher Atif

Huma Nasar

PEOPLE & PARTIES Pakistani textile brand LALA showcases its ‘Empowerment of Women’ collection at Aalishan Pakistan Lifestyle Exhibition 2014 in New delhi

Faiza Samee and Ayesha

Mahesh Bhatt and Pervez Lala

Zehra Javeri and Pooja

10 OctOber 12-18 2014

Zara Sajid

Mehreen Noorani and Huma Adnan

Deepak Perwani

Wardah Saleem and Sanam Chaudhry

Seema Jaffer, Farnaz Mustafa and Neelo Peerzada

PEOPLE & PARTIES

Satish Gujral

Seema Jaffer and Anshu Khanna

Umair Tabani

Somya Lakhani

Faizan, Zara Sajid and a guest

12 OctOber 12-18 2014

Kavita Ramdas and Amna Javeri

Rabiya Javeri and Mrs Abdul Basit with a guest

PEOPLE & PARTIES Faraz Manan presents his Lyallpur collection in collaboration with Ather Shahzad in Lahore

Erum and Aleena Raza

Anoush Gulzar

Mr and Mrs Emmad Irfani

14 OctOber 12-18 2014

Vaneeza

Zara

Bushra Aftab and a Friend

Sonia Azhar

PhoToS couRTESy cATALyST PR & MARKETINg

PEOPLE & PARTIES

Fariya and Sehar Anees with a friend Kanza and Ayesha

Fatima and Halima

Nazia, Sehar and Riffat

Faraz Manan, Sana Adil, Shoaib Shafi and Sundas Manan

Hina Butt with her husband

Meher and Waleed

15 OctOber 12-18 2014

FEATUrE

Wheeling

for change Bhausaheb Bhawar has dedicated his life to raising awareness about social evils such as dowry and female foeticide TEXT AND PHOTO By HAziq qADri

Bhausaheb Bhawar from the Jalna district in Maharashtra, india, has never been married and has no daughters of his own, but he can empathise with the agony most parents go through while getting their daughters married. Hence, when his sister’s in-laws-to-be demanded for dowry from his parents, Bhausaheb refused to remain silent about this social evil. He has been travelling across india on a bicycle since to reach out to people in far-off corners of the country and to convince them that an empowered woman is far better than one draped in jewels.

Since January 1993, 42-year-old Bhausaheb has travelled to every state in India, cycling for almost 40km to 50km in a day, to raise awareness about female foeticide, promote communal harmony and champion the eradication of the dowry culture. He opted for a bike journey as it allowed him to reach out to people and access the remotest villages in the country. Without caring any further for where he would stay or how he would feed himself, he set out from Aurangabad and followed his calling.

India suffers from one of the highest female foeticide rates in the world and Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Haryana are the worst affected states, according to Bhausaheb. “I have spent most of my time spreading awareness among the villages in these states,” he says. “I talk to students, civil society members, educationists and even VIPs.” He also has plenty 18 of letters of appreciation to back his claim. Bhausaheb has OctOber 12-18 2014

Bhausaheb Bhawar has travelled to every state in india to raise awareness been welcomed warmly by governors in every state and also had discussions about the concrete measures each state can take to elevate the status of women. The Indian army, meanwhile, has provided funds for Bhausaheb’s meals and accommodated him monetarily in whichever way they can.

Non-governmental organisations and civil society members have also pledged to forward Bhausaheb’s cause. Such dis-

india suffers from one of the highest female foeticide rates in the world and Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Haryana are the worst affected states

221 cases of foeticide were reported in 2013, up from 210 in 2012.

— National Crime Records Bureau, india

Canada was ranked as the best G20 country for women, while india was ranked the worst.

play of support adds to his achievements, he says. On several occasions he has been asked to speak at seminars and raise awareness about these issues, to which he has always obliged — travelling for miles only to speak for a few hours sometimes.

Bhausaheb, however, prefers to address audiences with maximum female attendance. Only women can be a catalyst for this kind of social change which is why they need to be empowered, he says. “We need to educate them. They need to come forward and raise their voice,” he says, encouraging women to take matters in their own hands.

Although many are eager to listen to what Bhausaheb has to say, there are some who label him a member of intelligence agencies or a thief and question his motives. While in Srinagar, Kashmir, where he came to deliver a lecture at the Government College for Women, he was forced by a priest to leave the temple where he had taken shelter temporarily.

The journey can been tough but it is nevertheless rewarding he says.

Bhausaheb has only visited his family once in 2007 since he embarked on this mission. He says his life is all about his cause now which is to protect his extended family i.e. the female population of India against social injustices. “I am happy with my contribution, and I am hopeful that one day we will eradicate this evil entirely from India,” he says, adding that although his family misses him, they are very proud of his efforts. His sister got married within two years after her wedding was called off due to demands of a dowry and is now well-settled in a family that respects her brother’s cause.

