Diminutive replica

CommunityMajlis-e-Frogh-e-Urdu Adab

to present ‘22nd Aalmi Frogh-e-Urdu Adab Awards’ on November 15.

P6 P16 CommunityA look at the long journey of vitamin C

and its benefits on Captain Cook’s 250th anniversary.

Diminutive replicaCOVERSTORY

To reach his big dream of owning a home in Los

Angeles, Chris Toledo started very, very small. P4-5

Thursday, October 18, 2018Safar 9, 1440 AH

Doha today: 280 - 330

REVIEW BOLLYWOOD

Family meal served up Oath

idea for Barinholtz .

4

Ashvin Kumar hits out at

CBFC for ‘abuse of power’.

Page 15

MASTERWORK: Matthew Mathiasen, left, and his friend, artist Chris Toledo, with the structure Toledo has spent the last two years working on, a grand home in miniature in their apartment in Los Angeles.

Thursday, October 18, 20182 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITY ROUND & ABOUT

Community EditorKamran Rehmat

e-mail: [email protected]: 44466405

Fax: 44350474

Emergency 999Worldwide Emergency Number 112Kahramaa – Electricity and Water 991Local Directory 180International Calls Enquires 150Hamad International Airport 40106666Labor Department 44508111, 44406537Mowasalat Taxi 44588888Qatar Airways 44496000Hamad Medical Corporation 44392222, 44393333Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation 44845555, 44845464Primary Health Care Corporation 44593333 44593363 Qatar Assistive Technology Centre 44594050Qatar News Agency 44450205 44450333Q-Post – General Postal Corporation 44464444

Humanitarian Services Offi ce (Single window facility for the repatriation of bodies)Ministry of Interior 40253371, 40253372, 40253369Ministry of Health 40253370, 40253364Hamad Medical Corporation 40253368, 40253365Qatar Airways 40253374

USEFUL NUMBERS

Quote Unquote

PRAYER TIMEFajr 4.17amShorooq (sunrise) 5.33amZuhr (noon) 11.19amAsr (afternoon) 2.37pmMaghreb (sunset) 6.02pmIsha (night) 6.36pm

“Selfi shness is not living as one wishes to

live, it is asking others to liveas one wishes to live.”

—Oscar Wilde

Namaste England DIRECTION: Vipul Amrutlal ShahCAST: Parineeti Chopra, Hiten Patel, Arjun KapoorSYNOPSIS: Namaste England is a young and refreshing

story of Jasmeet and Param, whose love story traces along diff erent places from Punjab to Dhaka to Paris to Brussels to fi nally London.

THEATRES: The Mall, Royal Plaza

Vada ChennaiDIRECTION: VetrimaaranCAST: Dhanush, Aishwarya Rajesh, Andrea JeremiahSYNOPSIS: The life of a North Madras youngster,Anbu,

changes completely when he meets local gangsters Guna and

Rajan. Vada Chennai is the story of a fi sherman from North Chennai, who does not even realise when he falls prey to the trap set by a mafi a gang. What happens to him later forms the story.

THEATRES: The Mall, Landmark

The Mall Cinema (1): Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (2D) 2:30pm; Legend Of A Rabbit The Martial Of Fire (2D) 4:15pm; Sandakozhi 2 (Tamil) 6pm; Namaste England (Hindi) 8:45pm; Vada Chennai (Tamil) 11:30pm.The Mall Cinema (2): Vada Chennai (Tamil) 2:30pm; Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (2D) 5:30pm; First Man (2D) 7:15pm; The Old Man And The Gun (2D) 9:45pm; Accident (2D) 11:30pm.The Mall Cinema (3): Hello Guru Prema Kosame (Telugu) 2pm; Namaste England (Hindi) 4:45pm; Badaai Ho (Hindi) 7:30pm; Mandy (2D) 9:45pm;

Kayamkulam Kochunni (Malayalam) 11:30pm.Landmark Cinema (1): Vada Chennai (Tamil) 2:15pm; Kayamkulam Kochunni (Malayalam) 5:15pm; Vada Chennai (Tamil) 8pm; Sandakozhi 2 (Tamil) 11pm.Landmark Cinema (2): Legend Of A Rabbit The Martial Of Fire (2D) 2:30pm; Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (2D) 4:30pm; Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (2D) 6:30pm; Namaste England (Hindi)

8:30pm; Badaai Ho (Hindi) 11:15pm.Landmark Cinema (2): Hello Guru Prema Kosame (Telugu) 2:30pm; Badaai Ho (Hindi) 5pm; Mandy (2D) 7:15pm; Masrycany (Arabic) 9pm; First Man (2D) 11pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (1): Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (2D) 3pm; Sandakozhi 2 (Tamil) 5pm; Namaste England (Hindi) 8pm; Vada Chennai (Tamil) 10:45pm.Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (2): Hello Guru Prema Kosame (Telugu) 2:30pm; Badaai Ho (Hindi) 5pm; The Old Man And The Gun (2D) 7:15pm; First Man (2D) 9pm; Mandy (2D) 11:30pm.

3Thursday, October 18, 2018 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYROUND & ABOUT

Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: [email protected], Events and timings subject to change

EVENTS

European Film FestivalWHERE: Museum Of Islamic ArtWHEN: Ongoing till October 23TIME: 5pm – 8pmThe European Cultural Cluster (EUNIC)

is pleased to invite to the first edition of the European Film Festival in Doha, in partnership with the Museum of Islamic Art. This festival is an excellent opportunity to present the EU cultural diversity with screenings of outstanding films contributed by EU Member States, reflecting the official motto of the EU.

Breast Cancer AwarenessWHERE: InterContinental DohaWHEN: OngoingInterContinental Doha – The City is

organising several activities (especially at its various dining venues) that focus on highlighting the importance of early detection. Try the pink afternoon tea, the extravagant pink Bar Squared Brunch at The Square and pink-themed nights at Strata Restaurant and Lounge.

Katara Beach - School StudentsWHERE: KataraWHEN: OngoingTIME: 9am – 12pmBy participating in the programme of

‘Our culture is a school’, Katara Beach emphasises the Qatari marine tradition and introduces to students the meaning of Dasha, Al Qafal and various type of pearls. The students will discover all details of the Fath El-Kheir journey.

Workshop on SheCommerceWHERE: Crowne Plaza Doha - The

Business ParkWHEN: TomorrowTIME: 3pm – 10pmSIGN IN is a unique digital

entrepreneurship workshop with a dual-faceted focus. One is to facilitate new and existing business ideas and the second one to establish a strong online presence. SheCommerce, isn’t just the most quintessential stage to raise voice and get heard, but at the same time it’s the most fertile ground to explore business opportunities and cultivate profits for women entrepreneurs around the world. It is the most secure road for ladies to take after and maintain their fantasies for a superior tomorrow.

Kufic BeginnersWHERE: MIAWHEN: Ongoing till Oct 26TIME: 10:30am – 12:30pmThe word ‘Kufic’ is related to the city

of the same name in Iraq, Kufa, and was developed from Hijazi script. Kufic calligraphy is characterised by its bold and vertical letters which often looks like modern design. Join us for this 4-session short course to learn this early and beautiful script!

Andalusian Music ShowWHERE: KataraWHEN: October 23TIME: 7pm – 8pmCultural Village Foundation - Katara

and The Algerian Embassy invites you to attend Andalusian Music show by Nassima Chaabane, musician and singer.

