| TRUE to its title, Glimpses of Urdu Literature by Zahida Zaidi, former professor of English at the Aligarh Muslim University, offers a peep into the fabulous wealth of Urdu literature through critical essays on select works of "representative" Urdu poets, fiction writers and dramatists, past and present. The study is, however, limited to Indian literary figures. The author attributes this deficiency to space constraints. The book, she states, is meant to test the waters and if well-received, she would undertake a project revolving around Urdu literature from the entire world, she says. Glimpses of Urdu Literature is divided into three parts: poetry, fiction and drama. Zaidi breaks new ground with a searching inquiry into the "secular and humanistic traditions of Urdu poetry". She traces these traditions from trendsetter Kabir Das to the present. Kabir, she claims, became the "living voice of the downtrodden," because of his emphasis on the "purity and depth of human relations," dignity of labour and "a simple way of life and the common essence of all religions." According to Zaidi, Mir "added a significant dimension to the humanistic tradition of Urdu literature by exploring the hidden depth of human personality and its creative potential." Ghalib's poetry, on the other hand, reflects the disintegration of a social and cultural order and its moral values in the post-Mutiny era, besides embodying the theme of humanism, such as, Azad rau hoon aur mera maslak hai sulhe kul (I pursue a free way of life and my faith is universal amity). For Zaidi, Hali captured the decadence of the Muslim society, while Iqbal not only emphasised religious tolerance (mazhab nahin sikhata apas mein baer rakhna) but went farther by striving "to raise man to the highest level of perfection." With the freedom struggle gaining momentum in the early part of the 20th century, social and political themes became a dominant trend in Urdu poetry. Among the more powerful exponents of the nationalist theme were Hasrat Mohani and Josh. Other poets of the time, by projecting the problems of the "society as a whole," promoted a secular approach. This trend reached its apogee with the rise of the progressive movement with poets such as Faiz, Ali Sardar Jafri, Kaifi Azmi, et al. In the essay titled "Nature in Iqbal's poetry," the author analyses many of his poems in which nature is the central theme. She refutes the argument that his poetry is "devoid of human love," quoting verses that are full of romantic and sexual imagery, faithfully translated to retain their charm. The critical analysis of K.G. Saiyidain's thesis, "Iqbal's Educational Philosophy," is another fascinating piece that reveals his concept of culture, religion, society and the individual. Among the progressives poets, Faiz, Ali Sardar Jafri, Makhdoom Mohiuddin, Akhtarul Iman and Munibur Rahman are discussed individually with an illuminating analysis of their poetry to show how they promoted a populist and secular outlook. The second part of the book deals with Premchand, Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, Anwar Azeem, Qurratulain Hyder and Paigham Afaqi, writers whose novels portray the contemporary socio-political conditions. Premchand was a nationalist; Maidan-i-Amal therefore portrays the spirit of the freedom movement. The novel devles into social injustices, expounding on the evils of caste system, religious bigotry, hypocrisy, money-lending, trading in stolen jewellery, rape, exploitation of the poor, especially farmers, the cruelty of tax collectors, the lavish lifestyles of landlords shielded by the "mask of religion" and, above all, the system of education "based on suppression and high-handedness." Zaidi says that Inquilab, Khwaja Ahmad Abbas' best known fictional work, apart from depicting the rise of the freedom struggle, shows how humanism can transcend the barriers of religion and social status as in the case of the novel's principal character, Anwar. Anwar Azeem's Jhulaste Jangal is touted by Zaidi as a "social document and a work of art" that principally exposes the evils of the jagirdari system. In the forest fire the author discovers a "metaphor for the fire of corruption and cruelty" burning in the depth of the system that has consumed "all the fine people and fine values." The essay on Qurratulain Hyder's Chandni Begum is a thorough analysis and dissection of the characters of this "multi-dimensional" novel, with a fascinating discussion on the novel's title. Zaidi also discusses women in Hyder's fiction through two of her novellas, Agle Janam and Sita Haran. In the discussion of Paigham Afaqi's Makan some of its parts are compared to Kafka, Dostoevsky, Chekhov, Sartre and Wordsworth. Zaidi also exposes some of its faults, labellng it as "too ambitious". In the third part of the book, after an introduction to the "Father of Urdu drama" Agha Hasher Kashmiri, Zaidi discusses the plays of modern dramatists from Imtiaz Ali Taj's Anarkali through Krishan Chander, Rajinder Singh Bedi, Ismat Chughtai, Saadat Hasan Manto, and many others, concluding with a candid discussion of her own plays, their plots and techniques. With a faint echo of Matthew Arnold's Essays in Criticism, this book seeks to rediscover the literary heritage for those whose mother tongue is Urdu as well as kindle the interest of students of literature in exploring Urdu literature. Glimpses of Urdu Literature: |
2011-04-03
NON-FICTION: Pre-partition literary giants
COLUMN: The poet and the critic
| THE book I am going to talk about is meant to pay, as the compiler puts it, homage to two leading writers, Firaq Gorakhpuri and Muhammad Hasan Askari. Titled Firaq Sahib, the book is primarily an introduction to the poet Firaq who has been acknowledged as a new voice in Urdu poetry. But at the same time care has been taken to bring to light Askari's distinctive position as unrivalled in the world of Urdu criticism and whose critical writings about Firaq form part of the volume. This book may thus be considered as homage to both the poet and the critic. The compiler of the volume, Javaid Akhtar Bhatti, has singled out Askari as one of the few who recognised the real worth of Firaq's poetry and delved into the hidden meanings of his verses. Bhatti collected Askari's scattered critical writings and compiled them to serve as an introduction to Firaq's poetry. Bhatti also precedes this critical appraisal by an exhaustive biographical narrative for which he turned to Dr Nawazish Ali who carried out painstaking research on Firaq and unveiled previously unknown facts about his life. The detailed biographical sketch presented is a reliable one as Dr Nawazish is a genuine Firaq researcher. Askari's writings on Firaq are inspirational and spontaneous. He cares little to elaborate and is brief and to the point. Brevity and spontaneity are the hallmarks of his writings on the poet. His thesis is that Firaq is a new voice in Urdu poetry and his appearance on Urdu's literary horizon sees him carrying a new sensibility, a new energy, and even a new language. He comments on Firaq's verses from different angles and searches for what lies beneath the surface. "Great poetry," he says, "is never a sudden outburst of creativity." It takes time for it to take shape. "For long it goes on brewing within the inner being of the poet. It is after this process that there is an upsurge of what we call great poetry." We see signs of this greatness in Firaq from the very start. In 1953 Askari comments that though Firaq started writing great poetry in 1938, "but it is now for the past three or four years, [that we see] a revival of the ghazal owing to a great extent to Firaq's influence. His poetry has now come to stay as an institution. It seems to have been included not just in the consciousness of the poets alone, but also in the consciousness of the common readers." Askari believes that Firaq has contributed tremendously to Urdu poetry. By submitting to the influence of nature in a devotional way, Firaq has provided Urdu poetry with new dimensions. Urdu poetry, he says, appeared to be purely human dominated. Even when the modern poets turned to nature in a serious way, man always remained primary. But in Firaq's poetry, we find that nature is no more dominated by human emotions. Therein it enjoys a status of sovereignty. Hasan Askari points out another of Firaq's precious contribution: he has introduced to Urdu poetry a new lover who is a dignified soul and is sensible enough to realise that he has to also care for needs other than love. In other words, in Firaq's poetry love does not appear as an experience isolated from other experiences of life. It makes its appearance within the perspective of human life, which brings in its wake manifold experiences. Love is just one of them — though, of course, it has a bit more significance. |
Captain courageous carries the day
