The Express Tribune Magazine - October 7

OCTOBER 7-13 2012

IN CASE OF FIRE BREAK GLASS

OCTOBER 7-13 2012

Cover Story

18 Fire Safety 101 Learn how you can protect yourself and your loved ones in case a fire breaks out in your home

Feature

27 Keeping it real Instead of protesting the anti-Islam film on the streets, volunteers of Discover Islam UK took it as an opportunity to clear misconceptions about their religion

32 Buckets and brooms Attention all Pakistanis! The Ugly Indians might just have shown us the way to organising consistent citizen-led cleaning drives for our filthy streets

36 The royal treatment

27

For one evening, Danial Shah learns what it is like to have a repast fit for a raja

32

Regulars 6 People & Parties: Out and about with Pakistan’s beautiful people 38 Reviews: A masterpiece from copywood 42 End Of The Line: The lamest saga of all time

36

4

Magazine Editor: Zarrar Khuhro, Senior Sub-Editor: Zainab Imam. Sub-Editors: Mifrah Haq, Ameer Hamza and Dilaira Mondegarian.

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

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

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

PEOPLE & PARTIES

Rang Ja’s flagship store launches in Lahore

Anum and Amna

Alina and Fatima

PHOTOS COURTESY BILAL MUKHTAR AND EVENTS PR

Maliha and Gulmina

Ahsan, Madiha, Hassan, Zara and Saad

Reza and Maria

6 OCTOBER 7-13 2012

Zain

Ahmer and Bilal Mukhtar

OCTOBER 7-13 2012

PEOPLE & PARTIES

Aliha

Sahar and Wajid

Amna and Aleena

Ali and Alina Riya and Kinza

Maryum and Sahar

Resham, Maida and Mehreen

8 OCTOBER 7-13 2012

Sumaira

PHOTOS COURTESY BILAL MUKHTAR AND EVENTS PR

Fawad and Xille Huma

OCTOBER 7-13 2012

PEOPLE & PARTIES

Naba and Minahil

Saqib and Amna

Huma, Amna and Geiti Saira and Ayesha

Sara and Taqdees

Leena, Nida, Sara and Ashna

10 OCTOBER 7-13 2012

Sadaf, Rabia and Minahil

PHOTOS COURTESY BILAL MUKHTAR AND EVENTS PR

Ikram, Madiha and Imtisal

OCTOBER 7-13 2012

PEOPLE & PARTIES

Shirley Kuan and Fanty Soenardy

Frances Low and Elizabeth Leong

Sara Taseer exhibits her latest diamond jewellery collection in Singapore Lynn Yeo

Susana Rusli, Rina Salim, Wiwik Tandiono, Indra and Shirley Kuan

12 OCTOBER 7-13 2012

Caroline Zachrie

PHOTOS COURTESY SAVVY PR

Polina Saprikina and Elvira Luy

OCTOBER 7-13 2012

PEOPLE & PARTIES

FMC Corporation hosts a dinner for world squash champions in Lahore

Alisha Bari Ross Norman and Sheraz Saleem

Borjan Shoes opens up in Lahore

Omer, Farhan, Sarosh and Fariha Abeeha

Ramy Ashour, Mustafa Asif, Jonathan Powers and David Palmer

14 OCTOBER 7-13 2012

Sameen Sarwat, Naveed Shahzad and Umair Hussain

OCTOBER 7-13 2012

PEOPLE & PARTIES

Saima and Nasreen

Noor Un Nisa Daudpota

Coca Cola holds a live screening of the T20 World Cup at CBM University in Karachi

Muneeb Bin Suhail and Cyril Fonseca

16 OCTOBER 7-13 2012

Ali Safina

Sameer Ur Rahman and Fiza Siddiqui

Hassaan Khan, Aneeqa Naz, Umer Waqar and Fiza Shadab

PHOTOS COURTESY ANASTASIA PR

Sidra Masroor

OCTOBER 7-13 2012

COVER STORY

BY MIFRAH HAQ AND AMEER HAMZA

We all looked on in horror as the Baldia factory fire claimed close to 300 lives on September 11 this year. For days, newspapers and TV channels focused on what was Pakistan’s worst industrial accident, trying to both make sense of the tragedy and to fix blame. Then, as is typical in these cases, the cameras moved on and the columnists found new topics to write about. Missing in this entire debate was how you, as a homeowner, can protect yourself and your loved ones in case a fire breaks out. So to fill that gap, we at The Express Tribune magazine have put together a comprehensive guide to help you ensure that your home is fire safe and also to help show you how to proceed should a fire break out in your home.

18 OCTOBER 7-13 2012

HAZARDS TO LOOK OUT FOR: Kitchen Most household fires tend to take place in the kitchen. With gas and electricity outlets and the frequent use of oil, the kitchen is a fire hazard waiting to happen. Here are some steps that you can take to ensure safety for your kitchen:

•

Keep potholders, plastic utensils, towels or other non-cooking equipment away from the stove. These items can easily catch fire.

• While cooking, roll up or fasten long and loose sleeves and dupattas etc. Never leave cooking unattended. Put out food fires, or those caused in greasy pans by oil etc, in a pan by covering with a lid and turning off the gas source.

• Before going to bed at night, make sure your stove and other small appliances are turned off.

• Keep a fire extinguisher near the kitchen and have it checked yearly. Make sure you know how to use it (see our guide to using fire extinguishers on page 20).

• If your fridge occasionally gives you a small shock, it might have a tiny leakage current because of worn-out insulation on its internal wiring, especially if it has a defrost circuit. This phenomenon is well-known and can even be quite dangerous when the refrigerator is placed on an electrically conductive concrete floor, especially a floor that’s damp with condensation.

Generators With long hours of loadshedding across the country, burn wards at many hospitals have received a number of patients complaining of injuries from overheated generators.

•

Never add gasoline to a generator that is running. Always shut off the generator and let it cool down before refilling it. The length of the cooldown period depends on how long the generator has been running.