Ballet LessonsWHERE: Music and Arts AtelierWHEN: OngoingTIME: 4pm – 8pmFor more info e-mail at registration@

atelierqatar.com or call on 33003839.

Cycling: Losail Circuit Sports ClubWHERE: Losail CircuitWHEN: OngoingTIME: 5pmLosail Circuit Sports Club, in association

with Qatar Sports For All Federation, invites all cyclists, runners and walkers to train under the floodlights of Losail International Circuit every Wednesdays.

Gymnastics World ChampionshipsWHERE: Aspire DomeWHEN: October 25 – November 3Over 700 male and female gymnasts from

over 80 countries, including three Team Qatar gymnasts, will compete across 10 days of competition in Doha’s ionic Aspire Dome. Experience the drama, emotions and excitement of gymnastics’ pinnacle event as global superstars go head to head in a bid to be crowned the best in the world.

Aspire Torch Staircase Run 2018WHERE: The Torch Doha HotelWHEN: November 10TIME: 1pm – 6pmAspire Zone Foundation (AZF) announces

opening registration for the seventh annual ‘Aspire Torch Staircase Run’ scheduled to take place on November 10. The 2018 edition of the Aspire Torch Staircase Run (ATSR 2018), will offer sports enthusiasts the ultimate challenge of endurance, as runners will have to make their way to the top of the 300m tower to the 51st floor, climbing more than 1,300 steps.

Qatar Finance and Installment Exhibition

WHERE: DECCWHEN: November 3 – November15TIME: 7pm – 10pmThe QFI Exhibition is a 3-day event that

brings together the best of Qatar’s finance community, and local and international visitors who are keen to access Qatar’s robust market. We are pleased to present this opportunity to local and international investors, banking, finance and government institutions, along with leading firms in the real estate, investment and fin-tech sectors.

After School ActivitiesWHERE: AtelierWHEN: OngoingMusic and arts Activities for students

taking place after they finish their day in school includes Group Music lessons, Hip-hop, Ballet, Drawing and Painting, Drama Theatre & Taekwondo. Ages between 5 and 10 years old after school hours.

Hobby ClassesWHERE: Mystic Arts Centre behind Al

Hilal Focus Medical CentreWHEN:Wednesday – MondayMystic Art Centre, is a holistic

performing artsinstitution and a one stop solution for adults as well as children looking to explore their talents in various art forms. We offer classes in Carnatic Music, Hindustani Music, Karate, Yoga, Zumba, Classical Dance, Salsa, Hip Hop, contemporary and Bollywood dance forms. For details, call 33897609.

Dance and instrument classesWHERE: TCA Campus, Behind Gulf

Times BuildingWHEN: Wednesday – MondayLearn the movements of dance styles

in Bollywood, Hip Hop and also the musical instruments such as Piano, Guitar, Keyboard for adults as well kids and move in the world of music. For details, contact 66523871/ 31326749.


COMMUNITY COVER STORY

Casa California is amasterpiece of illusion

I imagined I was a wealthy person in the 1920s ... who moved to Los Angeles to build a home for my family. This would be my castle

— Chris Toledo, the artist‘ ’

ARTIST AT WORK: Chris Toledo works on the roof tiles of a 1920’s, two-bedroom, two-bath, Spanish Colonial Revival, miniature home.

Chris Toledo has gone to painstaking lengths to build the home of his dreams.

He drew the patterns – based on antiques – for every one of his eight stained glass windows. He shaped delicate scroll railings for his Juliet balconies. He laid nearly 6,000 barrel tiles, one by one, on his rooftop.

For the last two years, he’s obsessed over every detail of his 1920s Spanish Mediterranean house.

Thousands have followed his labour online – including architects and interior designers.

But Casa California is a

masterpiece of illusion.The guest room is nearly the

length of a pencil. The stone fountains are no taller than Q-Tips. The fi replace fi ts in the palm of a hand.

The whole house is less than 6 feet wide.

A life-size version would cost millions – millions Toledo does not have.

So far, this is the closest the 32-year-old has come to owning a house of his own in Los Angeles.

Toledo lives with his friend, Matthew Mathiasen, in a small rented apartment near MacArthur Park.

It has two bedrooms, but these days Casa California claims one.

He’s wanted to build something like it since he was eight-year-old.

That’s when, in a doctor’s waiting room, he picked up a copy of Nutshell News, a magazine for miniaturists.

It featured an impeccable tiny version of the Gamble House in Pasadena. Toledo knew the place. He’d driven by it with his father, who restored old homes.

“I was amazed,” he said of the diminutive replica. “I didn’t know what it was, but I wanted to do just that.”

When Christmas came, he asked his parents for a kit to make a miniature two-story log cabin. Next came a Victorian, followed by a farmhouse.

By Esmeralda Bermudez


COMMUNITYCOVER STORY

At home in Alhambra, Toledo would spend months building each structure, then use money he’d earned from chores to furnish every space. In Yucaipa, where his family often camped, there was a miniature store, where he’d go to buy petite fl oral sofas, chests of drawers and china cabinets.

His parents, immigrants from Argentina, hoped it was a calling.

“We were convinced he’d be an architect,” said his mother, Liliana Eschoyez.

Instead, he grew up to work in fashion, photography and later in his current fi eld, graphic design.

Four years ago, after a long pause, he returned to building the little houses that had brought him such boyhood joy.

But this time, ready-made kits would no longer be enough. He wanted to create an entire tiny home from scratch.

It was supposed to be a hobby, until he saw it might be more.

Toledo’s plan was to build a two-story, two-bedroom Spanish villa, a vision he’d formed from watching Bob Villa restore a Spanish home on TV and spending hours driving around ogling grand estates in Hancock Park and South Pasadena.

“I imagined I was a wealthy person in the 1920s ... who moved to Los Angeles to build a home for my family. This would be my castle,” he said.

On miniaturist sites, there are plenty of examples of Victorian homes and English cottages. Spanish dwellings are rare. So Toledo had to make things up as he went.

Everything his father taught him about carpentry, painting and metal work came in handy. So did the hours he spent watching YouTube tutorials and home restoration shows.

To build scroll railings, he taught himself to solder bits of brass – beads, wire and charms he sourced online.

To make six diff erent types of terra-cotta and ceramic tiles, he tried nearly 20 methods – including fl attening clay on a pasta machine. He ended up hand-painting each tile and laser etching the grout lines.

To get precise measurements for his barrel roof, he scrambled onto the rooftop of his two-story apartment building.

“If something wasn’t just right,” Toledo said, “I’d literally tear it down and build the whole thing over again.”

Tools took over the guest-room closet: saw, drill, soldering iron. Shelves fi lled up with paint cans, spackle pastes and sculpting clay.

In one corner, he set up a big laser cutter he bought for $3,500 on EBay. In another, a table to do the tiniest tasks, such as attaching 10-millimetre hinges to wooden doors less than seven inches tall.

To aff ord everything he needed, he sold some of his clothes and miniature furniture he’d collected since he was a boy. He lived modestly. But the costs added up, into the hundreds, then thousands.

There were times when Toledo grew so overwhelmed by the house, he couldn’t bring himself to go near it. Sometimes, too, it looked so

lifelike and perfect from the outside that it was painful knowing that he’d never live inside.

