TheNation
FEBRUARY 13, 2011
SHEER GLAM ANOUSHEY!
This cheerful VJ radiates her natural glow with the nude hues. Nabila has used L’Oreal Paris true match minerals foundation to achieve this precision. Her skin reflects the rich colour giving it an amazing natural glow.
STYLE TRENDS BOOKS INTERVIEWS GOSSIP Q&A SOCIETY
“Because You’Re Worth It!” 32
inside this week February 13, 2011
Interview
designer Imbisat Usman the creative force 08 Meet behind the brand Rano’s Heirloom
12 18
sports
Why were the Pakistani cricket trio singled out for ineligibility?
interview
Fatima Bhutto shares her views on politics and relations with other family members
Feature
about the festivals of Lahore that are part 24 Learn of history now
Q&A
promising politician 28 Meet Hamza Shahbaz
08
28 in the foot steps of his father
18 politiking through words
interview
interview
Editor’s note
Fashion
44 Explore the treasures of Makran Coast
Style
52 The real story of Babri Mosque
Movie
54 Weekly astrological forecasts
daring hue of red is back on the 30 The runways brand representatives who are 32 L’Oreal’s epitome of beauty and glamour of Sir Anthony’s Hopkins 38 Review blockbuster ‘Rite’
Art
Sheikh has returned to her 42 Shahnaz passion of painting after 30 years
30
Environment
Heritage Zodiac
Another issue of Sunday Plus is in your hands. The S + team has worked hard to come up with exclusive stories and interviews. Fatima Bhutto has entered the public stage – like her predecessors – but unlike them, decided to politick through her words and writings. In her interview she talks about the state of affairs and also shares her views on the Bhutto family. Get close and personal with the promising politician Hamza Shahbaz. Experience the eternal elegance of Rano’s Heirlooms as the creative force behind the brand Imbisat Usman talks about the immaculate craftsmanship. Meet L’Oréal Pakistan’s brand representatives who are the ultimate epitome of beauty and glamour in their respective fields. Style geeks check the return to the runways of the most daring hue of them all, RED. Learn the tips to dress your best. And don’t forget to see our section ‘Picks of the week’ for best buys. We await your feedback. Stay with us every week to enjoy the Sunday Plus.
Sunday plus
Society
on the happenings and events in 60 Report your metropolis
44
Editor-in-Chief Majid Nizami
Deputy Managing Director Rameeza Nizami Group Editor: Salim Bokhari Editor Magazine: Emanuel Sarfraz Editorial Staff: Bishakha Khadka Kunwar, Madiha Syedain, Sadaf Pervez & Navirah Zafar Creative Head: Faiz-ur-Rehman Creative Team: Shoaib Qadir, Faisal Fazal, Talal Waheed, HM. Nouman, & Sohail Abbas Marketing: Bilal Mahmood, Muhammad Zaeem & Salman Ahmed
interview By Bishakha Khadka Kunwar
Eternal
elegance… heirloom value
A 8
As the name epitomises, Rano’s Heirlooms is a brand that has been specialised in immaculate craftsmanship infused with elegance with the aim to retain the glory even decades later. Imbisat Usman is the creative force behind the brand. Meeting the very quiet private Imbisat for the first time might be intimidating. But just as you cannot judge a book by its cover, this Lahore based designer and her designs are a delightful surprise. s we settle in her studio, which is an extension to her home, for a chat, I cannot help but notice the intricate dazzling embroideries that are exclusively hand crafted with elaborate designs. These pieces definitely are investments for a lifetime with true heirloom value that can be passed for generations to come. It all started with a simple passion to preserve heirlooms from around the world and to decipher between something extraordinary and mundane. In 1998, her label began officially marketing Rano’s Heirlooms designs as exclusively crafted soft furnishings. Rano was represented as a women entrepreneur at different exhibitions in Frankfurt, Iran and Moscow. Her private exhibitions in New York were also covered by the New York Times in 2002. Rano’s intricate
Sunday Plus February 13, 2011
interview
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10 Sunday Plus February 13, 2011
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fabrics with embroideries were also exhibited in Sotheby’s as Portuguese influence on mogul embroidery. So for years before it hit the local fashion circuit, Rano’s Heirlooms has witnessed the patronage of discreet international private clientele. For past many years, Rano has managed to internalise the essence of her label without giving up on her vision. Even though the walk to fame wasn’t an easy ride, it definitely took a lot of years and efforts to attain the success that she can now proudly claim. During the early 2000 she was taking private orders from Italian brands like Roberto Ruggiero, John Galliano and even Oscar de la Renta. At one time she was doing spring/summer/winter and autumn collections for these designers. After learning from the Italian experience, it was only in the last few years that she decided to convert her design sensibilities and enter the local market. It all started as a conscious decision to arrive on the scene with a traditional element. Today she can be counted as one of the designers who infuse hand embroideries with fresh energy and traditional touch that are truly impeccable. The brand aims to revive traditional heirlooms with a refreshing contemporary element apt for the 21st century. Her designs exude luxury and quality with an aura of elegance that lasts forever. She creates designs that are reminiscences of the rich heritage from Central Asia, Kashmir, Persia, Turkey and Europe. In the midst of all glamorous trappings,
Rano’s Heirlooms is a picture that can be eternal. Her recent PFDC fashion week womenswear collection entitled “Gold Brush” was inspired by objects of beauty and timelessness. The entire collection was hand embroidered with intricate embroideries in tinsel, velvet and metallic yarn on a combination of georgettes and nets. In an exclusive rendezvous with the Sunday Plus, Imbisat Usman of Rano’s Heirlooms reveals about her journey from home furnishings to designing fabrics for her clients. l What is your design philosophy?
My work on embroideries does not come as my ability to embellish alone, but in attempting to achieve a look that tells a story. The story about my designs is to preserve the heritage that we possess making them worthy of being heirlooms. l What are your inspirations while designing? There were inspirations, desire to preserve and reincarnate the dying breed of craftsmen and somewhere along the way I have created a whole range of soft furnishings and apparel, which was the beginning of my home furnishings line. Later I realised that this had to be translated into clothes as I wanted people to treasure heirloom for generations to come. The motifs used in my embroideries are pre-dominantly floral and foliates mainly inspired by the exoticism of the East and the intricacy of European design traditions. It’s the combination of modern and traditional techniques of embroidery married to a contemporary look. l What are the major aspects and elements that you consider while designing and do you feel you are doing enough to promote Pakistani crafts? The main aspect of my designs is the usage of intricate single thread embroideries that are solely handmade by local artisans which comes as close as you get to painting with needle and thread. We have our own workshop here in Lahore and we also commission our work related to metallic, mukkesh, dabka to workshops outside Lahore as well. l You have only come out in the limelight recently. Why this discreet delay? Well I mostly love to work on my own and not much of a glamour person. I
interview
believe in the saying that what you do reflects in your work. I have been lucky that my work has received much appreciation from my clients who cherish heirlooms. l What do you have to say about the rift between Lahore and Karachi fashion fraternities? I have nothing to say about them because we are all working to make things better and there is no point of fighting. l What is your take on the upcoming prêt fashion week happening in Lahore? This will be our first time prêt-o-porter collection, so I am definitely looking forward towards the show. l Do you cater mostly to the Pakistani market? How is your response internationally? My clients come from all over the world. I have worked extensively with Italian designers and for smaller shops in US as well. Recently at the PFDC Fashion Week in Karachi, we got a private buyer from Belgium. So we are blessed. l Who is your favourite designer (Local and International)? Locally Rizwan Beyg and internationally Alexander McQueen. l Your day starts with…. A hearty breakfast l You are addicted to… I am seriously addicted to storytelling. l Describe your job in three words…Anxiety, dedication and selflessness. l Your Golden Rule…Everything is a policy as there is no one single rule. But I love working hard with persistence. l Dream destination… St. Petersburg l An unknown fact about yourself… I don’t look talkative, but I am a storyteller.
l Up for grabs on your shopping list…Any
Books on textiles l The thing I treasure the most in my
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wardrobe is... My mother’s old sarees are what I treasure the most. A must have for you… I am not much into material acquisition. Style statement… What you are is what comes across. Celebrities you would love to dress…I really wanted to dress the Late Benezir Bhutto. I would also love to dress someone from Bollywood like Vidya Balan and Rani who are more classic. Who do you think is the most overrated designer? There are many designers who are good businessperson but not good designers. Cannot name one. Personal strengths….My sense of imagination when it comes to designing. Your biggest influence…My husband Usman and my mother Your first fashion creation… It was a six yard fabric that was fully hand embroidered with a single thread in 1993 in Lahore for a show. The show was sold out. Personal weaknesses…fear of failure. A city that inspires you…Paris The best thing about being a Pakistani… Our rich culture and traditional heritage that we possess. Also our sense of belongingness is also the best as we have been raised with a lot of love. One thing I would change about Pakistan is…I just wish we could get rid of the hypocrisy from our society.
February 13, 2011 Sunday Plus 11
sports By Aamer Waqas Chaudhary
Jaundicedjusticeforcorrecting
‘careless’cricketers
Punished Pakistani trio Salman, Asif and Aamir are vowing to fight back without PCB backing after being tamed through the ICC’s selective justice with a purpose, which is being seen as sentences sans sanity striking specifically selected.
O
ne thing must be borne in minds of Pakistani cricketers that expecting the International Cricket Council to treat them justly because they might be good human beings or cricketers, will be like expecting a bull not to attack you because you are a vegetarian. This has been amply proven by the recent ICC decision of barring Salman Butt, Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Aamir from playing the game for 10, 7 and 5 years respectively. If their sentences are not commuted or reduced after an appeal to the international Court of Arbitration for Sport, Asif will be 32, Butt 31 and Aamir will only be 23 when their ineligibility to play will expire in September 2015. They can be seen playing again in 4½ years from now as their suspensions start from September 2010. This is so provided they keep their acts clean. Hence, there is a hope of their return to the international cricket though the oldest Asif of the trio has little chance. On the other hand, this punishment has certainly given a ‘kiss of death’ to the team’s prospects of doing better in the upcoming world cup, while Pakistan will have a limping bowling attack and unpredictable batting opening since good talent polished sans PCB’s tuition is pretty difficult to get, and at the moment, team’s relatively inexperienced pair is exposed to hostile attack. Certainly the penalised players are victims of a ‘set-up’. The verdict has been received positively, but not by all, since there is a belief that the decision would be deemed dubious and discriminatory till – after
12 Sunday Plus February 13, 2011
acting so for the first time – the ICC shows guts to punish players of other countries – even for the past wrongs doings – as the present is surely connected to the past irregularities. However, prior to this decision, the ICC has been seen acting as a silent spectator, especially over the Indian Premier League’s sordid and soggy saga when the Board of Control for Cricket in India levelled allegations against previous chairman and commissioner IPL, and its own Vice-President Lalit Modi for being involved in match fixing, bid rigging, and illegal dealings. The BCCI suspended him, and enquiries are in progress, while the ICC is yet to take tangible steps in this regard. Consequently, today the BCCI seems to be more powerful than the ICC, while in stark contrast to this, the Pakistan Cricket Board is the weakest of all the cricket boards, which has always wilted under the external pressure, including native players with powerful strings. Despite being in picture about the discipline problems, it let down the players and the nation by not stamping out nefarious elements far earlier, and after these sentences, the game in Pakistan had hits its lowest just prior to the world cup. Since the crisis started in England last year, the PCB immediately ducked to fall flat, and left its defenceless players at the mercy of the ICC and media, both national and international, which were repeatedly launching bitter diatribe against the Pakistani players every now and then on the basis on unsubstantiated allegations. The PCB could not envisage the Indian lobby working meticulously
behind the mess, and even distanced itself from the Pakistani media and players immediately. It is clear that these cricketers with promising careers fell into a well-knitted trap and miserably failed to disentangle themselves till it all went beyond their control, and the ‘headless Mother Body’ – chaired by worn-out with no cricketing brains Ijaz Butt – divorced them to become an easy prey for persecuting ICC prosecutors and hawkish media.. There was and is ‘method in madness’ of the English media and ‘News of the World’ in particular, which had gone beyond its purview of journalistic ethics by becoming part of the investigation of the scandal, which was staged to malign the Pakistani cricket team and the nation equally. The Pakistani nation did not stand behind the players, while the government did not demand thorough investigation despite the fact that the Indians acted as major players in the racket. The routine with official inquiries is that a lid is lifted a little, a few transgressors are punished, and the chapter is closed. Besides doing away with ‘carrot for influential and stick for selected ones policy’, the ICC must act impartially otherwise these ‘masterpiece of psychology’ sentences will provide almost no deterrent to the match-fixers, players and officials, who will never keep their noses clean since smoke is continuously emitting from various cricket houses across the globe. Certainly this is not without burning flames in the fire-places!