 India's captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, left, and India's Virat Kohli celebrate winning the Cricket World Cup final match between Sri Lanka and India in Mumbai, India, Saturday, April 2, 2011. – Photo by AP Mahendra Singh Dhoni guided his country to a second World Cup victory as India's players celebrated with cheers, tears, and a lap of honour of Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium with Sachin Tendulkar held aloft like a trophy. India's maestro had earlier failed to perform to Bollywood script with a hundredth hundred in the World Cup Final on his home ground, but a cathartic run chase showed the determination of his team to win it for him. Incidentally, a billion other Indians were quite pleased too. India created history by becoming the first country to win a World Cup on home turf, overcoming the immense expectations of their cricketing public. Dhoni was the man who mastered the pressure of the situation by striding out to bat ahead of Yuvraj Singh when the match was in the balance. With instant authority and a calm aggression he wrenched the World Cup trophy away from Sri Lanka, whose total of 274 made them favourites at the interval. Mahela Jayawaradene had stroked a masterful hundred, but it was to no avail. Sri Lanka's bowlers, in the curious absence of Ajantha Mendis, did not have enough wicket takers to properly threaten India. A second successive World Cup final loss was a bitter pill for the humble and gentlemanly Sri Lankans. When Lasith Malinga silenced Mumbai by dismissing Virender Sehwag and Tendulkar, the stage was set for a farewell masterclass from Muttiah Muralitharan. But he made little impression, a recurring leg injury denying an effective finale. Murali's was not the only goodbye at this World Cup. Pakistan's own limping superstar, Shoaib Akhtar, also hobbles into the sunset. When he first came tearing in at the West Indies in the 1999 tournament, hair flying, arms and legs pumping, Pakistan's next World Cup win did not seem a distant dream. Now it is almost twenty years since Pakistan tasted World Cup glory. This is the first tournament since 1999 that Pakistan have seriously challenged, and with an under-strength team at that. Shahid Afridi's team did, however, play its part in making World Cup 2011 the best competition of this millennium. By defeating Australia they brought that country's impressive unbeaten run since 1999 to an end, allowing India to deliver the knockout blow to the undefeated champions. Australia's demise only served to underline how open this tournament was, and it was the more thrilling for it. All of the top teams had vulnerabilities. The minnows added to the excitement too, with Ireland making a strong case to be elevated to the premier rank of cricketing nations. This was Asia's World Cup as much as it was India's. The three top Asian teams reached the semi-finals, and any one of them was capable of winning it. The crowds in all three host nations were enthusiastic and lit up the tournament. Even banished hosts, Pakistan, mustered vociferous support from Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan supporters. After the Asian embarrassment of 2007, this World Cup brought out the best in the region, even an outbreak of unexpected bonhomie and cricket diplomacy at Mohali. Ultimately, India's batting superiority in home conditions proved decisive. But more impressive was their ability to win the battle of nerves in Mohali and Mumbai. And it was their captain, M.S. Dhoni, who epitomised that composure under duress. The World Cup belongs to India but the victory belongs to Mr Dhoni. |
Scholarships: Landing the prestigious grant
| So, you're finally in your senior year. Feels good, eh? You act the boss, the juniors look up to you, and you're only a few months away from a full-fledged 'grown-up' life. But are those butterflies in the stomach you feel every time the word 'college' flashes in your mind—the only time senior year seems more nerve-wracking than glorious? College admissions can be tough, there's no question about that. But it's especially trying if you're vying for a scholarship at the same time. The subject, by no means, should be taken lightly. To the relief of many prospective scholars, there is more than one avenue one can approach for a scholarship, thus broadening the scope and probability of hitting the nail on the head. For example, there are government scholarships offered by one's home country; in our case, the Higher Education Commission (HEC). The HEC offers several scholarships for both local and foreign universities. While the foreign scholarships are offered mostly for post-graduate studies, such as masters and PhD focused on research, they do offer scholarships for funding studies at renowned local universities as well. An example is the USAID funded merit and needs-based scholarship programme which supports students' enrolled in indigenous universities. Besides this, the university that you would be applying to will also have its scholarship programme. The Rhodes scholarship is an example of a prestigious university-specific scholarship for outstanding students aspiring to become a part of the University of Oxford. Besides Rhodes, almost every university offers its own scholarship programme to international students. You will have to check with each of the universities you plan to apply to. If you have chosen a foreign college, checking out the scholarships offered to applicants to colleges in that particular country is also an option. For example, applicants for US-based colleges might be interested the Fulbright, while applicants for universities in UK can benefit from the Chevening scholarship. Different countries have different programmes, and there may be more than one programme for a single country. In addition to these, many local communities and organisations also offer scholarships. You'll need to find out from the community administration as to how to go about that. Many organisations also offer scholarships to bright students from certain countries. The Rotary Foundation's Ambassadorial scholarships and the Aga Khan Foundation's International Scholarship Programme are cases in point. However, scholarships are designed around the required talent and skills at particular countries or areas. Some organisations fund students of developing countries on the condition that they should return to their home country and do good for their fellow citizens. These criteria of the relevant scholarship need to be respected. Needless to say, you have to assess the requirements of each grant against your talents and skills, and the discipline you wish to study. Sometimes, while you may have the skills to apply for a scholarship, it might be a good idea to gain some relevant work experience and apply a little later. This brings us to an essential question of the time duration needed to apply for a scholarship. Expecting miracles to happen in a short while is very idealistic and unrealistic. You need to give yourself at least a year to prepare your essays, get them read and corrected by a counsellor or professor or someone who's been a recipient of the relevant scholarship. You also need time to line up your references and allow them time to draft their recommendation statements for you. The essay is a crucial part of any scholarship application, and you need to make sure that you highlight the skills relevant to the requirements of the grant. The importance of getting the scholarship essay read and assessed by a relevant and responsible individual cannot be stressed enough. Having said that, your individual circumstances and needs matter tremendously. Some students would be happy to have just their books and accommodation covered, while others would need full tuition and accommodation covered by the grant. Don't forget to convey to the organisation providing the funds if you're open to a partial scholarship as well; it may increase your chances a bit. Finally, it's important to put your best foot forward and brace yourself for what can be a long, impatient wait. Just hang in there and keep your spirits high. |
Fashion: Look hot this summer
| Summer has been testing our tolerance with its continuously rising temperatures. You cannot step out in fear of sun burn, but can't even sit at home due to load shedding. The best way to kill time is such circumstances is to chill at a café nearby with a couple of friends, coworkers or siblings. But you can't step out of the house without following the basic rules of fashion. So here's what you need to know to stay stylish this summer. With summer comes lawn craze Gone are the days when lawn catered to the 'desi' clothing market; today the young generation is being extremely innovative with lawn and making very creative designs out of it. From long shirts to tops, kurtis, frocks, kaftans, dresses and even skirts, everything is being made out of lawn, and the possibilities are endless. Kaftans Jeans—'skinees' and nothing else Prêt wear—everywhere As far as western wear is concerned, there was never a problem. Various brands bring you funky T shirts and loose dresses which can be paired with jeans or tights as per preference. For western party wear, satin dresses and tops in colours like red, black and beige are really in fashion and considered the hottest dresses. Hair affair Straightening hair is another torture in the summer so here's good news: this summer wavy hair is as in as straight hair. So all you need to do to look hip is apply mousse on your hair after washing and tie them up. Open after a bit and your hair will go curly and sexy in absolutely no time. Shades all the way And while you stock up all these things to look nothing less than a diva, don't forget that confidence is the most attractive thing you can ever wear. Here's wishing you a stylish summer. |
Reverse swing: Semi – that was the final