A sneak peek of his freshly tiled staircase, a close-up of his hand-painted ceiling beams, a wide shot of his living room, washed in the electric glow of his scroll work sconces – Toledo started posting images on Instagram and Facebook. Each carried a little clue to show the scale – a quarter leaning on the fountain, a Super Glue bottle in the corner of the guest room, a pencil lying wall-to-wall across the kitchen.

The comments began to roll in.

“Everything is so real! I imagine it on a hill above Montecito.”

“I’ve come back again and again to gaze into this scene.”

One person went so far as to call him “the Michelangelo of miniatures.”

His fan base grew to nearly 40,000. Other miniaturists took notice. They marvelled at his precision, his technique, his ability to constantly outdo himself — aged plaster on the walls, glistening tile on the kitchen ceiling. When Toledo posted photos of himself beside the home, they marvelled that he was so young – and male.

The miniature world is full of women, many from the East Coast.

He made friends with Bridgette, whose specialty is teensy-weensy cats, mice and bunnies; June, who fashions French Baroque furniture; Barbara, who does wonders with stained glass.

Soon, Toledo had become a new star.

“The kid is astonishingly talented,” said Bradley Meinke, who lives in Missouri and is the head of the Cat’s Meow Miniature Society, a group with about 350 members. “If he sticks with it, he’s going to be in the upper echelon of the miniature

world.”The upper echelon, Toledo

learned, is a rarefi ed place. It includes those who make the sort of intricate edifi ces Kay Browning began acquiring in the 1970s and displays in her museum in Maysville, Ky.

Browning recently came across Casa California’s black-and-white-tiled bathroom online.

The space instantly transported her to her Greek Revival childhood home.

“It made me feel very comfortable and warm inside,” she said. “I really wanted to have it.”

So she commissioned Toledo to build that childhood bathroom. They have yet to discuss a price.

Browning’s miniature world includes buildings that have sold for more than $200,000. Some collectors have been known to take out mortgages to buy such properties. Others pay interior designers large sums to outfi t their interiors.

Browning says one furnished piece, her ancestral home in Cheshire, England, is worth close to $500,000.

Toledo and Mathiasen long to own a piece of Los Angeles – a real house they can settle into.

Now they realise that Casa California may be their best bet.

“It’s fi ne art,” said Mathiasen, who works as a fashion sales manager. “It can be worth a lot.”

At fi rst, he didn’t fully understand. He thought of miniatures as toys.

Sometimes he’d wander into Toledo’s work space and tinker around in the tiny bathroom. He’d accidentally break the leg off a tub, the faucet off a sink. Toledo would stare at him, dead silent.

“He and the cat are the two household members forbidden from entering my studio,” Toledo said.

Every week, the friends hunt for properties on Zillow. Their phones buzz all the time with new listings.

But in L.A., their maximum price of $600,000 is pretty much entry-level.

So the homes they can aff ord with the kind of charm Toledo wants are in sketchy neighbourhoods or have major problems: water damage, faulty foundations, kitchens and bathrooms that are total gut jobs.

On a recent afternoon, the two hit the road in Mathiasen’s Mazda to do what they often do: drive around Hancock Park and adore the houses.

Down wide, commodious June Street, the two sighed and craned their necks to catch a glimpse of every entryway and balcony.

“Look at the Tudor over there,” Toledo said.

“That’s stunning,” said Mathiasen.

“It’s a buff et of gorgeous houses.”“I literally want every single one.”They’re hopeful a collector might

shell out as much as $80,000 for Casa California – which would go a long way toward a down payment.

Not on a house of its grandeur – with splendid stained glass and tile, said Toledo.

“Maybe a little Spanish bungalow we can fi x up over time.” – Los Angeles Times/TNS

There were times when Toledo grew so overwhelmed by the house, he couldn’t bring

himself to go near it. Sometimes, too, it looked so lifelike and perfect from the outside that it was

painful knowing that he’d never live inside

ENTRANCE: The artist has spent the last two years working on the grand home.

HAPPY FACE: Chris Toledo looks into the kitchen, breakfast room of the grand home in miniature.


COMMUNITY

Ministry of Municipality conducts workshop at PSSMinistry of Municipality recently conducted a workshop for the students of Grade-IV at Pak Shamaa School (PSS). The workshop aimed at creating awareness about the safety of food. Students also participated in the interactive session. The workshop was conducted by Klaudia, Health Researcher at Ministry of Municipality, and co-ordinated by Noureen, Faculty at PSS.

Students of AMAB excel in Edexcel AS-Levels and IGCE examinationsStudents of Al Maha Academy for Boys (AMAB) recently excelled in AS-Levels examination with 100 percent and (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) IGCSE examination with 90 percent pass result. Shuja Uddin, Principal of AMAB, said, “We have every reason to celebrate this leap of success. Over the last three years, Al Maha Boys has been rising steadily. To have reached 100% success – this is unprecedented.”“We are witnessing our school moving quite rapidly, in the right direction. This is a testament that we are building on our success year to year,” explains Shuja. “At AMAB our students receive quality instruction with the best facilities for learning. The kind of education they are getting builds character. Their confidence and skills stand them in good stead when they go out to participate in

Qatar-wide and international events and competitions,” He added. For the remarkable achievements in academics and major honours in national and international competitions, AMAB bagged the ‘School of Excellence’ Award at the 4th Ta’allum Awards held at Katara – theCultural Village. Ahmed al-Mannai, CEO of Ta’allum, and Dr Mohammed Saefan, Director of Education, congratulated AMAB.“Our achievements are placing Ta’allum Group of Schools at the forefront of Qatar education landscape,” said Saefan.“We look to AS-Levels and IGCSE as reliable yardsticks of our performance because they are recognised bodies in determining Secondary qualifications. We commit to preparing the future leaders of Qatar with the right skills and Islamic values,” he added.

Majlis-e-Frogh-e-Urdu Adab to present ‘22nd Aalmi Frogh-e-Urdu Adab Awards’Majlis-e-Frogh-e-Urdu Adab, a world-renowned Qatar-based literary Urdu organisation, is all set to present ‘22nd Aalmi Frogh-e-Urdu Adab Awards’ to Professor Dr Mazhar Mahmood Shairani, a reputed Urdu scholar from Pakistan, and Syed Mohammad Ashraf, a fiction writer and Urdu scholar from India, at City Centre Rotana on November 15. Additionally, special awards will be presented to people for their outstanding services for the promotion of Urdu language, literature and poetry, including Hassan Abdul Karim Chougule, Chairman of Anjuman-e-Mohibban Urdu Hind; Saif-ur-Rehman, Incharge of Qatar Urdu Radio Service; Azim Abbas, Chairman of Karwan-e-Urdu; and Kamran Rehmat, Editor at Community - Gulf Times.Launched in 1996, the Aalmi Frogh-e-Urdu Adab each of which comprises of a gold medal and cash award of Rs150,000 are given annually to two Urdu writers and scholars, one from India and the other from Pakistan, for their life-time achievements in creative fiction, research and critical works.The 22nd Aalmi Awards were decided by two independent juries. The jury in India was headed by Professor Dr Gopi Chand Narang, Padma Bhushan Award winner and former Chairman of Sahitya Academy of India, along with Proff esor Muhammad Shafey Kidwai, Rashid Anwer Rashid and Zaheer Ahmed. The jury in Pakistan was headed by Professor Dr Khurshid Rizvi along with Proff esor Dr Saleem Akhter, Professor Dr Tehsin Firaqi and Professor Dr Zahid Munir Aamir.After the presentation of the awards, mushaira, ‘24th Aalmi Mushaira Bayad-e-Mushtaq Ahmed Yousufi’, will be held in the memory of legendary humourous and satirical writer, Mushtaq Ahmed Khan Yousufi, who breathed his last on 20th June this year. The Mushaira will feature poets from India, Pakistan, UK and Kuwait. Majlis will also release a special souvenir on the occasion.Guest poets from Pakistan includes Professor Dr Peerzada Qasim, Dr Tehsin Firaqi, Abbas Tabish, Shakil Jazib, Syed Suleman Gilani and Fartash Syed. The guest poets from India includes Manzar Bhopali, Tahir Faraz, Abrar Kashif, Sheen Kaaf Nizam and Dr Farida Akhter Tarunnum.