• Never try to power the house wiring by plugging the generator into a wall outlet, a practice known as “backfeeding”. This is extremely dangerous and presents an electrocution risk to utility workers and neighbours served by the same utility transformer.

• If you use a gas generator, make sure there are no leaks in the pipes. To detect leaks, use the age-old sniff test – if you smell gas, switch off the main supply and have the pipes replaced. Alternatively, you can also check for leak by mixing detergent and water, and applying it over the pipes. If you see bubbles forming, that means that there is a leak at that point.

Gas-fired water heaters/Geysers • Use only one match for lighting the pilot, and do so before you turn on the gas to prevent gas build-up that can ignite and burn your face or hand.

• Keep flammable materials away from gas-fired appliances.

Cigarettes, lighters and matches • These items are one of the leading causes of fire casualties at home. Keep lighters, matches, candles and lanterns in a locked cabinet, out of children’s sight and reach.

• Teach children safety rules for matches, fires, electrical outlets, electrical cords, stoves and chemicals.

• Before emptying ashtrays, make sure that cigarette butts are fully extinguished. Never place a butt directly into a trashcan without dousing it with water first.

• Do NOT smoke in bed. Fires have been caused by people going to sleep without extinguishing the cigarette.

Other hazards • Long curtains that touch the floor, especially over a synthetic carpet, are extremely dangerous. They can catch fire and spread it around.

• Circuit breakers and fuses do not protect you against all electrical fires. Most electrical fires result from problems with ‘fixed wiring’ such as faulty electrical outlets and old wiring. Lights that flicker or trip the circuit breaker may be due to loose wiring or a light fixture that’s worn out and needs to be replaced.

• Use proper fuses in electrical boxes. Do not overload outlets and always use insulated and grounded electrical cords.

• Invest in secure plugs that will be able to handle surges in voltage. Cheap plugs readily available in the market will melt in the event of an electrical surge and catch fire.

• Keep trash cleaned up in store rooms, basements and garages.

• Clothes, blankets, curtains, towels and other items that can easily catch fire should be kept at least three feet from space heaters and away from stove burners.

19 • Check for worn wires and do not run cords under rugs or furniture.

OCTOBER 7-13 2012

COVER STORY Family fire drills • Practice using your escape route in family fire drills at least twice a year.

• Know the emergency number for your fire department. Remember to first get out if there is a fire, then call for help once safely outside. (See our handy guide to emergency numbers on Page 26) Also know which local hospitals have burns units/wards.

• Draw a map of each level of your home and show all doors and windows. Find two ways to get out of each room. Make sure all doors and windows that lead outside can be opened without much effort.

• Label keys so they are easy to find in an emergency.

• Have a plan for everyone in your home who has a disability.

• Teach children who are old enough to understand to “stop, drop and roll” (see instructions on the process on Page 21) if their clothing catches on fire so they can help put out the flames and avoid serious burns.

• Let children help plan a fire escape route. Choose a meeting place outside the home where everyone will gather, and make sure they know never to go back inside a burning building.

• Teach children to always keep stairways and exits clear of furniture, toys and other obstructions that could slow down your escape.

• Practice what it would be like to escape through smoke by getting down on hands and knees and crawling below the smoke to the nearest exit. Cooler air will be near the floor.

• Once the children have mastered the plan, hold a drill while everyone is sleeping. This will let you know if they will wake up or sleep through the smoke alarm. Even those who wake up may be groggy or move slowly.

MUST-HAVE EQUIPMENT: Smoke detectors • Put smoke alarms or detectors in strategic locations in your home, such as the kitchen, near bedrooms, and near stoves. Install at least one smoke alarm on every floor of your home, including the basement.

• Replace batteries in smoke detectors once a year.

Check your alarm twice a year.

• For people with hearing impairments, smoke alarms should be connected with an electric sounder and beacon, which provides audio-visual warning.

• Install new smoke alarms every 10 years (sooner if one is damaged or not working).

• A battery-operated smoke detector is easily available for Rs1,500 to Rs1,700.

Fire extinguishers • The main types of extinguisher that you will come across are water, carbon dioxide (CO2), dry powder and foam.

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oWater: This fire extinguisher is used for Class A fires, i.e. solids only, such as wood, paper and fabrics. It’s not suitable for Class B fires involving flammable liquids, for example paraffin, petrol and oil, or where electricity is involved. It works by cooling burning material. oCO2: This extinguisher is ideal for fires involving electrical and Class B fires. It does not cool and is not suitable for solids. oDry powder: This extinguisher is multi-purpose and can be used on Classes A, B and C (combustible gases) fires. The fire extinguisher works by effectively ‘knocking down’ the flames. This OCTOBER 7-13 2012

is best suited for homes and offices. oFoam: This fire extinguisher is more versatile than water. It can be used for both Class A and B fires but is not recommended for fires involving electricity. This extinguisher forms a blanket or film on the surface of a burning liquid.

•

A two-kilogramme dry powder fire extinguisher costs between Rs1,500 to Rs2,000.

How to use a fire extinguisher: • Remember the simple acronym PASS to help you use the fire extinguisher effectively. PASS stands for: Pull, Aim, Squeeze and Sweep.

• Pull the safety pin from the handle. The pin is located at the top of the fire extinguisher.

• Aim the extinguisher nozzle or hose at the base of the fire. This removes the source or fuel of the fire.

• Squeeze the handle or lever slowly to discharge the extinguisher. Letting go of the handle will stop the discharge, so keep it held down.

• Sweep side-to-side over the fire until expended. The sweeping motion helps to extinguish the fire. Stand several feet or metres back from the fire: fire extinguishers are manufactured for use from a distance.

• The fire may flare up somewhat as extinguishing begins due to the flames being pushed away from the burning material (the real target) by the agent and gust of propellant. Do not be alarmed so long as it dies back promptly.

SMOKE INHALATION: In most cases, victims succumb to smoke inhalation long before burn injuries occur.

