TMAG Volume 1 Issue 45

Dhaka Tribune Tuesday, March 4, 2014 Volume 1, Issue 45

TMAG TU ESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014

Model Namira HossainStyling Wasifa AhmadWardrobe Shabana AliPhotographer Syed Latif Hossain

About the coverYoung girls are more than the Barbie girl stereotype they are forced into.

A weekly production ofDhakaTribune

EditorZafar Sobhan

Magazine EditorSabrina Fatma Ahmad

TMAG TeamSabiha Mahmud SumiRubab Nayeem KhanMunira FidaiNatasha RahmanSaudia AfrinTahsin MominBaizid Haque JoarderFuad M Hossain

ContributorsNasif Chowdhury Nabeela MUdisa Islam Zaki Adnan

GraphicsSabiha Mahmud SumiTahsin Momin

Colour SpecialistShekhar MondalKazi Syras Al Mahmood

ProductionMasum Billah

AdvertisingShahidan Khurshed

CirculationWahid MuradEmail: [email protected], Website: www.dhakatribune.com

4 Look of the week Hidan Naruto Shippiuden

More insideGossip12 Blush much

picKs oF the WeeK2 Room of the week Rohini Alamgir3 Doodle of the week Saif Khan 10 The goodsheet “Shlock” by Black

Your WorLD5 Car talk Aston Martin V12 Vantage9 Fiction The final wish 9 Comic book The Walking Dead9 Book “Sabriel”

by Garth Nix11 Comic strip The Boy

horoscopes5 Your forecast

FAshioN4 Beauty check What makes you beautiful

4 Wardrobe check Manlier than most men

tMAG sAYs2 Funk up your room Flip dimension2 FYI Gaining an access pass3 School Survival Changing the subject 10 Playlist Top ten girl power tunes10 Music Tegan and Sara’s “Heartthrob”10 Spotlight Portishead’s “Dummy”11 Juno coming out Ellen page: The way

out of the closet 11 Web critic Batinthesun11 App SuperBeam

reAL LiFe3 Event Tweets12 Choose/lose12 Quiz

Hello Readers!Women’s Day is right around the corner, and this means all the magazines will have something for the ladies. We do too. From our Teen Room (Page 2) to Hot Topic (Page 6-7) to Written in the Stars (Page 8) it’s a full on celebration of Girl Power. But guys, don’t fret, we have stuff for you too. From our Car Talk (Page 5) to Wardrobe Check (Page 4, and you better believe it), to Non-fiction (Page 9), we look at how gender stereotyping is hurting the guys as well.Let us know how we did! Rate, comment and Like our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/dhakatribunetmag to stay in the loop. Send us your fiction, art, and room pics to [email protected],The TMAG Desk

CorrigendumOur last two issues carried a Doodle of the Week, which were erroneously credited to Sarah Jahangir. The beautiful sketches were actually rendered by Sakib Mahi of WeDrawStuff. We sincerely regret the misprint. TMAG desk

eDitor’s noteI get blamed for everything, looks like I have no choice but to run for President.

Status of the week

I have so much homework, which game should I play?

Quote of the week

SneizureSneezing so violently it causes you to shake, making it look like you are also having a seizure.ExampleThe girl sneezes and shakes violentlyGirl 1 “You should take your meds. Looks like you are having a sneizure.”

Lingo of the week

6 Hot topic Bhabi barbie co.

8 Written in the Stars xx

9 Non ficion What it takes to be a man


A little lateWhen you have to attend parties/get-togethers a little late, you really can’t have a good time if you know you have to scurry at 7pm because that’s your curfew. Explain to your parents the importance of the event; you have to make them understand that you might miss out something important or your curfews may come off as an inconvenience for others as well.

Keep em in the loopIf and when your parents agree to be more lenient about curfews, keep them informed about your whereabouts. When you reach your destination, inform them via call or text, so that you don’t end up receiving phone calls from home without a pause.

SleepoversNot all families are pro sleepovers. But when it comes to one or two diaper buddies, you really have to find a way to get your parents to agree on it. Talk to both parents about it; if need be, get your friends’ parents to talk it out with your family. That way, there’ll be a mutual understanding between both sides, then neither sets of parents will have to work up a sweat worrying if their daughters’ are okay.