| Had someone said at the start of this World Cup that Pakistan would get to the semi-finals, you would have humoured them. Had they said Pakistan would be a finalist, you would have laughed. And had they said Pakistan would win the title, you would have worried about their mental condition and advised them to seek help. In fact, our beloved captain Shahid Afridi did promise us a semi-final spot. When he had made the claim, we dismissed it as hyperbole. We tried not to get our hopes up. But Afridi proved a man of his word and he delivered. Yes, a semi-final win in the cricket World Cup — and that, too, over archrivals India, no less — would have been phenomenal. But someone had to win and someone had to lose. That's the nature of sport, and you agree to the contract the moment you start enjoying its highs. Absorbing the sting of defeat is painful, but that's part of the risk. It is inevitable to engage in navel-gazing as we look back on the defeat in Mohali and the possibility of what might have been. Not in living memory had a cricket match been so hyped up. India's good fortune was to win the toss, which left Pakistan with the unfavourable task of chasing under lights. Still, there was hope. But our star seamer Umar Gul was badly off the boil that day and, in any case, a team that drops Sachin Tendulkar so many times does not really deserve to win. Add to that Pakistan's inability to develop a sustained batting partnership and their perplexing misjudgement regarding the tactical use of the batting powerplay, and it all amounts to a miserable outing for Afridi and his men. For a brief, flickering few overs, when Misbahul Haq and Umar Akmal were together, it seemed we might see a replay of that immortal semi-final from 1992 when Javed Miandad as the senior partner oversaw a rookie Inzamamul Haq bring victory to Pakistan against heavy odds. But this time it was not to be. Nevertheless, it is important to focus on the big picture, because there is certainly no shame in a semi-final exit. If anything, there are a number of encouraging features here. For the first time in over a decade, Pakistan negotiated the World Cup without drama or controversy. Unlike 1999, there was no capitulation; unlike 2003 and 2007, there was no premature exit; and unlike 2007, there was no scandal. And since in 1996 we had faltered in the quarter-finals, it is sensible to conclude that this was Pakistan's best World Cup showing since 1992. That is saying a lot. Several factors came together to enable this. Foremost, we must credit the captain-coach combination of Afridi and Waqar Younis, who planned the campaign to near-perfection. They kept the players to a tight work and practice schedule and motivated them according to circumstances. One must also commend the younger players, particularly Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, and Wahab Riaz, who stepped up at key moments. Of the seniors, Umar Gul and Mohammad Hafeez were brilliant. Sub-continental playing conditions helped Pakistan a great deal, as they helped the other Asian teams. It is no surprise that the day before the Mohali semi-final, the last three teams left standing were all sub-continental sides. Perhaps most important, the removal of the spot-fixers went a long way towards ensuring solid and honest performance on the field. As cricketing assets, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt were badly missed, but there is not much point ruing their absence. In fact the evidence shows their presence would have proved corrosive. The team was blessed to be rid of them. All said and done, full marks have to be given to the tournament itself. Its organisation was immaculate and the match schedule carefully orchestrated to grab interest at the outset and keep it sustained. The group compositions and knockout phase were also cleverly planned, with the flexibility in venue assignment turning out to be a boon for the home crowds of India and Sri Lanka. Most of all, this was a World Cup imprinted with the raucous and frenzied signature of the subcontinent. There was noise, colour, energy, and spirit. There were watershed moments for some momentous careers, as Australia's Ricky Ponting, England's Andrew Strauss, and South Africia's Graeme Smith relinquished captaincy after disappointment and defeat. In the theatre of play, there were upsets and thrills in just the right amount. Ireland's victory over England, England's tied group match with India, New Zealand's quarter-final win over South Africa, and Pakistan's quarter-final demolition of West Indies, are some of the matches that will live in the memory a long time. On the technical side, the Umpiring Decision Review System proved a roaring success, enhancing the delivery of justice to batsmen and bowlers alike, and affirming our faith in the game's best umpires, such as Australia's Simon Taufel and our very own Aleem Dar, who maintained a flawless record with the review system and made us proud. And contrary to widespread concerns, security problems — barring the self-limited stone-pelting incident on the West Indian team bus in Bangladesh — did not rear their ugly head. As I write this, the final between India and Sri Lanka is yet to be played. One must congratulate both finalists, for it can indeed be said that the tournament's two best teams were left to fight for the trophy. Sri Lanka look a superbly balanced side — fine attacking batsmen, a lethal strike bowler, mesmerising spinners, and an awesome captain who is also a world-class wicketkeeper-batsman. But you still have to fancy India's chances, who are riding a tidal wave of support and popularity. By the time you read this, India have probably become the first team to lift the cricket World Cup on home soil. |
2011-04-02
Suspected militants kill three Indian soldiers near Gauhati
 No one claimed responsibility for the attack in Rangsali area, nearly 200 miles southeast from Gauhati. — Photo by AP GAUHATI, India: Separatist militants ambushed paramilitary soldiers on a patrol in India's insurgency-wracked northeast and fatally shot three of them, police said. Superintendent Anurag Agarwal said another two soldiers were wounded in Saturday’s attack that came despite tightened security ahead of next week’s legislature elections in Assam state. The attack occurred hours before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s arrival there to canvass support for his Congress party. No one claimed responsibility for the attack in Rangsali area, nearly 200 miles southeast from the state capital, Gauhati. It’s a stronghold of the Karbi People’s Liberation Tigers, one of more than 30 militant groups in the northeast fighting for independence or wide autonomy. |
Bamiyan: a hidden gem
| When people think of Afghanistan they think of the war, of the dirty politics, of the corruption and the images of poverty, death and misery. I like to show a different side to the story in my blog. A side that is positive, optimistic and beautiful; a side that exists both, in an overwhelming abundance and in the most unexpected corners of the country. Bamiyan, best known for its historic Buddha statues blown up by the Taliban 10 years ago, is one of those gems of beauty. A short but turbulent helicopter ride to the central highland's province took me and the talented photographer, Lorenzo Tugnoli, on a mini ski adventure in the glorious mountains that surround the centre of Bamiyan. Rah-e-Abraisham, an Afghan tour company based in Bamiyan, is one of the first in country which specialises in outdoor activities. Bamiyan is one of the safest provinces in the country and the relaxed vibe of the small town makes for the perfect weekend get-away for us Kabulis. The thing about tourism in Afghanistan is that inevitably you end up hiking through minefields. Cleared ones, but nonetheless, minefields. Actually I have learned a lot about navigating my way through minefields since arriving in Afghanistan. You are supposed to stay between the white rocks and avoid the red ones. Unfortunately, the red and white rocks lay scattered in a haphazard way after the winter rains and snow washes them away, leaving us guesstimating the correct path. Besides the excitement of dodging land mines, the sight of the forgotten Shahr-e-Gholgola (the City of Screams) was stunning and instantly took us back to the thirteenth century when the massacre of the city by Gengis Khan took place in revenge for the murder of his favourite grandson, which eerily lead to the city being renamed the City of Screams. So then came the skiing. And when I say skiing, what I actually mean is a hell of a lot of hiking up a snowy mountain with heavy equipment and then a short but sweet ski downhill. Despite the physically strenuous challenge of going up the mountain, it was undoubtedly enthralling to be the only people on the mountain absorbing the fresh air and stunning views. Although, I must admit, that the strong, spring sun made skiiing difficult as the snow had started to melt. Our ski guide, Nando, was an Italian mountaineer flown in by the Aga Khan Foundation to support this tourism project and promote skiing in the province. Our Italian certainly was a character, whipping his Afghan team into shape with in a harsh but pedagogical tone while warmly admitting that they had become like family to him during his three months in the country. The local children looked on in amazement at the foreigners dressed in strange outfits, while they comfortably walked around in the snow in flimsy-looking shoes and a shalwar kameez. One boy had ingeniously put together a pair of make-shift skis, made from planks of wood bound to his boots with rope. Apparently Nando spotted some raw talent in the boy and immediately arranged for him to join the Bamiyan 'ski school' and be trained to become a ski guide in time for the next ski season in Afghanistan. The boy, although somewhat reserved, seemed to show a hint of excitement at the prospect. Still lacking electricity, decent roads, and other amenities, Bamiyan is still a long way from being a top tourist destination. However, it's moving in the right direction and has the perfect mix of relaxation, stunning scenery and fun activities. Who knows, with the arrival on the long-rumoured international airport, Bamiyan in the future could be bustling with tourists hungry for an adventure and a dose of the peaceful side to Afghanistan. Photographs taken by Lorenzo Tugnoli in Bamiyan.