While India’s battle with female foeticide is not even close to over, Bhausaheb dreams of a world tour to give his message a global platform. The problem of dowry is not limited to India only and has its roots spread in several different countries, he says. And Bhausaheb doesn’t have to look too far since countries such as Pakistan can also learn important lessons from a crusader like him.

— A recent poll conducted by TrustLaw, a legal news service by Thomson Reuters Foundation, revealed.

Haziq Qadri is a Kashmir-based photojournalist. He tweets @haziq_qadri

Social activist Bhausaheb Bhawar

about female foeticide and to champion the eradication of the dowry culture.

OctOber 12-18 2014

19

COVER STORY

War and conflict is no longer limited to battlefields. Every battle on the ground — whether it is for land, ideology or power — now has an equally strong and effective virtual dimension. In fact, even before you read this story, you may have seen hundreds of tweets, images and videos from the protests in Hong Kong. Some of you may have watched the Arab Spring unfold on Twitter as it happened, or winced in pain as your Facebook timeline flooded with updates or tweets from Gaza and Syria. This is an indication of the start of a digital battle in which each of us has a decisive role to play.

#B

inary attles

BY VASIQ EQBAL DESIGN BY MOHSIN ALAM PHOTO COURTESY TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM

Social media can be a game changer in global conflicts if utilised accurately and efficiently

Social media has turned everyone into a stakeholder in events that are taking place thousands of miles away. The fact that most of us are now completely in sync and vested in events that occur in parts of the world that we previously had little familiarity or access to is perhaps the biggest testimony to its power. And this power can be a game changer, depending on how it is utilised.

The revolution shall be tweeted?

24

One of the most recent events that took social media by storm was the launch of Operation Protective Edge by Israel in July this year. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, the operation claimed 1,951 Palestinian lives over a period of seven weeks. The Israel army website and agencies on the other hand show the loss of 67 lives on their side. Globally, the operation was seen as a onesided display of brute power by the Israeli Defence Forces and led to a backlash against their actions. On the other hand, there was an outpour of support and sympathy for the residents of Gaza, who were seen as victims of the conflict.

OCTOBER 12-18 2014

How social media can indicate general public opinion Number of times the hashtag #IsraelUnderFire was used on Twitter: 200,000 Number of times the hashtag #GazaUnderAttack was used on Twitter: 4 million or 4,000,000 Number of Instagram posts for #GazaUnderAttack: 218,021 Number of Instagram posts for #IsraelUnderAttack: 8,958

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA

25 OCTOBER 12-18 2014

COVER STORY While this contrast in public opinion was hard to gauge on traditional media outlets — most of which either portrayed the conflict as a clash between two equal forces or used Hamas to justify Israeli attacks on the civilian population — the stance was much clearer on social media. Users from all across the world condemned Israel’s inhuman actions and pleaded to international bodies to intervene and provide protection to the Palestinians. According to Al Jazeera, the hashtag #GazaUnderAttack was used four million times during this period whereas the hashtag #IsraelUnderFire was used only 200,000 times.

Renowned celebrities such as actors John Cusack, Mia Farrow, Kerry Washington and Rob Schneider along with Zayn Malik, a member of the boy band One Direction, also expressed their support openly in favour of the Palestinians. The pro-Israeli camp also had its share of popular names such as reality TV star Simon Cowell, TV and radio host Howard Stern, actor Mark Pellegrino and NBA player Omri Casspi, supporting their stance on social media. Several musicians such as The Backstreet Boys and Megadeth and hip-hop star CeeLo Green cancelled their concerts in Tel Aviv. While various reasons were cited for these cancellations, The Daily Star credited pro-Palestinian groups who used social media campaigns to “urge performers to boycott the Jewish state.”

“These types of conflicts have a tendency to cluster in ‘party lines’,” said Dr Nir T Boms, a research fellow at Tel Aviv University and the co-founder of a network of bloggers from The Middle East, during an online interview. He added that this conflict between Palestinians and Israelis is often framed as a clash between Muslims and Jews. “Hence, we may find at least some natural sympathisers among the immediate ‘kinsman’ of these two groups which are not of equal size (There are about 1.3 billion Muslims in the world and only 14 million Jews),” he says in an attempt to explain the wide discrepancy in online support between the two sides.

On the other hand, Yahya Lababidi, an Egyptian author with Palestinian roots, labelled the role of social media “indispensable” as it enables people to learn, unite and protest. “Even thousands of Israel’s [voices] cannot compete with the terrible truths of dying children and the irrefutable images of death and destruction in Gaza,” he said. “Or the apocalyptic visions of destruction of homes, schools and villages. Or the heartrending reality of hundreds of thousands [of people] displaced without a home because of this carnage.”

Even though Twitter had played an important role during the eight-day Operation Pillar on Defense in 2012 as well 26 when IDF forces had attacked the Gaza strip, its intensity OCTOBER 12-18 2014

Globally, there was a flood of tweets in support of Gaza during Operation Protective Edge.

