Community

P6
Community
How Women
Work is hosting
its “East and
West” event
tomorrow at
7pm at Hilton
Doha.
P20
Community
Sohni Dharti
Al Khor
is once
again coming up with
a colourful community
programme to mark
Pakistan Day celebrations.
Monday, March 21, 2016
Jumada II 12, 1437 AH
DOHA
COVER
STORY
22°C—32°C TODAY
LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE 13
PUZZLES 14 & 15
Power of
imagination
A darker superhero movie for our uncertain times. P4-5
2
GULF TIMES Monday, March 21, 2016
COMMUNITY
ROUND & ABOUT
PRAYER TIME
Fajr
Shorooq (sunrise)
Zuhr (noon)
Asr (afternoon)
Maghreb (sunset)
Isha (night)
4.21am
5.38am
11.41am
3.08pm
5.47pm
7.17pm
USEFUL NUMBERS
Emergency
999
Worldwide Emergency Number
112
Kahramaa – Electricity and Water
991
Ooredoo Telephone Assistance
111
Local Directory
180
International Calls Enquires
150
Time
141, 140
Doha International Airport
40106666
Labor Department
44508111, 44406537
Medical Commission
44679111
Mowasalat Taxi
44588888
Qatar Airways
44496000
Weather Forecast
44656590
Hamad Medical Corporation
44392222
44393333
Qatar General Electricity and
Water Corporation
44845555
44845464
Primary Health Care Corporation
44593333
44593363
Qatar Assistive Technology
Centre
44594050
Qatar News Agency
44450205
44450333
Q-Post – General Postal
Corporation
44464444
Qatar University
44033333
ote Unquote
u
Q
When I
dare to be powerful
– to use my strength in the
service of my vision, then it
becomes less and less important
whether I am afraid.
— Audre Lorde
Community Editor
Kamran Rehmat
e-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: 44466405
Fax: 44350474
The Dressmaker
GENRE: Drama
CAST: Kate Winslet, Liam Hemsworth, Sarah Snook
DIRECTION: Jocelyn Moorhouse
SYNOPSIS: A glamorous woman returns to her small town
in rural Australia. With her sewing machine and haute couture
Maheshinte Prathikaaram
GENRE: Comedy|, Drama
CAST: Fahadh Faasil, Anusree,
Soubin Shahir
DIRECTION: Dileesh Pothan
SYNOPSIS: Maheshinte
Prathikaram revolves around the
concepts of love and revenge. The
Mall Cinema (1): Emelie (2D) 2.30pm;
The Dressmaker (2D) 4pm; London Has
Fallen (2D) 6.15pm; Frankenstein (2D) 8pm;
The Wave (2D) 9.30pm; Pugazh (Tamil)
11.15pm.
Mall Cinema (2): Kung Fu Panda 3 (2D)
2.30pm; Zootropolis: Zootopia (2D) 4.15pm;
Kung Fu Panda 3 (2D) 6pm; Solace (2D)
7.45pm; The Witch (2D) 9.45pm; Solace
(2D) 11.30pm.
Mall Cinema (3): Maheshinte
Prathikaram (Malayalam) 2.15pm; Kapoor
& Sons (Hindi) 4.30pm; Kung Fu Panda
3 (2D) 7pm; Maheshinte Prathikaram
(Malayalam) 8.45pm; Kapoor & Sons
(Hindi) 11pm.
Cinema Land Mark(1): Emelie (2D)
2.30pm; The Dressmaker (2D) 4pm;
London Has Fallen (2D) 6pm; The
style, she transforms the women and exacts sweet revenge on
those who did her wrong. Based on the best-selling novel by
Rosalie Ham, The Dressmaker is a bittersweet, comedy-drama
set in early 1950s Australia.
THEATRES: Landmark, The Mall, Royal Plaza
movie is directed by debutante,
Dileesh Pothen, Aashiq’s Abu’s
associate. The film, set in a rustic
background, has Fahad Fazil playing
a studio photographer who takes
wedding photos and is the owner of
a studio in Idukki. He had a longtime
love affair with his school classmate
Soumya (Anusree). But things doesn’t
go as expected. A seemingly trivial
incident catapult into various events
which will culminate in a fight
between Mahesh, Bhavana, Jimson &
some strangers.
THEATRES: Landmark, The Mall
5pm; Kung Fu Panda 3 (2D) 7pm; Solace
(2D) 9pm; Solace (2D) 11pm.
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (2): The
Divergent Series:Allegiant (2D) 2.30pm;
Divergent Series:Allegiant (2D) 7.45pm;
Zootropolis: Zootopia (2D) 4.30pm;
The Wave (2D) 9.45pm; Frankenstein (2D)
Frankenstein (2D) 6.15pm; London Has
11.30pm.
Fallen (2D) 8pm; The Wave (2D) 9.45pm;
Cinema Land Mark(2): Zootropolis:
The Witch (2D) 11.30pm.
Zootopia (2D) 2.30pm; Kung Fu Panda
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (3): The
3 (2D) 4.15pm; Kung Fu Panda 3 (2D)
Dressmaker (2D) 2.45pm; The Dressmaker
6pm; The Witch (2D) 7.45pm; Solace (2D)
(2D) 5pm; The Divergent Series:Allegiant
9.30pm; Solace (2D) 11.15pm.
(2D) 7pm; Frankenstein (2D) 9pm; Emelie
Cinema Land Mark(3): Pugazh (Tamil)
(2D) 11.15pm.
2.30pm; Maheshinte Prathikaram
Asian Town Cinema: Maheshinte
(Malayalam) 4.45pm; Kung Fu Panda 3 (2D) Prathikaram (Malayalam) 5.45, 6.30,8,
7pm; Pugazh (Tamil) 8.45pm; Maheshinte
8.45, 10.15 & 11pm; Puthiya Niyamam
Prathikaram (Malayalam) 11pm.
(Malayalam) 5.30, 8 & 10.30pm; Pugazh
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (1): Kung Fu (Tamil) 8.45pm; Kapoor And Sons (Hindi)
Panda 3 (2D) 3pm; Kung Fu Panda 3 (2D)
6.15 & 11.15pm.
Monday, March 21, 2016
EVENTS
Qatari Agricultural Product Yards
DATE: Until June 30
VENUE: Al Mazrooa, Al Zakheera, Al
Khor, Al Wakrah
The Ministry of Environment has opened
the 4th season of Qatari agricultural product
yards for selling locally produced fruits,
vegetables, poultry, fish and livestock. Work
in these yards will continue for seven months.
The yards will operate three days a week on
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 7am
to 5pm, with livestock vendors in Al Mazrooa
operating at the same times throughout the
week.
Aspire Jam Tournament
DATE: March 26
TIME: 3pm-7pm
VENUE: Aspire Park
Aspire Zone Foundation will organise the
fifth edition of Aspire Jam Tournament from
3pm to 7pm. Registration fees: QR300 per
team. The tournament targets adults aged
18 years and above. Aspire Jam junior for the
age group 13-17 years will be held on April 22.
Teams of five players will compete to win the
cup of this basketball street tournament.
BeHealthy4life
DATE: March 25
TIME: All day
VENUE: Sharq Village & Spa Beach Area
BeHealthy4life focuses on four elements
essential in promoting healthy living. These
elements include Healthy Eating Habits, Not
Smoking, Exercise and Physical Activities
and Handling stress. Beach Volleyball is
one of the series of F318’s sports events to
promote the BeHealthy4Life campaign as this
kind of sport provides the quickest calorie
burn of any type of volleyball.
Animal Park
DATE: Until April 2
TIME: 4pm
VENUE: Qatar Sports Club
Animal Park features animatronic models
of dinosaurs and other large animals. The
park is located on an empty lot near the Qatar
Sports Club in West Bay. This park is inspired
by Jurassic Park and includes; animatronic
Dinosaur, King Kong and Godzilla models
as tall as 8m. An area for children is also
available for fun interactions with smaller
robotic animal models.
Spring Summer 2016 Collection
DATE: March 31
TIME: 7pm-9pm
VENUE: The Gate Mall, West Bay
The exciting launch event will be open to
the public on March 31 at The Gate Mall, for
which Salam and Noor have fused art and
fashion in a museum-type installation called
‘The Fashion Dream House’. The exhibition
will feature various spaces from a house
setting (living room, garden, bedroom),
using clothing from the latest fashion
collections inspired by the season’s focus on
pastel colours and Noor’s art to bring to life
everyday living scenes in a playful way.
Spring Exhibition MIA
DATE: Until July 16
TIME: 10:30am- 5pm
VENUE: QM Gallery Al Riwaq
An exhibition of 15 contemporary Chinese
artists, curated by internationally acclaimed
New York-based Chinese artist Cai GuoQiang, will be on view at the QM Gallery
3
COMMUNITY
ROUND & ABOUT
French gastronomy
For the second edition of Gout de France/
Good France, a delectable one-of-a-kind
chance to savour France, 1,500 chefs will
whip up 1,500 menus across five continents
with the assistance of 150 embassies, this
evening. If you wish to celebrate French
gastronomy this evening in Doha, you
can book your table in any of the eight
participating restaurants: IDAM Restaurant
at the Museum of Islamic Art, Panorama
Restaurant at The Torch Doha, Liquidity
Restaurant at Crowne Plaza Doha, Market by
Jean-Georges Restaurant at W Doha Hotel
& Residences, Yum Yum Restaurant at K108
Hotel, Prime Restaurant at InterContintental
Doha - The City, La Villa Restaurant at
Mercure Grand Hotel, or La Mer Restaurant at
The Ritz-Carlton Doha.
