Book # 1 - In the City by the Sea

'In the City by the Sea' was the first book that Kamila Shamsie wrote and the first book of my 15days/books/blog challenge.

I have read other works of Shamsie which include Kartography, Burnt Shadows and Broken Verses. Even though she rose to fame with her book Kartography, it is Broken Verses which I like best. Burnt Shadows, her latest piece of work, is a wonderful read also. Among the many books written by Pakistani authors on 9/11, this is by far the most creatively written.

The book, 'In the City by the Sea', is based on the events in the country under dictatorial military rule. The reader gets an idea of the situation in the city through the eyes of the 11 year old protagonist Hasan whose maternal uncle, Salman Haq, is a politician. Haq is a threat to the military regime and is under house arrest when the author introduces him to the reader.

Hasan is the only son of an artist mother (who owns an art gallery) and a lawyer father (obsessed with etymology). The plot revolves around the ordeal the family goes through, especially young Hasan, when Salman Haq is imprisoned by the military government and stands trial. Hasan wants to rescue his uncle and is willing to go to any length yet he also understands his incapacity to actually put any of his plans into action.

The dilemmas and frustrations of Hasan's age are captured brilliantly. Although no city is mentioned, this book is based on Karachi, Pakistan's city by the sea. It covers many aspects of our culture; kite flying, rituals at someone's death, and our 'desi chai' or morning tea to name a few.

The prose has almost a lyrical quality to it which made the book a pleasant read. Shamsie has a way of saying the most complex things in the most simple ways. Following is an excerpt from her book in which Salman Haq gives Hasan a brief tutorial on dictators.

'No. no. All countries need dolphins, Hasan. But the General, our self-exalted leader, well, I've seen the way he operates. If he saw people in a hut drawing together to view a dolphin, he would shoot the dolphin dead. Then he'd plant clues to suggest to each person that someone else in the hut had pulled the trigger, and when the accusations turned to violence and everyone was intent on ducking and throwing punches, he would sneak out and sell the carcass for a handsome profit. The worst part is, before long some of the people in that hut would become dolphin killers themselves. And Huss, I don't think I could live in a world without dolphins'.

15 books, 15 days, 15 blogs- whew!

I am not a bookworm, at least not yet, but I might just qualify for this title if I successfully complete this challenge. Posted by Girl Detective; 15 books, 15 days, 15 blogs is a pretty steep task. Considering the fact that I read a total of 15 books last year, this is going to be real tough. But hey, when Julie can cook one dish from Julia Child's book each day ( "Julie and Julia" - 2009 ) and post details of it on her blog, I think reading a book will be a piece of cake. Maybe.

So why take up this challenge? I think my biggest reason is that I'll have done 15 books in just 15 days which means I'll end up reading more books throughout the year and have a perfect excuse to buy even more books! Not that hubby dear and myself require a reason to buy books at any time!

The challenge starts from Friday, April 16th and ends on April 30th 2010. The selection of books was based on just one criteria, length. I might be a fast reader but considering all the external (and some internal) factors, I won't be able to complete any book, in one day, which exceeds 250 pages. Even then, I am having doubts about some books already!

Two weeks of intense reading... I better stock up on Coke Zero and plain potato chips.

Link: http://www.girldetective.net/

A Midsummer Night's Dream Ends!

Certain moments in life have a surreal quality. Both hubby dear and myself experienced such a moment these past ten days when we worked together in the wonderful production of NAPA's 'Beech Bahar kee Raat ka Sapna', an Urdu translation of Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.

It was an experience like no other. Of course what made it very special was the fact that both of us played the role of King and Queen (Theseus and Hippolyta) and being together on the stage as a couple was as amazing as it is in real life!

It was hubby dear's first public performance and he did an impressive job as Duke Theseus or Tabrez. A huge thanks to all our friends and family members who came to watch the play - it meant a lot to both of us!

I thought that acting was a simple profession but now, after this stint, I have realized what hard work and patience is required to perform and put on a great show everyday (the play was for a duration of ten days at The Arts Council Karachi). Kudos to all the people at NAPA (actors, director, assistant director, stagehands, set designers) who make it all look so simple and effortless!