HHH
sports
Talentedbut‘taintedtri ’ Salman Butt
Tests ODIs T20Is l
Mat 33 78 24
Inns 62 78 23
NO 0 4 2
Under article 2.4.2, besides playing a maiden over in the Oval Test, Butt has been punished being party to no balls by Asif and Amir.
Runs 1889 2725 595 l
HS 122 136 74
Ave 30.46 36.82 28.33
BF 4002 3572 551
SR 47.20 76.28 107.98
100 3 8 0
50 10 14 3
4s 276 343 66
6s 1 7 10
Ct 12 20 3
St 0 0 0
Lahore-born Butt opened the batting, and reached the other end of being regular at a time when his team was desperately looking for an opening pair. Dashing enough to play in the shorter formats, he obtained an Indian Premier League contract in its first year. Butt shaped like a very good leader and imparted brilliant impression defeating Australia at Headingley in his first Test as captain after maverick Shahid Afridi bowed out.
Muhammad Asif
Tests ODIs T20Is l
Mat 23 38 11
Inns 44 36 11
Balls 5171 1941 257
The tribunal found that under 2.1.1, Asif agreed to bowl and did bowl a deliberate no ball in the Lord’s Test.
Runs 2583 1524 343 l
Wkts 106 46 13
BBI 6/41 3/28 4/18
BBM 11/71 3/28 4/18
Ave 24.36 33.13 26.38
Econ 2.99 4.71 8.00
SR 48.7 42.1 19.7
4w 6 0 1
5w 7 0 0
10 1 0 0
From Sheikhupura, he came from a humble background. A loose, lanky and long-limbed, the right build for fastmedium bowling, Asif developed all the tricks of the trade. Standing still and flicking ball 180 degrees, he could do that when running in, in his delivery stride, an astonishing sleight of hand that only a handful of pace bowlers have mastered. After present coach Waqar Younus, Asif is the second fastest to grab 100 wickets for Pakistan.
Muhammad Aamir
Mat Tests 14 ODIs 15 T20Is 18 l
Inns 27 15 18
Balls 2867 789 390
Like Asif, and under the same article, Aamir has been penalised for bowling two deliberate no balls at Lord’s.
14 Sunday Plus February 13, 2011
l
Runs 1484 600 457
Wkts 51 25 23
BBI 6/84 4/28 3/23
BBM 7/106 4/28 3/23
Ave 29.09 24.00 19.86
Econ 3.10 4.56 7.03
SR 56.2 31.5 16.9
4w 2 1 0
5w 3 0 0
10 0 0 0
A rustic boy from village Changa Bangyaal Gujjar Khan, he is a bowler with batting ability. In England last summer, he took 11 wickets in two Tests against Australia, followed by 19 wickets at only 18 runs each against England, making him player of the series. On ‘no balls’ days, he ripped through England, and set a record by becoming the youngest bowler to take five wickets in a test innings and capture 50 test victims.
sports By Aamer Waqas Chaudhary
Dr ppedcatches
There are certain glaring exceptions to the ICC’s tough stance against match-fixing, gamblers within teams and spot-fixers. Nevertheless, when it came to players from the leading nations, the Cricket Council seemed to have gone to sleep. The list is pretty long, but a few glaring omissions from the recent history are:
Suresh Raina
Indian Cricketer Suresh Raina was seen with a female friend, who is bookie in Sri Lanka, and reportedly, he was also involved in match-fixing. The Sri-Lankan cricket board released the footage, but the BCCI rejected the assertions, and affirmed that they don’t have such footage at present. The ICC’s Anti-corruption wing is said to be probing, but so far nothing has come out of it.
Muhammad Azharuddin
A Congress MP from Muradabad Uttar Pradesh, he was banned for life after the BCCI found him guilty of being involved in the scandal that rocked Indian cricket, while the ICC kept sleeping. The Congress leaders argued that the ban on the former captain should be lifted because several other players, who faced similar charges, have been allowed back into the game. Despite the fact that he is said to have contributed substantially towards the expanding bookie-player nexus in the Indian cricket, the BCCI lifted the ban on Azharuddin in 2006 and even honoured him along with other Indian Test captains at a ceremony in Mumbai during the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy. The ICC, however, claimed that it alone had the right to revoke the ban despite playing no role in handing out the original ban.
Hansie Cronje
Late South African captain confessed for being involved match-fixing when Azharuddin introduced him to the bookies. After New Delhi police unearthed the scandal, Cronje lost the captaincy, confessed at the King Commission in 2000, and died in a plane crash in 2002, allegedly by the Bookie mafia. On 8 April 2000, the United Cricket Board of South Africa denied players were involved in 16 Sunday Plus February 13, 2011
match-fixing. Cronje said, “the allegations are completely without substance”. However, on 11 April Cronje was sacked as captain after confessing to Ali Bacher that he had not been ‘entirely honest’. He admitted accepting between $10,000 to $15,000 from a London-based bookmaker for ‘forecasting’ results, not match fixing, during the recent one day series in India. During this time, the ICC acted like a silent spectator.
Kapil Dev
The BCCI absolved Kapil Dev of any involvement in match-fixing ‘over their failure to enforce the follow-on in the Ahmedabad Test against New Zealand in 1999’. It was alleged that bookmakers made a lot of money after being tipped off by an insider that the follow-on would not be enforced. The CBI also dismissed charges by former teammate Manoj Prabhakar that Kapil had offered him a bribe to under-perform during a one-day international against Pakistan in Sri Lanka in 1994. One can vividly remember when Kapil shed tears on television, and the whole Indian nation was standing behind him, while the ICC did not dare issuing a statement even.
Herschelle Gibbs
Most notoriously, Gibbs was involved in the match fixing affair with Hansie Cronje, who offered him $15,000 to score less. He tearfully claimed to the King Commission that he did not follow. However, he was banned for only six months. He repeatedly refused to tour India fearing arrest and refused to even speak to Indian Police over the matter. However, for 2006 ICC Champions Trophy, Gibbs was part of the squad touring India, and as a result, met Indian Police over his involvement in the match-fixing scandal. The ICC did not probe the matter.
HHH
Not this boy
please! A
sanction of five years ineligibility, promising young cricketer of the world Aamir is the biggest single loss to Pakistan cricket. Young, left-hander, pacer with a command on swing and reverse-swing, he has the self-confidence to make a mark. He is a real natural talent added to cricket team during the last two years, and experts found him a new Wasim Akram for Pakistan. This is because of the fact that he has got Wasim’s talent even during initial years for an all-rounder cricketer. This fact was endorsed by the legend himself. Former Aussie captain Steve Waugh, despite supporting the ICC verdict, felt sorry for the ‘young kid’. “I feel sad for Aamir who is probably the best young fast bowler in the world at the moment, and has a long way to go,” opined cricket legend Imran Khan. Even as a raw talent, Aamir got strength and hunger for both ball and bat. He made it possible for Pakistan to win ICC World T20. After ban, batsmen must be happy to see his back since he has gone out of the playing arena, and not coming to bowl at them. His ‘manoeuvred absence’ will help aspirants to hold the cup high or at least they dream of it!
HHH
INTERVIEW
By Shirin Sadeghi
18 SUNDAY PLUS February 13, 2011
INTERVIEW
Fatima Bhutto is not difficult to figure out. She is a privileged young woman with powerful friends. She is also, contrary to the norms of that sketch, someone who has been visibly affected by the cards she’s been dealt in life, cards that isolated her from the Bhutto clan, cards that left her fatherless. As such, to better describe her, she is a privileged young woman with powerful friends who has human qualities usually missing in her type. Even further, she is a woman who reads books. It is very much apparent in the thoughts she expresses passionately. I learned of her, she would be dismayed to hear, after discovering a book in a library in London a few years ago. While searching for a biography of her grandfather, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, I instead came upon a biography of her father, Mir Murtaza Bhutto. The book was the Terrorist Prince and I read it cover to cover because it was the first I had heard of a Bhutto who had made a sustained challenge to Zulfiqar’s execution. The book was not terribly favourable to her father, depicting him as a spoiled man who channelled his anger at the execution of his father into a violent campaign to overthrow the executioners, but failed at it. But in all accounts, a keen eye can nitpick a few realities and I gathered, overall, that while the Bhuttos of Zulfiqar were rather spoiled indeed, they were perhaps also lacking affection from a father who is recurrently seen in family photos as appearing unhappy to have been there, at times even several steps away from the rest of the bunched-up family. Thus, there was – at least in the fraternal friendship between Mir Murtaza and his brother Shahnawaz – a human element that had somehow broken through all the privilege and the isolation that it usually breeds to reveal passion, pride and family love. I was also struck by the birth of Mir Murtaza’s daughter, Fatima, in the danger zone that Afghanistan already was. The author, clearly no longer a friend of the Bhuttos, was nonetheless fair in his assessment of Mir Murtaza’s compassion for his baby girl. And it was this baby girl – now grown into a dignified woman – whom I met while she was on her book tour in the US. At the book signing, I requested an interview. It was
granted with very little fuss though I observed that similar requests were denied and it wasn’t cancelled as I thought it might be considering the temperaments of the privileged and also the matter of a little article I had written several years ago for an American publication, which had made headlines of Fatima’s alleged love life. The night before, she had been dressed – refreshingly for a Pakistani woman and selfprofessed nationalist – in contemporary attire. Her red, fitted and knitted dress was tightly tied at the waist with an elegant black belt, and her tinier than expected height was somehow further diminished by her needle-point patent leather stilettos. A wide golden ring was easily visible on the ring finger of her left hand. She was modern and intelligent, and a representative of Pakistan to a capacity audience whose Pakistani members were far fewer than its foreign ones. The next day, we met in the foyer of a hotel. From the start, she was polite and sincere and so, embracing that, I decided I would start with the easy questions – the ones that wouldn’t spoil her mood for the tougher ones I was just as curious about. I assumed I would only have 15 minutes but in the end it was over 35, which I am thankful to her for because she is the only voice from within the Bhuttos now and only she can answer certain questions. Her book, ‘Songs of Blood and Sword’, which she has dedicated to her Iranian grandmother, Nusrat, whom she has been prohibited from seeing or contacting since 1997, addresses many questions but as is always the case, the spontaneous answers discovered in interviews are a whole other realm of fact. She is clearly disappointed and even disgusted with
POLITIKING
THROUGH WORDS February 13, 2011 SUNDAY PLUS 19
INTERVIEW
several key members of her family, and while she has been openly critical of a few for their publicly known shortcomings, she nonetheless exhibits an inexplicable restraint in revealing any personal animosity toward family members, always insisting that things were lovely until they went wrong – a fact her cousins, the daughters and son of Benazir, should consider a compliment and an opening for future dialogue should they ever leave the bubble they are in and learn about the world as Fatima has. She admits no hatred toward any member of the family – philosophically protecting herself from such statements by pointing out the self-harm of hate. But when the Zardari name came up in the conversation, restraint was not so easy. It seemed it took all she had to refrain from divulging what she really felt about Asif Ali Zardari himself, which is strange, considering she has already implicated him in the death of her father. Still, she revealed things one could not have known
She had an agenda, and I think she wanted to be back in power. She was willing to take the risks to return herself to power. outside of the family. She is media savvy in a Western way, so-to-speak – polite, smiling, restrained from ad hominem attacks, and instinctively refusing to answer questions that go beyond the scope of her established political commentaries. Her mantra has been effectively consistent for several years now – attacks against Benazir and her husband coming from a personal place that have been elevated to concerns for the future of Pakistani nation, and regular statements against the drone attacks. Her repetition of these issues on the international stage has somehow made it normal now for 20 SUNDAY PLUS February 13, 2011
others to discuss them. Already, she has made an impact. Fatima Bhutto is quite certain of the importance of her family to Pakistani history. Yet, ironically, her other major theme is an insistence on an end to the Bhutto political dynasty. Ultimately, history will record exactly how genuine she is on this front. What is certain is that she is gradually bringing a new reputation to a family name that has not fared so well in recent years. When the topic is relatively benign, such as with Iranian literature or post-colonial states, Fatima allows her passions to show through and we see the Eastern soul that has contributed to her fast-growing popularity worldwide, but more importantly, among young Pakistanis who need intelligent, wellread, and progressive images to look toward as they make their way through the 21st century. What is most admirable about Fatima Bhutto is that she has transformed the terrible events of her life – the loss of her father, the forced estrangement from her grandmother, tensions with her birth mother – into a loneranger curiosity that she pursues through a personal study of world history, politics and literature. As such, she is less isolated from the realities of the world than the great majority of the privileged are. She truly is angered by the irresponsible loss of life that the drone attacks have caused. She truly understands the underlying root causes – poverty, lack of education, class systems, feudalism, corruption – of Pakistan’s fundamental problems. And along with her friends Tariq Ali and Jemima Khan, she is a strong voice for justice and transparency for Pakistan. She has entered the public stage – like her predecessors – but unlike them, she has refused the belly of the beast and instead, perhaps more wisely, decided to politick through her words and writings. Only time will tell which Bhutto’s voice will prevail. Shirin Sadeghi: You’re not allowed to contact your grandmother? But you dedicated the book to her. Why?