GULF TIMES
White Night in the Desert
DATE: March 25
TIME: 1:30pm
VENUE: Khor Al Udeid
Arabian Adventures Qatar (AAQ), the pioneer inland tour company in Qatar, organises
White Night in the Desert featuring The Doha String Quartet. After the successful White Night
in the Desert a couple of years ago, the group will once again serenade the guests at Arabian
Adventures Qatar’s traditional camp in Khor Al Udeid on March 25.
Al Riwaq. The exhibition will be the major
highlight presented in the context of the
Qatar China 2016 Year of Culture. Artworks
exemplifying each and every artist’s unique
artistic language and methodology will be
displayed in individual galleries.
Chinese Silk Art
DATE: March 24-May 9
VENUE: QM Gallery in Katara
The second major exhibition of the Qatar
China 2016 Year of Culture, ‘Silks from the
Silk Road – Chinese Art of Silk’, presents silk
as a theme, and as a special local product
of Zhejiang that played an important role
in trade along the Silk Road. The exhibition
highlights ancient and modern Chinese silk
works, with around 100 pieces due to be
showcased at the QM Gallery in Katara over a
period of 6 weeks.
Qatar International Food Festival
DATE: March 22-28
VENUE: MIA Park
Qatar Tourism Authority will organise the
seventh edition of Qatar International Food
Festival under the theme “a different side of
food”. This year’s festival will be extended to
seven days and expanded to other landmarks
and eateries, including: the Pearl-Qatar and
Katara Cultural Village. Chinese food lovers
will also have plenty to look forward to, with
Chinese cuisine featuring as part of “QatarChina 2016 Year of Culture” celebrations.
Shrek the Musical!
DATE: Until March 19
TIME: 7:30pm
VENUE: QNCC Theatre
Shrek the Musical! tells the touching story
of a hulking green ogre who, after being
mocked, feared his entire life by anything
that crosses his path, retreats to an ugly green
swamp to exist in happy isolation.
Al Gannas
DATE: Until Oct 30
TIME: 9am -11:30 am
VENUE: Al Gannas Society
Al Gannas Association is participating in
the ‘Our culture is a school’ programme by
organising many activities for the students
every Monday and Wednesday of the week.
These activities include explanations on
hunting and related tools, kinds of falcons
and preys, in addition to workshop on how to
Pakistan Cultural Festival
DATE: March 31-April 3
VENUE: Katara Cultural Village
Biggest made in Pakistan expo, ethnic food
street, huge kids zone, live musical concert by
Pakistani singers, folk dancers, performances
and more.
carry a falcon, set a traditional tent (made of
goat & camel hair), prepare traditional Arabic
coffee, etc.
Cultural Diversity festival
DATE: Until May 31
TIME: 7:30-9pm
VENUE: Katara Beach
Over 20 countries from all over the world
are showcasing their traditions and heritage.
Weekends at Aspire Zone
DATE: Until March 24
TIME: 4pm-9pm
VENUE: Aspire Park
Aspire Zone Foundation invites you to
come along with your family and friends, and
to bring your kids every Thursday for outdoor
sport fun activities, including football,
volleyball, competitions and games for boys
and girls, from 4pm to 9pm.
Childhood Cultural Center
DATE: Until March 31
TIME: 9am-10:30am
VENUE: Katara
Childhood Cultural Center participation
in ‘Schools Enrich our Culture’ programme
includes a variety of educational and artistic
workshops.
Art Exhibition
DATE: Until April 18
VENUE: Porto Arabia, Pearl
Diffusion by Peter Zimmermann — A
mesmerising solo exhibition of colourful,
futuristic works. Anima Gallery, Parcel 17,
Porto Arabia, The Pearl-Qatar. Contact:
40027437
Ladies day at Beach
DATE: Every Monday
TIME: 9am-7pm
VENUE: Sheraton Doha
For all the ladies in Doha! Do you feel
like taking some time off for yourself?
Come join us at the Sheraton Resort for an
all-day-access to the beach and pool, along
with aqua gym aerobics for free. Nestled
on the edge of Qatar’s West Bay with an
unbeatable and uninterrupted views of
the blue sea. Our pool and beach adds an
exciting experience to enhance your senses
of relaxation. Enjoy only for QR100 per
person.
Join in our Walk-in Weekends
DATE: Every Saturday
VENUE: MIA Atrium
MIA art education and calligraphy teams
offer walk-in workshops in MIA’s atrium
every Saturday. These walk-in workshops are
for open for all family members.
Pub Quiz
DATE: March 28
TIME: 8pm
VENUE: Shehrazad, Radisson Blu
Bring your team of six or less to compete
over five rounds of intellectual battles. Quiz
starts at 8pm sharp, registration from 6pm.
Winning teams receive vouchers for food and
beverages within the hotel. As Shehrazad is a
bar then a valid Qatari ID or original passport
is required for entry.
FOODIE CHOICE
RESTAURANT: Melia Fusion Brunch
LOCATION: West Bay
West Bay’s newest brunch, ‘The Friday
Fusion brunch’ takes place from 12 - 4pm
at the Melia Hotel, West Bay and highlights
the best dishes from two of the hotels
restaurants. The fusion brunch features a
wide range of Indian dishes from Signature by
Sanjeev Kapoor along with Spanish inspired
dishes from Aceite and other International
cuisine.
Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: [email protected], Events and timings subject to change
4
GULF TIMES Monday, March 21, 2016
COMMUNITY
COVER STORY
Presenting: Super angst
What Batman v Superman generates — to its credit — is a conversation
about the philosophical and even theological questions that are raised
by the existence of supermen, writes John Anderson
I
n a time much like our own,
superheroes have lost their
lustre. The good they do has
been marred by destruction.
The public has lost its faith,
the mood is grim and one twisted
human — resentful of the powers he
doesn’t possess — concocts a plan
to bring the caped crusaders down.
If that sounds like the plot to
The Incredibles (2004), it certainly
is. “But it’s probably a trope in all
superhero stories,” said actor Jesse
Eisenberg, who plays maniacal
arch-villain Lex Luthor in Batman
v Superman: Dawn of Justice,
destined to be the biggest movie of
2016 since Deadpool. “The public
adores superheroes because they
have power, and there’s a person
who feels slighted because he lacks
a lot of power. Which would be me.”
BvS, which will materialise
March 25 out from under a cloak of
enforced secrecy among cast, crew
and press, is the first movie to bring
together the twin monuments of
superhero-dom: Superman (Henry
Cavill), the emigre from Krypton
whose powers have virtually no
limitations; and Batman, aka Bruce
Wayne (Ben Affleck), the dark
knight of vengeance, the heir of
not-so-stately Wayne Manor, the
crusader for justice who decides
that Superman needs a spanking,
and he’s just the one to deliver it.
Meanwhile, Lex is lurking.
“I’m not sure what I can
say without being sued,” said
Eisenberg, who begins the movie
not bald, as per the traditional Lex
Luthor, “but I can say generally that
my character goes through a visual
transformation.”
“It’s killing me not to be able
to talk about stuff,” said Cavill,
who is reprising his role from
2013’s Man of Steel, and said that
Batman v Superman is largely about
“Superman growing up.”
“It’s an imagining of what the
world would be like if a Superman
really existed,” said the actor.
“I think it would be fair to say
that some people would be really
enthusiastic about it, some a little
less so, and a large portion would
fear him, who would be positive
he was the bad guy. That reality
is apparent in the movie from
Superman’s perspective — people
will react to you with fear. He’s been
expecting that — Pa Kent warned
him about it — but he wasn’t
expecting people to accuse him of
being the bad guy.”
The film picks up at the end
of Superman’s epic clash with
his fellow Kryptonian, General
Zod, with Metropolis in virtual
ruins and Batman convinced that
Superman’s actions have wrought
as much bad as good. He prepares
for battle. Superman, meanwhile,
in rescuing his intrepid reporter
girlfriend, Lois Lane (Amy Adams),
from the middle of an aborted CIA
action against a Boko Haram-style
terrorist group, is accused again of
Monday, March 21, 2016
5
COMMUNITY
COVER STORY
Henry Cavill as Superman.
creating havoc. Should beings with
almost unlimited powers be able
to exercise them when and where
they want? The public is on the
fence. Not so Batman. Or Luthor,
who is given a different kind of
portrayal by Eisenberg than he was
given back in the day by, say, Gene
Hackman.
“The tone is just different,”
Eisenberg said. “It’s a fun, exciting
movie, but it’s darker and has
deeper philosophical themes,
characters dealing with existential
crises, which to my mind are very
modern — and unusual for this
genre of movie. And that’s what
makes it, for me, as an actor, more
relatable and more interesting
because it’s not just the theatrics,
it’s a real person.”
GULF TIMES
Ben Affleck plays Batman.
As is usual with fan-boyoriented action movies based on
comic books, the online agitation
has been close to virulent: Affleck
came under attack for his casting
as Batman, and Eiseneberg, too, at
least to a certain degree. (“But they
don’t have the script,” he said, “so
they don’t know how the characters
are being tailored.”) Director Zack
Snyder says that on this movie in
particular, the feedback — which
isn’t really feedback, since the
commentators haven’t seen the
movie — has been “exhausting.”
“There’s this very tense amount
of interest, a level that’s so
passionate and so deep,” he said.
“By the way, it’s an uptown problem
to have people care that much. But
like I say, it is exhausting.”
He said the toughest part
of making the film wasn’t the
enormous number of special
effects or the elaborate set pieces
that punctuate the drama, but
the relationship between the two
principal characters. “It’s such a
tricky world, a tricky relationship
these two have,” said Snyder. “And
people have a lot of expectations
about their relationship.
“I’m looking forward to the
discussions that happen after
people see the movie that you will
understand the power that these
characters can shoulder.”