If social media is used excessively or without checks and balances, it has the potential to backfire

Pop queen Madonna also posted a picture on Instagram with a message of peace and humanity. was far greater this time. Even the two warring factions, IDF and Hamas, posted updates, tweets and videos in an attempt to win hearts and minds.

The impact of social media has not just been limited to the Gaza conflict. Previously, the protests that broke out all across the Muslim world from 2010 to 2012 were also widely documented on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. The death and destruction that has ravaged Syria for the past three years also made its way to eyes and ears across the world due to these platforms. The plight of

the 276 schoolgirls that were kidnapped by Boko Haram in Nigeria also picked up momentum through social media.

Despite attempts by the government to control information, images, tweets and videos coming out of Hong Kong these days has given the world an insight into the country’s struggle for democracy. In Pakistan, tweets and Facebook videos have been used as evidence against the alleged rigging of the 2013 elections and to solicit support in favour of and against political parties.

Not all news is good news Any powerful tool, if used excessively or without checks and balances, has the potential to backfire. Social media is no exception. While it has filled up the information gaps that may be overlooked (consciously or otherwise) by traditional media outlets and made it impossible for those in power to

loophole was pointed out, celebrities such as Chris Brown, Kim Kardashian and even the US embassy in Madrid had already shared the image. Similarly, pictures of Syrian war victims were also circulated widely on social media, captioned as victims of Israeli violence. Jon Snow, an anchor on Channel 4, also tweeted the picture of a Syrian child mistaking him for a child in Gaza and apologised for the error later.

Moreover, critical details such as the context, history and implications etcetera are often lost when a news item is shrunk into 140 characters or a single image. The conversation is also usually dominated by extreme narratives and often ends up drowning out the balanced moderate voices.

A tweet by Channel 4 anchor, Jon Snow that incorrectly identified a Syrian child as a Gaza victim. He later apologised for it.

A few global issues/conflicts that created an uproar on social media KONY2012: A short film that was produced to have African militia leader and war criminal Joseph Kony arrested by the end of 2012. The film spread through the #Kony2012 hashtag.

This picture that made rounds on social media incorrectly identified this girl as Nigerian. Her tears were also photoshopped.

YESALL’WOMEN: A Twitter hashtag and social media campaign, which encouraged users to share examples or stories of misogyny and violence against women.

control or distort news to serve their agendas, it can also lead to misinformation, panic and hatemongering.

The speed at which information is transmitted in the virtual world often makes it difficult to distinguish between facts and speculation. For example, an image of a girl with tears in her eyes that was circulated widely on social media during the ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ campaign eventually turned out to be fake. The girl in the picture was not from Nigeria and her tears were photoshopped. By the time this

ISIS: The extremist Islamic State group which has displayed immense sophistication in their use of social media.

Its critics, however, have also launched social media campaigns such as the #BurnISISFlagChallenge to counter the organisation’s violent propaganda.

27 OCTOBER 12-18 2014

COVER STORY

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Unequal access to technology also skews the discourse in favour of those with access to gadgets and smartphones and isolates those who do not have access to these resources.

Apart from inaccuracy, the aggressive use of social media in certain cases, such as the Boko Haram, the Taliban and recently the ISIS, has also been criticised for glorifying the enemy by giving them more attention than they deserve.

In certain cases, it has also been dismissed as armchair activism — something that has little impact in real-life situations.

Pakistani child activist also uses social media to express her opinion on global issues frequently.

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The devil is in the details

The hashtag #BringBackOurGirls picked up momentum when renowned personalities such as Michelle Obama came on board.

The flood of information has transformed conflict zones from areas once dominated by the ‘fog of war’ to regions of information surplus Programme specialist at USIP Anand Varghese

28 OCTOBER 12-18 2014

“The flood of information has transformed conflict zones from areas once dominated by the ‘fog of war’ to regions of information surplus,” wrote Anand Varghese, a programme specialist at United States Institute of Peace’s (USIP) Center, of Innovation for Science, Technology and Peacebuilding, in his publication Preparing for Peace: Communications in Conflict Resolution. Hence, there is a need for rules and guidelines to prevent ourselves from getting trapped in predictable loopholes.

Syria’s Socially Mediated Civil War — a 2014 report by the USIP which assessed the social media content emerging from Syria, its credibility and how it travels — revealed that apart from verification of sources and filtering out facts from noise, it is also critical to connect online trends to real-world developments. It states that experts need to account for inherent structural biases and devise mechanisms that look at people’s broader political affiliations, backgrounds and sentiments when deducing trends based on virtual activities. It concludes that implementation of these sophisticated research mechanisms are still a work in progress. Until these systems are put into place, social media should always be used to get a clearer insight into issues/events keeping in mind that it may not be always be the complete picture. Or the only picture.

How social media can be used to play a positive role during conflict Fostering inter-ethnic dialogue: Social media can be used to bridge divides between adversaries, especially youth. For example, the Salam Shabab online youth network in Iraq, which shows shifting attitudes about ethnic diversity and the 200,000-member YaLa-Young Leaders network in the Middle East, which promotes communication between Israelis and Palestinians.