Eighty per cent of those who die in residential fires have first inhaled smoke and other toxic gases. A person has less than 60 seconds to escape a smoke-filled environment before inflicting potentially serious damage to his or her health. Fire produces many gases that are highly poisonous. They displace oxygen in the room, which can cause suffocation. Fire also consumes oxygen and this reduces the amount of oxygen available for people to breathe. When a person is exposed to the toxic gases, superheated air, smoke and limited visibility, his or her muscle control is lost, judgment is impaired and the ability to think and act rationally diminishes. Smoke also causes many people to panic, which makes them breath faster, flooding their lungs with smoke. People also panic when they cannot see during a fire. Thus, at a time of fire emergency, it is important to be able to make quick decisions. Swiftly escape by crawling low as smoke rises and there should be less of it close to the floor. That is why smoke detectors are always placed high on a wall or ceiling. Do not attempt to provide CPR to an injured person yourself. CPR must only be administered by people trained to carry out the process. You can contact Red Cross Pakistan for training if you are interested.

How to put out flames on a burning person?

Stop, Drop and Roll!

Follow this most effective process to extinguish a fire on a person’s body, clothes or hair.

It consists of three components: •Stop and calm down. Movement will fan the flames.

•Drop to the ground, lying down if possible, covering your face with your hands to avoid facial injury.

•Roll on the ground to extinguish the fire by depriving it of oxygen.

Sand buckets • A fire sand bucket is a steel bucket filled with sand that is used to put out fires. While they are cheap and easy to use, they are not suited for homes and offices.

A fire extinguisher is a more reliable option.

Fire blanket • A fire blanket is a highly flame-resistant blanket that can be used to either extinguish a small fire or to wrap around a person. It is made from two layers of woven glass fibre fabric and an inner layer of fire retardant film. It works by cutting off oxygen supply to the fire.

• Always remember: fire-proof and flame-resistant does not mean that it is completely immune to fire. It is merely a temporary aid to help you escape harm.

• Do not touch the fire blanket or anything underneath it until at least an hour has passed since the fire was extinguished.

• Fire blankets can also be used when exiting a burning building. Wrap it around yourself for added protection if there are flames between you and the exit.

• Ensure that everyone knows where the fire blanket is stored and knows how to remove the blanket from its canister should you ever need it. It is also recommended that an identification sign is displayed alongside the blanket.

• A fire blanket is available at a price between Rs2,000 and Rs5,000.

Escaping a burning building • Drop and crawl • When you are caught in a building with smoke, drop to your hands and knees and begin crawling to the nearest exit.

• If you come to a closed door, place the back of your hand against the door. If it is hot, don’t open it because there may be fire on the other side of it. Turn around and seek another exit. If it is not hot, slowly open it but be prepared to slam it closed again if you encounter flames.

• Continue to crawl until you get outside.

• You may have to use the walls of the building to help you.

Keep crawling with your shoulder against the wall. By doing so, you will reduce your chances of getting lost in the smoke.

What to do when you are trapped in a room • If you cannot leave your apartment/office or have returned to it because of fire or heavy smoke: • Close doors behind you to minimise oxygen supply to the fire, but don’t lock them for possible entry by firefighters.

• Use wet towels or sheets to seal all cracks and ventilation outlets through which smoke can enter the room. Keep a roll of white duct tape handy.

• Move to the balcony or to the most protected room, and partially open a window for air. Do not break it as you may need to close the window if smoke rushes in.

• Signal firefighters by waving a white sheet or towel.

21 (Continued on page 25)

OCTOBER 7-13 2012

COVER STORY

BURNS FROM A FIRE: What they look like • Superficial burn or first degree burn involves the first layer of skin, the epidermis. Think ‘sunburn’ when you think of this type of burn. These usually accompany painful red areas that turn white when touched, moist but no blisters.

• Partial thickness burn or second degree burn involves the epidermis and some portion of the second layer of skin, the dermis, depending on the intensity of burn. If it’s largely superficial, the symptoms are painful red areas that turn white to touch. Skin may be darkened, blistered and moist. A deeper burn may or may not turn the skin white when touched. It may make the skin painless if the nerve endings in the skin are destroyed. The skin may be moist but dry if sweat glands are destroyed. Hair over the area is usually gone.

• Full thickness burn or third degree burn involves all of the two layers of the skin. Nerve endings, blood vessels, hair follicles, and sweat glands are all destroyed. A severe burn may also damage bone and muscle. Symptoms are painless and touching creates no sensation. Skin may appear pearly white or charred. It is dry but may appear leathery.

Treating burns • Keep a first aid kit at home, which is easily accessible and in the knowledge of all residents. Keep in it a sterile dressing, burn gels, cold packs, gauze, bandages, tape, scissors, and gloves.

• First, remove any burnt clothing because it can hold heat on the burn. Cut or tear around it if it has stuck to the skin.

• Remove all accessories such as shoes, belts and jewellery because these can stop blood flow to the burn.

• For a superficial or partial second degree burn, put the affected area under cool running water for at least 20 minutes. If running water is not available, wet two cloths and place those alternatively over the wound for two minutes each. Do not use ice. This may worsen the injury to the skin. And never use butter, creams, etc. because they can cause infection.

• For superficial burns, use an antibiotic ointment meant specifically for burns. You may even use Paracetemol or Brufen for oral pain medication.

• Do not attempt to remove blisters at home, especially those on the palms of the hands or on the soles of the feet, because the fluid inside them provides protection for your skin against bacteria.

• If the skin is reddened but remains unbroken, as in superficial burns, you can cover it loosely with clean bandages. But if the skin has large and broken blisters, do not wrap it. If you must, do not use a dry bandage. Instead, gently wrap it with a cling wrap or a plastic bag and seek medical help.

What to do after a fire?

• Your house may most likely be dark and damp after a fire. Immediately open all windows and doors to let fresh air come in and smoke and chemical fumes from the rescue operation to escape.

• Turn off all utility services, most importantly electricity and gas, before you venture inside a burnt room or house. Leaking gas or an electricity spark from a damaged wire may trigger off another fire and endanger your life. Get an electrician, a plumber or a gas engineer to check if damage has been caused to utility supply lines before turning them back on again.