What Batman v Superman
generates — to its credit — is a
conversation about the philosophical
and even theological questions
that are raised by the existence of
Director Zack
Snyder said
the toughest
part of making
the film wasn’t
the enormous
number of
special effects
or the elaborate
set pieces that
punctuate the
drama, but the
relationship
between the
two principal
characters
supermen. “Lesser heroes can’t
shoulder the same amount of
mythical conversation,” Snyder said.
For Cavill, all the anxious chatter
surrounding the release of the
movie comes under the umbrella of
“entertainment” — that the virtual
enthusiasm/outrage over the story
and casting and outcomes is all part
of the same experience.
“I encourage it,” he said. “It’s
exciting. Everyone will argue till
they’re blue in the face, attacking this
hero, or this villain — it’s all part of
it.” Some people, he said, don’t like
the way he plays Superman. “That’s
fine; it’s all part of it. I encourage
creative thought. If it’s not creative,
if it’s just destructive, it’s kind
of pointless. But if they’re being
constructive with their criticism,
then that’s great.”
WONDER WOMAN THROUGH THE YEARS
The creator of Wonder Woman, writer and psychologist William
Moulton Marston (inventor of the lie detector), did not believe the sexes
were equal. He thought woman were superior — and he intended his
Amazonian superheroine as a comic-art lesson in how the allegedly
fairer sex could bring about a more just and peaceful world. In addition
to inspiring women, Marston wanted boys to get adjusted to the idea of
females with power. Anyone finding an erotic subtext to WW’s “golden
lasso of truth” is probably on the right track.
In Batman v Superman, Wonder Woman, aka Diana Prince, is played
by Gal Gadot, the Israeli actress and Israeli Defence Forces veteran who
will reprise the role in next year’s Wonder Woman and Justice League Part
One. It may be a film franchise whose time has come — but considering
WW’s celebrity, it’s a little surprising there haven’t been more, and more
successful, adaptations. Or maybe, as William Moulton Marston might
have decided, not so surprising.
WHO’S AFRAID OF DIANA PRINCE? (1967): It never actually
aired, but the first attempt to produce a Wonder Woman TV series was
made in 1967, by William Dozier, producer of the highly successful
Batman series. It would have starred Ellie Wood Walker as Diana, Linda
Harrison as her alter ego, and Maudie Prickett as Diana’s mother, who
apparently wanted her to get married. Maybe we were spared.
WONDER WOMAN (1975-79): The most famous adaptation of the
DC Comics character came when Lynda Carter assumed the role, in a
series originally set in the ‘40s, with Wonder Woman battling Nazis (it
also came on the heels of a TV movie called Wonder Woman starring the
blond and markedly un-Diana Prince-looking Cathy Lee Crosby). When
ABC balked at renewing the expensive period piece, it moved to the
contemporary ‘70s, and also to CBS.
WONDER WOMAN (2011): The pilot for a series that was to have
starred Adrianne Palicki never aired and the series was never sold, despite
a considerable pedigree (it was written by the highly successful David E.
Kelley).
WONDER WOMAN (2013): Short film starring Rileah Vanderbilt
as the Amazon got very limited exposure but was praised for its
sophisticated look. — Newsday/TNS
6
GULF TIMES Monday, March 21, 2016
COMMUNITY
Two top female executives
to speak at ‘East and West’
The How Women Work’s event will be held tomorrow at 7pm at Hilton Doha
Janina Kugel
By Umer Nangiana
C
arrying on with the
theme and spirit
of its running year,
How Women Work
is coming up with an
inspirational event, inviting two
top female executives from the
industry in “East and West” for a
talk this month.
The fringe event of Annual How
Women Work Conference, held
earlier this year, is centred on two
inspiring female top executives
from Qatar and Germany.
Janina Kugel, who will speak
at this event, is Chief Human
Resources Officer and Member of
the Managing Board of Siemens
AG. She is globally responsible for
the areas of Human Resources,
Diversity, EHS (Environmental
Sharoq al-Malki
Health and Safety) and Corporate
Social Responsibility.
Before that she held various
leadership positions at Osram
and Siemens in the areas of
Human Resources, Corporate
Executive Development, Strategy
and Innovation Management in
Germany, Italy and China. Her
encouraging TEDx Talk on “the
power of being different” has
brought her public renown.
“It is an honour to speak about
the importance of increasing
diversity in the workplace. The
HWW Fringe Event in Doha gives
myself and Sharoq al-Malki a
great opportunity to demonstrate
the shared values our cultures
and companies have and the
experiences we can share to help
increase diversity in Qatar and the
world,” said Kugel.
Sharoq al-Malki, the
Executive Managing Director at
Commercialbank Qatar, is the
Qatari speaker at the event, who
will give the audience insight
into what it took for her to break
through the glass ceiling.
In early 2015, al-Malki won the
“100 Most Talented Global HR
Leaders” Award, while in 2013, she
won the “Young HR Professional
Award” at the HR Summit and
Expo 2013 in Dubai. She was also
the winner of the Qatar Business
Women Award for her outstanding
efforts in the area of Future Goals
and Financial Performance.
Currently she is pursuing her
PhD in Business Administration
from the Northcentral University,
USA. She is an international
speaker and a certified coach. Her
work has appeared in a wide range
of publications. She is the author
of A Piece of Peace book, which
has been recently published by
Amazon.
“With today’s diverse culture,
bridging the gap has become a
vital element on the impact of
organisational performance and
productivity. Today, through
How Woman Work, connecting
the dots, the East and West have
become one,” said al-Malki.
Organised by the How Women
Work Community, which is
dedicated to empowering women
in Qatar to grow and succeed, as
well as to break down barriers
and promote understanding, the
event promises to once again be
insightful and highly interactive
in its nature.
The combination of these
two speakers at one event,
highlighting the commonalities of
making it to the top as a woman,
emphasising how important
connection, collaboration and
networking have been in their
lives and careers, promises to add
up to a truly inspiring event.
As is the rule with How Women
Work, there will also be an
interactive part, where audience
members have the chance to ask
questions of the speakers, enter
into discussion and share their
own experiences of rising through
the ranks as women.
The HWW Community was
founded in 2009 with the aim
of empowering women to grow
and succeed; reaching hearts and
minds, breaking down barriers
and promoting understanding
across cultures and genders.
It brings like-minded women
together in Qatar to share
knowledge, ideas, and ambitions,
enabling them to make an even
greater contribution to the local
and national workforce.
The event is scheduled to be
held at 7pm tomorrow, at Hilton
Doha Hotel in West Bay.
Monday, March 21, 2016
GULF TIMES
7
COMMUNITY
Indonesian community holds Holy Qur’an Memorisation competition
The Indonesian community in Qatar recently held a month-long Holy Qur’an Memorisation
competition. The final was held in Mahad Dakwah Doha, with a total of 280 participants from Doha,
Dukhan, Al Khor, and Wakrah. According to Khairur Rakiin of the organising committee, the event
was aimed to motivate Muslims to study, understand, and memorise the Qur’an as a life-guide. The
winners of the competition were awarded medals, certificates, and shopping vouchers. The overall
champion of this year’s competition is the Indonesian Community in Al Khor. Also present in handing
out the awards were Indonesian ambassador Muhammad Basri Sidehabi; representative from Fanar,
Dr Ali Idris; and representative from the Ministry of Interior, Sharaf Saleh Alnssy.
Former Nepalese PM meets
community, answers questions
Former Nepalese PM Jhalanath Khanal
speaking at the programme.
By Usha Wagle Gautam
T
he Nepalese embassy organised
a programme to welcome
former Nepalese prime minister
(PM) Jhalanath Khanal at the
ambassador’s residence recently.
The programme was attended by former
PM’s secretary Yogendra and Charge de
Affairs Mani Ratna Sharma, along with other
distinguished community leaders.
The programme included a Q&A session
with Khanal. Rekha Rai, president of
Nepalese Women Society, asked Khanal
how long Nepalese women would have to
come overseas for jobs. Another participant,
Hussein Khan, president of Terai Madhesh
Democratic Front-Qatar, said Nepalese in
Qatar were united, while those in Nepal are
divided on the base on ethnicities.
TB Karki, adviser of Non-Resident
Nepalese Association-International
Coordination Committee (NRNA-ICC),
expressed his dissatisfaction with not having
a Nepalese ambassador in Qatar for over two
years now. “How long do we have to wait?”
Karki said. He also pointed out the slow
consular services offered by the Nepalese
embassy, especially when compared to other
embassies.
NRNA-ICC member Binod Bhattarai talked
about the mismanagement of Tribhuwan
International Airport at Kathmandu and the
“maltreatment of migrant workers” there.
Binesh Tamang, president of Non-Resident
Nepalese Association-National Coordination
Council (NRNA-NCC), said his organisation
is serious and keen to co-ordinate with the
embassy and build a cultural centre and a
community fund in Qatar. He said they want
to attract tourists from Qatar to Nepal and
import Nepalese products here.
Dr Dev Kaji Dangol, patron of NRNA-NCC,
said there is an urgent need of setting up a
Napalese school in Qatar.
Guru Narayan Ranabhat, NRNA-NCC
advisor, complained about the manpower
companies in Nepal extorting huge sums of
money from the workers despite the fact that
Qatari companies themselves pay for visas
and airfare of the workers.
Ram Hari Gaire, president of Nepalese
Overseas Forum, talked about the plight
of Nepalese people who are still unable to
acquire gasoline even after the lifting of the
unofficial blockade.
Charge de Affairs Mani Ratna Sharma
said his office is doing its best to assist every
Nepali expatriate in Qatar. Even though
the embassy has enough staff, he said, low
finances hamper their services.
In response to the various points raised,
former PM Khanal said everyone should
love their country wherever they go. He
insisted that Nepal has had some “historical
achievements” despite the various adversities
it has faced.