Fatima Bhutto: Yes, well she used to live with us but you know it was… it’s all very….Benazir took her in 1997 and they haven’t allowed us to see her since. SS: You haven’t seen her since ‘97? Why doesn’t she contact you? FB: She’s very ill. She’s old. She’s held really incommunicado. SS: Did she teach the kids Farsi? FB: Yes she did teach her children Farsi and they understood it perfectly though some of them were shier than others to speak it. I think famously the family is quite complexed about languages. But they could all understand Farsi and they grew up hearing it and eating Persian food. So it was very much a part of them. SS: Do you speak Farsi? FB: I don’t. I really wish I could actually. I love it and I want to. It sounds familiar to me so when I hear people speak it, it takes just a little bit before it comes to some level of familiarity. SS: What do you speak? FB: Well my mother speaks Arabic to us. I can read it, write it and speak it. But I don’t like to make mistakes. So I don’t put myself in positions where I might make mistakes. And then there is Urdu. My brother is much better at languages than I am. He speaks more Sindhi than I do. SS: Let’s get to your book because I thought it was fascinating that you spent four years kind of approaching your father and your family as sort of an investigative journalist. What did that feel like? I mean, what did it feel like to open up boxes and know that your dad touched this and he’s not here to touch it anymore? What did that feel like being, realizing you’re in this house? FB: Even before the book it was always an issue that there were memories of these people and their lives. You know lives that were cut short. There were always constant reminders. You know, I live on the street on
INTERVIEW
which my father was killed. So every time I leave my house and I enter my house, I pass the place where he was killed. So those were always there. But what was different about the experience was discovering other parts of his life and other worlds. Not just his but my grandfather’s and the family’s. But I had to research my family because I knew anyone who could have told me anything was no longer there. It gave me the distance that I needed sometimes to know that I didn’t know everything, and to know that I had to find other answers because what I thought I knew wasn’t enough or wasn’t clear enough. SS: Were you a writer before your father told you that you should write the biography of his life? FB: I always wanted to be a writer. When I was a child I would interview him. I would interview my parents’ friends. I had a little tape recorder as a toy. When my father was in jail, I would send him interviews. Which is sort of a funny way to interact with a parent, I guess. I just always wanted to be a writer and he knew that. I think he was really instrumental in encouraging me to write, and supporting that. SS: He seemed like a very good father to you… FB: Yes, yes, he was. He was an amazing father. He used to say as a joke about himself, that dogs and children, no matter where in the
world, always loved him. And it’s true. He just had this wonderfully warm, funny, supportive nature as a parent. From as early as I can remember, from school, from kindergarten he would come in and read stories to the class. And he would be the best parent to do it because he was just so spirited. He was wonderful. Actually I’m very lucky to have both parents, as tremendous as they were. SS: Did he get along well with his siblings? Did they get along well with him? FB: Well, you know, he was very close to his siblings as a child and as a young man. He and Shahnawaz, his younger brother, were very close always. And they lived like two parts of one person. Growing up they were each other’s shadows and each other’s friends and each other’s protectors and defenders. He was devastated by his death. And he was very close to his sisters. You know, that obviously changed as Benazir… SS: How did that change? FB: It changed when she made the compromises that she did. When one year after Shahnawaz’s murder, she agrees to powersharing negotiations with the military that killed their father and which killed their brother. For my father, that was unacceptable. SS: Why do you think that was? Do you think she did all these things from the get-go because she liked the West better than Pakistan? FB: I don’t think so. I don’t think that’s the case. But I think she understood very early on that the key to power was not just the West but the military. And for her, those were acceptable bedfellows, whereas for my father they weren’t. For his father they weren’t. For Shahnawaz they weren’t. But for Benazir they were and she drew a great amount of strength from those sources. SS: What about your accusations or your statements that Benazir and her husband killed your father. What would bring a sister to do that? FB: I think when you base power on a name
and only a name you have no other legs to stand on. Then you better be the only person with that name. If that’s your only qualification to governance, it’s not convenient that there are more people with that background. And she was, you know, she was a great hope for Pakistan. She had come into power with the expectations and love of millions, and she failed. She failed not because of a lack of political support. She had that in droves. She failed because of corruption. She failed because of political malfeasance. And yet again she comes back to power. People give her a second chance. And then again she begins to fail. SS: Did she hate her brother so much to kill him? FB: I think she loved power. SS: How did that happen to this woman? FB: I think she loved power, and I think she believed very much that she was entitled to it.
From as early as I can remember, from school, from kindergarten he would come in and read stories to the class. And he would be the best parent to do it because he was just so spirited. SS: Why did she marry Zardari? Did she love him? FB: She did. She did love him. SS; She loved him before they married? FB: Well, it was an arranged marriage but you know, I think she did love him very much. Why she married him, I don’t know. You’d have to ask one of them. But you know I think Benazir was very complex like all people in that sort of position are. And I think power became the end-goal very early on for her. When power is the end-goal I think it blurs principles. And it blurs platforms. It blurs a lot of things. SS: Was it power or wealth? Jemima
February 13, 2011 SUNDAY PLUS 21
INTERVIEW Khan called her a kleptocrat in a Hermes scarf. FB: Well I think they are probably connected. I certainly think power was the motivating force. I don’t think she got into power to make money but once there… It’s in the billions, you know. And it’s phenomenal when you look – not that you can ever have a scale of corruption because corruption whether it’s a hundred rupees or a hundred thousand is corruption. But when she began, that she would take so much from the country that it would be in the billion dollar range that it would come at the cost of a country that didn’t have electricity, that doesn’t have potable water, that doesn’t have vaccination programmes or mobilization programmes for women voters – that she felt comfortable? I don’t understand how she came to that. SS: Do you hate Benazir? FB: No, I don’t hate, I don’t hate anybody. SS: How could you not hate the woman who you say is behind your father’s intentional death? FB: Because hate is violence too. And if I hated her, that violence would be, would destroy me, not her. I wanted very much for her to be answerable for her role. And I think, I suppose the difference is justice and revenge. I always wanted justice from her. But not revenge. SS: Do you hate Zardari? FB: I find him to be a completely terrifying figure. I find him to be not only a terrifying figure but a venal figure when I watch what has happened under his government for the last two years. What he’s done to the political culture of Pakistan. What he’s done to Pakistan. What he’s not done to Pakistan. It’s heartbreaking. But it’s not just him, you know. It’s all the powers that keep him firmly in place. SS: Did Nusrat [Benazir’s mother] agree with you that Benazir and Zardari were the ones who killed your father? FB: In 1994 when Benazir was Prime Minister, the police encircled the house in Larkhana and they fired at the house. People lost their lives in that incident. And Nusrat was on record as speaking about the violence, as speaking of the fact that Benazir attacked her own mother’s house. The police fired at Nusrat, and she speaks very much to the violence that Benazir is capable of. She said she was worse than dictator. That’s what her mother said. At the time that my father was killed, you know, she had become very ill with Alzheimers. I think his murder destroyed her, because it was the third murder she had witnessed, her second child’s murder. And it destroyed her. And a week after that Benazir took her from our home and I haven’t seen her since. SS: About Benazir’s assassination, why did she do that that day in your opinion? Why 22 SUNDAY PLUS February 13, 2011
What I’ve gained and lost in Pakistan always keeps me tied to it. would she stick her head out of that car? FB: I don’t know. I mean, I don’t know. That’s like asking why did somebody get into a car as opposed to not get into it? I don’t know. But I think she knew there were risks, and she took them anyway. She had an agenda, and I think she wanted to be back in power. She was willing to take the risks to return herself to power. SS: You don’t talk very much about your cousins but, do you think that Benazir was a good mother to these children or she had a connection with them? FB: I don’t know. That’s not my place to talk. SS: Ok. Because [in the book] you didn’t have any views on Bilawal and it looks like he’s the next Bhutto that’s being groomed. FB: I just don’t have any relationship with them. SS: You seem to be very clear about your identity as a Pakistani. Is that correct? FB: Well, because it was always home. I think when you grow up, especially outside of your home there was a longing that might not be the same otherwise. You know, there was – it was through my father’s dreams and imagination that I really discovered the idea of my home. So it always felt like, it always felt to me that it was something that I had within me, whether I was there or not, because I loved it. But that’s not to say that I don’t feel other identities. I think, you know, one can and should have multiple ones. You know, I went to Tehran and I felt at home there too. I feel at home in Nottingham. But certainly Pakistan is different for me because what
I’ve seen and what I’ve witnessed and what I have watched in Pakistan has been different to anything I have experienced anywhere else. What I’ve gained and lost in Pakistan always keeps me tied to it. SS: Was this book for your father or for yourself? You dedicated it to your grandmother who you haven’t seen in decades. FB: I suppose it was for my father. It was the last thing I promised him. But it was also a sort of love letter, I would say it was a sort of love letter to him in a lot of ways and it was also my way of understanding this family. You know, it was a way of making peace with all these ghosts that shape not just my life but country and my surroundings. But I think more than that it was really about breaking silence. SS: What silence? FB: Well it’s a silence that’s imposed in Pakistan that we see from the beginning of the country’s history. That no matter what violence is imposed, whether it’s military, political, ethnic, religious, extrajudicial, we are not only forced to bear it but to tolerate it and to tolerate it quietly. It’s not unique to Pakistan – like I said yesterday [at the book talk] it’s something that you see in India, you see in Bangladesh, you see in Sri Lanka… SS: You see in British colonial shadow countries... FB: Absolutely. You see it in Palestine. You see it in Ireland. You see it in all these places where the British left its reference. But in Pakistan because it’s a young country as we are, the more we allow that silence to permeate, the more we accept that violence, I think. You know for me this was my saying no to that. SS: You are so outspoken. FB: [laughs] Yeah.w SS: It’s shocking. FB: Yeah. SS: How do you feel safe doing that. I mean, you live in Karachi. FB: Yes. Well I guess I feel safe for the same reasons that I hope Mukhtar Mai is safe. It’s because there are many more good people than there are bad. And there are many more people who would protect…who would protect voices… even maybe voices that they don’t agree with -because they believe people have a right to speak. SS: Zardari probably doesn’t like you being around. FB: No, probably not. SS: You’re not afraid of that? FB: I just don’t think it’s an option… The writer is a journalist, formerly with the BBC and Al Jazeera and currently with the Huffington Post, who can be reached via Twitter: @ShirinSadeghi
FEATURE
By Emanuel Sarfraz
Legend has it that Lahore was founded about thousands of years ago. The city was ruled and plundered by a number of dynasties. Punjab the powerhouse of all empires for being the breadbasket had Lahore as its biggest market. Over the centuries the city evolved its own culture and traditions that make it distinct from other cities of the world.