Managing elections: Voting was actively monitored in places like Kenya and Sudan for everything from violence to fraud using a range of social media platforms.

Preventing gang violence: Twitter penetration in Brazil is among the highest on the planet, and communities in Brazilian favelas, or shantytowns, say it has been a game-changer in helping bring down both gang and police violence.

A snap shot of Instagram posts expressing solidarity with the people of Gaza.

An Instagram post showing support for Gaza.

Preventing resource disputes: Early-warning networks like CEWARN in sub-Saharan Africa are being set up to leverage social media, along with other forms of satellite information and traditional media reports, to prevent conflict over land, water and other resources.

Constitution-building: Places such as Egypt have attempted to build constitutions with public input through social media. Even though it wasn’t very successful there, the initiative has great potential.

Protesting violence: In 2008, Oscar Morales, a young Colombian engineer, used Facebook to rally people all across Colombia against the violent tactics of the guerrilla group commonly known as the FARC in 2008. It marked the beginning of a trend in the use of social networks to bring people together to protest against violence.

SOURCE: UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE

Vasiq Iqbal is a Lahore-based photojournalist and a travel writer.

He tweets @vasiq_eqbal

Aa A snap shot of Instagram posts expressing support for Israel.

29 OCTOBER 12-18 2014

FEATURE

RUNWAY RUNDOWN London Fashion Week shows audiences how it’s done

By Momina Sibtain Design by Essa Malik

W

The London Fashion Week took place from September 12 to September 16 this year.

Photo coURtESY: afP

hether you are a diehard fashionista or take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on, the colours and styles you eventually choose to wear are decided by a handful of people sitting in Paris, London, Milan and New York. twice each year, style giants congregate at these fashion capitals to determine the cuts, hues, patterns and trends that will dominate the upcoming spring/summer or autumn/winter collections, which then trickle down to high street stores and eventually to consignment outlets. this year I had the privilege of attending the London fashion Week (LfW) for the first time, which made me realise how relatively simple things are for fashion journalists in Pakistan. at home, there is one PR company that usually deals with all the invites and as a member of the press, you need one pass to get into all the required areas. all the events are held at the same venue, where each day up to eight designers showcase their work on the same ramp. hence, it was a real shock for me to see how differently things were done in London. firstly, you have to be an accredited member of the press, or a blogger, photographer, buyer or designer to be able to register. Socialites, celebrities and students are dealt with separately. after filling out numerous forms, preparing my portfolio and getting my publication to send letters stating I was a journalist, I finally got accredited only to find out that in order to attend different shows one had to apply directly to each design house (there were around 85 designers participating in LfW this year) and request them for invites. after drafting numerous emails outlining details about my work and publication and my reasons for attending their particular shows, I waited patiently to hear back. Luckily, invites started pouring in, and my excitement started to mount.

Who wore it best?

Somerset house is the home of LfW. this neoclassical building turns into a real live fashion jungle for five days where one can spot countless designers, bloggers, journalists, buyers and photographers prowling around eyeing the season’s best (and worst) catches. While Somerset house is ground zero, most of the shows you will actually end up attending are all across the city at various hotels, galleries and design house studios. the general buzz of excitement around the area and the sound of stilettos ‘click clacking’ on the pavement is enough to get your adrenaline pumping. But make sure to wear comfortable footwear as your arms and legs might give up from all the moving around. after registering and getting your pass attached to a lanyard, the entire Somerset house opens up to you. there is a specific press and buyers lounge where you can go to recharge your phones and plug in your laptop to blog, tweet and instagram live from the event.

In Pakistan, fashion weeks have specific red carpet tim-

Burberry Prorsum

Models present the Burberry Prorsum 2013 spring/ summer collection at London Fashion Week.

Photo coURtESY: afP

Anya Hindmarch A bag from the Anya Hindmarch spring/summer 2015 collection.

Photo coURtESY: LfW

What is worn on the streets during international fashion weeks is as important as what is showcased on the ramp. Photo coURtESY: LfW

Top 5 fashion capitals in the world 1. New York 2. Paris 3. London 4. Milan 5. Los Angeles

The fashion weeks in each of these cities take place twice a year. The one in February showcases the autumn/winter collection whereas the second one in September offers a preview of the spring/ summer collection.

SoURcE: GLoBaL LaNGUaGE MoNItoR

ings, during which attendees put their best foot forward and flaunt their latest accessories and wardrobe acquisitions. fashion weeks abroad on the contrary have become all about street style, creativity and making a statement. Your personal style is what gets recognised on the streets of London and there are enough photographers mulling around to capture it through their vigilant lens. But being plain pretty is not good enough to get noticed — your outfits have to be edgy, well thought out and, in some cases, so outlandish and bi33 zarre that they catch people’s attention.