He said that the recently promulgated
statute of the Himalayan nation treats every
citizen equally irrespective of caste, gender,
religion and ethnicity. “The recent blockade
has inspired us to become independent,”
Khanal said.
He hinted that two international airports
are being established in the western town
of Pokhara and Lumbini, Lord Buddha’s
birthplace. He also stressed on the role of
the embassy in strengthening bilateral ties
between Qatar and Nepal.
He hoped that Nepal will appoint an
ambassador to Qatar soon, after resolving the
“technical difficulties” it is facing.
The manpower agencies in Nepal that have
been extorting money from Nepalese going
abroad are being shut down, he said, which
demonstrates the seriousness with which the
government is dealing with the issue.
He thanked Qatar for hosting more than
400,000 Nepalese and urged the expats here
to strictly follow rules and regulations of the
host country.
Nepalese community leaders together with Khanal.
8
GULF TIMES Monday, March 21, 2016
COMMUNITY
Qatar University VP for Medical Education and CMED Dean Dr Egon Toft
speaking to the students.
CMED Assistant Dean for Student Affairs Ghada al-Kuwari speaking to the students.
25 high schoolers attend Medicine Winter Camp
A
four-week high school Medicine
Winter Camp organised by Qatar
University College of Medicine
(CMED) and the Biomedical
Research Center (BRC)
concluded recently.
The activity engaged 25 female students
from seven high schools in Qatar — Al Wakra
Independent Secondary School, Al Khor
Independent Secondary School, Al Bayan
Independent Secondary School, Um Ayman
Independent Secondary School, Al Maha
Academy, Doha Academy and Al Jazeera
Academy.
It was designed to attract them to the
medical profession through fun science
hands-on lab experiments and expand their
knowledge on important health and medical
issues.
The students participated in a number of
practical experiences that addressed a wide
range of medical and biological topics such
as cellular responses, types of human-borne
bacteria, and protein detection and analysis.
They also interacted with current CMED
students and heard about their academic
journey and future career aspirations.
Lulwa Bahzad from Al Maha Academy
said: “I had a great experience and I am
motivated by it to enter this college. At first,
I was scared of medicine but when I met the
current students I thought that I can do it
too, especially when I found out that my GPA
would allow me to enter the college. After
every activity and the responses I received to
my questions, I believed more and more that
medicine could be the career for me in the
future.”
Al Wakra Secondary School student Asma
Abdulrahman said: “I loved the activities and
I am now seriously considering getting into
medicine. I learned many new things and
when I return home, I will research more and
learn about the topics more deeply.”
Her colleague Sara al-Marzooqi said: “The
activities made me excited to enter medicine.
I enjoyed talking to current students who
really helped us understand what it is like
to be at the college. Overall it was a great
experience — if I could do it again, I would.”
Sherifa al-Rumaihi from Al Bayan
Secondary School said: “Since I was small,
I was encouraged by my family to study
medicine. I was one of the first to register
when I heard about the camp. We learned
many things that completely changed
my perspective about medicine. I really
enjoyed the experience and if there were
another opportunity, I would really like to
participate.”
Sri Lanka beat Japan 3-1 in QFA Asian Communities Tournament 2016
The Sri Lanka Community Football Team continued their winning streak in the QFA Asian Communities Tournament 2016, beating Japan 3-1 over the weekend. A good number of spectators turned up
for the game and were seen cheering for the Sri Lankan team as Rikaz took his goal tally for the tournament to three. He scored two goals, Anam one. The team play Korea on April 1 and a win will seal
them a place in the quarter-finals.
Monday, March 21, 2016
GULF TIMES
9
COMMUNITY
Cinema masters, global film
professionals endorse Qumra
T
he 2016 Qumra Masters,
project participants and
international industry
experts recently feted the
second edition of Qumra,
the annual industry event by the
Doha Film Institute, for catalysing
the development of a vibrant regional
film industry and shaping the
skillsets of emerging talent.
More than 100 industry
professionals, including international
film festival directors, producers,
fund managers, script consultants,
sales agents, distributors and other
experts took part in the event, which
delivered meaningful experiences
to participants across three main
programmes.
The first was a series of
Masterclasses by the five Qumra
Masters – screenwriter, director
and leading US indie producer
James Schamus; Turkish auteur
and Cannes Palme d’Or winner,
Nuri Bilge Ceylan; Japanese Cannes
Grand Prix winner writer/director
Naomi Kawase; Russian auteur
and Golden Lion winner Aleksandr
Sokurov; and two-time Academy
Award nominated US documentarian
Joshua Oppenheimer. The sessions
were open to the representatives of
the 33 international projects chosen
by the Doha Film Institute for
mentoring this year as well as a group
of accredited industry delegates from
the Qatari film and media industries.
The second component of Qumra
was the industry programme for the
33 selected projects in development
and post-production, comprised of a
series of mentoring and one-on-one
sessions with the world’s leading
industry experts and a selection
of work-in-progress and ‘picture
lock’ screenings for projects in
their final stages. Over the six day
event, the projects participated in a
total of 182 match-made meetings
with producers and funds; 133
one-on-one bespoke tutorials with
experts and mentors; 25 individual
‘Meet the Master’ sessions with
the Qumra Masters; seven roughcut consultations; seven script
consultations; 20 working breakfast
roundtable sessions; and more than
50 other one-on-one meetings.
The third aspect was the Qumra
Screenings – a series of public
screenings of works by the five
Qumra Masters as well as films
supported by the Doha Film Institute
grants programme showcased in the
‘New Voices in Cinema’ segment
which took place at the Museum of
Islamic Art auditorium and were
accompanied by question-andanswer sessions with the filmmakers.
Fatma al-Remaihi, Chief Executive
Officer of the Doha Film Institute,
said: “Last year, we launched Qumra
and embarked on an ambitious
journey to provide emerging talent
with an industry platform to help
them build their skills and foster
From left, Multi award-winning screenwriter, director and leading US indie producer James Schamus; Qumra Deputy Director Hanaa Issa and Doha Film Institute
CEO Fatma al-Remaihi, at a screening on Day One of Qumra.
meaningful industry connections.
In its second edition, we are excited
to see it define its own niche with
experts from across the world taking
part in the discussions and asserting
their commitment to supporting
young filmmakers. We thank them
for being here in Qatar and sharing
their experience with the spirit of
generosity that has come to embody
this event.
“The two major changes we
implemented for the second edition
were the introduction of the Qumra
Shorts programme, a dedicated
strand specifically tailored to those
working in the short form; and an
expanded number of non-fiction
films in the selection of projects
(increased from 4 to 10 this year),
further enhanced by the inclusion
of a non-fiction master for the first
time. Qumra always was, and will
remain dedicated to filmmakers and
we look forward to continuing to
develop and refine the form of this
event each year with their input to
meet their needs.”
Elia Suleiman, Artistic Adviser of
the Doha Film Institute, reinforced
the importance of Qumra as a
space to inspire young filmmakers.
Speaking during the event, he spoke
of the importance of this support
at a time when fences and borders
are being built, and new ones are
springing up all over the world: “The
imagination and poetry of our young
filmmakers serve as a resistance to
these borders. The fact that we are
here at Qumra shows the confidence
in our filmmakers to break these
barriers.”
The concept of Qumra has
received high praise from the five
Qumra Masters who attended the
event, with Joshua Oppenheimer
comparing the flair of Qumra to that
of the Telluride Film Festival.
“This is a very serious event,”
he observed. “I have been to only
very few film related events of this
gravity. It is a place where people
are so serious and so questing to
find new ways of telling stories
that are adequate to the impossible
experiences in this region. Being here
and listening to people’s stories and
questions, and meeting the Masters, I
feel like I attended a masterclass.”
He added: “It was so inspiring to
see people whose exploration and
innovation of the film form was not
something done out of intellectual
or aesthetic curiosity but out of an
urgent need to figure out how they
make sense of the disjointed world
when they themselves, and their own
experiences of the world has been
formed by that same violence and
rupture.”
Naomi Kawase said that Qumra
has a significant role in telling the
young generation of the world that
they can do something in their own
hometowns. “You have filmmakers
here from all over the world. And why
do they come here? That is because
we want to hand down culture to our
young generation.”
Aleksandr Sokurov praised
the maturity of the filmmakers
he mentored during Qumra:
“Sometimes it’s very difficult to deal
with emerging film-makers because
they’re not sure of themselves, they
don’t have clear ideas. But here I have
seen something very mature, they are
really professional,” he said.
The importance of nurturing
young talent, the top priority of
Qumra, was echoed by industry
experts too. A script consultant from
Australia, Clare Dobbin described
Qumra as an “amazing opportunity
for filmmakers,” adding “it presents
delegates a view of how the entire
industry works.”
Carlo Chatrian, Artistic Director,
Festival del Film Locarno, said
Richard Pena, left, moderates a Qumra Master Class with acclaimed Palme
d’Or winning Turkish filmmaker Nuri Bilge Ceylan at the Museum of Islamic
Art on Day Three of Qumra.
the interesting mix of the event
ensures an enriching experience
for the delegates, who can benefit
from the diversity while the
“human experience” of one-toone meetings and spending time in
an intimate setting helps industry
professionals to understand
the young filmmakers and their
projects better.
A programmer of Buenos
Aires International Film Festival,
Violeta Bava said the unique
benefit of Qumra is that it “really
discusses cinema” with none of
the distractions, and presents the
opportunity to meet people who are
all on the same page.
Matthieu Darras, Artistic Director,
Torino Film Lab, said that the
intimate setting of Qumra served in
providing “an overview of everything
about the industry” for the delegates,
describing it as a welcome difference
in comparison to film festivals.
This edition of Qumra nurtured 33
projects including 13 narrative feature
films, 10 feature documentaries and
10 short films.