• Do not enter the premises unless the fire department ascertains that it is

25 OCTOBER 7-13 2012

safe to do so. However, if you do want to venture inside, make sure you do so in teams of two persons and wear thick shoes, preferably a hard hat and cover your mouth and nose with a cloth.

Call your insurance company if your property or its contents are insured, and work with their representative to take stock of the fire damage (see our fire insurance guide on page 26). Save all receipts for any money you spend on fire restoration, for you may have to show these to the insurance company for reimbursement.

•Make a list of all your important documents that you could salvage from the fire. And then draw up a list of the documents that will have to be replaced.

Check if the fire has opened up unsecured avenues for thieves into your damaged home.

•

•

•

Fire insurance Fire insurance is quite rare in Pakistan.

“Maybe less than one per cent of homes are insured,” says Azfar Arshad, executive vice president of operations at the New Jubilee Insurance. “All major companies provide home insurance plan for structure, cash and jewellery and other contents.”

Giving a ballpark figure of the fire premium charged by insurers in Pakistan, he gave the example of his company: one per cent of the amount of valuables/content at home and 0.2 to 0.25 per cent of the cost of the building structure annually.

How to clean up after a fire?

• Cleaning a burnt place may be trickier than you would imagine because smoke residues can be chemically active. These can stick to a surface and permanently stain or damage a surface or fabric’s texture. Wipe down the walls with soapy water and let it dry.

• If you have used a fire extinguisher, there will be residue from it that would best be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner. A vacuum cleaner can also be used to clear the house of dry soot.

• Your carpets, rugs and curtains may have been saved from the fire; in that case, call a professional cleaner to make them usable again.

• If the room has been damp for more than a day or two, it is very likely that mould will have started to grow. The growth of mould is hazardous to health. There are chemicals available in the market to clean them, like bleach, ammonia and hydrogen peroxide, but instead use detergent, vinegar, tea tree oil, borax or baking soda to get them off of surfaces.

• Bleach and ammonia will only kill off mould on hard, non-porous surfaces, such as tiles, glass and marble. These chemicals would not penetrate into porous surfaces like walls etc. and kill off mould behind the surface. As a result, you may see mould grow back in a few days. Hydrogen peroxide, on the other hand, can kill off mould growing on fabric, walls, wood and all other surfaces.

The Express Tribune would like to thank the Fire Protection Association of Pakistan (www.fpap.org.pk/) for their assistance in putting together this article.

26 OCTOBER 7-13 2012

Fire emergency numbers •Madadgar 15 for police help •Fire brigade: 16 •Ambulance: 115 •Gas complaint: 119 Training and assistance numbers •Federal Civil Defence School: 021-99243765 •Fire Protection Association of Pakistan: 021-34292354

FEATURE

keeping it

real

While some angry Muslims marched through the streets to protest the anti-Islam film by destroying public property in their own homelands, a group of British Muslims decided to use the opportunity to clear misconceptions about their religion

It was meant to offend, and offended they were.

But, for them, the appropriate response to the amateur anti-Islam film Innocence of Muslims was to spread knowledge, not create chaos.

BY ZAB MUSTEFA

ager. “We want to get the message across that we [Muslims] are

PHOTOS BY DISCOVER ISLAM UK FACEBOOK PAGE

“We simply reacted to the film in a reasonable and responsible

way,” says Walid Kamil, Discover Islam’s public relations manpeaceful people.”

OCTOBER 7-13 2012

27

“We’re not here to preach or convert anyone. Everybody has a right to be free and believe in what they want whether that is as an atheist, a Jew or a Hindu” Many Muslims reacted violently in the aftermath of the film;

the American ambassador to Libya was killed and as many as 20 people died in rioting across Pakistan. In Britain and Ireland, volunteers of UK-based charity Discover Islam took to the streets as

well but only to distribute copies of the Holy Quran and a biography of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

“Islam doesn’t teach us to kill like that and for us the best way to

respond is by informing people, not by carrying out violent acts,”

says Walid. “We aim to show that Islam isn’t about violence, it’s

about compassion and respecting others. So this is the message

we are trying to get across through the simple act of distributing the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet’s (pbuh) biography.”

Launched in 2008, Discover Islam has been advocating for a

better understanding of what Muslims represent in response to increasing anti-Islamic sentiment across the UK and Europe.

True to their word, when the film was first premiered in the US, they prepared a non-violent protest movement.

Armed with 210,000 copies of the Quran and a biographical ac-

count of the Holy Prophet’s (pbuh) life, Discover Islam volunteers

covered multicultural events, such as the London Olympics and Paralympics, where they set up stalls, approached people and got positive feedback.

“I’ve had non-Muslims come up to me over the past few weeks,

telling me that in the Quran it says to kill and pillage. So I pull out some quotes to help them understand and the reaction is always one of surprise. They always walk away with a better comprehension of what it is we believe in,” says Walid.

Negative perceptions and stereotyping of Muslims as radicals

has become a favourite pastime with the rise of far right groups such as the English Defence League and British National Party

that deliberately target Islam. Muslims are increasingly ostracised for anything and everything, from hijab to halal meat.

Recently, British market research agency YouGov released

alarming poll results, which found that 41% of Conservative

voters in the UK believe that the violent attacks carried out as a

backlash to the film were supported by all Muslims. The numbers were even worse in the US where 59% of Republicans held

28

the same view.

OCTOBER 7-13 2012

While Walid cites the media as responsible for sensationalising

Islam, he has no truck with those who preach a violent response.

“I’ve had non-Muslims come up to me over the past few weeks, telling me that in the Quran it says to kill and pillage. So I pull out some quotes to help them understand and the reaction is always one of surprise. They always walk away with a better comprehension of what it is we believe in,”

“The Prophet (pbuh) was met with violence on many occasions but he didn’t respond with aggression. He was patient and this

is the true meaning of Islam. If someone steals your car, it does not mean you should steal his car. Islam is about peace and pa-

tience. Our religion doesn’t urge us to be unjust towards others, it teaches us to be tolerant to Muslims and non-Muslims alike.”

