THE ISLAMIC VEIL: State of play in Europe

A ban on the wearing of the full Islamic veil is being studied in several European countries, including the Netherlands, Denmark and Austria. In France a parliamentary commission is due to present a much-awaited report on Tuesday, which is expected to recommend that new legislation be enacted to ban the full veil, known as the burqa or niqab, in public places.

THE STATE OF PLAY IN WESTERN EUROPE:

THE NETHERLANDS: several draft laws concerning the wearing of the veil are in the pipeline, including a measure which would ban the garment for teachers. Another draft aims at a ban concerning civil servants.

DENMARK: The government is currently discussing the possibility of limiting wearing of the veil in public places, including school and courts. It is awaiting the opinion of a government commission before deciding.

ITALY: A 1975 law, aimed at protecting public order, makes it illegal to cover one’s face in public places. The provision applies equally to the veil and motorcycle helmets. Some mayors from the anti-immigrant Northern League have banned the wearing of the full veil, and the Islamic swimsuit, locally.

BRITAIN: The education ministry in March 2007 published directives allowing directors of public establishments and denominational schools to ban the niqab, after several high-profile court cases.

AUSTRIA: Social Democratic Women’s Minister Gabriele Heinisch-Hosek launched the debate recently and is mulling a ban on the full Islamic veil in public spaces if the number of women veiled from head to toe increases dramatically.

FRANCE: In 2004 it passed a law banning headscarves or any other “conspicuous” religious symbols in state schools.

BELGIUM: numerous districts ban the full veil in public places under local laws and police ban the wearing of masks in the street except during the period of carnival. AFP

Drop by drop: life passes by as Tanoli drops from tinsel town to frying pan

By Mahtab Bashir

Islamabad

mahtabbashir@yahoo.com

Art - both visual and performing genre, survives in Pakistan but at a very heavy price. Musicians, painters, singers or actors live in most difficult times. The state institutions that are meant to promote art and culture ignore them. The art councils and other such institutions remain indifferent to the issues of artistes. Many artistes have passed away in abject poverty while others live in conditions that are not fit for an artiste who is protecting our rich cultural heritage.

Khalid Tanoli is one of such artists, who brought laurels working for Pakistan Film Industry and Television over the last two decades but with the slump in Film Industry, is struggling to earn living, selling variety of fried fish at his small hut along the roadside at G-9/2, adjacent to F-9 park.

Narrating his miserable story of switching profession of acting to selling fried fish, 44 years old Khalid Tanoli, told Daily Times that he started off his career in film industry in 1990 with a popular drama serial “Ajj Di Kahani” from Pakistan Television (PTV).

Born in Abbottabad, and hailing from Lahore, fair complexion Tanoli said that his professional career in Film Industry is over but he is working with zeal and zest for small tube. “My ongoing television drama serials are “Amar beil”, “Zindagi Aik Safar hay”, from ATV, while “Bus Aik Tera Intazar”, “Insaan” and Nai Nasal” are forthcoming drama serial to be telecasted from PTV,” he said adding besides these number of serials he is working for two more Drama Serial “Jaago Magar Khamosh Raho”, and “Bhaag Ali” in the pipe line.

I have worked with all the leading casts of film industry and television artists. One of my current Punjabi Drama Serial is with the title of “Sohni Mahiwal” in which I am working along side Shafqat Cheema to be telecasted on Apna Channel, Tanoli added.

Tanoli said he has played different roles from peon to police officers, from driver to villain, and as a jailer and father in number of Urdu and Punjabi films. “Sher-e-Punjab”, “Dada Badmash”, “Mulla Muzaffar”, to name a few.

Settled in the federal capital since last two years, Tanloi said because of poor scriptwriting, acting, production and Indian and western cultural onslaught, pushed Pakistani film Industry into a quagmire and now it is almost finished. “It (film Industry) could never be revive again, because every quality movie is easily available on cable networks, and internet on different websites. Why should people bother to watch Pakistani current movies that has nothing to impress audience,” Tanoli said while inserting sticks into wood stove.

Sangeeta Begum, Rao Qurban Ali, Pervez Rana, Anjum Pervez, Arshad Dar, Babar Kashmiri, Irdees Bhatti, and Ajab Gul are few of noted produced to whom I have worked, Tanoli said. Besides this in television productions, I have worked with Yawar Hayat, Ayub Khawar, Tariq Ahmed, Abdul Aziz, and Yasin Malik.