*Photography by Lorenzo Tugnoli The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
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Wahab came of age but Pakistan lost its way
 Pakistani officials receive Pakistani cricket player Wahab Riaz, center, upon his arrival at Lahore airport. -Photo by AP Ouch it hurts! At the break, it was Pakistan's game and they blew it. Even with all the drama of first session that included a bizarre sequence of missed chances and timid tactics, Pakistan had recovered gallantly to silence the Indian guns. Unlike him, his mates fell apart on account of pressure and expectations. Poor Umar Gul imploded, after Sehwag had roughed him up with a cyclone of shots. It was smart thinking from him to target Pakistan's best bowler as it not only forced Afridi to pull back and defend but the burst dented Pakistan's mind so badly that it put them in a reactionary mode. As the captain started to follow the ball, the fielders started to drop the ball, both parties providing tickets to India and Tendulkar in particular, to get out of jail. The chase by Pakistan was disjointed and as discordant as the sound of a junior high school orchestra tuning up! Nothing made sense. Hafeez's reverse scoop of a wide off side delivery, Akmal's hara-kiri, Younis's block and Misbah's plod were suicidal moments of the game. Younis and Misbah have glued together performances to rescue the batting but they amazingly that night were dormant and drab when innings needed an injection of aggression and expression. Misbah bats with a one dimensional mind and strategy to soak up balls and hit at the end. It's a plan which is filled with danger and risk. It not only puts him under unbearable pressure but the entire team goes down with him in case he fails as he leaves them with no leg room. It cannot be clever from Misbah to super impose this strategy on all situations. With him shutting up shop, the pressure mounted on Pakistan and it became easy for India to master the innings and prepare plans to avoid the anticipated Misbah climax! Younis does not play big shots at all and so once his engine that jump starts him with singles got jammed by Indian spinners it was all over for him. Infact his soporific batting gave the initiative back to India. Misbah and Younis both got it wrong when Pakistan needed them the most. The delay in taking the batting power play was indefensible. It turned out to be the turning point of the game. Teams fear it with out any concrete reason. There should be no confusion in making use of this facility because it is simple to execute. If you keep the basic principal in mind that a normal healthy innings needn't be burdened with it till late in the piece and adopt it in desperate situations you will end up as a happier team. Pakistan was in a tight corner losing the game with twenty overs to go yet the team think tank avoided it like a plague. The difference between two teams was reading of situations and getting hold on the nerves. India performed better with a less skilled bowling and did not panic. Pakistan did. I am sure they will learn a great deal from this sorrow. My advice to them is to don't let go of this miserable feeling, think about the pains and pangs of disappointment so that when you play them next time let it all translate into performance. Well tried Pakistan. Better luck next time. — The writer is a former Pakistan captain. |
At least 800 killed in I. Coast’s Duekoue: ICRC
 A millitaman loyal to Alassane Ouattara walks along a street in Abidjan. - Photo by AFP GENEVA: At least 800 people have been killed during fighting for control of Ivory Coast’s western city of Duekoue, the International Committee of the Red Cross said Friday. "At least 800 people were killed in Duekoue on Tuesday," an ICRC spokeswoman in Geneva, Dorothea Krimitsas, told AFP, adding that information on the deaths had been gathered by Red Cross representatives who visited the area on Thursday and Friday. "There is no doubt that something on a large scale took place in this city, on which the ICRC is continuing to gather information," she said, adding that Red Cross representatives had "themselves seen a very large number of bodies". The report came as forces loyal to the country’s cornered strongman Laurent Gbagbo were fighting off an attack by his rival’s army and fighting shook Abidjan. Under immense foreign pressure and besieged by internationally recognised president Alassane Ouattara’s forces in the economic capital, Gbagbo was nonethless clinging to power – with his allies insisting he was relaxing at home with his wife. The United States, France, UN chief Ban Ki-moon and the African Union urged Gbagbo to step down immediately, citing concerns over citizens caught up in the country’s bloody post-election conflict. The ICRC said in a statement that 28 bodies had been taken to a Duekoue morgue and more would be removed in coming days. "Everything seems to indicate that this was interethnic violence," said Krimitsas. The head of the ICRC delegation in Ivory Coast, Dominique Liengme, said that the "incident is particularly shocking by its size and brutality", according to the statement. "The ICRC condemns direct attacks on civilians and reminds the parties to the conflict to make sure that people in the territory under their control must be protected under all circumstances," she added. The Geneva-based organisation said that tens of thousands of women, men and children had fled the fighting and looting in Duekoue since Monday. Duekoue lies on a major strategic crossroad in the west of the country and has been under the control of Ouattara forces since Tuesday after two days of fighting. UN agencies were concerned for the lives of tens of thousands of displaced people who have sought shelter at a Catholic mission in the town. "According to a priest most displaced people have not eaten in two days and about 80,000 food rations and kitchen equipment are urgently needed," said International Organization for Migration (IOM) spokeswoman Jemini Pandya. The IOM said thousands of displaced people, who fled Duekoue these past days heading to Guiglo, were currently "on the road fearing for their lives". – AFP |
Penelope Cruz gets star on Hollywood Blvd
 Actress Penelope Cruz attends a ceremony for the unveiling of her star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood - Photo by Reuters LOS ANGELES: Oscar-winning actress Penelope Cruz received a coveted star on Hollywood Boulevard’s Walk of Fame on Friday, becoming the first Spanish actress to earn the honor. Cruz, who won her Oscar for supporting actress playing a fiery artist in Woody Allen’s movie "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," called the unveiling of her pink granite star "a very special day that I will always remember. "Every time I look at that star, I will see the names of all the people that have helped me make many of my dreams a reality," she said at the unveiling attended by a large crowd, including her husband Javier Bardem and friend, Johnny Depp. Cruz, 36, thanked her parents, siblings, Bardem and their newborn son, "for making me happy every day." The Spanish beauty made her acting debut on television when she was just a teenager and began her feature film career under the direction of Pedro Almodovar in his 1992 movie "Jamon Jamon," in which she starred opposite Bardem. She was featured in several Almodovar films before making the move to Hollywood where she has worked movies such as "Blow," "Vanilla Sky" and "Nine." Next up, she stars opposite Depp in "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides." – Reuters |
Militant groups clash in Khyber; four killed
 Eight militants were also injured in the clash. — Photo by AFP LANDI KOTAL: Four militants, including two commanders, were killed in a clash between two insurgent groups in the northwestern Khyber tribal region on Saturday, DawnNews reported. Eight militants were also injured in the clash that took place in Khyber’s Tirah valley. The clash between the groups began over the murders of the religious leaders of the Zakha khel tribe. |
Semi-final lacked competitiveness