Rubab nayeem khan

FYIFunk up your room

Your Life2 tmag

GAiNiNG AN Access pAss“Be back home before dark,” “Don’t go anywhere without a car.” Yes, most of you ladies had to hear all this growing up and some of you still have to be under the crack of this whip. But throwing a fit at your parents won’t curb the curfews; it’ll just make your routine tighter than your skinnies! Here are a few negotiation strategies that will help you get out of that protective bubble without having to throw a tantrum

bigstock

FLip DiMeNsioN Whether you like it or not, if you are a girl, people will deem you as pink passionate, or a citizen of fairy tales who loves to surround herself with similar things. But the flipside of the coin about girls’ inclinations is just as elegant, sophisticated, and gorgeous as Jane Austen’s novels. This remained hidden because of the breathing stereotypes. Breaking the myths down isn’t easy but not impossible either. Here are some interior design ideas for girls who are ready to bring that great feminine feel to their placeWall treatmentSpare a lot of thought for shades before getting started as they will speak about your style on your behalf. Pastels are understated, though they will be perfect for a chic room. Either that or paint the walls orange or purple for a regal look. If these colours aren’t your cup of tea, opt for softer shades of yellow, green and blue that also impart a womanly glow. Also, don’t forget to hang a classy chandelier in the middle of the room.

Relaxation Hanging or sticking a few things on the wall will create a sense of drama. What about hanging a diamond shaped mirror on the wall behind your bed? Hanging childhood photographs wouldn’t be a bad idea either. A brass canopy bed or a wooden, four-poster bed is a must. On top of that, put a pile of quirky pillows. Also, spare a corner for a vintage satin

couch to enjoy your evening tea or games on the PSP.

Knickknacks Fit shelves near your bed and line up all your favourite miniature dolls, jewellery, and colourful diaries on them.

WindowsWindow dressing is very important. To soften the look, lace curtains are a must. As natural lighting gives an open, airy, delicate ambience, try to stay away from heavy drapes because they block the sunshine. Saudia afRin

NAMe

rohiNi ALAMGirAreA

DhANMoNDi

puppet DoLLs, poN AND zi DoiNG their thiNG-this

corNer cAN speAK For itseLF

saudia afrin

TMAG’s Room of the week!

bigstock


sAiF KhAN DreW this WhiLe he tAKiNG A

breAK FroM hoMeWorK

SchooLogiSticS 3tmagSchool Survival

EVENT TWEETS

chANGiNG the subjectThe aim of this article is to discuss discrimination against women in our society. Gender discrimination can be seen as unequal treatment of a person based solely on their sex. For generations, girls in our culture are seen as the home makers and education is only seen as a trophy they carry to impress their to-be in laws. Should such always be the case?

If you are a classroom doodler, email your doodle to [email protected] and see it in our weekly!

TMAG’s DooDle of the week!

Vow to make a digital Bangladesh

A session on “ICT, Education and Employment” finished with the promise of accomplishing the vision of digital Bangladesh with the help of the youth on February 25 at Bangladesh Computer Council Auditorium (BCC).Mostafizur Rahman, Minister for Primary and Mass education and Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Minister of State for Post Telecommunication and Information Technology were present as the chief guests. More than hundred students from different universities glorified the event with their liberating discussion and presence. “We will be able to garner well-rounded citizens if only we can provide them

Most of us agree that the education system in our country is not what we would like it to be. Discrimination against women in our society has always been a growing concern that is not resolved yet. However, today we focus on the matter in hand- why girls are more likely to choose commerce subjects than science subjects for their O-levels or SSC.

Each of us is bought into this world with our own unique intellect. Has it been proven anywhere that only boys are graced with special brains with which they can study more technical subjects? No. It is our societal thinking that has gotten us to think like this. We, like most patriarchal societies, tend to think that men are the authority figures or the heads of the family, responsible for supporting the family financially whereas, women are seen as the child bearers and the home makers of the family. So our society asks, why is it necessary for

bigstock

the girls to learn technical subjects like science when eventually they will be homemaking?

We now look into a set of surveys that may help picturise the whole idea. If we look into the English medium schools, we see that 45% of the girls took science and other 55% took commerce. Out of the people who took science, 67% found it interesting and 33% chose science due to familial pressures. Out of the people who took commerce nine percent found it interesting, 27% found it easy and the rest 64% were forced to take it. The boys have a higher science-choosing ratio and according to our survey they had more freedom choosing their subjects.

The Bangla medium schools share a somewhat similar perspective. Out of all the girls in the survey, we can say that about 25% took science and 75% chose commerce. Out of all the students that took science, 80% found

it interesting and 20% were forced. From all the girls that took commerce 13% found it interesting, 33% found it easy and high 54% were forced to take it due to familial pressure. The boys in the Bangla medium school in the survey yet again had more freedom to choose their desired subjects and less pressure from their family.

Another diverse issue that some of the girls grumbled about was the fact that most girls are not given the chance to study abroad by their parents whereas guys are given the OK signal in this matter. Again our societal thinking has brought upon a wall of discrimination among genders.

Syed azRaf zaman

with a better education system. To make a glorious Bangladesh, the government has taken new education policies.” said Mostafizur Rahman.