Ehsan Shahid from UK, Khalid Sajjad from Kuwait, Atiq Anzar, Farzana Safdar and Roaise Mumtaz, all from Qatar, will also be part of the poetry symposium. Professor Dr Peerzada Qasim will preside over the mushaira. Professor Shafey Kidwai, an Urdu scholar from Aligarh Muslim University will be the guest of honour.

Mushtaq Ahmed Khan Yousufi Syed Muhammad Ashraf Dr Mazhar Mahmood Shairani


COMMUNITYTezkar and Radio Olive FM organises ‘Dandiya Night with RJs’Tezkar, in association with Radio Olive FM, recently organised ‘Dandiya Night with RJs’ at Regency Halls. Radio Jockeys (RJs) including Neeti, Sumit, Simran, Harsha, Neeraj and Lallit performed at the event. Around 800 people including Indian expatriates and Qatari nationals attended the event. Hemant Kumar Dwivedi, First Secretary of Information and Education at Embassy of India; Captain Kapil Kaushik, Defence Attaché at Embassy of India; along with other notable personalities including Suhail Bukhari, Harish Kanjani, Ramesh Bhulchandani and Manoj Megchiani attended

the event. The event was sponsored by Rayyan Water, ATpik, NIIT Qatar and Q tickets.“The overwhelming and positive response from the guests proved that Radio Olive Suno Network has a magnanimous fan following across the country and thus we have decided to come up with more of such ground events where Radio Olive Suno Network would get an opportunity to connect with the listeners even more closely and serve them better,” said Ameer Ali and Krishna Kumar, Managing Directors of Radio Olive and Radio Suno, respectively.

OIS organises dance workshopOlive International School (OIS) recently organised a dance workshop, conducted by the team of Mamangam Performing Arts Centre (MPAC). The students of Grade-III to VII participated in the workshop. Pranav Pardeshi, Artistic Director at MPAC, taught diff erent techniques of dance by various gesture movements.

IDEB-Qatar Chapter elects new executive committeeThe newly elected members of the executive committee of Institution of Diploma Engineers Bangladesh (IDEB)-Qatar Chapter, includes Mohammed Jahedul Islam, President; Mohammed Abdul Mukit, First Vice President; Amanat Hossain, Second Vice President; Mohammad Ashraf Uddin, General Secretary; Billal Hossain, Joint General Secretary; Mohammed Fauzul Azim, Finance Secretary; Mohammed Mizanur Rahman Maruf, Organising Secretary; Monwar Hossain Salim, Joint Organising Secretary; Khorshed Ahmed, Employment Related Secretary; Amran Hossain, Library and Off ice Secretary; Mohd Emdadul Haque, Public Relation and Publicity Secretary; Kazi Ramjan Ali, Joint Public Relation and Publicity Secretary; Md Hasan Chowdhury, Literacy, Cultural and Publication Secretary; Nurul Alam Bhuiyan, Social Welfare Secretary; Muhammad Hedayet Ullah Kabir, Science and Technology Secretary; Mohammed Shahjalal, Information and Research Secretary; Qamrun Nahar, Woman and Family Welfare Secretary; Mohammad Akbar Ali, Education and Training Secretary; Md Hashmat Ali, Students Aff airs Secretary.

Students of SSLSD celebrate World Teachers’ DayThe senior students of Staff ord Sri Lankan School Doha (SSLSD) recently honoured and recognised their teachers and their dedication as part of World Teachers’ Day celebrations. The students of Grade XIII hosted a special assembly to articulate and communicate their gratitude to the teachers. A

special ceremonial cake was also cut at the event along with the distribution of roses to the teachers as a token of appreciation. A S P Liyanage, Ambassador of Sri Lanka, along with Roshan Balasooriya, Chairman of SSLSD, and members of the Board of Directors attended the event.


COMMUNITYEMRA’A holds ‘Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day’ at DESSEMRA’A, ExxonMobil Qatar’s Professional Women’s Network, recently held its fourth ‘Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day’ event at Doha English Speaking School (DESS). The event is an extension of the programme that ExxonMobil organises in the United States and other global locations; and is part of the company’s eff orts to encourage young girls to consider careers in fields that require a background in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects. Fifteen professional women volunteered at the event. Around twenty-five students of Grade VI spent the morning with volunteers, working on various activities, which were followed by an interactive session. The volunteers spoke about their professional experiences and how careers in engineering and other STEM fields can be rewarding. “The world is facing a shortage of engineers and scientists, the people we need to preserve and improve our planet and our livelihoods. And there are even fewer women engineers and scientists in the global workforce today. This is why ExxonMobil supports programmes like Introduce a Girl to

Engineering Day that inspire and encourage girls and young women to pursue careers in STEM,” said Mariah Forte-Connor.“It is extremely important that students understand how engineers make an impact on the world, and that engineering needs creativity, communication and teamwork. One of the best ways to do this is to provide girls with hands on activities and positive role models who are confident in their science and engineering abilities and can talk about their accomplishments and passion for their fields,” she added.Sean Sibley, Head-Teacher at DESS, said, “It is important for our children to aspire to be anything they want to be. At DESS we promote and encourage our children to aim high in order to achieve their goals and ‘Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day’ is a fantastic opportunity for our girls to find out more about this potential area of employment. We would like to thank ExxonMobil Qatar for their help and input in raising the aspirations of our children.”

GU-Q professor presents economic outlook of QatarDr Alexis Antoniades, Director of Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q), recently conducted a session on assessment of Qatar’s economic past, present and future outlook ‘Qatar at a Crossroads’at GU-Q.The presentation was attended by over 240 people including foreign diplomats, notable personalities of the business community of Doha, local off icials, and general public. The presentation was an overview of Qatar’s economy along with strategic recommendations and concrete next steps to ensure a prosperous future for Qatar. The presentation kicked off with a detailed journey of the last decade of economic progress and the nation’s energy export based development, focused on the key objectives of preserving the wealth for future generations,

creating jobs for a young population, and attracting both Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and foreign businesses to Qatar. He continued to describe Qatar’s milestone achievements in building modern transportation infrastructure, along with advanced healthcare, education, banking, and transportation systems based on revenues from energy exports.He then went on to describe the current economic situation. He concluded by emphasising the need to support existing businesses, and especially family businesses many of which face the 3rd generation succession challenge, and cautioned against substantial risks looming on the horizon including the higher interest rates in the US and a potential correction in global markets .