24 SUNDAY PLUS February 13, 2011
It became famous the world over for its various festivals like Basant, Horse and Cattle Show, Tatto Show, Festival of Lamps (Mela Chiraghan), cultural shows, World Performing Arts Festival and of course the one-month spring festival. In recent years pal of gloom has taken over the city and the festivals have become things of the past. This year the debate is raging whether Basant festival should be allowed or not. Lahoris do want to celebrate but none is willing to do so at the expense of lives of children and people. Interestingly the idea of spring festival of which Basant was a part is not being held in the pomp and style of good old days. It would be a low key affair with no events. Only the canal mela (putting up decorative props and larger than life sculptures of national monuments and symbols) has been planned. Some parts of the city will also be decorated. And that is all. No cultural or musical show has been planned in the public or the private sector. There was a time when multinational companies and the corporate sector as a whole arranged events. This year there are no budget allocations for such events. The TV channels may do some events but that would be inside the studios having only cosmetic effect on the general public.
FEATURE
There will be no horse and cattle show or the tattoo show at the Fortress Stadium. That event was regularly held every year at the Fortress Stadium since 1952. Down the memory lane people will remember how the families thronged the venue. The entry passes were hard to get on the first day. Since it was a whole week event everyone did get a chance to see the livestock display, horse and camel dances, tent pegging, colourful folk dances from all regions of Pakistan, mass-band displays and tattoo shows in the evenings. For reasons best known to the government the show is over for the general public. Kids now will never get to see the famous breed of Neeli Bar buffaloes from Sahiwal. Art and culture has been put off the list of entertainment events. Security concerns forced the World Performing Arts Festival end. Basant festival was last celebrated in Lahore in 2009 after which the DCO imposed a ban on Basant and kite flying related activities. Three-year imprisonment and fine of Rs 300,000 was announced for the violator. Not a single person has been imprisoned since the ban even though
the violations can be openly seen across the city and its suburbs. Police did arrest hundreds of people but released them after warning or keeping them in lockup for the night. At times they were produced before the magistrate who let them go free on bail. The cases were never pursued. This year a six-member committee comprising Sardar Zulfiqar Khan Khosa, Yousaf Salahuddin, Kh Saad Rafique, Mian Mujtaba, Lahore division commissioner and DCO was formed on the issue whether to allow kite flying or not. Whatever its recommendation there is need to probe what went wrong. Why kite flying became the most dangerous thing? Sunday Plus in a survey conducted among 100 people from different localities including the downtown areas and the posh localities of DHA and Gulberg found that 80 percent of the people want revival of kite flying activity but only on one condition that government strictly ensure that prohibited twine does not become available in the market. The Sunday Plus also talked to a number of kite flyers to learn about the tradition of teacher (Ustad) and disciple (Shagird) in
Lahore became famous the world over for its various festivals like Basant, Horse and Cattle Show, Tatto Show, Festival of Lamps (Mela Chiraghan), cultural shows, World Performing Arts Festival and of course the one-month spring festival. In recent years pal of gloom has taken over the city and the festivals have become things of the past.
February 13, 2011 SUNDAY PLUS 25
FEATURE
The Canal Mela
Not a single person has been imprisoned since the ban even though the violations can be openly seen across the city and its suburbs. Police did arrest hundreds of people but released them after warning or keeping them in lockup for the night. At times they were produced before the magistrate who let them go free on bail.
An image of Basant long gone the art of kite flying, which is honed after years of training. The tradition has been continuing from generation to generation. There are two main families (gharanas) that claim the tradition of teacher student bond (ustadi shagirdi). There are thousands of teachers (Ustads) in Lahore. The two main groups or families and these are Bhola Chaki Wala and Afzal Khan. Both the founders have passed away but their disciples numbering in thousands live. Despite the ban the tradition that was passed from generation to generation survives. Sunday Plus managed to bring ustads from both the clans to have their views about the tradition. The Ustads who shared their views included Ustad Ishtiaq Numbardar (owner of furniture showroom). He is disciple of Ustad Jan Muhammad alias Jani, who has passed away. He has hundreds of disciples. The other ustads present included Javed Bukhari (owner of music studio), his disciples Billu Pehlwan and Sabir Shah, Kh Umar (owner of shop in Akbari Mandi), Awais
Ustad Ishtiaq Numbardar, Ustad Sajjad Tony and Ustad Amin 26 SUNDAY PLUS February 13, 2011
Charkhi should not be allowed Shah, Hafi Zubair and Sajjad Hussain Billu. When flying kites the Bhola group members stand on the left side of the contest venue while Afzal Khan group members stand on the right side. The tradition has been kept for generations. “It is not easy to get the pugg (headgear as honour) of ustad. It costs around hundreds of thousands of rupees. The disciple gives a shalwar suit to his Ustad who lays the pugg on him and sweet (methai). He has to distribute 5kg sweet each among all the students of his Ustad. Then he becomes the Ustad and has the right to teach his own disciples. “There is no kite flying association. The association that negotiates with the government and calls itself Kite Flying Association comprises mostly of traders and not kite flyers. Their interest is economic one. “There used to be competitions that have gone out of fashion. The winner was given trophy or sometimes one or two tola gold on winning the contest. These can be
Ustad Kh Umar, Ustad Javed, Ustad Fayyaz and Ustad Sabir Shah
FEATURE
Time to go back to pinas revived. “We had most of our competitions at Rohra Ground near Cooper Road (the ground no longer exists. Punjab Assembly’s new building is under construction at the site). It was a busy road but never was there any incident of death related to kite flying. “In the 70s kite flying strings 5, 12, 60, 70 and 100 were used. After 1995 chemical coated kite flying and other strong strings arrived on the scene. Earlier the smuggled thread from India was used for making kite flying string. Later J & P Coats Co of Karachi and local factories like KB Thread and Deer Thread came on the scene. “The kite flying contests could go for hours at distances miles away. After the coming of these new kite flying strings the contest became shorter. The game started losing its charm,” the ustads were of the view. They were unanimous in their demand that it is high time to go back to the material that was used in the 70s. “The government should allow only those kite strings. If the will of the government is there it can stop the production of prohibited kite flying string at the very source. “It is sad that kite flying is not being allowed in Lahore. In other cities like Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Multan, Mianwali, Karachi, Hyderabad and Bahawalpur it is allowed. Lahore had the largest kite flying festival in the world. And they have imposed a ban. “We suggest that for three days there should be ban on motorcycle riding in the city or installation of rod on motorcycles and cycles should be made compulsory. Charkhis should be banned and twine should only be used in its old method – pina (round ball).
It is sad that kite flying is not being allowed in Lahore. In other cities like Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Multan, Mianwali, Karachi, Hyderabad and Bahawalpur it is allowed. Lahore had the largest kite flying festival in the world. And they have imposed a ban.
Big size kites should be banned. It should not be bigger than 40 inches at the centre. Now big kites that are 80 to 90 inches are being used. Only three types of kite flying string should be allowed and these are 5,8 and 2 number twines,” the ustads suggested. Art of kite flying especially leading in the contests is not an easy job. You have to follow certain rules. For example you cannot give the string jerk during the contest, the kite should be straight in the air at the time of engagement for contest and the kite flyer could not step back during the contest. If these and other rules were not followed the contest was declared foul play and abandoned. Javed Bukhari proudly said his group was
No horn blowing this time the first to start night kite flying in Lahore. “In 1980 we were the first to introduce kite flying in Lahore. It took place on the roof top of Sadiq Shaheen in Wachoo Wali Gali near Rang Mahal Chowk. We used white kites for the contests there,” he said gazing straight perhaps remembering that memorable moment in his life. It is not that flyers are not aware of the gravity of situation. Sajjad Hussain lost his 16-year-old son. He was electrocuted when a neighbour using wire with the twine hit him. “We did not pursue the case. I thought that the person responsible was also a young man. The life of that young man would have been ruined in jail. The practice of using wire with kite flying string should stop. The media can educate the people in this regard. In fact media can do a lot in creating awareness about the precautions that need to be taken when flying kites,” Hussain was of the view. The passion of the Lahoris for kite flying knows no bounds. The people, however, are not willing to be part of any festivity that may hurt others or be the cause of others deaths. Basant was a wonderful festival that attracted people from across the globe. How it turned bloody? If it is the will of the state nobody can dare to make prohibited kite flying string. Kite flying string and kites are mostly made in Kasur, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura and in villages outside Lahore where there is no ban on activity related to kite flying. The Punjab government should apply the rules in all districts. Kite flying was also a huge economic activity putting billions of rupees in circulation. It is test of good administration and the government should take the challenge of ensuring safe kite flying.
February 13, 2011 SUNDAY PLUS 27
Q&A
BY MADIHA SYEDAIN
INTHEFOOTSTEPSOFHISFATHER
The politics of Pakistan has witnessed the contributions of many promising and established politicians. The Sharif family of Pakistan has played a major role in the politics of Pakistan. Mian Muhammad Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, the son of Chief Minister of Punjab Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and the nephew of former Prime Minister, Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, has stepped in the political arena with a mission to serve the people. He is presently a member of National Assembly of Pakistan and the Chairman of Punjab Prisons Reforms Task Force. He shares some of his views with Sunday Plus in a candid manner.
Place of birth: Lahore School: Aitchison College College: Government College Lahore University: London School of Economics The best thing about being a Pakistani: is to enjoy our different seasons, rich cultural diversity and genuine warmth, love and hospitality of the people. How do you see the change in Pakistan towards democracy? An opportunity to serve and a challenge to deliver! Your family has played an important role in the politics of Pakistan. How do you rate their successes and failures? I believe actions speak louder than words. Are you into social networking? A beginner Where do you see yourself in next five 28 SUNDAY PLUS February 13, 2011
years? To continue serving the people and our country… What inspired you to join politics? My grandfather’s inspiration to strive and contribute towards progressive and prosperous Pakistan. How has politics affected your personal life? Although challenging but so far I have been able to find a balance What are your rules of diplomacy? Good Faith, Realistic, Effective What is your philosophy of politics? To rekindle hope; and make people master of their destiny How has politics changed you in real life? Politics is real life
Why should people vote for you? Because together we can build a better Pakistan The place you love to go on holidays... Nathia Gali! The movies you loved watching... Based on true events Your favourite singer and the kind of music… Mehdi Hassan, M. Rafi, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and I like Ghazals Your favourite perfume… Cerruti! How would you like to be remembered? As a person who brought about positive and lasting change in the lives of people.