He blamed Indian soaps and films are also responsible to down Pakistani film industry but flaws that caused industry’s decline are our own, also producer is reluctant to take chances on his investment, said Tanoli, who has three school going children.

I have learnt fish frying techniques from one of my colleague producer while working in Lahore, and it clicked. Now, by the grace of Almighty, I am the only fry fish seller who has all range of fried fish in the federal capital. “Rahu, Trout, Baam, Masheer, Mushka, Simon, and Surmai are the fish, I brought from Tarbela and Mangla Dams, and also from Kaghan and Naran while few fish I imported from Karachi,” Tanoli said.

Talking about the rates of mouth watering fried fish served with sauce, Tanoli said the rates of fish vary from one to another. “I have Rs. 200/ kg to 650/- kg with Trout is the most expensive,” he said adding Trout is the only fish that is served only by him.

When asked, why don’t you avail sui gas for frying and why sticks, Tanoli said, every spark of fire makes the taste and that is my specialty, that is why people not from posh sectors of Islamabad came here to taste my fish but people from remote areas also relish. “A car running on Gas has a low pick but with petrol it swiftly passed by- likewise, fire of sticks to makes my fish more delicious,” he said with a smile. He said his business is picking up momentum these days as the space along road occupied by customer’s cars, which troubled him sometime.

Tanoli said he is looking for a better spot where he could set up his fish selling business to serve fried fish in a better ambience. “I have struggled and I am satisfied with my life.” he said.
Tanoli requested government that time is not over yet; government must do something now for the revival of film industry, for the sake of promotion of art and culture. “I have worked with commitment and devotion for the promotion of art and culture and there are thousands of artists like me, who are looking forward government institutions to something for the welfare of artists- as they are the asset of the nation,” he said.

Courtesy Daily Times Jan 02, 2010

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010%5C01%5C02%5Cstory_2-1-2010_pg11_5

Mahtab Bashir

Islamabad

03335363248

EVEN WEATHER IS CROOKED HERE!

BY MAHTAB BASHIR

ISLAMABAD

“The trouble with weather forecasting in Pakistan is that it's right too often for us - to ignore it and wrong too often for us - to rely on it.”

I woke up early on Saturday morning (10: am :-) to meet few of multiple tasks including my visit to a bank. The weather was cloudy, heralding today might prove Met Office forecast of rain (that they have been making since last couple of MONTHS) right.

Settling down my tasks till 2:00 pm, I decided to go my office with multiple ideas to file a story regarding ‘Weather’ with emphasis on why our Met Office forecast go wrong constantly.

As I entered my office, I called telephone operator to make a quick call to Met Office. “Assalamu Alaikum Sir- It’s Mahtab from Daily Times Newspaper. How are you sir? I want to steal your 10 minutes,” I said in a single breath. “Walaikum Salam- OK, sure, please go ahead”, this voice was of Met Office duty officer. “Firstly, tell me today’s weather prediction and secondly temperature of Islamabad- Any drop of rain expected today? Why, having all the advanced technology and paraphernalia Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) always predict what actually is opposite to it? Why you guys show sympathy with us when none of existing public sector organization is doing? You believe in hope or is it hope against hope? I heard and read, after occupying Kashmir territory, water of rivers flowing to Pakistan, now India is deviously controlling our climate, too? Is it correct or the poor Al Nino is to get all the blame??? “Hold on, please, duty officer said and there emerged another voice. Instead of continuing my strings of questions- I asked him to educate me about El-Nino phenomena or (Al Nino)! He said El Nino weather pattern had been prevailing over Pakistan since November 2009, and was blocking winter rains. The current El Nino conditions that started in June 2009 and suppressed monsoon rains in Pakistan were still continuing and were expected to last till 2010. ;-) I was surprised about the parrot-like cramming and promptly asked why our forecast never met to our words, (rather Met Office prophecy surprised all when it proved rightly). “I love watching Ashes- and in Lords’ Cricket Ground, experts (one of them with the lovely voice and accent – David Lloyd ;-) revealed that chance of shower later this afternoon- and it happened- it happened (always) and if it is an ODI, they told us the over number in which drops come down- and it happened (Hitting the bulls eye), I stretched our conversation. What I heard in response was a laughing voice and I again asked … but what is El-Nino? ……. “or line cut gai…

I peeped through the window, and found the Sun hiding among the black clouds. But weatherman knows best, I fancied considering that they do have today’s’ top technology.