New upscale dining concept at the Kempinski Residences and SuitesRichard Sandoval, World renowned Chef-Restauranteur, has brought Maya, his signature Modern Mexican dining concept, to the Kempinski Residences and Suites at West Bay in Doha. According to the press release, Chef Richard Sandoval has blended the earthy yet complex flavours of his native Mexico with worldly ingredients and creative cooking techniques to create the modern Mexican cuisine at Maya. Introducing exciting and artistic presentations of fresh, vibrant flavours, Maya allows diners to experience a menu filled with creative adaptations of traditional favourites. Maya is Sandoval’s third culinary venture in Qatar after his Pan-Latin steakhouse, Toro Toro and Latin-Asian concept, Zengo. Maya was Chef Sandoval’s flagship restaurant which he opened in New York City in 1997. Following the success of its other locations, Maya is all set to welcome both visitors and residents of Qatar to experience its warm Latin hospitality and progressive cuisine. “My vision with Maya is ‘old ways, new hands’,”

said Chef Sandoval. “Elevating Mexican cuisine has been my goal from the start. The restaurant off ers cuisine that is rooted in tradition yet adventures into contemporary tastes. Guests will rediscover Mexican classics in a creative and sophisticated way.”Maya’s menu showcases Chef Sandoval’s vibrant take on traditional Mexican recipes using high quality ingredients. Appetisers include Sandoval’s traditional guacamole and a Tuna Guacamole made with fresh tuna and serrano chili, alongside seafood and vegetable ceviches. Signature dishes include Carne Asada and Salmon en Mole Negro. The grand opening event included a live cooking demo by Chef Richard Sandoval, who shared his signature recipes and culinary expertise with members of the local media, influencers and notable personalities. The demo was followed by a tour of the restaurant and lounge to show off all that Maya has to off er. The event concluded with samplings of selected signature dishes. Francisco Niembro, Ambassador of Mexico, also attended the event.


COMMUNITYKatara Opens the ‘Experiments of Truth’ and ‘Twenty Poems’ art exhibitionsKatara, the Cultural Village Foundation, in association with Embassy of India, recently opened ‘Experiments of Truth’, as part of 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi at Building 16 Katara. The exhibition was opened by HE Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, General Manager of Katara, along with several diplomats and dignitaries including P Kumaran, Ambassador of India; Dr Axel Wabenhorst, Ambassador of Australia; and Abdulaziz al-Sabaa, Ambassador of Algeria.Kumaran said that the Mahatma Gandhi is the tallest leader of the Indian independence movement and is the father of the Indian nation. “His two principles of non-violence and truth are highlighted in this exhibition, and these messages will continue to be relevant in today’s world which is seeing all kinds of manifestations of diff iculties”, he added.

The members of Visual Arts Forum of Indians in Qatar (VAFI) contributed with more than forty painting in the exhibition. Sree Kumar, Founder and President of VAFI, said that the artists had been working over the past couple of months to come up with this work. “We had done several exhibitions over the past few years, and we are involving school students to participate with us through paintings”, he said. Kumar adds that all the paintings in the exhibition are based on the life of Gandhi, his vision, mission, values and simplicity.Dr Khalid al-Sulaiti also opened another art exhibition ‘Twenty Poems’ at building 22 by Hamda al-Mannai, Qatari artist, who documented some Qatari traditional heritage in her paintings.

Intertec Group WLL bags ‘Xiaomi’s Golden Distributor 2018’ awardXiaomi, an Internet company with smartphones and smart hardware connected by an IoT platform at its core, recently hosted 2018 edition of the Global Partner Conference ‘Winning Together’ in Beijing. Over 200 delegates from 60 partner countries attended the event. The aim of the conference was to talk about how to further strengthen the partnership with Xiaomi. On the occasion, Intertec Group WLL, the sole authorised distributor of Xiaomi Mobiles and Eco System products, was awarded as ‘Xiaomi’s Golden Distributor 2018’ for the significant performance in business and remarkable achievement

for brand growth and product market share in Qatar. Asraf NK, Division Manager of Intertec Group, attended the event. The award to Intertec was presented by Wang Xiang, Senior Vice President of Xiomi, and Liu Yi, Global Sales Director of Xiaomi Communications Co Ltd, in the presence of Xiaomi senior off icials, including Lei Jun, CEO and Founder of Xiaomi; Ronnie Wang, General Manager; Usher Liu, Regional Manager; and Tony Qin, Retail Manager. Currently Xiaomi is at 3rd position in the Qatar market with 19% of market share as per the IDC report of 2nd quarter 2018.


COMMUNITY INFOGRAPHIC


COMMUNITYLIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE

ARIESMarch 21 — April 19

CANCERJune 21 — July 22

LIBRASeptember 23 — October 22

CAPRICORNDecember 22 — January 19

TAURUSApril 20 — May 20

LEOJuly 23 — August 22

SCORPIOOctober 23 — November 21

AQUARIUSJanuary 20 — February 18

GEMINIMay 21 — June 20

VIRGOAugust 23 — September 22

SAGITTARIUSNovember 22 — December 21

PISCESFebruary 19 — March 20

There’s a great deal of power to your words today, Aries, so be careful

how you use them. You may end up manipulating another’s choices

if you aren’t careful with your conduct. Make sure you give others the

freedom and empowerment to decide things for themselves. Be open

and honest about all the facts that might influence their decisions in

any way.

Don’t worry about probing too deeply today, Cancer. Trust people

more than you normally would. You will find that things go much

more smoothly if you approach them from a neutral or positive and

not accusatory position. Listen to the people you care about the most.

They’re trying to convey important information. You might not want to

hear it now, but in the long run, .

Communication is flowing smoothly today, Libra, so take advantage of

this and get the word out. It’s important for you to make connections

with other people now. Run with your instincts and feel free to enter

into debates. Your words and tone of voice are very convincing. You

could sell anything to anyone today.

Information coming your way today might be unreliable, Capricorn.

It could be hard for you to take a solid hold on the messages you get.

Keep in mind that there are important answers waiting to be heard.

These answers will come to you when you least expect them. Keep your

mind open to new possibilities and the path will open up and become

clear. Don’t compromise your consciousness with abusive substances.

Answers may not be crystal clear today, Taurus. They probably won’t

be laid out in a neat and organised manner. Get out in the open air and

join friends for a long bike ride. Fly a kite or feel the wind blow through

your hair on top of a mountain peak. The answer is flowing through the

air around you. Stop looking down at the ground for the information

you seek.

You might consider taking a short trip today, Leo. Perhaps you need to

get out of the house and go across town. Whatever it is, introduce your

brain to a new reality. It’s time to expand and explore. You itch to see

new places and experience new things, either physically or mentally.

Perhaps a religious sanctuary or quiet place in grove of trees is what

you need in order to quench this inner thirst.

Don’t let fear of failure or fear of success hold you back, Scorpio. Even

though you may feel a natural tendency to want to shrink into the

background and take the easiest route, you might be sacrificing your

true purpose when you do. Become the leader instead of following the

leader. Rid yourself of all fear and take control of your destiny.

Be careful about being manipulated by another person today, Aquarius.

It’s possible that someone is putting words in your mouth in order to

get you to act a certain way. Don’t fall into this trap. Be your own person

and think for yourself. Your mind is susceptible and vulnerable now. Use

your eyes and ears as a filter and don’t let people unload their garbage

on you.