 Traditionally, quality cricket is associated with an Indo-Pak encounter, but this time around I was disappointed with the class of cricket displayed by both the teams. -Photo by AFP Whenever an India-Pakistan game is played, it is a game of nerves and whoever handles it better wins. I, for one, felt that the aggressive approach in the captaincy was missing on part of Shahid Afridi and he should have attacked more when India lost a few quick wickets in mid-innings. Traditionally, quality cricket is associated with an Indo-Pak encounter, but this time around I was disappointed with the class of cricket displayed by both the teams. To start with, M.S. Dhoni made a mistake by including Ashish Nehra in the line-up. He is clearly over the hill and some of his deliveries were not even reaching the wicket-keeper on the full. Unfortunately, the Pakistani batsmen didn't get him by the collar and were rather subdued, for reasons best known to them. India applied the right approach by attacking from the beginning but the brilliance of Wahab Riaz brought Pakistan back into the game. Though we spilled around half a dozen chances, yet India was restricted to 260 which, I think, were quite gettable on the Mohali track. Pakistan openers started well but I believe the match slipped out of their hands in the first 15 overs. The difference of 29 runs between the two teams in the first 15 overs was the difference in the end — India 99/2, Pakistan 70/2. The rash stroke from Mohammad Hafeez was an absolute shocker, to say the least. Even a club cricketer would not have opted for it. He has been playing in all three formats but is not exactly a team-player when it comes to batting in pressure situations. On most such occasions he attempts a pre-planned stroke, falters and creates an unnecessary crisis for the team. Since long the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been introducing different opening combinations but it is high time they reverted to the basics. Look at the good teams around us such as India and Sri Lanka. Their batting success is mainly due to the foundation laid by their openers in key matches. Kamran Akmal was given a role to start the innings because of his batting skills but the idea flopped. I am a firm believer in regular practices and feels that specialist opening batsmen should be picked for the slot. In the domestic circuit players like Azhar Ali, Khurram Manzoor, Khalid Latif and others have been performing quite well but have failed to find a place in the ODIs. Our domestic system has lately produced fine players like Mohammad Aamir, Umar Akmal, Asad Shafiq and Wahab Riaz and to make proper use of the talent available, the policy of merit is the need of the hour. Moving on, the batting order was not right either in the semi-final, as well as in the previous games. Right from the beginning of the competition the order was flawed. In the absence of Mohammad Yousuf, who deserved a place in the side, Younis and Misbah should have batted at number three and four respectively. In Mohali, Misbah-ul-Haq's approach was quite perplexing. Even an under-16 kid would have batted better then the 36-year old Misbah. And let me tell you that the Indian skipper Dhoni was very cautious too in his batting style and was not able to hit the ball the way he often does when the chips are down. As for our batsmen, they continuously failed to impress in this tournament and none could play a long, decisive innings which bore any stamp of authority. While most of them have the skills, they tend to lose their senses in crunch situations and simply forget the art of maneuvering the innings. What we need is a proper batting coach who can devise strategies accordingly. I don't want to advocate a certain name here, its PCB's prerogative to hire one from Pakistan or abroad, but we should have one sooner than later. In the end, the much talked about aspect, which has been letting the team down since long, is off course the wicketkeeping of Kamran Akmal. I have said a lot about his physique and technique in the past and don't want to repeat myself. To put it simply, he should be given a break now. The overall performance of the team was satisfactory in the mega event and that must be commended, particularly in the backdrop of a series of nasty scandals that all but made us a bunch of no-hopers for the World Cup. — The writer is a former Pakistan captain. |
At least two killed attacking Nato camp in Kabul
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 "Early reports indicate that there were two attackers, one of which was a potential suicide bomber." — Photo by AP KABUL: At least two armed men were killed as they attacked a Nato camp in Kabul Saturday with assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, slightly wounding three troops, Nato and police said. "At 06:30 am, we received information that Camp Phoenix was under attack by small arms and RPGs," said the spokesman for the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf). "Early reports indicate that there were two attackers, one of which was a potential suicide bomber. Friendly forces returned fire and both were killed." Three troops were slightly wounded, he added, without being able to specify whether they were foreign or Afghan. Kabul police criminal investigation chief Mohammad Zahir confirmed the incident and said four attackers were killed. "Four attackers were involved. Two of them blew themselves up against Camp Phoenix, one was shot dead and the fourth one, who wanted to flee wearing a burqa, was also brought down by the security forces. He died from wounds. They exchanged fire with the security forces." |
‘Diyat accepted without any pressure’
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 US national and CIA contractor Raymond Davis. — Photo by AP KARACHI, April 1: The elder brother of Fahim, who was killed along with his friend by CIA contractor Raymond Davis in Lahore in January, said on Friday "we were under no pressure to strike the blood money deal" and that the United States was not directly involved in it. "We were told Pakistan’s fate will be no different from that of Libya if the Davis case goes on," Akram explained. He declined to answer a question about the role of the Punjab government in the case, saying he knew nothing about it. Akram said his family had gone into hiding after the deal because of security concerns. "My family will come out of hiding in due time." |
Thousands call for freedom in Syria, three killed in unrest
 Syrian anti-government protesters march in the northeastern town of Qamishli as hundreds of Syrians emerged from Friday prayers to protest in the first rallies since President Bashar al-Assad dashed hopes for greater freedoms. –AFP Photo DAMASCUS: Syrian security forces killed at least three protesters in a Damascus suburb on Friday, witnesses said, as thousands turned out in pro-democracy marches despite a reform gesture by President Bashar al-Assad. Activists said Syrians took to the streets after Friday prayers in the capital Damascus, Homs to the north of the capital, Banias on the coast, Latakia port and the southern city of Deraa, where the unprecedented protests challenging Assad's 11 years in power began in March. Witnesses in the Damascus suburb of Douma said the three killed were among at least 2,000 people who chanted "Freedom. Freedom. One, one, one. The Syrian people are one," when police opened fire to disperse them from Municipality Square. A photo distributed by one activist showed protesters pelting police forces with stones in Douma, which links Damascus with the northern countryside. An official source said via state news agency SANA "armed groups" had positioned themselves on rooftops and opened fire on citizens and security forces gathered in Douma, killing and wounding dozens. SANA said a group had also opened fire on a gathering in the Bayyada district of the western city of Homs, killing a girl, adding soldiers had also come under fire in Deraa. In his first public appearance since the demonstrations began, Assad declined on Wednesday to spell out any reforms, especially the lifting of a 48-year-old emergency law that has been used to stifle opposition and justify arbitrary arrests. "There is no confidence. President Assad talks about reform and does nothing," said Montaha al-Atrash, board member of the independent Syrian human rights organisation Sawasiah. Syria Acknowledges "Gatherings" In Deraa, thousands of people gathered at Serail Square, chanting slogans denouncing hints by Assad's to replace emergency law with anti-terrorism legislation and describing rich relatives of the president as "thieves". Music played from loudspeakers, including the song "Where are the millions?" by Lebanese singer Julia Boutrous. Secret police and regular police forces kept their distance but the army maintained heavy presence around Deraa, including tanks. A Reuters witness saw two tanks positioned near Deraa. Assad, who became president after his father Hafez al-Assad died in 2000, had predicted the popular revolts seen in Tunisia and Egypt would not spread to Syria, saying the ruling hierarchy was "very closely linked to the beliefs of the people". But for the past two weeks thousands of Syrians have turned out demanding greater freedoms in the tightly controlled Arab state, posing