In a frustration, after a while, I decided to visit the ‘Aqalmand’ weatherman to learn the ‘Brilliant methods of forecasting’. On entering the meteorologist room, I saw five wheels hung with the walls that can be rotated. Two wheels were imprinted with various sorts of weathers on them and the three had numbers on them.

I asked the weatherman about the techniques (methodology) they use for making prediction. “You see these wheels,” he began, “firstly I spin the first wheel and then see what come up. Then the second wheel is rotated in the same way. If both of them stop at, for example Sun- I forecast Sunny Day,” what about other possibilities”? I inquired.

“Well… if it comes Sun on one and clouds on second, then I guess that the day will be partially cloudy with a chance of rain,” he said. “And the temperature?” I asked. “You see, that if it is a Sunny day, then I rotate the third wheel which has degrees from 65-100 imprinted on it, if a cloudy day- I use fourth wheel (ranging from 45-64 degrees). The fifth one id to predict the percent chance of rain.”

But what about the Satellite Photographs, you people show on TV screens? I further asked. “O! Don’t worry dear- about them… All of them are as old as Mohenjodaro. Don’t you know our space satellite has been destroyed for years. Whatever these wheels predict- Look into my files for a photograph corresponding to the prediction and this is to be shown on TV- and the system always clicked,” the ‘qualified’ meteorologist said.

As I left, I couldn’t help wonder that how modern technology and science making things appear so easy. Even a kid can do it. Have you ever thought about what is happening in our Meteorological Departments and where are we heading towards …….??? There are so many jokes related to it and few of them you must have read or heard!

On a serious note, El Nino, an abnormal warming of surface ocean waters in the eastern tropical Pacific, is one part of what's called the Southern Oscillation. The Southern Oscillation is the see-saw pattern of reversing surface air pressure between the eastern and western tropical Pacific; when the surface pressure is high in the eastern tropical Pacific it is low in the western tropical Pacific, and vice-versa. Because the ocean warming and pressure reversals are, for the most part, simultaneous, scientists call this phenomenon the El Nino / Southern Oscillation or ENSO for short. South American fisherman have given this phenomenon the name El Nino, which is Spanish for "The Christ Child," because it comes about the time of the celebration of the birth of the Christ Child-Christmas- and here I conclude my piece of writing.

Mahtab Bashir is a 'budding fiction-writer' & believes everything in Pakistan is a fiction. He may be contacted at mahtabbashir@gmail.com

PS: All ‘Facts’ are ‘Fictions’ here, except the last paragraph about El-Nino.

http://www.pakspectator.com/every-weather-is-crooked-here/

BOYS MATURE AT 27, GIRLS AT 24

"Maturity begins to grow when you can sense your concern for others outweighing your concern for yourself." - A Siyana

Boys do not dump their immature antics and become men until they reach the age of 27, says new research based on a survey.

Lads do not grow up until they have had their first child by age 29 but would continue to indulge in boyish behaviour such as getting drunk, according to OnePoll.com.

Girls, on the other hand, become mature at 24 with the average woman swearing until she is 26, suggests the study.

Ladies also stop tumbling out of nightclubs at 25 and stop flashing their breasts and not pile on make-up by the age of 23, researchers found.

"The report proves that men simply don't grow up as quickly as women. They are still likely to indulge in some sort of immature behaviour," the Daily Star quoted a OnePoll spokesman as saying.

Courtesy ANI

EYE LOVE YOU- BEAUTY IS IN THE EYES, PERIODS

"There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers."

It's all in the eyes when it comes to attraction. British scientists have found that women get more attracted to men with large pupils.

Edinburgh University study's scientists, who found that the attraction starts just as women are approaching their most fertile time of the month, believe that it could be because it indicates that the man is sexually interested in them and available for mating, reports the Daily Mail.

Pupil size made no significant difference for the rest of the menstrual cycle, according to the study published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences.

To reach the conclusion, photographs of six equally attractive men were presented to a judging panel of ten women. But for each man, three versions of the photo were produced, with the pupils large, medium or small.

The pictures of the men were then jumbled and put into pairs for the women to rate. Volunteers recorded their age, whether they were using hormonal birth control, the date of onset of their menstrual period preceding the test and the length of their menstrual cycle.

The study's analyses revealed that attraction to large pupils shot up four days before day 13 of the menstrual cycle, the usual monthly peak in fertility.