OctOber 12-18 2014

FEATURE

Let the action begin I ended up seeing seven designers’ collections, including JeanPierre Braganza and Paul costello’s ramp shows and Markus Lupfer’s showcase. Since every designer is responsible for their own show, each show has a specific theme that represents the mood of the collection. Everything, from hair and makeup to the choice of venue and the type of runway, depends not only on the collection but also on the design house’s budget. the Somerset house courtyard Jean-Pierre Braganza has a catwalk enclosure that is used by multiple designers throughout the week to show their collections.

2014 FASHION WEEK ON TWITTER costello showcased his whimsical collection at Simpson at the Strand, a quaint hotel close to SomLondon VS New York erset house. the Victorian feel of the banquet hall LONDON NEW YORK used as the runway tied in well with the concept Total tweets: 286,000 Total tweets: 992,000 of the collection. Markus Lupfer utilised the DiAverage Tweets/Minute: 44 Average Tweets/Minute: 87 ary art centre in Russell Square for his sporty chic Average Tweets/Hour: 2,624 Average Tweets/Hour: 5,249 collection. he injected the punky playfulness of People Tweeting: 218,000 People Tweeting: 704,000 his collection with hi-tech holographics in lilac SoURcE: SocIaLBRo.coM and lime for sharp party dresses. What was interesting about the display was the interactive nature of the showcase. the scene was set to feel like a beach and the attendees sipped on Within the walls of the massive façade of Somerpina coladas as they moved around to see set house is where the actual business takes place. the collection. Rather than strutting down a number of clothing, accessories and shoe designthe runway, the models were relaxed and ers that do not have ramp shows use these showroom interacting with each other and acknowlstalls to exhibit their collections. attendees with acedging the photographers as they posed cess to these spaces can meet the designers or their PR for them. companies to get a better feel of their collection for the at international fashion weeks, upcoming season. Buyers from across the world can also however, who comes to watch your view and select what they want in their particular stores, show is far more important than boutiques and websites. what the show is about. hence, evfrom established designers to emerging talent, everyone has ery designer is hustling for major their specific space and it was an eye opener for me to see how publications, editors, fashionismethodical everything was. Each PR company was designated tas, photographers, top bloggers a particular room where the designers they represented showand buyers to be in attendance, cased their work. It made me wonder how Pakistani designers since they have the power to dicwould fare if they strengthened their production ends and created tate the future of the brand to a collections that could be showcased at a particular venue instead certain extent. of just doing ramp shows. the entire experience also helped me understand the basic philosophy behind fashions weeks — to promote all kinds of work being created from high-end fashion houses to midtier designers that have been creating some fantastic collections being stocked around the world. While each fashion week, be it London, New York, Paris or Milan, focuses primarily on designers hailing from that particular country, they also have a quota for international merchandisers 34 displaying their work.

Show, donÕ t tell

OctOber 12-18 2014

Takeaways

Markus Lupfer The fashion industry contributes nearly

$33

billion to the British economy every year.

SoURcE: REUtERS

Haizhen Wang

Kasun Designers that do not have ramp shows have dedicated stalls to display their collections.

Phtot coURtESY: LfW

the grass always appears greener on the other side but even well-established platforms, such as LfW, have a few loose ends. this time, it was due to the different kinds of invites that were sent out to guests. first are guests with seated invites, allowed into the venue before everyone, followed by standing invites and lastly guests with e-vites, who are called in if there is any space left. But due to the excessive invites sent out, far beyond the capacity of the venue, a lot of people who had trekked across towns to see a show were turned away at the last minute. the immense focus on business throughout LfW, however, was an eye-opener.

Each designer displayed their collection not just with the intention of showcasing what they had created but also with the intention of selling to mega conglomerates and boutiques situated all across the world. the discipline, time management and efficiency with which LfW operated was also awe-inspiring.

Even though it is impossible to draw parallels between LfW and local fashion weeks at this point due to the vast difference in magnitude, experience and resources, I couldn’t help but wish for our industry to graduate to a level where each design house is able to host its own show during fashion week too. T Momina Sibtain is a fashion and lifestyle correspondent for The Express Tribune.

She tweets @MominaSibtain

Lulu & Co

A glimpse from the Lulu & Co 2015 spring/summer collection.

Phtot coURtESY: LfW

QUICK ROUND-UP FOR LONDON FASHION WEEK SPRING/SUMMER 2015 Number of days: 5 Number of presentations: 24 Number of catwalk shows: 58

35 OctOber 12-18 2014

Imogen Belfield

A man and his music Iranian artist Shahin Najafi’s music may have cost him his country but has helped him find his voice

By Schayan Riaz DESiGn By SanOBER ahMED

36 OctOber 12-18 2014

Shahin Najafi is commonly referred to as the ‘angry bard’, but those who’ve spoken to the artist know that he is anything but furious. On the contrary, the Iranian musician is soft-spoken with a raspy quality to his voice, assuring one that perhaps no other career choice would have been more suitable for him. While promoting his book When God is sleeping — a selection of his noteworthy song lyrics and poems along with autobiographical texts about his life — at the Berlin Literature Festival, he appears to have an almost resigned attitude to life, taking everything as it comes.