The projects represented 19
countries of production with a total
of 15 projects from Qatar-based
filmmakers, 12 from the Middle East
North Africa (Mena) region and
six from the rest of the world. Of
the 33 projects, 11 are features films
in development, 12 are in postproduction and 10 are short films in
development.
Twenty of the feature projects
are alumni of the institute’s grants
programme and three are by
independent filmmakers from Qatar.
Of the 10 short projects, 7 are by
Qatari filmmakers and 3 are by Qatarbased filmmakers identified through
the Institute’s ongoing engagement
with local industry.
10 GULF TIMES Monday, March 21, 2016
COMMUNITY
Seminar on health and
well-being for women
Participants of the seminar.
A
s part of International
Women’s Day
celebrations, Sharq
Village & Spa
collaborated with
Future 318 to hold its Health and
Wellbeing event for women at the
hotel’s new C-Lounge Al Dana
Restaurant.
Speakers include Queens
without Scars founder and Mrs.
Universe 2014 Yezenia Navarro,
Health & Wellness Coach Anahi
Brown and Director of Six Senses
Spa Francisca Antunes. Yezenia
Navarro said in her speech that
to live a balance life one must
focus on both the internal and
external aspects of life. “Focus on
your health. Sleep well, eat well
and have an active life, that is the
internal part of our lives,” she
said. The external aspect involves
family, social life and work. She
added, “Meditate and give love.
Give your family quality time and
connect with people.”
Health and Wellness Coach
Anahi Brown stressed on the
importance of self-care and selflove and called on all the women
to make each day Women’s Day.
“Take action to fill your love tank,
to bring a little wellness and joy
for you, to make sure you are
important for yourself, you are
worthy of kindness and love,”
she said. “We owe it ourselves to
discover how to live a pleasurable
life; a life where stress is something
that we deal with in a normal way.
Find moments where you can find
connection with yourself, maybe
by getting a manicure, reading a
book, or walking. Look at yourself
in the now and accept it let go of
the guilt, let go of the fears,” she
added.
Six Senses Spa director Francisca
Rocha Antunes said in her speech
that there is actually no recipe
for success. “If you are not happy
with where you are now, start
looking for a change. There are
Shoexpress launches Spring 2016 collection
Shoexpress recently launched its Spring 16 collection
across all stores in Qatar. The bags at the store for
this spring range from top-handled, backpacks, totes,
cross-bodys, as well as shoulder bags that are modified
in terms of functionality (business or casual) and
style requirements to suit every age, taste and style.
The store has also introduced a variety of casual to
sporty shoes that are updated in forms and materials.
For men, the collection covers this seasons’ essential
footwear ranging from sporty to classic sneakers to
casual boots and canvas shoes. The store has also
introduced a wide range of trainers, sneakers and
athletic sandals for kids. The store said, “One of our
smashing products in the store every season is our
Character lines. We have various footwear designs
of Hello Kitty, Frozen, Minions, Spiderman, Teenage
Mutant Ninja Turtles, Disney Princesses, Dora and
Batman in varieties of slip on sneakers, trainers,
slippers, rubber clogs for your little ones and additional
ballerina shoe range for the girls.”
enough choices out there for you.
If you had met me 15 years ago, you
would not have believed I would
be working in a spa. I have made
my own path based on what I went
through, good or bad, and that is
my model. You can create your own
model.” Antunes is currently the
regional manager for 10 spas.
Future 318 (Faisal Al Suwaidi
for Events) Project Chairman’s
Conchita Ponce thanked all the
sponsors for being part of the
celebration for Women. “Women
are integral part of our society and
it is through this simple pampering
event that we are showing our
appreciation for all the hard works
and achievements that they made
for their family, community or at
work,” Ponce said.
Sharq Village & Spa General
Manager Wael Maatouk welcomed
the guests. Attendees got to
bring home lots of freebies from
Avene, vouchers and other beauty
products. Six Senses Spa offered
a simple 10-minute yoga lesson;
other free-of-charge services
included express manicure by
Snips Salon, blood glucose and
blood pressure tests by Naseem
Al Rabeeh Medical Center, skin
analysis by Dr Irena Eris of Al Dana
Medical, and skin and hair analysis
by VLCC.
Monday, March 21, 2016
GULF TIMES
11
COMMUNITY
Bangladeshis mark birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation
The Bangladeshi embassy recently observed the 96th birth anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman and National Children’s Day.
Messages from the president, prime minister, foreign minister and state minister for foreign affairs
of Bangladesh on the day were read out.
There was also a discussion on the life of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for children, where they
highlighted his contributions in the national life of Bangladesh.
In his speech, Bangladeshi ambassador Ashud Ahmed recalled the role played by Bangabandhu
in Bangladesh's emergence as an independent country. He thanked the Bangladeshis in Qatar for
their hard work and contributions to the nation building.
Drawing, speech and essay competitions were also held by the Bangladesh MHM School in
Qatar to mark the day. The school started the day with a special assembly to highlight the life of
Bangabandhu. Ambassador Ahmed was the chief guest.
IWA celebrates International Women’s Day, Holi
The Indian Women Association (IWA) marked the International Women’s Day along with the
festival of Holi at L'etoile Hotel recently. Monisha Doley, the first Craftsvilla Miss Ethnic India,
was the guest speaker and welcomed by Vice President Renu Malhotra and Gen Secretary
Latha. Doley, a life coach and a motivational speaker, has a number of bestselling books
to her credit. Jharna Prashant Bhatt was crowned as the Best Dressed Lady at the event.
The members celebrated Holi by reciting Hasya Kavita. Nikita, Trupti, Shobha, and Preety
presented a Holi-themed dance at the event. IWA also arranged for a number of games for
its members at the event. The members got to dance to the tunes of Holi and went home
with gift hampers and discount vouchers sponsored by Aster Medical Center and Relax Spa
Saloon.
12 GULF TIMES Monday, March 21, 2016
COMMUNITY
INFOGRAPHIC
Monday, March 21, 2016
GULF TIMES
13
COMMUNITY
LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE
Go green to save green: 6 earth-friendly
home improvement ideas
F
rom cleaning out the
garage to upgrading
your floors and
windows, it often seems
like home improvement
projects will never end. While
you may be dedicated to making
your home a better place, it’s
also important to consider how it
affects your carbon footprint. Are
you doing everything you can to
make your home earth friendly?
Not only could your home
benefit from energy-saving
changes, but you can also lower
your utility bills and live green
without sacrificing your style.
Consider some of these ideas to
be both earth friendly and cost
effective year round:
Choose the right materials
Start the planning stage of your
project by selecting materials with
low impact on the environment.
For example, reclaimed wood is
durable, versatile and renewable,
and can add beauty and
timelessness to your home. Since
it is recycled, your reclaimed
wood project doesn’t involve
chopping down or harming any
new trees. Other eco-friendly
alternatives include linoleum
instead of vinyl, low or no-VOC
(volatile organic compounds)
paints, bamboo and cork.
Rent your project tools
Before you go out and buy all
the tools and equipment you
need for each home improvement
project, do a little research to find
out what you can rent. Not only
does this save you money, but it
also limits energy consumption,
pollution and waste associated
with manufacturing, storing and
maintaining new equipment. You
can easily find a rental company
on RentalHQ.com to provide
a variety of products such as
aerators, augers, jackhammers,
pressure washers, chainsaws and
more.
Hire savvy professionals
If you’re undergoing a serious
remodel, you’ll most likely be
working with a contractor, designer
ARIES
March 21 — April 19
There is nothing you can do about someone or something that
doesn’t seem to want help or advice from you. All you can do is give
your advice and keep it moving.
CANCER
June 21 — July 22
There is nothing like allowing your dreams to flow and feel as if you
can soar high and do anything you want to do. This is one of those
days when you could feel invincible.
LIBRA
September 23 — October 22
Your annual Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse lights up the sky next week –
March 23. You may start to feel the effects of the Lunar Eclipse this
week and start thinking about making some life long decisions.
CAPRICORN
December 22 — January 19
There is nothing else you can do to make someone believe that you
are telling the truth goats. All you can do is keep on reiterating the
truth today.
or other professional to review your
plans and turn them into reality.
Make sure you not only hire the
right people, but make your goal of
going green loud and clear. Ask to
see examples of their work and have
them explain what tactics they use
to be environmentally friendly.
Use energy efficient equipment
If possible, make sure the
appliances, tools and equipment
in your home have the ENERGY
STAR label. The ENERGY STAR
label is becoming more widely
recognised as more consumers
bring these types of appliances
— like ovens, stoves and HVAC
systems — into their home for
both cost and energy savings.
Try eco-friendly lighting
A lighting upgrade is essential
for an earth-friendly home.
While LED and CFL lightbulbs
tend to cost more upfront, they
use significantly less energy
and last longer than traditional
incandescent bulbs, so you’ll save
more in the long run.
Invest in water-saving
features
Fixtures like low flow faucets,
toilets and showerheads are just a
few of the ways you can conserve
water in your home and reduce
the amount of your water bills.
TAURUS
April 20 — May 20
Don’t overthink something today Taureans. You sometimes make
too much noise over something big when in the grand scheme of
things, it’s actually a small thing.
LEO
July 23 — August 22
Stop worrying so much about what everyone else thinks of you and
instead, focus on the things you can control and feel good about
Leos.
SCORPIO
October 23 — November 21
If you feel unsure about something or someone, now is the time to
speak up Scorpios. There’s absolutely no time to waste.
AQUARIUS
January 20 — February 18
If you feel as if someone is trying to sway your opinion today, ask
yourself why that may be happening. Are they up to something or
simply excited that you are on board?