the gravest challenge to almost 50 years of monolithic Baath Party rule. More than 60 people have been killed in the unrest, which could have wider repercussions since Syria has an anti-Israel alliance with Iran and supports militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah. SANA news agency acknowledged for the first time on Friday that worshippers in Deraa and Latakia, scene of protests and deadly clashes last week, had gathered after Friday prayers to call for accelerated reforms. It had earlier reported calm across the country, adding there had been peaceful calls for reform and several gatherings supporting "national unity and stability". "A number of worshippers left some mosques in the cities of Deraa and Latakia, chanting slogans in honour of the martyr and calling for speeding up measures for reform. There were no clashes between worshippers and security forces in these gatherings," it said. A witness told Reuters security forces and Assad loyalists attacked about 200 worshippers with batons as they marched outside the Refaie mosque in the Kfar Sousseh district of Damascus, chanting slogans in support of the Deraa protesters. At least six protesters were arrested, the witness told Reuters by telephone from the mosque complex. One man was injured in a protest in the Damascus suburb of Daraya. Online democracy activists had called for protests across Syria on "Martyrs' Friday", after Assad gave no clear commitment to meet demands for greater freedoms and said Syria was the target of a "big conspiracy". Investigating Deaths Government-appointed preachers denounced "acts of turmoil" which they said had been "provoked from the outside and had targeted the nation's security". On Thursday Assad ordered the creation of a panel that would draft anti-terrorism legislation to replace emergency law, a move critics have dismissed, saying they expect the new legislation will give the state much of the same powers. Assad also ordered an investigation into the deaths of civilians and security forces in Deraa and in Latakia, where clashes that authorities blamed on "armed gangs" occurred last week, killing 12 people, according to officials. The Syrian News Agency earlier said security forces had arrested two armed groups that opened fire and attacked citizens in a Damascus suburb. |
Forex & Gold 02, April 2011
| Forex update: Note: We do not receive Foreign Exchange Rates regularly. The last received rates are given below.
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Israeli air strike kills three militants in Gaza
 An Israeli air strike in the same area of Gaza on Wednesday killed a Palestinian gunman on a motorcycle. –Photo by AFP GAZA: Israeli aircraft killed three Palestinian gunmen in the southern Gaza Strip early on Saturday, medical officials and the Israeli army said. Residents said the planes fired on a car in which the three men were travelling in the town of Khan Younis. An Israeli military spokesman said the air strike was aimed at "a terrorist squad planning to kidnap Israelis over the upcoming Jewish holiday of Passover". Hamas, Gaza's extremist rulers, said the three men killed were members of its group, but officials declined comment on the allegations made against them by the Israeli military. An Israeli air strike in the same area of Gaza on Wednesday killed a Palestinian gunman on a motorcycle. In a rise in violence last month, Israel carried out a series of air strikes and Palestinian militants fired rocket salvoes into the Jewish state. Hamas has offered a truce but exchanges of fire between Israel and other militant groups have persisted. |
Story time: A prank that backfired
| It was first of April and I was in my school. Everyone was fooling around and having fun, and many friends had played tricks on me as well. I also wanted to fool someone so when it was break time, I went to one of my classmates Aisha. She was having some snacks standing by the stairs with her friends. I said, "Aisha! There's a lizard on your shoulder!" in a very shocking tone. She screamed and jumped abruptly but slipped down from the stairs and awkwardly fell to the last set of steps. Everyone looked on shell-shocked for a few seconds at Aisha lying unconscious at the bottom of the stairs, her head bleeding. I couldn't believe my eyes! On realising what had happened, children rushed towards her and so did a teacher who had come there on hearing Aisha's scream. Aisha was immediately carried to the medical room. I had never imagined that my apparently harmless joke could go so wrong and result in such a mishap. Soon everyone got to know that it was due to the ugly prank I had played on Aisha that she had stumbled down the stairs. I was trembling with fear and regret. I was afraid to think of what would happen next and was concerned about Aisha's well-being. I spent much of the day explaining to people that I was just playing an April Fool's Day trick on her and didn't mean to harm her. Once I even cried as I said so. However, what I dreaded the most didn't happen that day – the principal didn't call me to her office. But there I was in her office the next morning, explaining my behaviour and apologising for the terrible outcome. She listened to me quite unsympathetically then handed over two papers that made me learn a lesson that I would never forget. The first letter was a suspension letter for 30 days and the other was a warning letter. I was crying as I came out of the principal's room but I got no sympathy from anyone whom I passed. The suspension meant that I would be missing our annual function, a few tests and a class trip. Thankfully, Aisha recovered soon and didn't have any serious injury except for a couple of stitches on her forehead. Each time I would see her, the mark would remind me of my stupidity. I had not wanted my parents to know about this sad incident but now they had to know about it. Though they did understand that I had no intention of harming Aisha in any way, they didn't approve of my behaviour. This whole sad incident made me realise that we should not play pranks that can go wrong and cause harm to anyone. |
Word buzz: Going great guns
| Grass roots: An idiom used in politics, to refer to ordinary people or voters. Graveyard shift: Night shift at a job. Gravy train: To be on the gravy train is to earn lots of money easily. Grease monkey: A mechanic. Grease someone’s palm: To bribe someone. Greased lightning: To move like greased lightning is to move very fast. Great guns: To be going great guns is to be doing very well. Great Scott: An exclamation of surprise. Great white hope: A person who is expected to become very successful. Green around the gills: To look green around the gills is to look ill. Green fingers/thumb: To have a talent for gardening. Green light: To get the green light is to get the approval for something. Green with envy: To be jealous. Green-eyed monster: Refers to jealousy. Greenhorn: A person who is too inexperienced or not knowledgeable enough for a job. Grey cells/matter: The brain. Grey suits: Men with a lot power in business or political circles but who are not too well-known to the public. Grin and bear it: To accept something without making a fuss even if you don't like it. Grinds my gear: Something that annoys you a lot. Grist for the mill: Something that can be used for your advantage. Grow in the telling: When a story becomes larger and more detailed with the number of times it is told. Growing pains: Some problems or difficulties of a new organisation or setup. Guinea-pig: To be a guinea-pig is to take part in an experiment of some kind and undergo some kind of test. — Ahzam Ahmed |
History of shipping: Learning to cruise