Najafi fled his homeland in 2005 after Iranian authorities found some of his lyrics questionable and sentenced him to three years in prison and 100 lashes. He has been living in Cologne, Germany, ever since. But it wasn’t until 2012 that Najafi generated a severe uproar once again after the release of his song ‘Naghi’, which allegedly disrespected Shia sentiments. Several

Musicians in Exile • German singer-songwriter Karl Wolf Biermann was exiled from East Germany in 1976 for being a member of the Communist resistance and took refuge in West Berlin. His songs continued to influence many in East Germany and played an important role in bringing down the wall in 1989.

• Kemal Kahraman was exiled from Turkey due to his association with a leftist political party.

He returned to his country after 22 years in August 2014 to perform at a concert in his hometown in Dersim.

• Syrian singer and song writer Asala Nasri lives in exile in Cairo for writing songs against the Syrian President Basharal Assad. She holds concerts across the globe and continues to support the uprisings against the regime through her songs.

• Burmese singer Ngwe Toe fled his country after the military authorities banned traditional protest songs in favour of democracy in 1988. He sought refuge in Delhi, India, and in 2010 released a new protest album against the regime.

iranian musician Shahin najafi who has been living in exile in Germany for the past nine years.

PHOTO COURTESY: BERLIN LITERATURE FESTIVAL

Shia clerics issued fatwas against him and more than one online campaign openly advocated his assassination.

Despite the death threats and heavy police protection, Najafi remains undeterred, treating his fans to concerts at whim. In the nine years since his emigration, he has made Germany his home, even though he is often on the road, performing and promoting his work.

In order to appreciate Najafi, one has to either accept the singer for who he is or try to understand where he is coming from. In a preface to When God is sleeping, German-Iranian politician Omid Nouripour openly writes about how he was never an immediate fan of Najafi, but gradually grew to like the musician and his music after learning about his life. Speaking about the way people perceive him and on whether the Iranian authorities might change their opinion of him, Najafi laughs heartily and shakes his head. “No. Never. I don’t think so,” he says. “I don’t like ‘hope’. I hate this word. I’m a realist and hope is not a realistic notion… If you’re hopeful, then you’re not truthful. That’s why I don’t believe in it.”

While Najafi speaks in impeccable German, he often takes long to answer. He seems to think quicker than he speaks; forming sentences long before delivering them to make sure that there are no mistakes. As the majority of Najafi’s texts are poems, this process of thinking and speaking in a non-native language also has a poetic quality. But in response to a passage from his book — about certain graves being bulldozed by the Iranian government, where even in death the dead don’t find their peace — he doesn’t pause to offer any poetic reply.

He just sighs and nods.

These bitter experiences have left their scars, but according to Najafi, life has to go on. During his spare time, he says, “I do read books, but not as much as I watch movies. In a week, I’ll watch about three to four movies and then I’ll also read a book eventually.” He prefers recent releases as opposed to old films and doesn’t particularly like to watch Iranian films. “Iranian films are terrible. The restrictions imposed by the authorities are quite evident when you watch an Iranian film,” he says. Despite 37 OctOber 12-18 2014

FEaTURE

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albums have been released by Shahin najafi so far. his most recent album 1414 was released on april 14, 2014.

some of the industry’s resounding successes — such as director Jafar Panahi’s The Circle and filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof’s award-winning Manuscripts Don’t Burn — Najafi remains bluntly hostile, especially towards Panahi, despite their similar circumstances. “I don’t like Jafar Panahi. I don’t like his films.

The only true filmmaker Iran has right now is Asghar Farhadi.”

But as Najafi’s event at the festival draws nearer, he loses his feisty demeanour and becomes a bit fidgety.

And the attending audience would have surely expected him to recite the words that made him infamous. But Najafi does not relent, disclosing a hidden headstrong quality. Although he agrees to eventually read, it includes other passages from the book and a heartbreaking eulogy to his late mother.

What was meant to be an hour-long session ends within 40 minutes. Many are curious to know whether Najafi is always this nervous. Quite the contrary, he reveals that he is full of energy

iranian films are terrible. The restrictions imposed by the authorities are quite evident when you watch an iranian film Singer Shahin najafi

Shahin najafi performs at a concert in Toronto, canada, on June 7, 2014.

PHOTO COURTESY: SHAHIN NAJAFI OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE

Shahin najafi celebrates the two-year anniversary of the release of his album Naghi on May 7, 2014. PHOTO COURTESY: SHAHIN NAJAFI OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE

Upon meeting his moderator, noted German journalist Knut Elstermann, and learning that Elstermann is a film critic — one of the most trusted in Berlin — he retires into a shell for good measure. He becomes noticeably monosyllabic and refuses to read from Naghi.

“I hate the situation surrounding Naghi.