★★★
FASHION Fragrance of the month: Happy Heart
By Bishakha Khadka Kunwar
L VE STRUCK:
RED, RED HUE
When cupid strikes, go with the colour of love. Announcing its return to the runways is the most daring hue of them all, RED. As love in the air, everyone wants to make a style statement that is different. It’s time to fall in love with this bold shade and play safe with this hue which will take you from hot to RED HOT. Define the sexy romanticism and bring on the surprise with ultra-girly yet edgy look because this is the month to fall in love with clothes and what better time than to incorporate this bold shade to reach a new high. Whether you adore love stories or are just outright romantic, this is the month to express yourself and capture the hearts. Being one of the most sensuous colours for the evenings, this hue is here to stay especially for this month of love. No matter the silhouettes, traditional or the modern, a rosy hue is a bona fide head-turner. Not sure what to wear for a night out with that special someone? Here are some tips to dress your best on this Sadaf Malaterre day for your loved one. Get ready for the most romantic day.
Sadaf Malaterre
RUNWAY LOOKS Zara Shahjahan
Ali Xeeshan Muse 30 SUNDAY PLUS February 13, 2011
PIFD
FASHION HOW TO WEAR RED?
day, let alone Valentine’s Day!
offer this season.
RUFFLES AND MORE: Play with the moods of love with red frills and ruffles to add an extra dose of drama to your romance. Frills and ruffles are not only in for this season but you can take this extra notch up by flirting with this season’s must have.
MIX AND MATCH: If you think all red is over whelming, just mix and match. The best combination with red is black, which is again another colour that is ageless. Just add a shimmery funk to the all red look with a dash of black.
BOLD LIPS: The best way to glam up your portion is with gleaming bold lip – there’s nothing as sexy as the perfect red lip or a gorgeous deep dark burgundy. It’s perfect for Valentine’s Day!
SPARKLE AND SHINE: Simple and sleek jewellery will suit your look the best. Embellishments are always number one and this season you should take it over the top for the D-Day! Sweater, dress or bag – doesn’t make a difference as long as you’re comfortable and looking fabulous. You can’t sparkle enough on any
ACCESSORIZE: For the faint hearted: If you don’t think you have it in you to wear a whole lotta red, opt for smaller updates like a pair of red pumps or even a pair of red bold clutch. A bracelet which rests elegantly on your wrist and a chain which lies beautifully around your neck, adds on to your delicate beauty. Jewellery brands have loads to
Kelly Brook was at the Marchesa Spring & Summer 2011 show
Salma Hayek
Libas
Emma Watson
Natasha Hussain
Sadaf Malaterre
Sanam Agha
These daring celebrities have turned up the heat on the red carpet
Nida Azwer
RED HOT CELEBRITY SPOTTING
Angelina is wearing a dress by Atelier Versace
HEARTFELT: This month, look out for Happy Heart Clinique. A compilation of unique notes, Happy Heart is a fragrance that stirs emotions. It embraces you with the freshness of crisp mountain air along with hints of mandarin, yellow primrose, will carrot flowers and water hyacinth. Who knows it could have been that love portion you have been looking for?
Nadia Hussain
Hillary Duff
Salma Turab
HSY
February 13, 2011 SUNDAY PLUS 31
STYLE
“BECAUSE YOU’RE WORTH IT!”
L’Oréal Pakistan has launched fresh faces as their brand representatives who are the ultimate epitome of beauty and glamour in their respective fields. The conviction of the iconic motto ‘Because You’re Worth It!’ has come to life with the endorsements of these gorgeous beauties.
Models: L’Oreal Paris Spokespeople 2011: Aamina Sheikh, Anoushey Ashraf, Meesha Shafi & Sabina Pasha Designer: Ammar Belal Styling & Creative Consultancy: Nabila Photography: Tapu Javeri Text: Bishakha Khadka Kunwar
32 SUNDAY PLUS February 13, 2011
style
February 13, 2011 SUNDAY PLUS 33
style
This cheerful VJ radiates her natural glow with the nude hues. Nabila has used L’Oreal Paris true match minerals foundation to achieve this precision. Her skin reects the rich colour giving it an amazing natural glow. 34 SUNDAY PLUS February 13, 2011
SHEER GLAM ANOUSHEY!
style
SMOKY SIREN AAMINA!
Classic and totally sensual- embrace the intrigue of dark romance with Aamina’s alluring smoky eyes which are definite show stoppers. Nabila has used L’Oreal Paris chrome intensity eye shadow for this scintillating effect. February 13, 2011 SUNDAY PLUS 35
style
RED HOT MEESHA!
Meesha looks feisty in this indispensable dash of red lips. Nabila has used L’Oréal Paris Colour riche lipsticks. The rosy hue on her lips is a bona fide head turner.
36 SUNDAY PLUS February 13, 2011
style
Sabina exudes immaculate beauty with this subtle hint of gold that accentuates her striking features which makes her ramp goddess. Nabila has used L’OrÊal Paris volume million lashes to highlight her long lashes.
SERENE SABINA!
February 13, 2011 SUNDAY PLUS 37
MOVIE
'The Rite' is all wrong The Rite is a horror-thriller that’s based on actual events that occurred between two priests in Rome. The film is directed by Mikael Hafström and stars Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins, and a young, Irish actor named Colin O’Donoghue. The duo are cast as an unlikely pair: the believer and the doubter, and as viewers we watch them fight a battle of spiritual warfare, while dealing with their own personal demons. Anthony Hopkins classes up “The Rite,” as you can imagine he would most every situation. But even his otherworldly powers can only make this overly familiar demonic possession thriller engaging for so long. Despite the ads that would suggest otherwise, Hopkins actually is a supporting player here. The center of the film is Colin O’Donoghue, making his confident, impressive feature debut as Michael Kovak, an aspiring Roman Catholic priest suffering a spiritual crisis. Check out the review…
THE PLAYERS: • Director: Mikael Håfström • Writers: Michael Petroni, Matt Baglio • Cast: Colin O’Donoghue, Anthony Hopkins, Alice Braga, Ciaran Hinds, Rutger Hauer, Toby Jones • Cinematography by: Ben Davis • Original Music by: Alex Heffes 38 SUNDAY PLUS February 13, 2011
MOVIE
THE PLOT: The Rite centres on a priest named Michael Kovak (O’Donoghue) who travels to Rome for exorcism training. He has serious doubts about his faith and his superiors hope that his new tutelage will restore it. He becomes the apprentice to a well-known but highly unconventional priest named Father Lucas Trevant (Hopkins), and through his experiences he learns the ugly truth about Satan, demons, and possession.
THE GOOD: • Colin O’Donoghue: The young actor plays the lead role as the doubting soon-tobe priest Michael Kovak. Initially he comes across as disinteresting and average but he holds his own against a seasoned Anthony Hopkins and Rutger Hauer. • Light Humor: Despite the thriller/horror emphasis, there are several instances of humour in this film. Extreme moments of tension are broken up by the most random
statements or incidents. [Spoiler] At one point a cell phone rings during an exorcism and the priest stops to take the call. It’s inappropriate but hilarious.
THE SO-SO: • Pass the Priest: There’s no real motivation behind any of Kovak’s actions prior to the last 20 minutes of the film. He’s not interested in exorcisms but they’re thrust upon him by three different people. It’s literally like watching pass the student. It’s a strange way to progress the plot, and it comes across as lazy writing. • Underused Actors: Hinds, Hauer, and Jones have small supporting parts that each serve one purpose. Once they’ve completed them, they disappear into the background and with the exception of Hauer, we never hear from them again. I understand that actors sign on for cameos or small parts all the time, but with talent like theirs, the writers could have at least
made them good.
THE BAD: • Alice Braga: Braga’s character is based on the writer of the book from which the film is based. What’s the purpose of changing the sex of the character other than having an attractive woman on screen? She brings nothing new to the role. • The Exorcisms: The movie is PG-13 so the exorcism scenes are nothing to write home about. There are some decent jump scares but they can only go so far because of the rating, therefore don’t look for anything truly horrifying to come out of this.
OVERALL: The Rite is a watered down exorcism film that provides a few inappropriate laughs, and some decent scares. Buy a ticket at your own risk.
RATING: 6/10
AT THE PREMIERE...
Charlotte Ross
Arianna Veronesi
Marija Karan and Alice Braga
Cast members Karan, Hopkins, Gastini, Braga and O’Donoghue pose at the premiere
Actress Torrey DeVitto
Anthony Hopkins with actor Tony Shaloub
Actresses Marley Shelton, Carla Gugino and Connie Britton
Actors Colin O’Donoghue and Alice Braga
Director Mikael Hafstrom
February 13, 2011 SUNDAY PLUS 39
HANGOUT
By Bishakha Khadka Kunwar
VERANDA BISTRO: A REAL MEDITERRANEAN SPELL!
F
Delectable Mediterranean meets indulgent ambience at Veranda Bistro at M. M. Alam Road, Lahore, this season’s dining destination. inally a place that brings something new to the plate and the palate! Veranda Bistro takes the guests on a culinary journey with flavours from Mediterranean area that can be crudely divided into three culinary regions: North African (especially Morocco), eastern Mediterranean (Egypt, Greece, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey), and southern European (Italy, France, Spain). Project of Mariam
40 SUNDAY PLUS February 13, 2011
Saqib, this bistro is a new take on Mediterranean cuisine at its finest. THE FEEL: Terming Veranda Bistro a restaurant is grossly unfair. It’s what I call an indulgence of: mind, soul and taste buds! The interior consultant of Veranda, Kamran Shiekh, has created a cosy ambience with interiors that are inspired by the
Mediterranean area. The elevated table settings vie with each other, leaving plenty of space to move. The bistro is divided into five dining areas mainly family area, private dining, main dining, lounge and my favourite Veranda & courtyard. The waterfall fountains and the palm trees at the entrance and the courtyard give a mystical aura to your dining experience on the whole. The open fireplace
HANGOUT
in the courtyard provides warmth and cosy feel to dreary winter nights while you dine outside. THE FOOD: The charm of the menu lies in the fact that they have been customised to suit the local palate- affordable fare with a Mediterranean twist. While quality and innovative drinks like blue and strawberry Margaritas are plentiful, the culinary arts are major highlights here. A meal here is a symphony. For starters, the all organic salads are best especially for the weight watchers and are brought straight from Mariam’s own organic farm. Kudos to Mariam for introducing organic options and adding healthier choices! Also the wild mushroom and roasted tomato soup are their specialities for the starters. For the main course, the Spicy Chicken Tarragon is a sensory explosion and is a treat for spice lovers. Another best option is Chicken with Mint Pesto sauce topped with olives and mint leaves. The taste of pesto sauce keeps on lingering in your mouth even after you are done. Both these entrée are served with fresh sautéed vegetables, mushrooms, broccoli, rice and mash potatoes. But I am also biased towards stuffed Chicken with cheese and sun dried tomatoes which are served with rice and pasta.
For pizza lovers, there is a whole variety of thin crust pizzas. Try Arrabiata pizza topped with pepperoni, olives, tomatoes, spices and olive oil. It would not be an exaggeration to state that they serve the best pizza that I have tried in Lahore so far. The dining experience at Veranda makes you want to repeat the whole experience again. There are wide range of pastas, paninis and other entrées in the menu that you can try, just ask the friendly staff and they will guide you through. But if you are short on time, then Mariam suggests paninis for quick and easy meals. In all its mature elegance, Veranda has also become the prime spot for parties. From the rocking celebrity studded New Year’s bash to the upcoming Valentine’s Day themed party, Veranda’s installation will paint pictures for your eyes, while live music will thread into your cosy night outs with family and friends. What takes Veranda’s considerable charm up a notch further are the individuals who work at keeping Veranda’s quality firmly high. Mariam is not the type of person to rest on the laurels as she introduces new entrees ever season. She emphasizes that the entrées at Veranda keep on changing frequently under her guidance along with world class Executive Chef (the only one in
Lahore) and his team. Mariam was generous enough to give me a tour of Veranda’s internationally installed kitchen is equipped with cooking and grilling stations, salad bars, deep fryers, toasters, pizza ovens, walking chillers and fridges. The experience at Veranda altogether is going to be something new week after week. So prepare for a Mediterranean spell!