The response to their movement has been phenomenal. The

charity’s Facebook page rocketed from 1,000 to 15,000 likes in a

matter of weeks and, since the film’s release, Walid has received calls from all over the world asking for training, advice and consultancy on how to divert angry reactions into peaceful ones.

“Our phones haven’t stopped ringing with calls from Austra-

lia to Morocco on how to deal with the [recent] French cartoons

and the film,” Walid says. “It’s not to say that we are happy with how western governments dealt with the film. There definitely wasn’t enough done to condemn it because it’s freedom of speech but if you insult the Queen you can be jailed. So in that respect, there is a lot of hypocrisy.”

But Walid is clear that the organisation’s objectives are not

evangelical and their only purpose is to promote better understanding of Muslim beliefs among people from other faiths.

“We’re not here to preach or convert anyone. Everybody has a

right to be free and believe in what they want whether that is as an atheist, a Jew or a Hindu,” he says. “We’re happy to meet

anyone and invite them to come have coffee with us and find out

what Islam is really about. We’re not here to judge and just want everyone to get along with one another and live in peace.”

OCTOBER 7-13 2012

29

FEATURE A large number of citizens came out on the streets to pick up after the Ishq-e-Rasool Day protesters, but to clean up our filthy streets we need more than just one-off clean-up drives. Take a cue from The Ugly Indians, who might just have shown us the way

BY TAHA KEHAR PHOTOS BY AYESHA MIR AND THE UGLY INDIAN FACEBOOK PAGE

and brooms

Twenty-four-year-old Gul Hasan is one of the many sanitary workers who clean the streets of Karachi’s upscale Defence Housing Authority every single day. Clad in an orange uniform, he resembles a detainee at the US-run Guantanamo Bay. That’s fitting, given that he is after all a prisoner to a vicious cycle of poverty and disdain.

“Our profession is held in low esteem by the public,” he com-

plains as he clutches a basket in one hand while holding a dusty

jharoo in the other. “We are underpaid and are labelled as bhangis

crosses our minds.

But then, in the aftermath of the Ishq-e-Rasool Day riots, we

were treated to an unusual sight: dozens of Pakistanis, shocked

and dismayed by the destruction caused by the riots, took to the streets with brooms and buckets in order to clean up after the

rioters. ‘Project: clean up Pakistan’ was a sight to warm the most cynical heart but it was, after all, a reaction to a single event.

What would it take for such a project to become a permanent part of our lives? And what would it even look like?

In this particular case, looking across the border for inspira-

(waste collectors) or jamadars. These labels have become our pro-

tion might not be a bad idea. Let’s take the Indian city of Banga-

consequences of these cruel typecasts.”

‘Ugly Indians’ has set out to ‘spot-fix’ the streets of Bangalore.

fessional identification and there is no way we can escape the

But what really gets Hasan’s goat is the attitude of the people

he cleans up after.

“As long as the waste is not inside their houses or scattered

across their sprawling lawns, they feel that they have fulfilled

their responsibility towards making the environment clean. It never occurs to them that in the process of throwing away their

garbage onto empty plots and footpaths, they are polluting the environment even more,” he says.

Indeed, most Pakistanis seem to feel that so long as their own

houses are clean, it’s perfectly acceptable for the roads outside

to look like garbage dumps. Given our propensity to blame the

32

buckets

government for all ills, the concept of civic responsibility or, perish the thought, a citizen-based cleaning initiative never really OCTOBER 7-13 2012

lore, where a volunteer organisation that goes by the moniker of As a purely citizen-based crusade to eradicate garbage and filth,

it has capitalised on the advantages of social media to generate

awareness about its activities and recruit followers. A group of

volunteers armed with buckets and brooms and wearing masks and gloves to conceal their identities have actively participated in clean-up drives across Bangalore. In the past ten months, the

Ugly Indians have organised over a hundred clean-up drives. By

undertaking these community-based projects, ordinary citizens have succeeded in transforming the dirty footpaths and paanstained streets of Bangalore into dirt-free zones.

Interestingly, the initiative is spearheaded by an anonymous

group of dynamic citizens and is not funded or directed by any

particular organisation. The only driving force that encourages

s

Alishba Siddiqi, one of the volunteers, cleans up outside PIDC

s

Volunteers distribute dustbins, plastic gloves, brooms, dust pans and plastic garbage bags to everyone

the Ugly Indians to act responsibly is the desire to see a clean and sanitary India. Using their Facebook presence as a tool for rallying support for its ventures, the organisation aims to develop a

positive attitude towards cleanliness and inculcate the need for effective garbage disposal. But don’t be fooled, this goes way be-

yond just cleaning walls and sweeping streets; the Ugly Indians aim to make a permanent dent in dirt.

Moving beyond mere cleaning and mopping, they placed

dustbins labelled as ‘tere bins’ on the grubby streets of Bangalore, streamlining the process of garbage disposal in the city. Accord-

ing to the official website of The Ugly Indians, approximately 150 tere bins are now operating in Bangalore. This strategy is a clear

testament to the mission statement of the initiative — Kaam

Chaalu, Moonh Band (work more, speak less).

Another technique used to motivate people to properly dispose

Shahmeer, wearing a Pakistan cricket team jersey, helps with the sweeping

of waste and keep streets in a sanitary condition is the Wonder-

a task that is primarily the domain of “untouchables” and non-

ple from simply relieving themselves on the walls, a sight Paki-

er doing. But despite the lack of enthusiasm shown by most of

Loo. These are street urinals which are aimed at preventing peostanis are also all too familiar with. Overall, this initiative has proved to be particularly useful in encouraging ordinary citizens

Muslims and thus not something most Pakistanis would considus, these taboos have been challenged.

Perhaps the most effective attempt to tackle the large heaps

to keep their environment clean. But can it be replicated here in

of garbage found in the cities of Pakistan was initiated by the

It has been argued that there is very little or no possibility for

of young people took to the streets of Lahore in an attempt to get

Pakistan?

such citizen-based projects to flourish in Pakistan. This rather

pessimistic conclusion has been drawn because of the largely negative connotations held about street sweepers. It is, after all,

Zimmedar Shehri movement. Through this bold initiative, a group rid of trash. Zimmedar Shehri is a testimony to the fact that relying

on municipal authorities and the government of the day is futile.