I was transported into a different world in these ten days. I met all sorts of people from different backgrounds who had come together for the same purpose, to do their best in order to make the play a success. These people shed their own self for a few hours and assumed the identities of fictional characters. Actors are such multifaceted people. You never know their stories, their dreams, or their real self but they remain alive in your memory as a particular character which made you laugh, or brought tears in your eyes or left you in awe and wonder. All they want is your appreciation and love. All they want is applause.

We got a lot of applause from our audience each day. Three cheers for the entire team of the play!

[Photographs courtesy my dear friends Atif Asad Jan and Sabrina. Thanks guys! Also courtesy Mohammad Talha Ghouri]

DAWN.COM | Local | As the bard may have liked it

You and Me

A nod here, a smile there,

Sometimes a frown, sometimes tears.

A look, a touch, a caress,

Fun, laughter, arguments, stress.

Simple moments of love, of joy!

Advancing, retreating. Bold,coy.

Wondering, hoping. Bemused, surmised,

Delighted, excited; at times surprised!

Living life out loud, you and me,

Together now, forever, eternally!

[Dedicated to hubby dear, Adnan, on our first wedding anniversary.

March 20, 2010]

365 days of married life!

After completing one year with hubby dear, it is hard to imagine that there was a life otherwise! Married life, though challenging, is also a great deal of fun. Of course, it depends greatly on whether the definition of ‘fun’ is the same for both of you!

Marriages are made in heaven – this is a sort of universal belief. I disagree with this belief a little. To make married life a success, one has to work on it down here, on earth. And to have a successful marriage requires patience, some hard work, a little reality check and an infinite amount of love!

The question is - what makes a marriage successful? Every married couple will have a different definition and rightly so. I mean, what works for you might be catastrophic for anyone else. Are there certain rules of the thumb? I guess so. In our case, I think we have broken some rules and in the process, created new ones (which is not a bad thing!).

Over these 365 days, I have learned a lot of things about marriage. I’ve learned to enjoy sharing and letting go of my private space. In the process, I’ve found our private space which is a celebration of both our personalities. I had to accommodate all his DVD collection in our room while he had to accept my collection of cartoon figures (includes Sponge Bob Square Pants, the Kungfu Panda cast, Mr. Incredible, Shrek, and frogs). And together we have bought lots of books and created a space which reflects both of us as individuals and a couple. [We grow up listening to the dictum, ‘sharing is caring’. Why do we forget it as soon as we get married?]

Personality differences should not become a bone of contention. Why is it that we consider a trait of our spouse, which is different from ours, as a sign of hostility? Differences on various things should be understood and ideally, a common ground found. Just like diversity in the workplace makes a company more appealing and appreciated, diverse personalities in a marriage help it from becoming dull. Sparks are required to spice things up, aren’t they?

We walk into marriage with a trunk full of expectations which are founded on movies and books that never go beyond the ‘happily ever after’. And why should they? Beyond these three words is reality which YOU must discover, accept and live with forever after. It’s not easy to accept reality and burst your fantasy bubble but it’s not impossible either. You must discover the qualities of your spouse and try and find your soul mate in him/her. Accept each other for who you are and bring out the best in each other. And never compare your married life with anyone, for comparison is like termite that will leave your marriage hollow.

In this one year I’ve discovered two new people; hubby dear and myself. I have learned to let go and to de-compartmentalize. I’ve found joy in simple things like browsing through books at Sunday market, watching a movie or having morning tea with him (which he makes – every single day!). I’ve accepted that theater is his passion. I’ve understood when I should act as a support system and when I should let go. I’ve become more responsible, not just as a wife but also as a daughter-in-law, a sister-in-law, a mami and a chachi. For you see, in the East we don’t just marry a person, we marry into a family and that is what contributes to marital bliss also.

My most favourite definition of marriage is from the film, ‘Shall we Dance?’ In the film Susan Sarandon gives the private detective she’s hired to spy on her husband, Richard Gere, her perspective on marriage and I quote, “All these promises that we make and break, why is it do you think that people get married? Because, we need a witness to our lives. There’s a billion people on the planet..I mean what does any one life really mean? But in a marriage you’re promising to care about everything; the good things, the bad things, the terrible things, the mundane things. All of it, all the time, everyday. You’re saying your life will not go un-noticed because I will notice it. Your life will not go un-witnessed because I will be your witness” unquote.