February 13, 2011 SUNDAY PLUS 41
ART
By Emanuel Sarfraz
BACKTOART
S
hahnaz Sheikh’s mixed media artworks are really a treat to watch. She has presented in her artworks a whole new world of which she and her family are an integral part. Her sons Saaib and Rawish and herself figure in most of the artworks. Her artworks remind one of the old tales of Homer. You experience the beautiful never never land where dragons roam free and mermaids dance out of water while the knight rides by and angels (her sons) stand with harps in their hands. Sheikh is at home with all the creatures because her family is there with her. In one of the images she (a mermaid) stands with her sons attired as Greek princes. The visual vocabularies are remarkable. The colour tones are earthy and realistic. Though she paints utopia but there is nothing bombastic in them. The composition of all the canvases is very lyrical that is you feel the flow of emotions of the artiste. There is element of love in all the paintings. It is the artist’s love for her family that is reflected in her artworks. Her family is her world and nothing else matters. Perhaps it was this desire for expression of love that made her come back to complete what she had left 30 years ago.
42 SUNDAY PLUS February 13, 2011
Once beautiful, the most talented, natural, flawless, refreshingly funny – perfect actress ever, Shahnaz Sheikh had a large fan following. She acted in only a few plays including the golden hits ‘Tanhaiyan’ and ‘Ankahi’. That was the era of 80s. Little do people know that before she became an artiste she was a budding artist studying in the National College of Arts, which she left in 1980 when she shifted with her family to Karachi. After three decades she returned to her alma mater to complete her graduation. Sunday Plus met her at the annual thesis display where her artworks in mixed media were also being showcased. “I paint desires on perception of other people’s desires. I do not paint for the gallery. I really do what I feel like doing,” Shahnaz smilingly said. Her artworks on display took three years to complete. “I can’t work all the time. I don’t paint for the sake of painting. Whenever I feel like I paint,” she explained. For some years she has been working with Lahore Grammar School teaching students how to act and perform on stage. Her students last presented the play ‘Mousetrap’. Her teachers Saleema Hashmi and Bashir Ahmed encouraged her to join NCA once again and complete her thesis. Naazish Attaullah the principal of NCA also encouraged her. Interestingly Attaullah was one year her junior when she left NCA. Remembering her teacher Khalid Iqbal, the landscape artist, Shahnaz
ART
said he encouraged her to paint. “I said to him I do not see the colours then how could I paint. He encouraged me to paint by saying “why don’t you paint what you see?” It was so encouraging that I started painting,” she said. Shahnaz is disturbed by some changing trends in the society wherein the teachers are not so dedicated. “It is important that we become a nation of builders. It is very sad when teachers put pressure on their students. It is happening in all institutions. You should not destroy the spirit of new generation. Process of learning should not become a process of fear,” she was of the view. “I believe you can become a legend only if you are good in the eyes of your students. If the thinkers, philosophers and painters start becoming jealous of their own students it will lead to chaos. It is sad and disturbing,” a visibly perturbed Shahnaz said. I think what she was referring to was the general trend in our society wherein professional jealousies are destroying the foundation on which we as a nation stand. For example the most intelligent children good at studies in schools are not encouraged to participate equally well in sports and arts. I have seen the Ustads (singers of musical gharanas) not passing on the complete art of singing to their students. No doubt it is very disturbing if the teacher becomes afraid that his student may not become better than him. We have to finish this trend in our society.
February 13, 2011 SUNDAY PLUS 43
ENVIRONMENT
BY NUZHAT SAADIA SIDDIQI PHOTOS: GHULAM RASOOL MUGHAL (WWF-PAKISTAN)
TREASURESOF
MAKRANCOAST Thinking about going abroad to discover an adventure of a lifetime? Don’t. Go to the Makran Coast. Devastatingly beautiful, the Makran coastline in our very own country has everything to take your breath away. You get clean sandy beaches till your eyes can see giving into the clearest, most startling emerald and azure water up till the horizon. An area rich with marine biodiversity, the Makran Coast boasts of places like Jeevni that goes till the Iran border. If you venture out to partake in diving and snorkeling, you would be greeted by coral reefs and other beautiful marine species. Take your time exploring the Kund Malir Beach, Deran Beach and Ormara Turtle Beach. Try and catch a glimpse of the green turtle hatchlings that make their first steps towards the ocean that is to be their home. See how the fisherfolk communities residing near the beaches fare and co-exist with nature in this hidden gem of a place in our country.
KUND MALIR BEACH, COASTAL HIGHWAY 44 SUNDAY PLUS February 13, 2011
WEST BAY GWADAR, BALOCHISTAN
ENVIRONMENT FEATURE
ASTOLA, PASNI
KUND MALIR BEACH, COASTAL HIGHWAY February 13, 2011 SUNDAY PLUS 45
Diary of a Tree Hugger By Nuzhat Saadia Siddiqi
DaretoCare ChapterII:
A
s I sat down to write this week’s chapter of the Tree Hugger’s Diary in the city of Sukkur, by the serene vastness of the River Indus, I thought I should start off by stating a fact that often escapes even the most learned individuals: Dolphins are not fish. They are mammals. Yes. Dolphins, the stars of many a marine attraction shows around the world, featured in many a comedy films, are not fish. They are mammals. Inside their fins, they have five bones, which resemble the bones of a human hand (five fingers). They give birth to their offspring just like human beings. Indeed, just like humans, dolphins produce milk to feed their young and like us, they cannot breathe under water. They are one of the most intelligent species of mammals that have graced our planet with their presence. There are marine dolphins and then there are freshwater dolphins. Pakistan has the distinction of being home to the Indus River dolphin, which is even more unique because of the fact that it is rare and blind. It cannot see; it can only differentiate between light and dark. Well, nature has suavely filled in the blanks with another ability that makes this mammal special. The Indus River Dolphins communicate and navigate through the murky depths of the mighty Indus by a sophisticated sonar and high frequency sound system that has fascinated researchers and commoners alike. This week I ended up in Sukkur, Sindh,
46 Sunday Plus February 13, 2011
with a team of dolphin conservationists working with the Indus River Dolphin Conservation Project (IRDCP). Time spent with these dolphin loyalists enlightened me to say the least. In the simplest terms possible, dolphins signify a healthy eco-system and maintain the food chain in freshwater resources. I was informed that our very own Indus Dolphin is the most endangered species of dolphins, after the Yangtze River Dolphin in China, which is termed as ‘functionally extinct!’ This, coupled with the fact that the IRDC Project personnel were in Sukkur to investigate the recent deaths of five blind dolphins alarmed me. However, I was comforted by the fact that WWF – Pakistan conservationists didn’t let a single dolphin die after the devastating floods of 2010, and keeping their promise of rescuing any and all stranded dolphins, they helped no less than twenty four dolphins swim to safety after the floodwater carried them out of their depth! I took the opportunity to sit down with the coordinator of the IRDC Project of WWF - Pakistan, Uzma Noureen, who was kind enough to divulge some insider secrets regarding the conservation efforts for the dolphins. ‘The demise of the Yangtze River Dolphin is a tragic reminder of the Dolphin’s sensitivity to human activities occurring in and around its habitat, and the need for its formal protection and conservation on a national level,’ she said. She added with personal pride that
the number of dolphins was noted to be increasing. In 2001, according to the dolphin survey conducted by WWF – Pakistan, the dolphin population was 725 in the dolphin reserve area, which is a 190 kilometre stretch between Guddu and Sukkur barrages. The number increased to 1293, as discovered in a dolphin survey conducted in 2006. To help confirm my doubt about the current population of dolphins, she informed me that WWF – Pakistan is set to conduct a latest dolphin survey in March 2011. Next, I asked the hard question which has been asked by the entire world in the past few months: what killed the dolphins that were found dead recently? Uzma categorically informed me that only five dolphins have died, and not six or twelve, as erroneously reported in the media. ‘Still,’ she was quick to add, ‘five dolphins is five too many. We have taken samples from the deceased dolphins and are working hard to get them analyzed for pesticides and chemical poisoning. ’ I went on site to the small village of Ali Wahan on the bank of the mighty Indus, where four dead dolphins were found, and stood listening to the experts discussing evidence and collecting soil and water samples. As I tried to balance myself against the strong, cold wind disturbing the surface of the mighty river, I wondered why people like Uzma Noureen, Sadduf Saleem (WWF – Pakistan Conservationist), Muhammad Imran and Liaqat Ali Khokhar (IRDCP Officers) run around and monitor the length and breadth of the river to save an animal that you cannot eat, that cannot be used as a pet, that does not provide leather, is functionally blind and cannot be milked. I wondered what keeps these people motivated to conserve a mammal that people don’t even recognize as a mammal. But as I saw Uzma Noureen tell her colleagues that they will not even leave a metre of the river overlooked to ensure the dolphins are safe, I understood. If we take out all the fish from the ocean, exterminate all the birds that dot the sky, if we get rid of all the beasts that populate the wild, we will be left alone in the world. And is it not the human condition that even with our habitual longing for solitude, we cannot bear to be alone? Think about it.
ART
By Madiha Syedain
Digitaldepictions
Recently, the first solo digital print exhibition of Hareem Tanvir was held in Alhamra Art Council, Lahore. The exhibition included the paintings of oil and digital inkjets prints and attracted students, teachers and art lovers from various strata of society.
T
he first impression which comes in viewer’s mind regarding her works are complex as we try to understand her art of repainting the Western ideas and values in Eastern traditions. While using the mediums of oil and water colours in an innovative style, she has portrayed her works mainly in safaida and digital inkjet prints techniques. According to the artist Hareem Tanvir, “my work emerges from my personal experiences being a South Asian woman and how society, culture and religion have affected the content of my work. The imagery and subject matter of my work is inspired by 19th century European art. The intention is to emphasise female representation in different forms of art and how it can address the issues of any society. Unfortunately in most culture’s art and literature, women have been an icon of sex and beauty. She has been idealised as a vision of sexuality, beauty and a chunk of flesh without acknowledging the calamities she undergoes.” She further, stated that her inspiration comes from European paintings that represent social issues of particular era and how
can we reinstate them in South Asian settings. “In doing so, I represent how the content of the new images differs from Western art of the 19th century while bridging out issues concerning patriarchal society.” It was clearly depicted that the painting of Mona Lisa, Nana, Adam and Eve or Olympia sanctuary of ancient Greece in Elis, known for having been the site of the Olympic Games in classical times are not only European reflections but have a wider scope which can be studied according to our culture and traditions. A woman is not an object to play with but an individual responsible for raising great nations and her earthly beauty is pure and innocent of all materialistic values. The exhibition was inaugurated by Former NCA Principal and Prof. Naazish Ataullah who appreciated the unique works of Hareem Tanvir and said, “Her work is complex done in mix mediums and shows a concern, wherever you look you will see digital photography merging with oil and water colours giving an in depth insight and richer view of Mona Lisa, Adam and Eve from South Asian perspective.
She has viewed concerns, nostalgias and misjudged concepts of society on a broader scale and reflects her personal inspiration from European culture beginning from Mona Lisa to so much more. She is a confident artist who has a lot of potential to produce innovative and meaningful work.” The Curator Tanya Suhail was also available on the occasion and emphasised that Hareem Tanvir’s compositions are of mixed mediums and one can see historical figures of 16th and 17th century coming back to life on photographic canvas.” One of her closest friend, Nida Khan also attended the show and said that she has know Hareem as an artist for the last eight years and her work has matured as an artist. She has presented her thoughts by overlapping photographic images with water colours. Overall, the exhibition of Hareem Tanvir received a welcoming response from the art community and their prices range between Rs 8000 to Rs 45000. The show remained open till, January 29,th 2011.