I’m tired of talking about it,” he snaps.

To be fair, talking about something over and over again can be taxing, but Naghi is what made ordinary Germans take notice of Najafi in the first place.

during concerts since being on stage makes him feel powerful and in control. “I’m usually this jumpy, that’s just how I am as a person.” Although, this may be hard to believe, it perhaps has something to do with him talking about books instead of music. For a man who coaxes others to leave their comfort zones, Najafi strangely does not fare too well outside his own.

Schayan Riaz is a Germany-based writer.

He tweets @schayanriaz

FILM

Leaping on the same bandwagon The boys in blue are back in college and a lot can happen the second time around

BY SAMEEN AMER

In one of its many meta moments, buddy cop comedy 22 Jump Street concisely lays out its own game plan. “Do the same thing as last time,” its characters are instructed, “[and] everyone’s happy.” And that is precisely what the film does. The sequel to 2012’s 21 Jump Street (which itself was based on the 1980s crime drama) sticks to the template of its predecessor while doling out the same brand of self-referential humour that made the first movie such a surprising delight.

The target, this time, are sequels and theirr aninherent trappings. Officers Greg Jenko (Channing Tatum) and Morton Schmidt (Jonah Hill)l) are on a mission almost identical to the one that made them a success in the previous instalment — busting a drug ring by going undercover and posing as college students.

But before they can unmask the perpetrage tors, they realise that being a pretend college s. student comes with its own set of problems.

When they make new friends and bond g with kindred spirits — with Jenko gravitating self towards the jocks and Schmidt finding himself amidst the artsy, bohemian crowd — their n bromance is put to test, making it uncertain whether their partnership will survive this episode.

Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Millerr have once again created a zany, playful com-th edy that is high on energy and brimming with

1

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The Heat

Melissa McCarthy plays a talented cop with atrocious behaviour problems, who is teamed up with the overtly ambitious Sandra Bullock.

The two make an unlikely pair but end up becoming friends as they quickly learn that their differences complement each other.

OCTOBER 12-18 2014

self-awareness. The plot doesn’t seem to hold much weight and it (intentionally) isn’t the most important element of the film. Instead, it’s the meta-commentary that propels the movie’s engine. As it spoofs itself and makes fun of its own existence, 22 Jump Street misses no chance to remind us that this is a sequel about sequels, repeatedly finding humour in franchise clichés, thanks to a sly script that never fails to make you laugh. Even its end credits vignette, which features a mock

montage of future instalments, is a hoot and makes an amusing short in itself.

The odd couple dynamics between its leads have also been put to good use. Both Tatum and Hill are in fine form here and seem totally committed to their goofy roles. The supporting talent is also impressive, led with a knowing wink by Ice Cube and Nick Offerman who play Jenko and Schmidt’s superiors. Other standouts include Wyatt Russell, who portrays a jock that sparks camaraderie with Jenko, the Lucas Brothers, who play a pair of stoner tw that occupy a neighbouring dorm room, twins and Jillian Bell as Schmidt’s new girlfriend’s (A (Amber Stevens) intensely hostile roommate.

Of course, sticking to the same template also has its downsides. The humour beccomes a tad predictable, and the proceedin aren’t as exciting as they were the first ings tim around. Moreover, at times it feels like time the movie rambles on, and sometimes it rep repeats its jokes too many times, drawing out th gags longer than it should. the The overall viewing experience, however, is very enjoyable thanks to a witty script and slic slick performances. The film is likely to amuse vie viewers who enjoyed the first instalment of the series.

Rating: Sameen Amer is a Lahore-based freelance writer and critic. She tweets @Sameen.

For more crime comedy 2 Plastic 3 Let’s be cops Sam and Fordy find themselves desperate to make some quick cash after their credit card fraud scheme victimises a dangerous man. With their lives on the line, they will do just about anything to reimburse the man, including a dangerous diamond heist.

Justin and Ryan revel in their newly-earned fame after their whole neighbourhood mistakes them for cops. However, things get complicated when they are actually expected to catch the bad guys and become involved with local crime lords in the process.

BOOK

The forgotten Pakistan Reema Abbasi’s book is a reminder that human beings are too interconnected to be divided by hastily-penciled maps

BY FAIZA RAHMAN

Available at Liberty Books for Rs2,500.

It is no secret that dishonest scholarship is an important catalyst of faith-based bloodshed in Pakistan. Such works are known to snuff out entire peoples, geographies and eras to afford intellectual backing to exclusionist arguments. In such times, Reema Abbasi’s book, Historic Temples in Pakistan: A call to conscience reminds us that insisting on a wholly ‘Muslim’ history of Pakistan is both dangerously myopic and factually incorrect.

Through this book, Abbasi traces the cultural and artistic histories of some of the oldest Hindu, Jain and Sikh temples across Pakistan. Using her observations of rituals and architectures, she tacitly broaches the discourse of multifaith existence which Pakistan’s national identity is in dire need o of.