Additionally, there are plenty of
washing machine and dishwasher
options that give you the same
level of cleaning power while
saving both water and energy.
© Brandpoint
GEMINI
May 21 — June 20
Unless you are fully prepared to take on someone who might fight
back pretty hard core today, it’s best that you let other people make
decisions and just go with the flow.
VIRGO
August 23 — September 22
If you go looking for drama today you are sure to find it. So spare
yourself the seek and find expedition today and instead, lay low.
SAGITTARIUS
November 22 — December 21
You’re known for your brutal honesty and openness, however
sometimes it gets you into trouble. Today could be one of those days
when you will wish you hadn’t been quite so honest.
PISCES
February 19 — March 20
Unless you really feel passionately about something, don’t get
involved Pisces. There may be ramifications beyond what you feel
comfortable with.
14 GULF TIMES Monday, March 21, 2016
COMMUNITY
Wordsearch
Adam
Pooch Cafe
Internet
BLOG
BOOKMARK
BROWSER
CHANNEL
CHAT
DOWNLOAD
E-MAIL
FAQ
FLAME
FLASH
FORMS
FTP
GIF
HOME PAGE
HTTP
JAVA
LINK
LOGIN
MESSAGE
MODEM
PASSWORD
PROVIDER
SEARCH
SITE
SPAM
URL
WIKI
WWW
Codeword
Puzzles courtesy: Puzzlechoice.com
Every letter of the alphabet is used at least once.
Squares with the same number in have the same letter
in. Work out which number represents which letter.
Garfield
Sudoku
Bound And Gagged
Sudoku is a puzzle based
on a 9x9 grid. The grid is
also divided into nine (3x3)
boxes. You are given a
selection of values and to
complete the puzzle, you
must fill the grid so that
every column, every anone
is repeated.
PUZZLES/CARTOONS
Monday, March 21, 2016
COMMUNITY
PUZZLES
Quick Clues
ACROSS
1. Villain (9)
8. Pinch (3)
9. Unsuitable (11)
11. Adore (7)
12. Pop (5)
13. Wooer (6)
15. Feverish (6)
17. Cool (5)
18. Pleasant (7)
20. Agreeable (11)
22. Sever (3)
23. Hot-headed (9)
GULF TIMES
Colouring
DOWN
2. Tavern (3)
3. Cattle-farm (5)
4. Sudden (6)
5. Bother (7)
6. Impenetrable (11)
7. Sight (9)
10. Diploma (11)
11. Witticism (9)
14. Slanting (7)
16. Madman (6)
19. Insert (5)
21. Zero (3)
Cryptic Clues
Answers
Wordsearch
ACROSS
1. Motorist’s reserve carried around the
waist (5,4)
8. Small man expert at judo (3)
9. Syndicate headgear for one in
monastery (11)
11. Liberate a collection for nothing (3,4)
12. I tear about, being very angry (5)
13. A very loud short man causing a
disturbance (6)
15. To ramble, queen needs staff first (6)
17. To get brown is a difficult chore (5)
18. A word made up, initially (7)
20. Castle wrote about Flushing area (5-6)
22. Air returns in drowned valley (3)
23. Decide to put off excavation (9)
DOWN
2. Quiet painter on the way up is equal to
the rest (3)
3. Alien and that woman up in the air (5)
4. Bowled out – but not by Lancashire! (6)
5. Coax tie out of foreign objects (7)
6. Scraps uneven powder finishes (4,3,4)
7. Instrument to catch only a part of the
ear (5-4)
10. Demand for clear road off the beaten
track (3-2-3-3)
11. Programme comprising clean type of
music (4-5)
14. Swear Edward is to be avoided (7)
16. Ape-bird (6)
19. Sovereign makes things straight (5)
21. Refusal to go east backwards takes a
long time (3)
Codeword
Yesterday’s Solutions
QUICK
Across: 7 Knight; 8 Robber; 10 Precise; 11 Usual;
12 Eats; 13 Delay; 17 Whist; 18 Fair; 22 Cheap; 23
Oration; 24 Rubber; 25 Repair.
Down: 1 Skipper; 2 Liberty; 3 Chair; 4 Popular;
5 About; 6 Droll; 9 Recession; 14 Chapter; 15
Capital; 16 Granary; 19 Scorn; 20 Derby; 21
Navel.
CRYPTIC
Across: 7 Exodus; 8 Grocer; 10 Incline; 11 Darts;
12 Airs; 13 Stone; 17 Grips; 18 Salt; 22 Scrap; 23
Dormice; 24 Etcher; 25 Picnic.
Down: 1 Decimal; 2 Concord; 3 Music; 4
Trident; 5 Scare; 6 Arose; 9 Centipede; 14
Triplet; 15 Radiant; 16 Stretch; 19 Usher; 20
Price; 21 Brain.
15
16 GULF TIMES Monday, March 21, 2016
COMMUNITY
BOLLYWOOD
A bitter end
New actors
There is a peculiar phenomenon
in the works in Bollywood. Film
directors, who so far had been
content with being behind the
camera, have decided to become
actors in their own movies. And
we are not talking blink and miss
appearances like Subhash Ghai
used to do in his movies once upon
a time. These are full fledged roles
assaying a major character.
In the recently released Jai
Gangaajal, the sequel to the
hit Gangaajal, director Prakash
Jha took for himself one of the
meatiest roles of the movie.
Now comes news that Nishikant
Kamat, who has directed movies
like Force and Drishyam will be in
his next movie Rocky Handsome
that releases on March 25. He will
be playing the villain against the
hero of the movie John Abraham.
The reason that Kamat is said to
have donned this role is because of
another actor who was supposed
to play the role backing out at the
last minute.
Before Kamat and Jha, Anurag
Kashyap and Tigmanshu Dhulia
have also played long roles in
movies. Judging by the response
they got and also the flop that Jai
Gangaajal became, directors should
probably stick to what they know
best.
BITTER: Kangana Ranaut and Hrithik Roshan’s doomed relationship is making the rounds in media outlets.
T
his is the most
sensational controversy
to hit Bollywood in recent
memory and the dirty
linen is all being washed
in public. Some time ago a question
to Kangana Ranaut at an interview
about being dropped from Aashiqui
3 got the response that that “exes do
silly things”.
People immediately inferred she
was referring to Hrithik and he had
been responsible for it. Hrithik then
tweeted, without naming her, that
there were rumours around about
a relationship of his and there was
more possibility of him dating the
Pope than the woman.
The matter simmered for some
time until last week the whole can
of worms opened when a tabloid
ran a front-page story that said that
Hrithik had sent a legal notice to
Kangana to not talk on this issue and
apologise.
Kangana countered with her own
legal notice to him that revealed all
the details of the alleged affair.
According to Hrithik’s version,
Kangana came up to him at a party
and thanked him for a mail she had
received from him commending her
performance in Queen. He had not
seen Queen and told her that it was
not his e-mail account and gave her
his real e-mail address. And then she
started sending a barrage of mails
to him on it — as many as 1,439,
which were personal in nature. The
legal notice even alludes to a mental
ailment called Asperger’s Syndrome
that she suffers from and alleges that
it made her imagine the affair. And
that she also called his father Rakesh
Roshan and involved him in her
delusion.
In reply, Kangana’s notice says
that she had been invited to many
of their family events like birthday
parties proving that she was close
to him. And that the mail ID, which
Hrithik denies, was in fact given to
PICKING WINNERS: After the success of her latest film, Alia Bhatt says she
has settled on a good strategy to choose future projects.
her by him because at the time he
had not divorced his wife. After the
first media face-off, the tabloid ran
another big story quoting a close
friend of Kangana revealing how the
affair had started after Hrithik’s break
up with Barbara Mori during the
shooting of Kites, in which Kangana
was also acting.
And then when his divorce
was coming through, he had even
come and proposed to her, which
she accepted. And that they had
continued with the relationship for
a long time but he was not willing to
commit. He would back out and then
try to patch up with her. He even, it
was alleged, got someone to follow
her movements and got jealous when
a young superstar began to woo her.
Hrithik put out one more public
statement after this in which he
refused to engage further in the issue
and sought to bring the tempo down.
But it is a little late and the story now
has got a life of its own.
DIRECTING HIMSELF: Prakash Jha, left, took on a meaty role in his flop Jai
Gangaajal.
MOVE INTO POLITICS: Anupam Kher’s action indicate that he is all set to
join the ruling party.
Back on the hitlist
Politics calling
After Shaandaar, Alia Bhatt was
deeply depressed because for the
first time in her career she came
face to face with a debacle. But her
latest movie, Kapoor & Sons, which
released last week, looks like it will
redeem her.
Critics have only good words for
it and commercially too it is picking
up. Alia says that she has a rule for
accepting movies now: to look at a
prospective project as if she is doing
a movie for the first time. That is a
quite a mature way to approach her
career for someone so young.
Recently, there was a curious bit
of news about how Alia lost out on
Neerja, a movie that subsequently
went to Sonam and became a
superhit. The reason: because she
was apparently not tall enough to
assay the character. Well, that is
one thing that Alia cannot change.
An actor who is making all the waves on the political front is Anupam
Kher. He has been consistently in the news defending the government
as it gets accused of fostering an atmosphere of cultural intolerance and
also browbeating those who are against it, like students of Jawaharlal
Nehru University, an institute that has traditionally been a harbour for
Communist ideas.
Recently many student leaders there were arrested after they were
charged with raising anti-national slogans. They got wide support from
the media and a section of the intelligentsia.
Last week Kher visited the campus for a screening of one of his films
and gave a speech attacking the student leaders there. Sometime before
that, his strong words in a debate organised by a newspaper went viral
on the net. He now almost seems like a spokesperson for the ruling
establishment. But while Kher’s wife is a parliamentarian belonging to
the ruling party, he himself is not formally in it. Most people however are
certain that his current public profile is a stepping-stone to enter into
active politics, the only question mark being on the way in which he will
enter politics. Meanwhile he is doing all the right things to keep himself in
the minds of the people.