HHH February 13, 2011 Sunday Plus 49
REVIEW
Exploring the changing scenario
Author: Unaiza Niaz Pages: 388 Price: Rs. 1050 Genre: War
Wars, Insurgencies and Terrorist Attacks
A Psycho-Social Perspective From The Muslim World
Chapter on insurgencies in the Muslim World, focuses in particular on the plight of the civilians population in Pakistan’s Fata region (Federally Administered Area, bordering Afghanistan) and the NWFP, of Pakistan. 50 SuNday Plus January 23, 2011
Most wars, insurgencies and terrorist attacks are in the Muslim World. This is not a coincidence; understanding this phenomenon in its political and psychosocial perspectives is vital. An attempt is made to analyze these observable facts in a comprehensive, academic method why such incidents are more prevalent is the Muslim countries. It is crucial to understand the dynamics, the frustrations and the political system in the Muslim World. The author attempts to scrutinize and synthesize what has been reported from the scientific and professional literature. History of terrorism whether in the past or present is clarified Different theories of psychopathologies of terrorism and the theoretical, biological, social
and psychological approaches are discussed in understanding these phenomena. The wars in the Muslim World in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries whether in Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bosnia, Chechnya, Algeria, Lebanon and Struggle of Kashmir’s liberation, are discussed with the psychiatric aftermath on the civilians, validated by the guest authors from Muslim World. Chapter on insurgencies in the Muslim World, focuses in particular on the plight of the civilians population in Pakistan’s Fata region (Federally Administered Area, bordering Afghanistan) and the NWFP, of Pakistan. Sensitive attention is paid to vulnerable groups such as refugees, and children whose suffering
REview
0 . 40 Rs
can sometimes go unheard. The book has a positive message, particularly with regard to the positive roles which could be enacted by mental health professionals. Mutual understanding itself represents an important step towards peace and reconciliation. This book is a comprehensive attempt to analyze and rectify some of the concepts prevalent globally regarding terrorism, by adopting a factual approach to studying the roots, definitions, psychosocial and psychobiological effects of terrorism as well as the effect of wars and insurgencies on individuals and societies in the Muslim world. History of terrorism whether in the past or present is clarified. This study has been validated by contributions from selected and highly competent team of guest co-authors. Readership: Psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, social scientists, and all mental health professionals. Psychiatric Associations worldwide, all medical universities, and postgraduate training units of psychiatry internationally. About the Author: Professor (Dr) Unaiza Niaz M.D., D.P.M., F.R.C. Psych is the Director of the Psychiatric Clinic and Stress Research Center, Karachi, Visiting Professor of University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Founder and President Pakistan Society for Traumatic Stress Studies and the Chair of the Section on Woman’s Mental Health, The World Psychiatric Association. She is the Former Head of Department of Psychiatry, Pakistan Airlines and Senior Lecturer, Faculty of the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. She is the Life Member of The Pakistan Psychiatric society, and
95 .8 Rs
35 . 18 Rs
At Freedom’s Door
Making Lahore Modern
Born Free: The Full Story
Author: Malcolm Lyall Darling Pages: 400
Author: William J. Glover Pages: 288 Price: Rs 895 Genre: Cultural studies
Author: Joy Adamson Pages: 430 Price: Rs 1835 Genre: Memoirs
Synopsis: The book provides a first
Synopsis: In this book, the author
Synopsis: Fifty years ago
hand account by a retired British official of conditions in the north of the Indian subcontinent on the eve of the British departure in 1947. The author during the course of a horseback journey of over 1400 miles from Peshawar to the Central Provinces, between November 1946 and April 1947, talked with hundreds of peasants and local wayside travellers and officials. The final part of the book which was written after independence and the creation of Pakistan pulls, together the insights these interviews raised with respect to politics, economic conditions and changing social attitudes and family life. The book provides a unique insight into Indian conditions and attitudes on the cusp of the British departure. The author because of service in the ICS is able to contextualize the conversations with local populace.
held Positions as Vice President, Secretary General. She is a life member of the World Federation of Mental Health, American Psychiatric Association and Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, London and was Advisor to the National Commission on the Status of Women, Pakistan. She has been trained in centers of excellence such as, The Royal Free Hospital, The Tavistock Clinic Hampstead London and The Johns Hopkins University, USA. She has to her credit numerous scientific publications in both national and international jour-
investigates the traditions that shaped colonial Lahore. In particular, he focuses on the conviction that both British and Indian actors who implemented urbanization came to share: that the material fabric of the city could lead to social and moral improvement. This belief in the power of the physical environment to shape individual and collective sentiments, he argues, links the colonial history of Lahore to nineteenthcentury urbanization around the world. Glover emphasizes that colonial urbanism was not simply imposed; it was a collaborative project between Indian citizens and the British. This in-depth study of a single provincial city establishes Lahore as a key site for understanding the genealogy of modern global urbanism.
conservationist Joy Adamson introduced the world to Elsa the lioness, whom she had rescued as an orphaned cub, and raised at her home in Kenya. But as Elsa had been born free, Joy made the heartbreaking decision that the mature lion must be returned to the wild, despite the incredible bond they shared. Since the first publication of Born Free in 1960, and its sequels Living Free and Forever Free, generations of readers have been inspired and moved by the remarkable interaction between Joy and Elsa. The full story is now available to discover in this beautiful 50th anniversary gift edition, which features a collection of stunning photography and rare sketches.
nals. She has authored several books: Emerging Images of Pakistani Women, Stress Management and The Psychosocial Profile of Pakistani Women, published by the Karachi University, Centre of Women’s Excellence, and a landmark monograph on woman’s mental health in Pakistan. She has edited books such as Medical Ethics in Contemporary Era, and a book on the Pakistan Earthquake 2005, International Perspectives in Handling Psycho-Trauma: The Day The Mountain’s Moved.
HHH January 23, 2011 SuNday Plus 51
Hertitage
By Dr. Shaukat Mahmood
the real story of
babri mosque
Babri Masjid was a place where Muslims prayed daily five times a day even more ever since it was built in 935 AH( 1529 AD). This practice had continued till December 23, 1949, On March 29, 1987, Issue of Organiser, a nearly 38 years old story was flashed as ‘BreakingNews’, saying, “on the morning of December 23, 1949, the idols of Sri Ramachandra and Sita Devi miraculously appeared in the janamasthan (birth place).” Hindu extremists thus rushed to see the miracle. A rumpus followed between Hindus and Muslims. The government, as planned, declared the mosque a disputed area and closed the premises. A centuries old mosque was denied to Muslims by a ‘secular’ and ‘democratic’ regime. Needless to say there is no cunning religion more than Hinduism and there is no cunning politician more than the British politician.
R
e-examining this ‘miracle’ of Sri Ramachandra and what followed, The Statesman of October 26, 1986, wrote that it was an outright act of mischief, “obviously, the guards (of the mosque) had been bribed heavily”. Thereafter, whereas Muslims were forbidden to pray in the mosque, Hindus were given full freedom to go inside the mosque and have darshans of their deities, the deities who had entered the mosque through the sordid trickery of their Hindu manufacturers. Several pujaris were also appointed officially, by the secular government, to conduct the game and receive the offerings. On February 11, 1987, to the dismay of all Hindu fanatics, the Indian Express said, “The disputed place is not believed even by pundits to be the birth spot of the legendary Rama.” The Archaeological Survey of India also made several efforts to investigate the sites of Rama’s birth. They worked in nearly five cities, including Ayodhya. An 11 metre long trench was also dug in the vicinity of this mosque. The Archaeological Survey report confirmed that there was no life and habitation in Ayodyhya till the 11th century. This report, totally debunked the claim of Hindu extremists that this was a place of the birth of Rama, who had in fact never existed but in the
52 Sunday Plus February 13, 2011
Ramayana of Valmiki. “The Babri Masjid Ram Janambhoomi conflict is the 19th-century creation of the British. The belief that Babri Mosque was built in place Rama’s shrine has its roots in the first half of the 19th century. During this period, an English historian, John Leyden, translated and published the Memoirs of Babur. In this treatise, he only said that Babur had once passed by the town of Ayodhya. This statement was later circumvented by several British writers to suggest that Babur destroyed the temple of Ramachandra’s janambhoomi and had built a mosque in its place. Babur was a devout Muslim and as history proves, he was totally tolerant toward other religions. During his four (1526-30) or five years rule, he visited numerous Hindu temples but destroyed or damaged none. He is full of praise for their architectural elegance and sculptural beauty. Had he been antagonistic to other religions, he certainly would not have spared the erotic sculptures of numerous Hindu temples. These vulgar sculptures at Khajuraho and Bhubaneswar are abhorred by even those Hindus who a little sense of shame, modesty and decency. There is no reference to Babri Mosque in Tuzk-i Babri (Memoirs of Babur) either.
The belief that Rama’s janambhoomi temple was located where the Babri Masjid stood appears to be based on local myth and hearsay also. In the first place, there is no concrete historical evidence whether Rama existed or not. There is no mention of any such temple in the Hindu scriptures either. One cannot believe that such an important monument which was raised to commemorate the birth of Rama escaped the attention of every chronicler, every sojourner and ever historian. Is Rama and his janambhoomi or janamsthan that insignificant? There are at least 15 or 16 mandirs in Ayodhya today whose pundits and Pujaris claim with full authority that their temple is the real janamboomi of Ramaji. None of these temples is in the vicinity of Babri Mosque. It, thus, seems that Hindu politicians like Pandit Lal Krishan Advani of BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) were determined to keep the issue alive by hook or by crook. There plan to construct a Hindu temple over above and around the mosque is at once utopian and a cruel joke with the history of Indian architecture. The plan to build a Hindu temple at the site of Babri Mosque therefore is unacceptable, cunning and envisages devouring of the mosque once for all. Only the history of India concocted by British
Hertitage
The Archaeological Survey of India also made several efforts to investigate the sites of Rama’s birth. They worked in nearly five cities, including Ayodhya. An 11 metre long trench was also dug in the vicinity of this mosque. The Archaeological Survey report confirmed that there was no life and habitation in Ayodyhya till the 11th century. This report, totally debunked the claim of Hindu extremists that this was a place of the birth of Rama, who had in fact never existed but in the Ramayana of Valmiki.