Abbasi reminds us that the country has never been the exclusive custody of peopl the people of any one fait faith but

belongs to scores of men and women whose differences bequeath richness and flexibility to our national identity.

Abbasi also reports on the centrality that these temples continue to have in people’s lives using examples such as the Varun Dev temple in Karachi’s Manora Island. The site is heavily frequented by Muslim devotees who come to the temple to pay homage to the traveller saint Jhule Lal, also revered by Hindus as the water god Varuna, making for a wondrous crisscross of beliefs which knit both communities together. She cites several similar examples such as the Krishna Mandir of Rawalpindi, the curious healing powers of which beckon Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs alike, and the mysterious Nani Mandir of Lasbela, Balochistan, thronged by both Hindu and Muslim pilgrims.

The book repeatedly alludes to the fact that human beings are too interconnected to be divided by hastily-penciled maps.

Abbasi chronicles temples that, according to legends, have secret passageways connecting to other partner-temples across the border. She visits and describes in breathtaking detail the unworldly Katas Temple, revered as the site where the most sacred of Hindu scriptures, the Rig Veda, was composed. With so much of Hindu legacy in Pakistan (and similar Muslim legacy in India) what, then, is one to make of a political

boundary whose proponents insist on an unnatural ‘pureness’ of faith on either side?

Throughout the book, the text is studded with photography and journal notes by Madiha Aijaz, who accompanied Abbasi to the temples.

It is, however, important to note that Abbasi’s work, while affording a thorough, one-volume study of temples in Pakistan, is not scholarly. That the subcontinent is, and has been, susceptible to fresh fusions of religion has already been established.

Syncretism (the confluence of religions) in South Asia is a heavily-researched area that has long been in the careful hands of historians such as Richard Eaton and William Darlymple. Therefore, the author does not bring forth an original thesis which can push the paradigm and nor does she intend to.

Her work is of a different nature — she seeks to show a mirror and tame the furious spirit which causes humans to concoct the ‘us’ and ‘them’ divisions. In times where news bulletins and newspaper stories are replete with accounts of faith-based killings, Abbasi’s effort qualifies as a refreshing reminder of a Pakistan that the extremists are trying to erase from our collective consciousness. T

Faiza Rahman is a subeditor for the Opinion & Editorial section of The Express Tribune.

OCTOBER 12-18 2014

Author Reema Abbasi.

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HEALTH Did you know that you are much more likely to die of a heart disease than of cancer? Cardiovascular disease, which collectively refers to various heart and blood vessel problems, is the leading cause of deaths worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. The

Symptoms of heart attacks in women:

number of heart disease-related deaths that occur each year is expected to rise to 23 million in the next two decades. Eighty per cent of these deaths are likely to occur in low-income countries like Pakistan. According to Dr Sadia Arshad, a cardiologist at the Aga Khan University Hospital, around one-third of the deaths in Pakistan are caused by heart-related diseases.

– Vague feeling of being unwell – Stomach ache – Nausea and vomiting – Pain in arms, neck, back and jaw – Unusual fatigue – Sweating and lightheadedness – Slight discomfort in the chest

Causes:

Symptoms:

Prevention

The term cardiovascular disease is most often used to refer to the damage to the heart and blood vessels caused by a buildup of fatty plaque in arteries. This buildup thickens artery walls and restricts blood flow to organs and tissues. The following factors can increase the risk of a heart disease: • Old age • A family history of heart disease • Smoking • A diet rich in fat, salt, sugar and ccholesterol o este o • Lack of exercise • High blood pressure and high cholesterol • Unmanaged stress • Poor hygiene and dental health

Most people do not realise that they are suffering from a heart disease until they suffer from a heart attack, angina or stroke. Hence, it is important to be familiar with symptoms of heart attacks so that you can get immediate medical attention. Dr Arshad explains that symptoms of a heart attack can vary between men and women, which can affect patients’ perceptions and recognition of their condition.

You can prevent cardiovascular disease by following a heart-healthy lifestyle. These are some steps Dr Arshad recommends you can take to protect your heart: – Don’t smoke or use tobacco in any other form. Even smoking a couple of cigarettes a day can increase your risk of heart disease by up to 5%.

– Exercise for 30 minutes on most days of the week.

– Eat a healthy diet consisting of lots of vegetables, fruits, fish and whole grain. Avoid foods rich in fats, which include red meat, dairy products and fried foods.

– Maintain a healthy weight that is in accordance with your Body Mass Index.

– Get regular health screenings for cholesterol, blood pressure and diabetes. Even healthy adults should get screened at least once a year.T

Symptoms of heart attacks in men: • C Crushing chest pain • S Shortness of breath • P Pain in arms, teeth o or jaw • S Sweating and lighth headedness

Nudrat Kamal is a subeditor on The Express Tribune magazine desk. She tweets @Nudratkamal Nu

Matters of the

heart

Never take a heartache too lightly

BY NUDRAT KAMAL

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DESIGN BY MUNIRA ABBAS