Send your feedback to
[email protected]
Monday, March 21, 2016
GULF TIMES
17
COMMUNITY
BOLLYWOOD
Malaika opts for silence
over divorce rumours
It was a Mein chup rahungi
moment for actress Malaika Arora
Khan as she decided to stay mum
over rumours of divorce from
producer husband Arabaaz Khan.
The actress walked for designer
Mandira Wirk at the ongoing
Amazon India Fashion Week
(AIFW) winter-festive 2016 and
when IANS asked her about the
media reports about her personal
life, she refused to comment.
Wirk presented a collection titled
Romancing Rococo on the fourth
day of the fashion gala that is taking
place at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
The collection delves deep into this
style that gained prominence in
Paris as a statement in fancifulness,
modishness and refined style. The
collection particularly takes a cue
from the curlicues motifs and gilding
of the iconic era and finds a modernday expression in Wirk’s collection.
“The Rococo movement
emerged as a rebellion against the
rigidity of Baroque designs and
its hallmark was a quiet grandeur
that was far from opulent or
overbearing. My collection
captures this exact sentiment and
strives to bring forth elegance
that is, at no point, over the top
or gimmicky,” said the designer.
Asked what made her look at
Malaika as her muse this time,
Wirk told IANS: “The designs
depicts 18th century art and
architecture and talks about
curves and asymmetric designs
so who can you have better
than the physique of my friend
Malaika.”
Even Malaika was excited
walking the runway and said that
she would love to associate with
Wirk for her fashion label titled
“The Closet Label”. “My line is
easy, affordable and comfortable
so I would love to have designer
friends,” Malaika said. — IANS
CROONING GLORY: Shraddha Kapoor
Shraddha Kapoor
lends voice to highpitch song in Baaghi
A
fter the soulful Teri
galliyan, actress
Shraddha Kapoor
has lent her voice to
a high-pitch number
in her upcoming film Baaghi and
she has done complete justice to it,
director Sabbir Khan and the track’s
music director Amaal Mallik have
conceded.
The song, Sab tera which was
released last week, is a romantic
number featuring Shraddha and
Tiger Shroff in the scenic locations
of Krabi, Thailand. Khan convinced
Shraddha to sing the song, which he
regards as “tough”.
“I was aware that Shraddha sings
really well but the idea to get her
to sing struck me when we were
shooting the song in Krabi. Every
time she had to give a shot, she
would actually sing, and sing it so
well.
NOT TRUE: Kareena Kapoor Khan
“I had to push her to actually sing
it because although the song seems
simple, it’s very tough to sing it as
the pitch is very high. Hats off to
Shraddha for doing full justice to it.
She has made it special,” Khan said
in a statement.
On her part, Shraddha has
thanked Khan, and tweeted: “It’s
you who said to give it a shot, it’s
who you believed, thank you sir. For
giving me this beautiful song.”
Amaal Mallik, the composer
of Sab tera, knows of Shraddha’s
singing talent since childhood as
they are from the same school.
“I did not get time to listen to
Bezubaan from ABCD 2, but had
heard Galliyan and loved it ... But
what she has done in Sab tera has
blown my mind. I haven’t used any
pitch correcting techniques on her
voice. Usually actors aren’t easy
to record with as they don’t know
what to do with the mic, how to
stand and what technique to use
while singing that will make their
voice sound good.
“It was Sabbir Sir’s decision to
get Shraddha on board, and I was
also excited for it. But when I heard
this girl sing, it was like an angel
had just descended into the studio.
Shraddha is the highlight of this
song though, very few people have
a voice that suits their own face, she
sings as cutely as she acts.”
Mallik, who has sung the number
with the actress, said he even has a
video of Shraddha singing the song
live, and “that can prove that this
girl is a terrific find”. The song’s
picturisation features sizzling
chemistry between Shraddha and
Tiger. Baaghi, produced by Sajid
Nadiadwala, is a rebellious love
story which will release on April
29. — IANS
Bollywood actor Varun
Dhawan says filmmaker Karan
Johar’s production Shuddhi is
not happening at the moment.
“Shuddhi is not happening at the
moment. I think Karan announced
it,” Varun told reporters at the red
carpet of the Times Of India Film
Awards (TOIFA) 2016.
Varun was to star with his
Student Of The year co-star
Alia Bhatt for the film. Before
the confirmation of the cast for
Shuddhi, it was reported actors
Hrithik Roshan and Kareena
Kapoor Khan were supposed to star
Kareena denies doing
Pakistani film
married to Bollywood actor Saif Ali
Khan, stunned the audience in a
ravishing dress at the second edition
of the Times Of India Film Awards
(TOIFA) 2016. She is currently
waiting for the release of her
forthcoming film Ki and Ka, which
also stars actor Arjun Kapoor.
Directed by filmmaker R Balki,
the romantic comedy film, which
revolves around a career-oriented
woman and a house husband, is
slated to hit the screens on April
1. — IANS
WAITING IN THE WINGS: Varun Dhawan
Bollywood actress Kareena
Kapoor Khan denied she is doing a
Pakistani film and termed all such
speculations baseless. There were
rumours that the Jab We Met star
will be making her debut in Pakistani
film, which would be helmed by
acclaimed director Shoaib Mansoor.
Asked about it, Kareena told
reporters here: “No, this is not true.”
The 35-year-old actress, who is
TIGHTLIPPED: Malaika Arora Khan
Shuddhi not happening
at the moment: Varun
in the movie.
The Main Tera Hero actor added
“that there is another thing I am
doing with Dharma Productions
(Karan’s banner), so that will be
announced soon”. Varun, who is
the son of director David Dhawan,
will be soon seen in the sequel
of Salman Khan starrer Judwaa,
which released in 1997. When asked
about Judwaa 2, the actor said: “It’s
too early to talk about Judwaa 2.
Dishoom is coming out. There is
another surprise coming out soon.”
Varun is currenly waiting for the
release of his upcoming actionadventure film Dishoom, which also
stars John Abraham and Jacqueline
Fernandez. – IANS
18 GULF TIMES Monday, March 21, 2016
COMMUNITY
HOLLYWOOD
STELLAR PERFORMANCE: Barkhad Abdi in Eye in the Sky. Abdi has followed a slow and steady course to success in films.
Eye in the Sky star Barkhad
Abdi: ‘You get what you pray’
By Colin Covert
W
Helen Mirren in Eye in the Sky.
hen Barkhad
Abdi arrived in
Minneapolis with
his immigrant
family in 1999, he
didn’t own much. In his new film, Eye
in the Sky, he owns the screen.
The drone-warfare drama
features Abdi as the sole actor
appearing in tense conflict on the
ground. When he’s present, all the
action revolves around him. The
film had its world premiere at the
Toronto International Film Festival
to a standing ovation and critical
plaudits. It’s already been released in
the UK, where the Guardian called
it “exceptional across the board,
with a standout performance from
Barkhad Abdi.” On the film’s posters,
Abdi is listed in the star quartet
alongside Helen Mirren, Alan
Rickman and Aaron Paul.
“It’s worked out,” he chuckled in
a phone interview last week. “I feel
really blessed, thank God. At the
same time, it’s all hard work. You get
what you pray, that’s how I see it.”
Abdi has followed a slow and
steady course to success. He was
selected from 1,000 amateur
candidates to play the ferocious
Somali pirate leader alongside Tom
Hanks in Captain Phillips. He earned
a 2014 Oscar nomination for best
supporting actor, but seemed to hit a
slippery career path afterward.
Bringing tangible humanity but
no formal experience to that big
debut, he seemed for a time to face
diminishing opportunities. With his
return to the screen he has not only
held his own against scepticism, but
has pushed back.
Abdi originally hoped to be an
engineer, attending Minnesota State
University, Moorhead. “When I was
a little kid, where I’m at now, I never
dreamt about it.”
His family moved from war-torn
Somalia to Yemen when he was
six, then won the visa lottery to
come to the United States when
he was 14. “Actually, I don’t worry
about everything,” he said. “There’s
nothing that’s promised in advance.
Monday, March 21, 2016
COMMUNITY
HOLLYWOOD
We work to get ahead and we work
to be passionate,” which is how he
handled his former job as a driver
for his brother’s limousine company
as well as his current line of work.
“You know, I love filmmaking. I don’t
consider it a job. It’s something I
enjoy doing, though it’s very hard at
the same time.”
“I’m kind of opening doors. That’s
how I see it, and crossing bridges”
like the one leading to his latest role.
Oscar-winning director Gavin Hood
(Tsotsi) drew him into the cast over
“lunch in Los Angeles and a copy
of the script by Guy Hibbert, an
amazing writer.”
The film examines the ethical
conflicts between military and
governmental leaders guiding a
drone missile strike against East
Africa’s Islamist militants. It’s a
complex balancing act measuring
inaction against collateral damage
that threatens the life of a nearby
little girl.
Abdi plays a Kenyan intelligence
agent on the ground. He called
drone technology “something that
I’ve heard about here and there but
I didn’t pay that much attention
to the details of it.” The story of
the innocent girl in harm’s way
reminded him of his own youth.
“That makes me think back to that
age. I thought it was really different
and at the same time similar. You
know, in our situation you could see
who’s coming, where they’re coming
from and you can prepare, hide or
something. But for the situation she’s
in, it’s totally different. (She’s) a kid
stuck in a war zone; that’s mainly
who suffers in war zones, kids and
the women.”
This is Abdi’s second key role in a
political thriller showing East African
conflict, dealing with issues he
calls important and worth viewing.