writers in the last century originated the myth of Rama’s birth at Ayodhya. The Encyclopaedia Britannica, in a very pernicious and spiteful style, says, “There are (in Ayodhya) few surviving monuments of any antiquity, Rama’s birth place is marked by a mosque, erected by the Mughal Emperor Babur in 1528 on the site of an earlier temple”. The author of this article does not substantiate his claim with sources of his information. More iniquitous is the caption of the Babri Mosque photograph which has been published with the article. It says, ‘Mosque at Ram’s birthplace Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India.’ Such writings by the British were given recognition deliberately and were readily accepted by the compiler of several British Gazetteers. In spite of these wicked distortions of history by the British, the Indian judges, in the past, had acted rather independently and without relying much on the bunkum of British ‘researchers’ .Even a Prime Minister of India, who used this very issue to grasp power, had said on November 18, 1989,
“there had been a mosque at that place for 500 years. Are you going to revise history?” The same point was made by C. Rajeswara Rai on May 13, 1989. He said, “Muslims did pray within its compound, later some idols were; smuggled’ inside the mosque.” These idols of Rama and Sita were placed inside the main (central) arch of the mosque’s sanctuary and it was claimed that the miracle of the emergence and manifestations of these idols at that particular place was to show humanity the exact place of Rama’s birth. This incident shows in true colours the mentality of the fast-dominating Hindu reactionaries. Efforts are now being made to build a monumental temple at the place where the idols had appeared by ’miracle’. The sanctum sanctorum or vimana will be exactly at that place where the idols were placed. Since the mosque has not to be demolished, a huge roof will be built over it, resting on three pairs of massive pylon-like piers. These piers are so huge that they remind one of ziggurats and pyramids. The whole temple complex will be over the roof, something like the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. It will be a two-storied structure (above the platform) with a gapuram (gateway), two halls with pyramidal stepped roofs and one major spire, the mandappa with tapering sides and a Kalsa and amala finial at top. The size of the proposed temple would be over 34,000 Square feet. This will be without various adjuncts of a temple complex. The three pairs of massive pylons will be placed in such a manner that the length of the temple would come to 270 feet and width 126 feet. The main spire will rise up to a height of 132 feet from its own ground level, i.e.’ the roof above the mosque. This is an absolutely vicious plan and the mosque will be destroyed and devoured by the temple during its construction. Since outright demolition of the mosque was going to have serious repercussions the new strategy has been designed. It is a strat-
egy that the predator will not kill the prey before eating but will devour it without killing. Unity between Hindus, Christians (Americans and English in particular) and Jews emanates from a common jealousy and animosity against Islam. They have nothing in common otherwise. The British, while they were ruling, tried their utmost to subvert the Islamic heritage. Lord William Bentinck (Henry Cavendish) (1774-1839) was the Governor General of India from 1825-1835. During his tenure, he gave orders for the demolition of Taj Mahal, suggesting that the enormous stretch of land occupied by Taj Mahal and its gardens should be given over to agriculture. When this move was resisted, an idea was floated that Taj Mahal originally was a Hindu temple and Shahjahan converted it into the tomb by making some structural changes. Along with Babri Mosque, Hindu extremists have earmarked another 120 mosques which, they claim, were built upon their sacred spots. Hindustan has never been ‘united’, under the Hindu or Buddhist rule, as it is today since the periods of Ashoka and Kanishka. It has always been a conglomeration of small states engaged in internecine conflicts and infighting against each other. They used to get united whenever there was a foreign threat and this attitude is manifest from the role of Hindu Rajas and Maharajas when they were fighting against Alexander, Muhammad Ibn Qasim, Mahmud Ghaznavi, Shihab ud Din Ghuri and pre-1526 campaigns of Zahir al-Din Babur. The present policy of the Hindus to see the re-emergence of the Akhand Bharat is an undercurrent for reversion to small, independent states. The animosity towards Islam and towards Indian Muslims, therefore, is a first step to the ultimate breakup of the myth of Mahabharta and Indian secularism.
HHH
February 13, 2011 Sunday Plus 53
Zodiac
Dr. Zaibun Nisa
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54 SuNday Plus February 13, 2011
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February 13, 2011 SuNday Plus 55
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Artbeat
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ecently, a thesis exhibition was held at National College of Arts which attracted people from all strata of society. A total of 164 students displayed their work. The Departments that are showcasing their works were fine arts, print making, painting, sculpture and miniature, architecture, communication design, ceramic design, textile design, product design, musicology, film and T.V. The post-graduate programs of multimedia arts and interior design also displayed their thesis work at the same time. Some of the most prominent projects were that of Sardar Abdul Rahman Khans’ maps and drawings of battles between various human and non-human races, and their 3D models. Fazal Abbas Rizvi’s blurred and melancholy small paintings were gorgeous, Hareem Shairani and her crazy woman prints were worth mentioning. Hareem’s collographs were brilliantly transferred on to “sab se sasta kaghaz”. Also the Mall of Kashmir, a landmark building of Kashmir for mixed uses was designed in the typical Kashmiri fashion with curved and diagonal lines. Another prominent project titled, ‘Withstanding floods’ by Arslan Rafiq was also appreciated by many. The structure was designed with the dynamics of water and to withstand strong water currents.
The visitor was taken aback to see Suleman Aqeel’s sculpture
Puppet stage: Paintings and red sculpture by Shoaib Wazir. Puppets made by Hashim Ali.
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Visitors enjoying miniatures by Sehar Hashmi, Hammal Khan and Wasif Ijaz 56 Sunday Plus February 13, 2011
Suleman Aqeel showcasing his painting
Business
By Navirah Zafar
s e m u l o V s k a e Sp
e l y t S d n a e r u g Fi
n liticia o p a , r ffai le iece a nd sty p a o g n w i a suit ant t their ready l n eleg n a a o s n i d i wn suit n epen out to ilored er eve cies d r b a e t a a p e r y s l e w ing ccab the lawy male impe bout is suit a n h suit, a bers of the a s o p e r t g a n n us i a sh eari em volum takes ker in life. W yle speak ese m o n h c i h a t l l b l w b i ent ir pu d st tie: a hatt in the vestm em B -andcut an t t n e i i e c l d u h e s u a t p f l hile ad N t res cess rma t. amm A suc n a fo nstan ble taste, w abou i i h e u n d o n m M i a s a cca ing levi se c ks to impe on te stand g hou us tal l d n i n P m t i a e y u h a e in t he s und uenc to ga how t ken. S o of affl o t t p s s n a e m ight Bhatti: A brand is known by the accesord is state gle w an ins n s i s e v sories and type of clothing the suiting i a g e r d o an bef ” e r house possess. Suiting for a timeless and u “Fig late 90’s was not developed as such, tailored man especially looks impeccable brand Q: How and when did you start with the business? Nadeem Bhatti: The business started with my brother opening the family business in 1992.The brand went through many changes in the early and mid 90’s, but it was in 1999 the brand established itself by the name of “Figure”. The basic initiation and motivation came about when past Prime Ministers, Bureaucrats, Sectaries and Judges started wearing suits from our brand. It’s been eleven years that we have been dressing up the government officials and have kept constant with our established clientele. Q: Why did you choose this particular field? Bhatti: The garment industry in the
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there were less suiting brands. At that time there was a dire need to establish a suiting brand which catered to people from all walks of life. Hence my brother and I decided to tap into this industry and there has been no turning back. Q: Why the name “Figure” for your brand? Bhatti: I wanted my brand name to relate to customers when they hear it for the first time. Figure for me is a representation of any form, as by drawing, painting, modelling, carving, especially, a representation of the human body. It is the special cuts that enhance the physique of a human body, we at Figure specialize in custom made clothes. Q: What accessories comprise under the brand name “Figure”?
when it is paired with coordinated shirt, tie and cufflink. Two piece suits, three piece tuxedo, plain to striped shirts, waist coats, cravats and keeping in mind the local tradition shalwar kameez are all stocked up at the store. Q: What advice do you give to customers who are buying suits for the first time? Bhatti: A suiting house is known by the staff it hires, we give utmost training to our staff, who than further assist the client according to their needs. Hands on facilities like basic suiting trials are conducted considering the body build of the client, be it slender, light weight, round or fat. When the suits are made first trial of the suiting is conducted, which further helps us understand what changes need
Business
to be done. Q: What variety of cuts is available in a suit and what cuts suits what body type? Bhatti: Not every one is privileged enough to get a bespoke suit made, but there are a range of suits which include made-tomeasure men suits, designer men suits and ready- to- wear suits. With madeto-measure suits, it is possible to achieve a degree of customization because the tailor takes up to 25 measurements of an individual body and these are then sent to the factory, hence making it a custommade fit for any body type. Designer men suits cost about half that of a good made-to-measure suit, they are still worth the money; the process is speedy, no agonizing fitting and long waits. Ready-to-wear are mass produced, least expensive and most common, these are for those who in minimum time and money desire an ‘on-the-go’ suit. Q: What do you feel about your competitors and how different are you
from them? Bhatti: For me competition does not exist, my motto through out my working years has been to work hard and hence success will fall in the right place. My brand caters to the masses for me satisfying them is the ultimate reward. Q: How many outlets in Pakistan? Do you have any plans of opening other outlets? Bhatti: In Lahore there are eight leading personal outlets, a total of twelve franchises in Punjab, twenty-two dealers who provide Figure accessories to different stores all around Pakistan. Q: Is there any advice you’d like to give to up-coming businessmen or entrepreneurs? Bhatti: The current clothing market has advanced and many competitors have entered who are enjoying the perks of this industry. The first and the foremost thing is to plan, research, dig up past trends, look into inflation rate monitoring the industry and lastly chalking out a good marketing outlay , such minute details should be on the tips of a budding entrepreneur.
A suiting house is known by the staff it hires, we give utmost training to our staff, who than further assist the client according to their needs. Hands on facilities like basic suiting trials are conducted considering the body build of the client, be it slender, light weight, round or fat.
February 13, 2011 Sunday Plus 59
society
FIZA’S COLLECTION LAHORE: Recently, Fiza Ali’s collection was showcased at World Fashion Cafe.
60 Sunday Plus February 13, 2011
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LAHORE: Recently, a fashion show titled, ‘Devil Desire’ by Ali Shaan Foundation was organised at PC hotel. The event was organised by Awais Malik with aim to raise funds for special people.
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1 Irshad B Anjum & guests 2 Atif & Nosheen 6 Arfa, Sana & Sara
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3 Sangeeta 4 Shahid Iqbal & Ishaq Khan
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7 Tayaba & Soniya 8 Model Mahnoor & Kanwal 9 Zeeshan & Sana 10 Mr & Mrs Kamran Butt February 13, 2011 Sunday Plus 61
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Overload GIG
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Overload rocked the cold night with their warming music this time in PC hotel. Cosy ambiance with the fusion music kept the audience entertained to welcome the year 2011. This post New Year gig was organised by Hussna Khan of VOX Media & PR.
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1 Farhad Humayun & Hussna
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3 Mr & Mrs Sheazy Khawaja
6 Komail, Mehak,Imran,Mariam & Mohammad
4 Mehak & Mariam 5 Usman Khan
7 Mr & Mrs Zahid 8 Nida & Salman
9 Azeem, khalid, Idrees , Zeeshan, Jawad, Ayaz & friend 62 Sunday Plus February 13, 2011
PICKS OF THE WEEK
We at Sunday Plus have brought a smart wish-list for all our readers that are the best buys which range from the trendiest brands to the most delicious palate to à la mode popular gateways. So get ready as we present our picks for the week. There’s something for everyone.
Nando’s Divine Chocolate Cake
Chocolate Cake (4 pounds) Rs.1750 and Rs.175 per piece
Nando’s is not just a fiery dine-in eatery, but to ones surprise it is abundant with a whole range of confectionary delights. From their array of cakes, the chocolate cake is a peri~licious mix of rich chocolate cream and malt sandwiched between two layers of delectable chocolate fudge. For all you couch potatoes out there Nando’s not only amuses your sweet taste buds, but also provides home delivery within one hour after placing the orders.
Charm Bracelet
Are you a lipstick loving disco diva or a sunglasses flip flop babe, experience the chunky feel of ‘Accessorize’ colourful charm bracelet. Now is the chance to improvise and make your own charm bracelet, by loving the existing charms or by adding in a few to create custom-made bracelet.
Dine @ Veranda… Red Hot! Your skin has its care routine but what about your lips? This L’Oréal 1st ‘Colour Riche Lipstick’ has a boosting serum at the heart of a lipstick, containing collagen and hyaluronic acid to hydrate and plump your lips with moisture. Lips are enveloped in this ‘True Red’ voluptuous colour that doesn’t feather. At this Valentine allure your loved one with this sensuous style statement.
64 SuNday Plus February 13, 2011
Looking for a special place? Head to Veranda Bistro at M. M. Alam Road. This is a new take on Mediterranean cuisine at its finest. Veranda is hosting a Valentine’s Day themed party, with live music that will cosy your nights with family and friends. This is a place that is sure to entice any taste buds. This is one place you should not miss out on –foodie or not!