Your head should be quite clear today, Gemini, and your witty

comments will be met with appreciation and laughter. Your smile will

delight everyone you encounter. Don’t be afraid to let your feelings out

to those who need to hear them. Focus your energy on the ones you

love. Your heart is warm and generous, so share it with other people

today.

Your mind might be stimulated today, Virgo, so stay alert and open to

new information. If you feel tired, take a short nap. It’s better to operate

at top speed and full capacity than go through your day only half

present. Don’t rely on external stimulants like caff eine to pick you up.

These things will deceive your body and do damage to your nervous

system.

Powerful thoughts are running through your brain. You will find that this

information can be transforming, Sagittarius. The key is to learn from

others and incorporate opposing viewpoints into your state of mind.

Don’t automatically disregard the opinion of another just because it

contradicts your own beliefs. Teamwork is the name of the game on a

day like today.

Information you receive today may get you stirred up, Pisces.

Remember that it takes two to start an argument. You play an equal

part in any disagreement. If you want to promote peace and harmony,

your words and body language must show this. If peace and harmony

aren’t your ultimate goal, you may need to look inside yourself to

explore the reasons why.

New smartwatch app can spot how many times you roll as you sleep

Researchers from Lancaster University in the UK and Northwest University in China

have developed an app for Smartwatches that can efficiently estimate sleep quality and provides users with practical advice to help them get a better night’s snooze.

Results showed that “SleepGuard” can estimate sleep quality at a similar accuracy to consumer-grade sleep monitors.

SleepGuard can also count the number of times the wearer rolls over during sleep – another indicator of sleep quality with excessive rollovers potentially indicating disturbed sleep.

The app is also able to capture key information about the factors behind sleep quality and can help wearers identify the root causes of their poor sleep.

“Sleep quality has been shown to depend on a wide range of factors, such as ambient light,

noisiness as well as breathing patterns, sleeping postures and bedtime routines,” said Dr Zheng Wang, Senior Lecturer

at Lancaster University and co-author of the research.

“SleepGuard” was tested on 15 participants. It tracks a

combination of different non-biomedical factors – including body movements, sounds related to sleep disorders

and ambient lighting. “Our project aims to unlock the full potential of off-the-shelf consumer smartwatches, taking advantage of their sophisticated suite of sensors to gain a fuller understanding of a wearer’s sleep patterns,” said Dr Petteri Nurmi, a Lecturer from Lancaster University and co-author of the work.

The team hopes the technology can help users to have a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of their sleep and enable them to take informed actions to improve the quality of their sleep and, as a result, their health.

“When compared to existing sleep monitors on the market, SleepGuard is able to report a wider range of sleep events and provide wearers with a better understanding for the causes of their sleep problems,” noted Dr Liqiong Chang, Assistant Professor at Northwest University.– IANS


COMMUNITY CARTOONS/PUZZLES

Adam

Pooch Cafe

Garfield

Bound And Gagged

Codeword

Wordsearch

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.

Puzz

les

cour

tesy

: Puz

zlec

hoic

e.co

m

Sudoku

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.

Make ’em Laugh

BUFFOONERYBURLESQUECLOWNINGCOMEDYDROLLERYFARCEGAGS

JAPESJESTSJOCULARITYJOKESNONSENSEPARODYPUNS

RAILLERYSATIRESLAPSTICKWISECRACKSWITTICISM


COMMUNITYPUZZLES

Colouring

Answers

Wordsearch Codeword

ACROSS1. Did sun rot the seat? (6)

4. ‘Sweets,’ in turn, should be

underlined (8)

10. Drink back, too (7)

11. Trot off after the man, an

assistant (7)

12. Dash in pursuit (4)

13. Trouble there will be if you

buy the infernal thing? (5,2,3)

16. Find it practicable to get over

there from the gorge (6)

17. In one bag, wrapped up, I put

a plant (7)

20. A wild tit in a bird-cage,

penned (7)

21. Seize the music (6)

24. And is in trouble about one

foreigner (10)

25. Just skip it, lady! (4)

27. Is not sauntering about at the

meeting-place (7)

29. Put away the money inside,

once disturbed (7)

30. She’s the mad girl running

round inside (8)

31. Is clearly afraid of the many

debtors (6)

Super Cryptic Clues

Yesterday’s Solutions

Across: 1 Backlog; 5 Granted; 9 Wilma; 10 See things; 11 Eleven; 12 Stingily; 14 Gusto; 15 Two rounds; 18 Debutante; 20 Excel; 22 Saturday; 24 Indeed; 26 Adoration; 27 Anita; 28 Rosette; 29 Tellers.

Down: 1 Bow-legged; 2 Callers; 3 Leaves out; 4 Gasp; 5 Great hopes; 6 Ashen; 7 Tension; 8 Dusky; 13 Stand aside; 16 One and all; 17 Salad days; 19 Buttons; 21 Crevice; 22 Stair; 23 Roast; 25 Unit.

DOWN1. It’s extra, you say, for the

garment (8)

2. A switch for the water (8-3)

3. That’s nothing like, really! (4)

5. Scrutinised the material cut

up (8)

6. The buzzing of the honey-

bees? (5,5)

7. Don’t keep? Twaddle! (3)

8. Ways in which the man

digresses (6)

9. Tell one to arrange things (5)

14. With one’s praise, gave

satisfaction? (4,7)

15. How the bus conductor said

‘Going Dutch treat’? (2,8)

18. The main salon is let out at

certain times of year (8)

19. Do they beat other disguises?

(8)

22. Exercising, is so slim and

supple (6)

23. Game to keep an eye on (5)

26. Sound not so hollow when

you open up (4)

28. A look of strain (3)


COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Family meal served up Oath idea for Barinholtz

By Rick Bentley

Ike Barinholtz got more than a drumstick and a piece of pie at the Thanksgiving meal he hosted after the 2016 election. He also ended up with an idea

for a script that eventually became the feature fi lm The Oath.

Barinholtz wrote and directed the script about a family Thanksgiving that ends up going from a discussion to argument to police shooting. All the comedy, drama and chaos is triggered by a government mandate that everyone must sign an oath of loyalty to the United States.

“I always have a big Thanksgiving at my house,” Barinholtz says. “My mom, my brother and I got into this big argument. We were all kind of blaming each other for what happened in the election.

“What struck me was that we’re all on the same side and had voted for the same person. I thought if this was going on around our family table, what was going on at tables across the country?”

He quickly found out his family was not an exception. All the confl ict made Barinholtz realise the holiday designed to bring families together had been changed forever. The silver-lining was the political

bickering was fodder for a great script.

Writing a politically charged script makes sense for Barinholtz as he thought about a career in government while he was growing up in Chicago.

“Election Day was a very big day for me growing up. I have very fond memories of being a little boy and going to polling places where I would hand out doughnuts, watch people come into vote and see the politicians,” Barinholtz says. “It was so glamorous to me, but also instilled in me this sense of civic pride. I really could see myself as being a senator from Illinois.

“Then as I got older I started to think that maybe I didn’t have the discipline to be a politician. I said to myself that instead of being a politician, I could play a politician. So the arts won.”

Although Barinholtz is best known for his on-screen work in such productions as Blockers, Snatched, Suicide Squad, Sisters and Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House, the Chicago native has done a lot of writing. He was very active in the writer’s room while on MADtv and was one of the writers for The Mindy Project. Barinholtz also penned the buddy comedy fi lm Central Intelligence.