Positive change must begin from the ordinary citizens and must OCTOBER 7-13 2012

33

FEATURE be fuelled solely by determination.

prove the community,” she explains.

street cleaning campaigns is that they do not occur as frequently

to play our role in bringing change,” says Muhammad Khurrum

mary-schoolchildren to pick up litter on the streets by organising

we were trying to convey a message to the general public that we

And yet, one of the major impediments for such citizen-based

as they should. On rare occasions, teachers have encouraged pristreet-cleaning drives. While this extra-curricular activity enables young children to understand the importance of collective

responsibility, it imparts a lesson that is quite easily forgotten simply because it is not repeated.

Despite these problems, some organisations have worked labo-

“The Anti-Littering Drive showed that we, the people, have

Khan, one of the organisers at the event. “Through this platform,

can bring about this change if we unite for a special cause. More-

over, we were trying to get the attention of the government so that all the necessary steps are taken to ensure that streets are cleaner and infrastructure is maintained.”

Khurrum, for one, feels the Ugly Indians initiative can work

riously to inculcate a desire among the youth for a cleaner and

here in Pakistan, but that it will take a lot of work and staying

tion which describes itself as a platform that “covers many aspects

from the community to pursue a citizen-based campaign which

healthier Pakistan. Green Volunteers, a not-for-profit organisa-

of social service,” is one such initiative. It recently organised an Anti-Littering Drive at Sea View, Karachi, to commemorate Independence Day.

But can this clean-up drive be considered a successful attempt

to encourage citizens to accept their responsibility or is it merely a one-off initiative triggered by patriotic feelings?

According to Saba Ali, a student who attended the clean-up,

it was a bit of both. “Patriotism definitely fuels the desire to im-

power. “We need focus, determination and active participation is akin to The Ugly Indians initiative. The most difficult task is

to get people interested. Clean-up drives need to be publicised so that more people are interested in joining the initiative. The

more manpower we have for such campaigns, the more effective it will be.”

The turnout at the anti-littering drive mainly consisted of

young people who were determined to make a difference. With their gloves, masks and trash-bags, they proved that picking up litter is not the act of a menial worker, but rather the collective responsibility of every citizen.

So what can be done to ensure that such efforts are not just

flashes in the pan?

“In order to enhance such citizen-based initiatives, we should

be properly equipped to face up to the challenges,” Khurrum says.

“This can only be done by building awareness and informing the

general public about the harmful effects of pollution. This way we can encourage people to actively participate and play their role as citizens.”

Fatima Siraj, a BBA student who attended the clean-up drive,

is already convinced that this is the way to go. “The anti-littering

Tere Bins

drive gave me hope,” she says. “In the absence of government

initiatives, it is entirely up to the citizens of Pakistan to make a positive change. We need to take ownership of our neighbourhood, our streets, our cities and our country and the power of

such campaigns is that they force you to take ownership for your responsibilities.”

And yet, I cannot help but wonder if clean-up drives can re-

Ugly Indian volunteers clean up a Bangalore street

ally reduce the heaps of waste on the streets of cities across Pakistan. After the fibre glass dustbins installed in various locations in Karachi were stolen earlier this year, the idea of introducing

dustbins in every nook and corner of the city appears futile. If

any attempt to initiate a community-based venture to eradicate

waste from the streets is to succeed, it must be with the support and participation of ordinary citizens and, most of all, it must be

a sustained initiative. So if anyone out there wants to put their

money where their mouth is, it’s about time you drop the bharam

34

and pick up a broom!

OCTOBER 7-13 2012

Wonderloo

FEATURE

FEATURE

the royal

treatment For one evening, the author learns what its like to have a repast fit for a raja

BY DANIAL SHAH

Like many Pakistanis, it’s my routine to drink tea every evening. And during my frequent travels, drinking tea becomes not just a habit but a necessity as it helps me keep up my energy levels and also, as frequently advertised by tea manufacturers, helps provide me with inspiration. My tea habit is something I just can’t compromise on, and if room service or an in-hotel restaurant isn’t available, then I’ll even hoof it down to a nearby Dhaba to get my daily dose of tea therapy.

recently been renovated by the Aga Khan Cultural Service Paki-

Perhaps this is what Barkat Mitha, the General Manager of Ser-

old wooden staircase, Mr Mitha cautioned me to watch out for

turn up at the Khaplu Palace and Residence’s restaurant every

head twice, and was forced to hide my embarassment behind a

ena Hotels in Gilgit-Baltistan, sensed when I would unfailingly evening for a cup of doodh patti. Taking note of my addiction, he invited me for a ‘Royal Hi-tea,’ when I was last visiting the area

on a work trip, and staying at the hotel (a converted palace) besides the River Shyok, located at an altitude of 2,600 metres in the small town of Khaplu.

The palace, locally known as Yabgo Khar, was built in the mid-

36

19th century and was used as a seat of governance, a grain storage facility as well as a royal residence at the time. The palace has OCTOBER 7-13 2012

stan, and the historically significant rooms that the raja of the time once used are now rented out to tourists.

To a tea and food loving person like myself, the invitation was

more than welcome, though I had no idea about the relevance of

attaching the word “royal” with hi-tea. That evening, I headed towards the restaurant to find Mr Mitha already waiting for me

on the way. He greeted me with a warm smile, and we started walking towards the main palace instead of the restaurant.

As I stepped into the main entrance of the palace and took the

the low ceiling. But despite his timely warning, I banged my

sheepish smile. As we walked, he told me of the history of the

palace and how the raja himself would climb these very stairs as he made his way towards the hallway. But instead of paying

attention to the history lesson, I kept on wondering why they would construct such low ceilings over the staircase. Was the Raja a really short man?

Reaching the top floor, we entered a corner hall which served

as a leisure room for the raja and his family during the evenings.