“There hasn’t been a movie that talks
in this way about drones and people
in this situation,” he said. Abdi, who
turns 31 in April, now lives in Los
Angeles but regularly makes visits to
Minnesota.
“Minneapolis is my city, it’s home,”
he said. “There still are close friends,
those who are similar to family. And
there are different people, those who
don’t know me and see me as an
actor. But the majority of people see
me and, ‘Oh, it’s the old Barkhad,’ you
know? ‘He’s back.’ And I love that,
you know?”
Abdi’s movie roles are piling up:
He is currently starring with Al
Pacino in Where the White Man Runs
Away as a translator helping a rookie
journalist navigate Somalia. Then he
joins Uma Thurman in the comedy
adventure The Extraordinary Journey
of the Fakir.
Viewers can also see him as an
African drug dealer in Sacha Baron
Cohen’s spy satire The Brothers
Grimsby, which opened last week.
“Sacha was fun,” Abdi said. “I
loved ‘Borat,’ it’s a classic movie.
He’s very hardworking and he takes
it really seriously. I haven’t had a
chance to see it yet, but I’m looking
forward to it.”
In the meantime, he’s focused on
Eye in the Sky and seeing his name
listed alongside its veteran stars. “It’s
truly a blessing,” he said. “It’s just
unbelievable to be considered in that
way. I’m really glad it worked out.” —
Star Tribune/TNS
GULF TIMES 19
Drew Barrymore to star
in Netflix comedy series
N
etflix has given a green
signal to a comedy
series, which will star
actors Drew Barrymore
and Timothy
Olyphant. Titled Santa Clarita Diet,
the single-camera project hails
from creator Victor Fresco, reports
variety.com.
Santa Clarita Diet follows
Joel (Olyphant) and Sheila
(Barrymore), a married couple
who are real-estate agents leading
vaguely discontented lives in
the Los Angeles suburb of Santa
Clarita, until Sheila goes through
a dramatic change sending both
their lives down a road of death and
destruction — but in a good way.
“The genius of casting Timothy
and Drew, combined with my
comedic... Oh wait, that’s Cindy’s
quote. I agree with what Cindy
is about to say,” Fresco said in a
statement.
Netflix’s Cindy Holland said:
“The genius casting of Timothy
and Drew combined with Victor’s
unique comedic sensibility will
delight, and definitely surprise, our
members around the world.”
Santa Clarita Diet is slated to
launch in 2017 on Netflix. — IANS
COMIC SENSIBILITY: Drew Barrymore
Maze Runner star injured on set
Maze Runner star Dylan O’Brien was hit by
a car and suffered multiple injuries on the set
of the franchise’s upcoming sequel The Death
Cure.
O’Brien was reportedly run over by a vehicle
in a car scene gone wrong and may have
suffered multiple broken bones. The 24-yearold actor was taken to a local hospital in British
Columbia for observation and treatment
following the accident, reports variety.com.
Maze Runner author James Dashner tweeted
an update on the actor’s health. “I just want
to let everyone know that yes, Dylan was hurt,
but that he’s going to be okay,” Dashner said.
“Not life threatening in any way. Production is
postponed but certainly not cancelled. All that
matters now is that Dylan recovers. We love
you, Dylan,” he added.
O’Brien stars in the series as Thomas. The
2014 original grossed $102mn in US receipts,
and 2015 follow-up The Scorch Trials tallied
$82mn in domestic box office. He’s also
known for his role on MTV’s Teen Wolf and his
appearance in The Internship. The Death Cure,
the third instalment, will release on February
17, 2017. — IANS
ROAD TO RECOVERY: Dylan O’Brien
Russell Crowe has shed
52 pounds since The Nice Guys
Actor Russell Crowe has lost 52 pounds of
weight since his role in The Nice Guys for which
he had to beef up. “I was 121.6 kg (268 pounds)
the first week of August last year. I did a movie
called The Nice Guys, so I wanted to be the
physical juxtaposition of (actor) Ryan Gosling,”
Crowe said on a radio show, reports people.com.
Crowe added that he is still “clawing his way
back from his higher weight”.
On working with Gosling, Crowe said that
the actor constantly kept the laughs coming on
set, adding that the former made him laugh at
inappropriate times more than he ever has in his
career.
“That kid is a comic genius. He’s great
company. He’s really smart. He loves what he
does and he asks all the right questions. Working
with him was such a treat. The kid just knows
how to make me laugh. He’s very, very funny,”
he said.
The Nice Guys is set to hit theaters on May 20.
– IANS
Kylie Jenner dyed
hair when aged nine
Reality TV personality Kylie Jenner first
dyed her hair when she was a mere nine
years old. The 18-year-old, who has a huge
stash of fake hair, believes her fascination
with collecting wigs began after she started
to experiment with hair colouring, reports
femalefirst.co.uk.
Taking to her Twitter account, Jenner posted
a photograph of her younger self with a thick
blonde highlight streaked through her dark
locks. She accompanied the shot with the
caption: “I begged my mother for a year to dye
LOSING SPREE: Russell Crowe
my hair and finally at nine-year-old she let me
do this and only this! Changed everything.”
Meanwhile, the Keeping Up With the
Kardashians star, who recently became
the face of the sportswear brand Puma, is
constantly experimenting with her tresses but
she has admitted there is one trusty hair piece
she always turns to. “My favourite is the plain
black one with bangs. When my hair’s been
braided or it just doesn’t look good. I’ll wear it
for the day, which is so easy.
“I’ve never been shy about the fact that I
wear wigs, so I thought it would be really fun to
show everybody my whole collection. I’ve got
15 altogether,” she said. — IANS
20 GULF TIMES Monday, March 21, 2016
COMMUNITY
GRAND STAGE: Sohni Dharti has organised many colourful programmes on days of Pakistan’s national importance and other occasions.
SD plans unique show
to mark Pakistan Day
The highlight will be children participating in different segments themed
according to the significance of Pakistan Day. By Umer Nangiana
O
ne of the most
prominent and
active community
organisations of
Pakistani expatriates
living in Qatar, Sohni Dharti (SD) Al
Khor is once again coming up with a
colourful community programme to
mark Pakistan Day on March 23.
The grand stage show, Chand
Meri Zameen, Phool Mera Watan
(My country is like moon and
flowers), to be held at Al Waha
Club Ball Room, is unique in a way
that it would be hosted completely
by children. A large number of
children are also participating
in different segments and
competitions specially designed for
the show, themed according to the
significance of Pakistan Day.
Children will present eight
tableaus and there would also
be speeches made by them on
A large number of children are participating in Pakistan Day celebrations.
the occasion. “We have already
received submissions from children
on two different competitions
that we announced as part of the
Pakistan Day programme and they
would be displayed at the occasion.
The entire Pakistani community
living in Doha has been invited to
the show and we are expecting a
good turn out,” Anwar Ali Rana, the
Chairman of SD, told Community.
Children below nine years of
age were invited to participate
in a sketch and painting
competition titled Menar-ePakistan (Monument Minaret
in Lahore). This was aimed at
making the children understand
the significance of the day and the
‘Minaret of Pakistan,’ said Rana.
Meenar-a-Pakistan, the symbol
of resolution of Pakistan beautifully
painted by Aiman, Faizan Ashraf,
Zikra Hoor, Muhammad Ashir,
Rao Abdullah Aabban and Rao
Muhammad Aayan, he added.
The children above nine years of
age were asked to participate in an
essay competition on the theme,
‘I Love My Pakistan’. And SD chief
said they have already received a
bundle of submissions from the
children.
“Children will show the
performances on Pakistani patriotic
songs. Almost 100 children will
show the performances first time on
the platform of Sohni Dharti. It will
be a wonderful show organised by
SD on Pakistan Day,” added Rana.
The Pakistan Day will be
officially marked with a flaghoisting ceremony at the embassy
of Pakistan. A number of other
community organisations have also
planned multiple events where the
local community will be engaged in
different activities.
The Sohni Dharti Al Khor
Community has been regularly
holding events to mark Pakistan Day
and days of national importance
besides actively participating in
the National Day celebrations
of Qatar and other local events.
The community organisation
regularly brings colourful cultural
programmes, sports and recreation,
and educational activities to the
Pakistani community living in
Doha.
SD recently organised a cricket
tournament, Pakistan Cricket
League (PCL) 2016 comprising
six teams which was styled on
the recently concluded first
Pakistan Super League (PSL).
The hotly contested tournament
was witnessed by scores of
cricket-lovers residing in Al Khor
community and outside.
The cricket extravaganza also
coincided with a grand bazaar
featuring a mandarin festival
and fresh fruits and vegetables
directly imported from Pakistan,
held at New Football Field Al Khor
Community last month.
The festival attended by a large
number of expatriates featured
one of the best mandarin varieties
(kinnow) from Pakistan. Kinnow,
widely grown in the Punjab
province, is exported to many
countries of the world.
“We got the kinnow imported
fresh from Pakistan and all our
fruits and vegetables arrived on the
day of festival fresh from Pakistan.
The visitors of the festival were
happy to find some of the best
quality kinnow in Qatar,” Rana told
Community.
Besides the mandarin, the
festival also offered visitors the
traditional Pakistani cuisine besides
ingredients for the typical Pakistani
dishes found in different areas.
Other Pakistani products such as
clothes were also put on display for
the visitors.
Among its educational
programmes, the SD organised
an event called Future Leaders
Programme. Renowned scholar and
motivational speaker Dr Shoukar
Chandna was invited to speak to
children and youth of the Al Khor
Community.
A regular feature of Sohni Dharti
annual activities calendar, the
format of the programme allows
the participating children to share
their learning experiences and give
their input. In the programme,
the participants were shown a
motivational video followed by a
discussion on it.