Unlike his other past jobs,

Barinholtz served as the writer, director, producer and star of The Oath.

“Before this, everything I have done has gone through some kind of fi lter,” Barinholtz says. “Even episodes of TV shows that I have directed have had to go through fi lters. You go through the fi lter of the producer of the TV show.

“This was the fi rst time I was able to change something in my head and present it with no fi lters. And so, I really believe the director part controls everything.”

Barinholtz did hedge his bet a little by surrounding himself with people he could trust. The cast includes Tiff any Haddish, John Cho, Max Greenfi eld, Jon Barinholtz and Billy Magnussen.

The way he has written The Oath has a very claustrophobic feel, as much of the story takes place inside a residence. Barinholtz is happy the way the movie is shot comes across a lot like a stage play, but he wasn’t thinking along those lines while writing the script. He just wanted to create a fi lm that would trigger some discussions.

Right now, The Oath is just a movie. The idea of a national oath of loyalty resonates with such potential to be a reality, Barinholtz says, “I keep checking Twitter to make sure it hasn’t happened.” – TNS

Beautiful Boy is not a cautionary taleBy Kenneth Turan

It was hinted at in Lady Bird and other small roles and became more visible when Call Me By Your Name made him the youngest actor nominated for a lead actor Oscar

since 1939. Now Beautiful Boy makes it offi cial: Timothee Chalamet might be the male actor of his generation.

Still only 22, Chalamet gives an extraordinary performance in this story of a young man’s descent into methamphetamine addiction and the years-long attempt of his journalist father, played by Steve Carell, to pull him out.

Not everything else in this fi lm, based on memoirs by the real-life father and son, David and Nic Sheff , and straightforwardly directed by Belgium’s Felix Van Groeningen, measures up to this performance, but it matters not. Chalamet is so good it’s worth seeing Beautiful Boy for his work alone.

The actor’s performance is especially noteworthy because it comes playing a

character whose traits are some of the most familiar in contemporary cinema: If you’ve lost track of the number of drug addicts and/or sullen, disaff ected teens you’ve seen on screen, please raise your hand.

With moments reminiscent of James Dean, the ne plus ultra of these roles, Chalamet both echoes the best of what’s come before and makes the part his own, allowing us to feel we’ve never seen a character like this. If you want to witness what honesty, authenticity and a remarkable gift can accomplish, this is the place to go.

Having the good fortune (or misfortune, depending on how you look at it) of playing opposite Chalamet is Carell, a capable dramatic actor whose performance here is inevitably not in the same league as his co-star’s.

For though there are elements of Beautiful Boy that strike notes diff erent from the usual, there is a sameness to all addiction stories — the push and pull of hope and despair — that can feel overly familiar and dramatically unsatisfying in Luke Davies’ screenplay, even if they are based on fact.

Also problematic is the onscreen depiction of David’s character. Though the extent of his devotion to his son is undeniable, as played by Carell, David also comes across as self-involved and a bit pompous, full of complacent parental advice on the order of “your feeling of alienation will pass.”

Though both David’s current wife, Karen (Maura Tierney), and his fi rst wife and Nic’s mother, Vicki (Amy Ryan), are characters here, neither is given quite enough to do, which may well be a factor of David’s obsessive determination to handle everything about his son himself.

But just when you start to lose patience with Beautiful Boy, Chalamet returns to the screen and holds you absolutely. The actor deftly conveys the teenage ability to go from contrite to belligerent in a heartbeat, he makes the familiar horrors of addiction and withdrawal feel fresh, and when he tells his father, “You don’t know who I am – this is me, Dad, this is who I am now,” he nails the moment.

Beautiful Boy begins with David quizzing a specialist (a welcome Timothy Hutton) about what crystal meth is doing to his son. – Los Angeles Times/TNS

Thursday, October 18, 2018 15GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYSHOWBIZ

Rita Ora makes music chart history in UK

Singer Rita Ora has become the most successful UK female artiste of all time on the UK Offi cial Singles Chart.

Her new single Let you love me has become her 13th top 10 on the Offi cial Singles Chart, climbing to number eight on the latest Top 40.

It means Ora has set a new UK chart record for the most Top 10 singles by a British female artiste. The star has overtaken singers Shirley Bassey and Petula Clark, who each lay claim to 12 Top 10 hits, read a statement.

“I’m so grateful and honoured – this is insane. I can’t put into words what this means to me. I appreciate everyone’s support. To my fans, thank you for your patience and thank you always for listening. I wouldn’t be here without you, and I promise to keep giving you all my best,” Ora said.

She has had a strong run of success on the Offi cial Chart of late. Since June last year, fi ve of her singles have reached the top tier: Your song (seven), Lonely together (with DJ Avicii, four), Anywhere (two), For you (eight) and Let you love me.

Let you love me is the latest single from her forthcoming second album Phoenix, which will release on November 23.

Co-written by Ora, Let you love me is a mid-tempo pop song, revealing her insecurities in a new relationship. – IANS

A Star is Born soundtrack tops Billboard 200 Albums Chart

The soundtrack of singer-actress Lady Gaga and actor Bradley Cooper’s A Star is Born made its debut at number one position on Billboard 200 Albums Chart.

Released via Interscope Records, the album makes this Gaga’s fi fth consecutive number one album, read a statement.

The album has also got number one spot on iTunes in over 75 countries, including the US.

The soundtrack was released on October 5. It features new music from its principal stars: Grammy Award-winner Gaga and the fi lm’s director and actor Cooper.

Performed by Gaga and Cooper, the soundtrack’s lead single Shallow is currently at number fi ve spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and has held the number one spot on iTunes since the day after its September 27 premiere. – IANS

CRITICAL: Ashvin Kumar has questioned the CBFC’s decision to give his new movie No Fathers in Kashmir an ‘A’ certificate.

SUCCESS: The soundtrack of the movie starring singer-actress Lady Gaga, above, and actor Bradley Cooper made its debut at number one position.

HONOUR: Rita Ora has become the most successful UK female artiste of all time on the UK Official Singles Chart.

Ashvin Kumar hits out at CBFC for ‘abuse of power’

Filmmaker Ashvin Kumar has questioned the Central Board of Film Certifi cation’s (CBFC) decision to give his new movie No Fathers in Kashmir an ‘A’

certifi cate, which he says is discriminatory to a small independent fi lm.

No Fathers in Kashmir, a Kashmir-set story of forgiveness and hope told through two teenagers experiencing fi rst-love and heartbreak, was given an ‘A’ certifi cate following a review committee screening on October 6.

Kumar says the movie has no sex, no violence, no vulgarity, no profanity, no nudity and no drug abuse, as it attempts to provide a fresh and youthful look at an old issue by involving young people whose lives echo the lives of its teenaged protagonists.

“The CBFC’s decision is, fi rstly, against established law. In the case of Pankaj Bhutalia’s fi lm on stone pelting in Kashmir, The Textures of Loss, in which the facts are almost similar to that of No Fathers in Kashmir, the Delhi High Court converted the ‘A’ rating to ‘U’,” Kumar said in a statement.

The fi lmmaker has also pointed out that CBFC is “being discriminatory to a small independent fi lm as it has awarded a U/A

certifi cate to big budget Bollywood fi lm Haider, which was far more critical of the situation in Kashmir than No Fathers in Kashmir”.