| Bodo was fed up. He had walked miles up and down the river bank searching for a shallow place to cross over to where he could see a huge apricot tree absolutely laden down with ripe fruit but he couldn't find one. His mouth was watering, his stomach rumbling and he was determined to reach the apricot tree one way or another. Not knowing how to swim, he had tried walking through the river but gave up when the water reached his nose and he had a difficult time getting back to where he started from as his bear skin clothes were sodden and heavy and the current very strong but… somehow he was going to reach those apricots. His stomach rumbled louder as he sat on top of a huge boulder to think, watching in fascination as a huge tree trunk floated down the river towards him then bumped to a halt almost at his feet. 'Now' he thought 'If that tree trunk was longer I could push it around and walk over it to reach the other side of the river but… it's way too short but… it floats on top of the water which is more than I can do. Maybe it will help me get across.' Bodo jumped off the boulder and leapt excitedly on to the log which promptly rolled over dunking him in the river and he was just crawling out, spitting out water and weeds, when his cousin Kodo wandered into view. "Hey Bodo," he shouted. "Strange way to catch fish. You'll frighten them all to death which is maybe what you are trying to do. Ha ha!" "I'm fed up of eating fish, fed up of eating half-cooked dinosaurs Kodo. I am desperate to eat those apricots on the other side of the river but I can't get across. I saw this tree trunk floating along and thought I could use it to help me in some way but now I'm not sure how. Do you have any ideas?" Kodo said, "How about you sit astride the trunk and I push it out as far as I can go without drowning, then you crawl to end of the trunk and walk in the shallow water at the other side." "Could work…" said Bodo thoughtfully. "One problem though, you will still be on this side of the river so I won't have any way of getting back! Any more bright ideas?" "Well…" said Kodo scratching his head again as he hadn't washed his hair for a year or two. "If we both sit on it, one at each end, we could try pushing it across using long branches, you pushing on one side and me on the other so that the log stays straight." "Mmm…" Bodo replied. "Sounds like a good idea so let's give it a try." In this way Bodo and Kodo became the very first people to invent a way of crossing water without having to swim and, when their wives insisted on joining the fun, they advanced a little further by carving out seats in the log so that the ladies didn't get their feet wet and, in this way, the very first dug-out canoe was born. Working together, Bodo and Kodo soon had a thriving canoe making business and their tribe quickly became known as the best fishermen on the river and got huge orders for fresh fish from miles away which gave them a bit of a problem. The summer weather in their part of the ancient world tended to get so hot that fresh fish went rotten before they could deliver their catch to distant villages as pushing their canoe through the water was time consuming business. After worrying about the problem for a few weeks and trying out various speed-up ideas which didn't work, Bodo designed paddles out of tortoise shells tied to small branches and with him using one paddle on the left hand side of the canoe and Kodo using one on the right, they fairly picked up speed but, unfortunately, not quite enough as the fish was always rotten by the time they reached a very far away village inhabited by their mother's cousins twice removed. It was head scratching time again! At this point Bodo's wife Podo, made a suggestion. She had noticed how large leaves rustled in the breeze and sometimes even blew along with it. "If we could find a large enough leaf you could fasten it in the centre of the canoe so that the wind would speed you along," she observed. "But I don't know where we could find such a big leaf." Neither did anyone else at this point in history so Bodo and Kodo settled for making longer canoes with room for up to six strong men who could all paddle at the same time to reach their destination before the fish went rotten All went well in Bodo's inland community for a hundred years and more by which time it had developed a reputation for being both progressive and wealthy under the leadership of Bodo's great-great-great grandson Modo. Unfortunately, Modo had a bad habit of bragging about how well his canoe-making fishing community was doing and word of their wealth reached a war-like but poor tribe struggling to make ends meet at the other side of the huge forest. This tribe, led by Zodo, a descendent of Kodo decided to invade, drive Modo and his people away and take over the village and canoe-making business for themselves and, after a short battle, they managed and Modo's community had to start from scratch in a coastal region without any trees. Not having trees to make canoes from was a huge drawback but Modo's eldest son Fodo experimented by tying together huge bundles of reeds to make rafts that would easily float on the sea and his brother Lodo worked out how to make a kind of canoe from the reeds too. These rafts and canoes made from reeds were much lighter to use than wooden canoes and could be paddled or poled along very quickly indeed, but these two boys, Fodo and Lodo, wanted to go faster and further each day. It was around this time that one of their elders remembered the story of Podo and the leaf and, as woven fabric had been discovered by now, they came up with the idea of hoisting a sail to trap the wind and thus save them the hard work of paddling. By around 3,000BC reed boats and rafts were common sights in parts of the world that reeds grew in abundance, but forest people much preferred to stick with their wooden canoes while some other tribes had learnt how to make boats out of animal skins stretched over wooden or bamboo frames. Boat travel had become the in thing and everyone wanted to jump on board by coming up with bigger and better designs. The Egyptians proved to be ahead in the boat designing competition and by 2,500BC knew enough to construct sea-going vessels known as 'Byblos boats' out of cedar wood from Lebanon. The remains of one such boat was found by archaeologists next to a pyramid in Giza, made out of cedar planks. It is 44 metres long and six metres wide which was quite something in those days. Some 1500 years later in 1100BC the Phoenicians had taken over from the Egyptians as the greatest seafarers of the ancient world and the Romans and Greeks eventually took over from them in the Mediterranean area while Chinese shipbuilders constructed amazingly versatile ships and 'junks' in their part of the world and by 1100BC were even able to organise an entire navy with both war and commercial intentions. By Mediaeval times ships had developed towering forecastles and sterns which, by the Renaissance and the 'Age of Exploration' had expanded to include rigging and lots of sails like those of ships featured in the movie Pirates of the Caribbean. By the 1800s ships changed again as their builders invented paddlewheel ships, then steamships and, in 1912, the first diesel-powered ship. Nuclear fuelled ships came into being in 1958 but were found to be too costly and too dangerous for regular use so were reserved for military and naval use as they still are, with the inclusion of nuclear submarines today. From Bodo and Kodo's invention of the dug-out canoe carrying one or two people, boats and ships have evolved to carry thousands of passengers at a time and luxury cruise ships are fully equipped with cinemas, ballrooms, swimming pools and even tennis courts which is a very long way from wanting to reach the other side of the river to pick apricots! |
This week in history
| APRIL 2 APRIL 3 APRIL 4 APRIL 5 APRIL 6 APRIL 7 APRIL 8 — O. A. |
Understanding science: Deciphering our DNA
| Children, you must have often heard people mention DNA, particularly the DNA tests conducted in case of violence, murder, bomb blast, etc., for identification of victims and suspects. These tests have almost replaced the fingerprinting methods. DNA, ever since the discovery of its helical structure in 1953 by J.D. Watson, F. Crick and M.H.F. Wilkins, has led to great achievements in the development of medical and agricultural sciences. Vision, taste, hearing and the thinking process in your brain as you read this article, or doing homework, solving mathematical problems, playing football or cricket, etc., all are based on DNA orchestration in an elaborated symphony within the body cells. Let's take an example of the group of cells in your tongue. They help you to feel the taste of food. How do these cells know that their role is to decipher taste instead of something else? This is done by the instructions already written and recorded in the DNA of the tongue cells. These instructions tell the cell what role it has to play in the tongue. DNA records a detailed set of plans, like the blueprint of a house. Let's now learn more about DNA. DNA stands for Deoxyribo Nucleic Acid. It is so named because it is found mainly in the nucleus of the cell. The main role of DNA is to store and accumulate the features, habits, traits, disposition and personality of mom and dad, and transfer to you and your siblings. What DNA is composed of? Let's first recollect that the English language has only 26 alphabets (A-Z). All books, dictionaries, encyclopaedia in this language revolve around these 26 alphabets. DNA has only four alphabets through which the entire life processes of not only humans, but all the living beings including plants, bacteria, viruses etc., have evolved. These alphabets