We’ve just completed one year of the good, the bad, and the mundane!

Culture conscious

What is our culture?

This is the question that I posed to my students some time back.

To understand this question, it is very important to understand what culture actually means. Among the many definitions I found in the Oxford Dictionary, the one most applicable to my question is; 'the customs, civilization, and achievements of a particular time or people'.

Culture can also be defined as a set of shared attitudes, values, and practices that characterize an institution, organization or group. (Wikipedia)

Now, coming to the input from my students on the Pakistani culture. It is interesting how we, in casual conversation, tend to refer to certain things as being (or not being) a part of our culture. What are those things, I had asked, which we can proudly (or simply) claim to be part of our culture? This is what they said.

1. Weddings & dowry

2. Ramazan & Eid-ul Fitr

3. Joint family system/ values/ respect for elders

4. Collectivist culture

5. Male dominated society

6. Handicrafts

7. Tea drinking ritual

Out of all these, I found the last one most amusing. Japan is known for its tea drinking ceremony but from the responses of the students it seems we have adopted it also, minus the kimonos. (But somehow, our tea-drinking isn't as glamorous as the Japs so you might not find any result when you Google - tea drinking culture in Pakistan). Drinking tea in the office with colleagues, or coming home in the evening and having a cup of tea with the family are things which the tea brands in our country have highlighted through a lot of song and dance jingles. Advertising can create trends and most tea brands have just taken an ordinary situation (like evening tea or serving tea to guests) and turned it into an occasion for quality family time and in some cases, collective decision making. Which brings us to another aspect of our culture, collectivism. In some cases more like butting into situations which are none of our business! Living in a joint family system where there is collective decision making on major matters at evening tea is one aspect of the Pakistani culture. Another aspect of our culture, male dominance, is also apparent in these ads. Usually the mother, wife or daughter are making or serving tea. Our tea adverts sure are reflective of our culture!

As far as handicrafts are concerned, we do a lot of empty talk but we have no idea of what constitutes the 'handicrafts' of our country. Our culture can only be accepted by others and become our identity when we adopt it. Look around you - do you find anything that is representative of our local crafts? (Don't feel too bad - you are not alone!).

Weddings are a part of every culture in the world. What was interesting in almost all the students' answers was the fact that lavish wedding ceremonies have become a part of our culture. Dowry remains there and it won't go away unless people like you change yourself. Why does a girl have to bring things with her? Was your son without a bed before she came or did you not have a refrigerator? The worst part is some electronic appliances brands have actually started special promotions catering to dowry requirements. Sort of a 'dowry package deal'. Disgusting!

In all honesty, we have lost sight of our culture (if we ever had our eyes on one!). We've adopted some things from the west and others are being thrust upon us from religious extremists. Our culture, which was a part of the culture of the subcontinent as a whole, has become a fusion of the north, south, east and west. The worst part is the fact that the majority of the world just recognizes us as belonging to one culture - terrorism.

The search for the Pakistani culture continues. All else said and done, I would like to add my two penny's worth on Paki culture also. Pakola!

Let's doodle!

Doodles just got me thinking of something and I need YOU to be a part of the doodle movement.

While uploading my last blog I just googled doodles and this is what I found in Wikipedia:

'A doodle is a type of sketch, an unfocused drawing made while a person's attention is otherwise occupied. Doodles are simple drawings that can have concrete representational meaning or may just be abstract shapes.

Stereotypical examples of doodling are found in school notebooks, often in the margins, drawn by students daydreaming or losing interest during class. Other common examples of doodling are produced during long telephone conversations if a pen and paper are available'.

I'm sure many of us engage in this activity ( I know of a few students who I've found doodling in class. Wait, that reflects badly on me as a teacher! oops!) and here's what I want YOU to do.

Next time you doodle something, do the following:

1. Keep your doodle paper safely.

2. Scan it ASAP.

3. Mail it to me at farheenzehra80@gmail.com before 10th March 2010.

I'll post the doodles and then we can vote on the most popular doodle! Come on guys, let's do this!

Start doodling, NOW!