He feels the CBFC has “avoided looking at the totality of No Fathers in Kashmir’, as it is mandated to do by its own rules, by ignoring the fi lm’s overall message of forgiveness and hope”.

“CBFC viewed the fi lm instead through a narrow prism that belies a complex, multi-layered narrative. CBFC has also completely ignored the reality of the present situation in the country, ignored facts already in the public domain, ignored evolving tastes of younger audiences, ignored content presently available on TV and Internet and ignored precedents of previous fi lms on Kashmir being cleared for universal screening.

“CBFC’s stand is retrograde. It reiterates decades of tired concepts that have left little room for dialogue while denying,” Kumar added.

Kumar has earlier made fi lms like Inshallah, Football and Inshallah, Kashmir, both about Kashmir. They won a National Award each and were awarded at Dubai, Pusan, Chicago and other international festivals. But they too were both initially banned by the CBFC then, and after a

protest by the fi lmmaker, both were given an ‘A’ certifi cate, read the statement.

Kumar, son of veteran fashion designer Ritu Kumar, says the ‘A’ certifi cate is “death by strangulation” for a fi lmmaker.

Explaining why, he said: “Being an independent fi lm without big studio backing, monetisation is a challenge in itself. Theatrical revenues barely cover marketing costs and producers expect to make 50-60 per cent of the total revenues from broadcast rights, not to mention the audience exposure a fi lm gets from being on TV.

“Under present laws broadcasters cannot air ‘A’ certifi cate fi lms on TV. They can only run either ‘U/A’ or ‘U’ certifi cate fi lms. Thus, an ‘A’ certifi cate is as good as banning the fi lm,” he said.

He says by the time No Fathers in Kashmir is given relief by the courts of the land, it may become “fi nancially unviable to release the fi lm”.

“I lost both revenue and audience due to CBFC’s misuse of the ‘A’ certifi cate in the case of Inshallah, Football and Inshallah, Kashmir. This is the third time they are trying to restrict my fi lm using an ‘A’ certifi cate. This is an abuse of power, whereas CBFC’s mandate is only to certify fi lms,” Kumar added. – IANS


COMMUNITY

On Captain Cook’s anniversary, a look at the journey of vitamin CWhen James Cook began his first Pacific voyage 250 years ago, scurvy was ‘the plague of

the sea,’ decimating ship crews with little or no vitamin C intake. By Heidemarie Puetz

Whether as a serum, in tablet form or by weight, vitamin C supplements sell very well indeed. Many buyers - often spurred by hyped

advertisements - expect health benefi ts from the supposed wonder nutrient that medical experts question.

There’s no doubt, however, that vitamin C - scientifi cally known as L-ascorbic acid - prevents and cures scurvy, a nutritional defi ciency disease characterised by fatigue, anaemia, joint and muscle pain, bruising, connective tissue weakness, poor wound healing, bleeding gums and loosening or loss of teeth.

Fatal if left untreated, scurvy was called ‘the plague of the sea’ in the 18th century as it decimated ship crews with little or no vitamin C intake on lengthy voyages.

This year marks the 250th anniversary of the fi rst Pacifi c voyage by British naval offi cer

and explorer James Cook, one of the pioneers in the fi ght against scurvy.

Organised by the Royal Society in conjunction with the Admiralty of the Royal Navy, the expedition aboard the HMS Endeavour began on August 26, 1768, ending in 1771.

Another Pacifi c voyage followed in 1772, and a third in 1776, during which Cook was killed by natives in Hawaii.

Cook experimented with a variety of substances presumed to have antiscorbutic (anti-scurvy) properties, including cress, sauerkraut, carrot marmelade, mustard, rob of lemon and orange.

Remarkably, not one of his crew died of scurvy, the most frequent cause of death at sea until the end of the 18th century.

In 1747, Sir James Lind, a Royal Navy surgeon, had conducted experiments in which he determined that citrus fruits or juices were eff ective in treating scurvy.

However, he didn’t propagate his fi ndings strongly enough, says Dr Ulrich Troehler, emeritus professor of the history of medicine at the University of Bern (UNIBE) in Switzerland.

Moreover, in the postscript to the third and fi nal edition of his A Treatise of the Scurvy,published between 1753 and 1772 and summarising a century of work on the disease, Lind concluded that it had no defi nitive remedy.

Cook and Royal Navy surgeon William Perry, who sailed with him on the Endeavour, preferred wort as an antiscorbutic sea medicine - now known to be useless for this purpose.

It wasn’t until the mid-1780s that British surgeon Robert Robertson and Gilbert Blane, physician to the West Indies fl eet, convinced the Admiralty of the effi cacy of lemon juice, which was offi cially adopted for use against scurvy in 1795.

It wouldn’t be until 1928 that Hungarian biochemist Albert Szent-Gyorgyi fi rst isolated vitamin C from plant juices and adrenal gland extracts, naming it hexuronic acid, now known as ascorbic acid. Four years later, it was identifi ed as the curative agent for scurvy.

In 1933, British chemist Sir Norman Haworth and Polish-born Swiss chemist Tadeus Reichstein independently succeeded in chemically synthesising the vitamin, the fi rst to be artifi cially produced.

Reichstein’s method was superior, allowing the vitamin to be synthesised in bulk. It was patented and sold to the Swiss pharmaceutical company Hoff mann-La Roche, which marketed the vitamin as a dietary supplement under the brand name

Redoxon. Thus began the spectacular career of vitamin C, an essential dietary component found mainly in fruits and vegetables including citrus fruits, berries, Brussels sprouts and spinach. It is involved in many metabolic processes and as an antioxidant may limit the damaging eff ects of free radicals, the molecules produced when the body breaks down food or is exposed to tobacco smoke and radiation.

“In the beginning, no medical need was seen [for vitamin C supplements], and then they became a blockbuster,” says Beat Baechi, a research fellow at the UNIBE’s Institute for the History of Medicine. “It was a matter of boosting individual performance. You were already regarded as ill if you weren’t at your top performance level.”

Use of the supplements soared in the 1970s when American scientist and two-time Nobel Prize winner, Linus Pauling advocated mega-doses of vitamin C for the common cold, cancer and even schizophrenia.

The medical community was unconvinced.Today there’s hardly a processed food

without the additive E300 - ascorbic acid. It’s found, for example, in bread and yogurt. As an antioxidant, it increases shelf life and helps maintain colour.

While sales of vitamin supplements continue to boom, many experts say they’re unnecessary and instead recommend a diet low in meat and high in fruit and vegetables. Vitamin C in excess of the body’s needs is quickly excreted in urine anyway.

According to the German Nutrition Society, a suffi cient daily intake is 110 milligrams for men and 95 for women - amounts provided by eating half a red pepper or an orange. And it’s now known that just 10 milligrams daily is enough to prevent scurvy.– DPA

PIONEERS: This year marks the 250th anniversary of the first Pacific voyage by British naval off icer and explorer, James Cook, one of the pioneers in the fight against scurvy.

EFFECTIVE: In 1747, Sir James Lind, a Royal Navy surgeon, had conducted experiments in which he determined that citrus fruits or juices were eff ective in treating scurvy.

RECOMMENDATION: While sales of vitamin supplements continue to boom, many experts say they’re unnecessary and instead recommend a diet low in meat and high in fruit and vegetables.

Diminutive replica

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