are known as ATCG (Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine and Guanine) respectively. They form the composite structure of DNA. They are also called bases hung on sugar phosphate backbone. The DNA is in the form of a strand. You will find that it consists of few As, Ts, Cs and Gs . Thus, it is the different combination of ATCG that gives the sense of taste. Their different combinations determine the outlook, habits and habitats of all the creatures in the world. It is just like different combination of English alphabets that make different words. In the DNA, only three letters are required to make a word. This word is called amino acid — a component of protein. There are 20 amino acids in a living body required for life to carry on and they are all translated from the DNA for the performance of its function. When the different amino acids (or words for our better understanding) are arranged together, they form genes (sentences) and just as different arrangements of words result in different sentences, each gene has a different arrangement of amino acids. Genes order the cell to make proteins. These proteins enable a cell to perform functions, such as tell the taste of food, finally. This function is done in a trillionth time of a microsecond. The assemblages of ATCG are specific for specific functions and consist of copies of dad's and mom's eyes, hair and other features. This is called heredity. Heredity is the science of inheriting traits from parents to their children. A trait is a notable feature or quality in a person. Each of us has different traits that make us unique as a result of the combination of ATCG. Traits are passed from generation to generation. We, as a whole, are composed of cells. A cell is a functional unit of tissues and organs. All body organs starting from hair to toes are built on cells just like a wall which is built by bricks. The combination of ATCG of each organ is specific for its own functional requirements. They work as guided by their own respective DNA. The cells of the body have been collected and when counted by scientists, they found that they are at least one hundred trillion in number. The total number of DNA molecules in these cells, when combined together, is around three billion! Each cell contains a lot of DNA material. If you just pull out DNA from a single cell of any organ and stretch it, you would find that it is about two to three meters long! You can match this size with your car. Aren't you amazed? Imagine how it all fits in a cell whose own size is so small that it cannot be viewed by naked eyes! Well, it is done by a compact packaging system of chromosomes provided in every cell. |
Game talk: BULLETSTORM
| Bulletstorm is rude, brash and full of attitude, but a whole lot of fun. So if you're looking for a great looking First Person Shooter (FPS) for the year 2011, you can't go wrong with this game. Developed by People Can Fly and available on the Xbox 360, PC and PS3; Bulletstorm is a futuristic sci-fi shooter that tells the story of Grayson Hunt, an over-confident, self-obsessed yet passionate protagonist. As you play through the tutorial, you learn through a series of flashbacks that Grayson and his fellow mates were once part of an elite band of soldiers called Dead Echo. And under General Sarrano Dead Echo's job was to clean up the mess of the universe such as, drug traffickers and terrorists, etc. But when during an assassination mission Dead Echo finds out that they had been used to kill innocent civilians, such as reporters and journalists, rather than bad guys they decide to go rogue and take revenge from Sarrano. Fast forward to present day and you find Grayson leading his men into an epic space battle with Sarrano which doesn't go as he planned, and which ends with both of them crash landing on the hostile planet of Stygia. And thus begins a race to get vengeance and get off from the planet alive. Although the single player campaign isn't very long it is jam-packed with fast-paced and frantic action, and while you have the usual arsenal weapons at your disposal like assault rifle and shotgun, a few unique weapons, your electric leash and 'skillshots' are what set this shooter apart. Skillshots are simply put executions with style. You can kill enemies by simply shooting at them but if you become creative with how you dispose of your enemies such as, kicking them off a cliff, or throwing them into cacti, or feeding them to flesh eating plants and so on, you not only get a skill shot but you also earn points. You earn points for performing new and unique skill shots and you can combine two or more skill shots to earn more points. The points earned are used to purchase upgrades for your weapons as well as ammo. As mentioned earlier, you also have an electric leash which you can use to grab enemies and pull them towards you. And as you pull enemies, they come towards you in slow motion, thus allowing you to line the poor souls for the perfect skill shot. The combination of the leash and skill shots is what makes this game so enjoyable. For example, you can use the leash to yank an enemy towards you and then kick him into the fire or you can use the leash to pull an explosive barrel towards you and then kick it into a group of enemies for some explosive results. And with each weapon having its own unique skill shots, the combinations and the possibilities of how to finish off enemies is almost limitless. The fact that you don't only fight one type of enemy but various types with each having distinctive abilities and have some impressive set piece, battles change the pace nicely and keeps the action fresh till the end. Graphically, Bulletstorm is a treat to look at. The planet of Styiga has been beautifully created and as you travel from one desolate section to another, you will notice vegetation growing over structures, crumbling buildings, waterfalls, the magnificent shoreline and more. Combine with the gorgeous graphics, sound effects of explosions, gunshots, Grayson's taunts, etc., and you've got yourself an FPS that delivers on all fronts. Unlike other FPSes, Bulletstorm is not a sophisticated shooter and neither does it pretend to be. What Bulletstorm is, is a simple action-packed shooter that's cool and very enjoyable. — Sohail Saleem Note: PC Gamers should visit www.systemrequirementslab.com to find out whether their PC can run this game or not. |
Book: SUPERMAN’S GUIDE…
| There are many things that we don't know about the world we live in, and the mysteries get deeper when we move outside our planet Earth. In Jackie Gaff's Superman's Guide to the Universe, the Man of Steel takes you on a journey of the Solar System where he reveals the mysteries of the planets as well as those beyond. The writer chooses Superman as the guide because he is an alien himself, being from the lost planet of Krypton who was raised on Earth. On the one hand, the writer makes the readers relate to Superman while, on the other, he showers all essential knowledge of the Solar System and beyond through Superman, helping young readers like you gain knowledge in simple language. All nine planets of the Solar System along with their star 'the Sun' and their countless moons are discussed in detail in this guide. You get to know that Mercury has the longest day, but the shortest year, while Venus is the hottest place in the Solar System despite not being closest to the sun. Mars, the red planet, may have been blessed with the presence of water once; Jupiter is more than twice the size of all planets combined; Saturn has a story behind its rings while Uranus rotates on its side, unlike the rest of the planets. With speed up to 2,000 kilometres per hour, Neptune's winds are four times more speedy than earth's worst tornado, while Pluto is the coolest planet of the Solar System with temperature as low as –225 degrees centigrade. The history of Superman is also told in the sidebars of this book. How he came to Earth, what was his original name, how did he acclimatise to the atmosphere of the new planet and what makes and keeps him stronger at all time. Answers to the mystery behind Superman's emblem, his ability to fly as well as the secret of how he deflects bullets are available in the book, but they don't distract you from the main subject, that is the Solar System. If you think you know all there is to know about the Solar System, think again. This book also tells you about the Milky Way, asteroids, Black Holes and the Moon. The glossary on the penultimate page is interesting as well since its lists the technical terms related to the Solar System. The flight throughout the universe is lengthy, so take a deep breath before you fasten your seat belt, and go up, up and away! |