It was a spacious room with wooden arches on two sides, overlooking the royal gardens and the splendid Karakoram Mountains. The architect of the fort had traced the Tibetan-style struc-

on occasions of celebration. It is also served in mosques after night prayers every Thursday.

The Paiyu cha and kisir alone would have been sufficient, but

ture with decorative timber-panelled ceilings, which were in

there was also a sandwich-like dessert made with local apricots

My experience of big-city Hi Teas had led me to expect a typical

cha and kisir. The hi-tea also included a sandwich-like dessert

turn strongly influenced by the Kashmiri manor-house typology. offering of fried snacks, barbequed items, western-style desserts

and, of course, typically brewed tea or coffee. But what awaited

which was just heavenly. It was the ideal combination of paiyu made with local apricots, which was nothing short of heavenly.

I asked Mitha what the ‘royal’ part of this tea was, and he ex-

me was anything but typical. It was a spread fit for a King, or at

plained that this was the exact spot that the royal family would

The seating arrangement was made on the floor with a tradi-

our cups and eating the same fare. Like the towering mountains

least a Raja.

tional carpet and round cushions. The variety of food was served in colourful handmade crockery and included traditional Balti tea called Paiyu cha. Paiyu, in the local language, means ‘salt’ and cha means ‘tea.’ This is the most favoured drink of the locals, and

was introduced by the Dogras during their rule of this region. It

is made with butter, goat’s milk, salt, baking soda and different tea leaves. It’s the tea of choice in Baltistan, Ladakh and Tibet.

The tea was served with delicious kisir — a traditional Balti bread made from flour, milk and eggs — which seems much like pancakes. It is a tradition in Baltistan to serve

guests with kisir and it is often made

sit in the evenings, drinking the same tea that we poured into

in the background nothing, from the room to the repast itself, had changed over the centuries.

“We try to give our guests the same experience [that the Royals

had], so that they can enjoy the unique history and luxury of this far away valley,” he said.

As we ate and drank, Mitha spoke of the history of this palace

and the beautiful land it was built in, of life, philosophy and po-

etry. It was a conversation that could have gone on long into the night, but sadly when dusk fell — as it does with great speed in the mountains — he was summoned back to his rooms and the Royal tea came to an end.

The Rajas may be long gone, but for a few hours I had tasted

the luxury and serenity that was a daily feature of their lives.

Certainly, it’s good to be the king — if even for such a short while.

37 OCTOBER 7-13 2012

REVIEW

memoirs of a military man

BY AMMARA SALMAN

Ikram Sehgal’s narrative is simple and personal, with no overtones of the military thriller one might expect from reading the title. The subtext, however, is permeated by what I can only define as military and political propaganda.

Sehgal, a well-known security analyst, was a captain in the Pakistan Army during the volatile period of 1971 and was held captive by the Indian Army for 99 days. It then took the writer 40 years to reveal to the world the story of his escape from Panagarh prison camp in the form of this book.

The book, titled Escape from Oblivion: The Story of a Pakistani Prisoner of War in India, recalls his escape from the Panagarh prison camp and eventual refuge in an American Consulate, after which he reached Pakistan.

In essence, the pages are details collected from the intense debriefing sessions he was subjected to by the Army’s Inter Services Screening after he came back home. The debriefings stretched over a period of 84 days.

The memoir is an exhaustive read that gives a blow-by-blow account of his adventures as an army captain, who wanted to see for himself the reality in East Pakistan. It is debatable whether it was his mistake or the more heroic notion of ‘providence’ that subsequently landed him into the lap of the enemy.

In hindsight, the veteran recalls the oath that ‘soldiers prefer death’ over becoming prisoners of war. But he justifies his capture by saying that perhaps there’s deliverance in the most difficult times for those who do not give up hope.

However, the gravity of this predicament results in an excessive indulgence in the moral aspects of a soldier’s life, to the extent that some chapters sound like sermons from a medieval book on courage and duty rather than a memoir. Moreover, there are repeated references to religion that obstruct the flow of the main narrative.

The trauma of spending 99 days in imprisonment resonates throughout the 138 pages, highlighting the psycho-emotional imprints that a period of imprisonment can leave behind.

The writer tries to give a detailed account of not only his long journey home but an insight into the deep recesses of his mind as well, depicting the fears and longings of a prisoner whose ultimate fate is uncertain at best.

Pathos, when combined with religion, may be an easy formula for a successful melodrama. However, infusing it with war prose simply makes it difficult to engage the reader on an emotional level.

While Sehgal’s effort is commendable in that this subjective

38 OCTOBER 7-13 2012

record endeavours to reconstruct the debate on the division of Pakistan in 1971, the right wing prism through which he carries it out is typically biased.

He strengthens the typical Pakistan Army discourse that India remains the perpetual archenemy and repeatedly condemns India’s interference in Pakistan’s affairs. But, on the other hand, there is no mention of the atrocities committed by our own forces in then East Pakistan.

a thrilling ride

BY NOMAN ANSARI

Energetic and skillfully made, Director David Koepp’s Premium Rush pedals at breakneck speed. This is an endearing action film that takes the age old chase movie formula, and repackages it in a film about cycling. Although the characterisation and narrative aren’t particularly original, it doesn’t matter; because Premium Rush doesn’t give you time to catch your breath. If you stop to think, you won’t enjoy the ride.

The film is set in New York City and is about Wilee (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), who has a job the public doesn’t much care for; he is a bike messenger. Wilee is smart, charming, and can have any job in the world, but he pities his boring lawyer friends who sit behind a desk. Wilee loves the rush he gets as he zips dangerously through traffic, with his mind working as fast as a computer, trying to find a route that won’t get him or anyone else killed.