Courtesy Mail

Na jany dhondty kya ho meri weeran ankhon main/ Chupa rakhy hain hum ne to kayi toofan ankhon main/ Tumhara zarf tha k tum ko mohabbat yaad nahi ayi/ Jala teri mohabbat ka diya har aan ankhon main/ Kisi ka hath le kar hath main mile jab tum hum se/ To kaise toot kar bikhra tha mera maan ankhon main/ Na samjho k chup hain, to tumse koi shikwa nahi hai/ Hum apne dard ki rakhte nahi pehchaan ankhon main !!!

YE CHIRAGH BUJH RAHAY HAIN- MERAY SATH JALTAY JALTAY...

By Mahtab Bashir
Islamabad

Of several songs in the movie "Pakeeza" (A 1972 Indian film) – that took 13 years in the making, a song's lyrics made by Kaifi Azmi, with the music of Ghulam Mohammad titled "Chalty-Chalty" surely stands out.

The sweetness in Lata’s voice as she slows down with “Yunhi Koi Mil Gaya Tha ... Sare-Raah …" is amazing! Towards the end of the song as Lata supposedly rushes through the song as the train whistle blows … is superbly captured! The song ends on a somber-note … “Ye Chiragh bujh rahe hain … mery saath jalty-jalty”. Superb!!! absolutely superb.

The movie is about the courtesan Sahibjaan, (Meena Kumari), who is born to a blonde courtesan, Nargis (also Meena Kumari). After being spurned by her lover's (Ashok KUmar) family, Nargis is driven to a graveyard where she gives birth to Sahibjaan secretly. Nargis dies during childbirth, and her sister, Nawabjaan, takes the child as her own. Sahibjaan was brought up by brothel madame Nawabjaan (Veena).

Unable to break away from the vicious circle, Sahibjaan grows up and becomes a beautiful and popular dancer/ singer. Forest ranger Salim Ahmed Khan (Raja KUmar) is enthralled by Sahibjaan's beauty and innocence, and eventually convinces her to elope with him, which she does. But trials and tribulations await Sahibjaan as she is recognized by men wherever she goes in the company of Salim.

When Salim re-names her "Pakeezah" (pure of heart) and takes her to a priest to be legally married, she refuses, and returns to the brothel. Salim eventually decides to marry someone else, and invites Sahibjaan to dance at his wedding, Sahibjaan agrees to this, not knowing that many secrets will be revealed at this wedding.

Achingly gorgeous songs and visuals, together with Meena Kumari's dynamite final performance make this a Bollywood costumer par excellence. Desire and shame vie for the heart of the courtesan, Nargis (Kumari), who yearns to fall in love and does, with an aristocrat (Raaj Kumar). But, for a woman of her profession, a happily-ever-after ending does not come so easily, as Nargis confronts dark secrets and humiliations that threaten to sabotage her romance and entrap her forever.

Here are the very touching lyrics, and I want to dedicate this song to someone -once very dear to me, who met me like a stranger and left me in a lurch like a "Perfect Stranger"!

Chalty chalty, chalty chalty- Yunhi koi mil gaya tha
Chalty chalty, chalty chalty- Yunhi koi mil gaya tha
Sare raah chalty chalety, Sare raah chalty chalty

Vahin thamkay reh gayi hain
Vahin thamkay reh gayi hain
Meri raat dhalty dhalty
Sare raah chalty chalety, Sare raah chalty chalty …
Jo kahi gayi na mujhsy, voh zamaana keh raha hai
Ky fasaana- Ky fasaana ban gayi hai
Meri baat chalty chalty
Sare raah chalty chalety, Sare raah chalty chalty …

Yunhi koi mil gaya tha - Sare raah chalty chalty
Yunhi koi mil gaya tha - Sare raah chalty chalty

Chalty chalty…Sare raah chalty chalty Chalty chalty Chalty chalty,
Chalty chalty Yunhi koi mil gaya tha…

Shabe intezaar aakhir
Kabhi hogi mukhtasar bhi
Shabe intezaar aakhir
Kabhi hogi mukhtasar bhi
Yeh chiraag- yeh chiraag bujh rahy hain
Yeh chiraag bujh rahy hain- meray saath jalty jalty
Yeh chiraag bujh rahy hain- yeh chiraag bujh rahe hain
Mery saath jalty jalty

Yunhi koi mil gaya tha
Sare raah chalty chalty …

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubQ9hrKO6XI

Chalty Chalty, yuhein koi mil gaya tha (While Walking; While going along I met someone. My life has stood still since ...) !!!

MAHTAB BASHIR

mahtabbashir@yahoo.com

03005256875

ISLAMABAD

For related stories, please click …
http://mahtabbashir.blogspot.com/2009/11/theres-hole-in-my-soul.html
http://mahtabbashir.blogspot.com/2009/12/breaking-up-hurts-just-like-physical.html
http://mahtabbashir.blogspot.com/2009/12/ek-dafa-vo-yad-hai-tumko.html

http://mahtabbashir.blogspot.com/2009/12/cultural-colours-of-cholistan.html

WILL THERE BE BOOKS TOMORROW?

“Somehow, I don’t enjoy today’s literary writings as much as I enjoyed those produced a hundred years ago,” I said.

“Your age, my dear friend, your age! Don’t forget you have grown old and have not kept pace with time.”

“But my mind has not aged,” I protested, “I can still think young and dream the dreams of a young man. And I still love all such things that touch the heart of today’s young men — despite their preoccupation with television, computer and mobile phones.”

Seeing a possibility for some kajj bahsi to while away the evening, Babboo decided to continue the assault on my advancing age and said: “The problem is in your waning years, you have not been able to keep abreast of modern literary trends and their complex theories. And since they are now beyond you, you must continue to remain lakeer ka faqeer.”

“Stop it, yaar! Shuroo ho jatey ho!” I said, but looking at me closely, he asked:

“Be honest — for a change, if for nothing else — and tell me, what is it that you find lacking in today’s literature?”

“I find lack of style, lack of expression, above all, lack of romance — qualities that one found in the writings of the old masters.”

“You mean lack of Sense and Sensibility, lack of Of Human Bondage, lack of Farewell to Arms, lack of Lady Chatterley’s Lover — perhaps the only books you read?”

I ignored his remark and said: “In poetry I don’t find any ‘Daffodils’ or ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’… and … as far as humour is concerned, where are Bertie Wooster and Jeeves, or where are Shafiqur Rehman’s Shaitan and Hukoomat Apa? The novels too are more autobiographical than anything else and read like travelogues or history.”

“This kind of a sweeping statement reeks of jehalat and is a testimony to the fact that you have diligently kept yourself uninformed about modern literature. How else could you say with such fathead authority that there was no sensibility, poetic imagination or consciousness of the issues facing the human race?”

I still ignored the provocation and continued: “Where is that touch of Charles Dickens, Guy de Maupassant, Asadullah Khan Ghalib, a Mir Taqi Mir, Rabindranath Tagore or Haafiz Shirazi?” I wanted to tell Babboo that contrary to his biased belief, these characters were no strangers to me.

“Please stop name dropping. It is considered bad manners. I can list up more impressive names. And remember, these guys are dead and gone. They created literature in and for a different time for readers living under the dark shadows of two World Wars, a number of bloody revolutions, slavery, and a period of massive exploitation. If they preached love and kindness it was because their readers were famished and needed to be bestowed upon with alms — not only to satisfy their hunger but to keep them in good humour.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.

“I mean, unlike yesterday when the reader was famished, he is better off today. He is living in a more affluent world. No longer, he is hungry for love and relationship. Today, he yearns for experimentation and innovation. Today, both he and the writer have become avant-garde. They also know how to catch the bull by the horn,” said Babboo.

“What nonsense. Writers today might have turned more practical and candid, but for myself as a reader dil dhoondta hai phir wohi fursat ke raat din!”

“Who is stopping you from reading Shakespeare, Milton, Mir Taqi Mir and Ghalib? Go lie down in your charpoy and read Manto, Krishn Chander, Ismat Chughtai, even Ibne Safi and Wahi Wahanvi.”

It is difficult to argue with Babboo. After sometime, however, I asked him: “Who rules the roost today?”

“Arundhati Roy, Fehmida Riaz, Zeeshan Sahil, Kishwar Naheed and many others. They have concerned themselves with today’s problems — men and matter,” he replied.
“You have forgotten Faraz.” I said.

“That’s because I find his poetry for teenagers,” Babboo commented.
“So what’s wrong with that?”

“Nothing. Only that the teenagers today do not read poetry!” he said.

“You are wrong. Man cannot live without romance, in other words, poetry and literature. Just as today your avant-garde writers have taken inspiration from yesterday’s Masters, tomorrow’s writers and poets will be inspired by the present day writers and poets.”
“Rubbish. There will be no literature and poetry tomorrow.”
“Why?”
“Because there will be no books.”
“How will they read then?”“Blackberry zindabad!” said Babboo. This brought to an end our kajj bahsi.

Courtesy S M Shahid

DAWN