The pace unexpectedly picks up for Wilee when he is routinely tasked with picking up a package from Nima (Jamie Chung), who

more brains than brawn

BY SAEED RAHMAN

“Are you the sort of man who goes to Thailand to buy sex?” spits out Ingrid (Elsebeth Steentoft) at her son Dennis (Danish bodybuilder Kim Kold) in Mads Matthiesen’s Teddy Bear. Ingrid shames her son into ostensibly putting an end to his budding romance with a woman he has met in Thailand. The boundaries between mother and son have been thrown out of the window sometime ago. Ingrid is the sort of woman who uses the toilet unabashedly while her bodybuilder son takes a shower. No wonder Dennis lies to his mother about taking part in a competition in Germany in order to sneak off to Thailand in search for a bride. Ingrid berates her son not because she is morally offended but because she cannot fathom that her son could actually have a secret life.

Set in contemporary Denmark and in Thailand, Teddy Bear is a domestic drama which expands on Matthiesen’s much-lauded 2007 short film Dennis. Dennis is a mountain of muscle, a 38-year-old professional bodybuilder with a gruff face and a timid heart. When his uncle returns from a trip to Thailand with a new wife, the painfully shy Dennis figures this might be his own best chance to find a mate.

Unfortunately, Dennis’ attempts to meet women in Thailand backfire and it is clear during some of his half-hearted set ups that he does not have much experience in the sexual realm and is uncomfortable with the mechanisms of paid sex. He soon finds love in the form of widow Toi (Lamaiporn Sangmanee Hougaard) who runs

happens to be an overseas student from China. As fate would have it, she also happens to be the roommate of Wilee’s ex-girlfriend, Vanessa (Dania Ramirez), who is also working as a bike messenger for the same company as Wilee. But before Wilee can make the drop, he hits a speed bump in the shape of corrupt NYPD detective (Michael Shannon), who is a gambling addict looking to steal the valuable package for himself. Here, Wilee finds himself competing with a bad cop, a good cop, as well as bike messenger rival Manny (Wolé Parks).

The film ends in a manner that feels a little overly convenient.

But, Premium Rush isn’t concerned with the fix-it patches applied to the story telling. It is more concerned with the action, and with our heroes daringly dodging joggers, cars, buses, taxis, pedestrians, and buses, it is safe to say that Premium Rush is worth the bumps on the road. a gym in Pattaya. Their courtship almost comes to a standstill when Toi refuses to kiss Dennis in public but this misstep is forgiven when she invites him over for dinner. Dennis also finds community in the form of Thai bodybuilders who desire nothing more than his company.

Dennis moves his body with economy and you can feel his awkwardness. It is only when he is at the gym posing with his male friends that real joy flashes over his face. Steentoft’s vicious maternal Ingrid is a great counterbalance to Kold’s gentle giant.

You can sense her anger sputtering out under her barely polite demeanor.

The friend I went to see this film with at one point leaned over and said, “This film is like the Danish version of Eat, Pray, Love.” Funnily enough, this film would be the antithesis to that Julia Roberts clunker. While Dennis does travel from Denmark to Thailand, his life lesson is not a spiritual awakening in the foreign land rather it is the unravelling of his relationship with his mother when she finds out that Toi has come to Denmark and that she could potentially lose her iron-clad grip on Dennis.

Unlike Roberts’ character in Eat, Pray, Love, who resolves her spiritual angst and gets her man, Dennis is forced to make hard choices. and the film ends on a bittersweet note.

39 OCTOBER 7-13 2012

REVIEW

a masterpiece from copywood

BY AYESHA ARIF

Take a couple of Charlie Chaplin films (The Adventurer and City Lights), add a little dash of Mr. Bean, a healthy helping of The Notebook (2004), a mixture of assorted foreign films and a little of Benny and Joon. Next, get Ranbir Kapoor onboard and ask him to play a cross between Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, then get Pritam to do what he does best (read steal music), there you go! That’s Barfi for you. In retrospect it seems that the only reason Ranbir Kapoor’s character was mute was because almost all the films that director Anurag Basu was copying from were either silent, or in a foreign language, hence how would he figure out dialogues for the lead?

Sitting through the two hours and thirty minutes of Barfi is the ultimate test of one’s patience. The plot is all over the place; there’s about a million different subplots that don’t eventually lead to anything. The premise of the story is so simple, it could be shown three times over in thirty minutes, the extra two hours are not only completely unnecessary, they are so boring; they make the food sales in the cinema skyrocket. The non-linear editing certainly doesn’t help the cause either; instead it ends up confusing the audience into imagining a story that does not in fact exist. On the positive, Ravi Varman’s outstanding cinematography paired with the wonderful art-direction results in dazzling visuals. The question however, is, how long can a person watch beautiful visual imagery that is on a complete tangent from the story, without wishing to slit their wrists?

Not very long, trust me on that. All said the last thirty minutes of the film are extremely intense and heart-warming. You might actually find yourself shedding a tear or two, either at the warmth of the film or at the loss of two hours of your time, not to mention the couple of hundred rupees you spent on the ticket.

Ranbir Kapoor as Murphi/Barfi makes you wonder whatever happened to the guy who did Rockstar. Whenever he’s not being Charlie Chaplan, Buster Keaton or his own granddad (Raj Kapoor), he is being his silly, old, Ranbeer Kapoor self that we have already seen in Saawariya, Wake up Sid, Ajab Prem ki Ghazab Kahani etc. Priyanka Chopra, however, is a different story altogether. She is extraordinary as Jhilmil, but then again, that’s neither surprising nor new. This is exactly what Priyanka Chopra does. Ileana D’Cruz delivers a first-rate performance, it is unfortunate that ultimately her entire character’s on a tangent from the plot. Saurabh Shukla as the police inspector is brilliant; this has to be one of the best performances of his career. It is heartbreaking to see so many actors work so hard for a film that is plagiarised from beginning to end.

40 OCTOBER 7-13 2012

A filmmaker who deserves to be sued for stealing is receiving accolades from critics who don’t know any better themselves and are proudly sending the film to the Oscars. Such is the state of South Asian affairs. If Bollywood (and I say Bollywood because I mean Bollywood and not the entire Indian film Industry) had any respect for originality, or any self respect for that matter, it would not have been possible for Barfi to be India’s official entry for the Oscars. Let’s hope the Oscar jury is slightly more informed than our film critics.