Zunaid believes that the youth will form a new Bangladesh. He said, “Freelancing our youngsters will help to increase foreign currency, and benefit our country further. This sector is creating new scope for employment, hence students are enthusiastic to take this of as a profession.” He also wishes to reach the goal to provide the fastest internet service to union level. Also, within the next year, the entire nation will have access to 3G connection and by 2016, the second submarine cable will also be connected. Similar to Dhaka University, more than a hundred organisations will fall under the Wi-Fi zone soon. Also, the ministry has plans to plant one lakh Wi-Fi tower in the near future.

“Policy cafe” is an initiative by the Centre for Research and Information (CRI) to increase the practice of democracy. Policy Cafe aims to include the youth’s involvement within different government policies. This event was organised as part of Policy Café.

Saudia afRin

Ruchi School Champion TrophyMarch 30 - Apr 15Venue Military Museum Field

Dhaka Games WeekMarch 10 - 11 (10am - 6pm)Venue IUB

Echche AnkoMarch 7 Venue Abahani Stadium Topic Kolopanar BangladeshRegistration booth will be opened till March 6 at all Meena Bazar outlets.


Make-upUnless you are Adam Lambert, or Johnny Depp playing the iconic roles of Jack Sparrow and The Mad Hatter, then strutting eye make-up, will surely make a few heads turn when you walk in. Eye make-up was not a girly thing before. The Greek, Roman and Egyptian men are all known to have worn make-up. King Tutankhamun’s eyes were thickly lined with black kohl. Mughal emperors and even the Zamindars of Bengal were known to apply “surma” to their eyelids. It spoke of aristocracy.

High heelsA girl wearing a pair of Jimmy Choo’s high heel pumps is seen as something very normal and people find it attractive.

On a scale of 10, how weird would you find a man wearing high heels? No matter what you think, during the 1700s, high heels were worn by wealthy men in Europe. Such shoes were not cheap to say the least – hence the showing off. Louis XIV of France was famous for his heels and was seen to sport them in his portraits. However, the fad lost its allure during the French Revolution as men did not want to show any association with the rich. It later came back as a trend for women in the 1800s.

DressesWhat is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word? Yes, girls. That is how our minds have been conditioned to think. What would you

think if you knew that someone as iconic as the former US president Franklin D Roosevelt wore dresses when he was a kid? Odd but true. In the late 1800s, the social convention was for guys to wear dresses (which include pink ones) until they were about six to seven years of age. Similarly, the first haircut they received was usually at that age. So before that age, one would have a hard time deciding whether the kid in front of them was a boy or a girl.

One cannot help but think about the possibility of such “girly” things being popular among men in the coming years. It wasn’t too girly in the past; who knows, pink might turn out to be a masculine colour in the generations to come! baizid haque JoaRdeR

Skin-sensationalWhether you’re dark or fair, you can be stunning if your complexion is clear, and your skin is dewy. This requires a long-term commitment to getting enough sleep and drinking lots of water. You can help your case by exfoliating regularly, using both sunblock and moisturisers suited to your skin. Going easy on the fried food and carbonated drinks, abstaining from smoking, and always, always removing make-up before you sleep will also give you the natural, supple glossiness that no amount of cosmetics can fake.

Mane eventLong, short, curly, straight; all styles can work on a mane of healthy hair. Choose a mild shampoo that suits your hair, and don’t scrimp on the conditioner. Go easy on the hairspray and heat, and at least once a month, get a deep conditioning treatment of some sort done. With a head full of glossy hair, you can style it any way you like.

Full, rosy lipsIt goes without saying that smoking is going to take its toll, so let’s pass on the cancer sticks, shall we? Lips need exfoliation too, so treat them to a regular sugar scrub, and keep them moisturised with lip balms. Another thing one needs to remember: toss your lipstick out if it starts to get hard; even the priciest brand isn’t worth more than your pout. SabRina fatma ahmad

Beauty Check

Wardrobe Check

fAShioN fAce-off4 tmag

We can argue till the cows come home about society’s standards for beauty, and whether one should or shouldn’t conform to it. Here’s a simple fact, though: if you look good, you feel good. And the funny thing is, it also works the other way around. You look your best when you’re healthy and energetic. This week, we talk about the science behind a pretty face, and no, it doesn’t require oodles of make-up or Photoshop

MANLier thAN Most MeN?

Model Mumtahina AfrozeFashion House BloomPhotographer Homayra Adiba

Ever wondered how sometimes some things are associated to a particular gender and others aren’t? How pink is only for girls and blue is for the boys, or how guys wearing make-up is seen as taboo? This week, TMAG discusses a few things which are labelled to be girly now, but history tells us otherwise

WhAt MAKes You beAutiFuL

Look of the week

tANtALisiNG teALsAuNter iN A siLK teAL GoWN ADorNeD With iNtricAte siLver eMbeLLishMeNts to MAKe A boLD stYLe stAteMeNt


The car in question is the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. It is Aston’s smallest and least expensive car with the base model being $120,000. Now that’s big money for an entry level to the brand, but it is beautiful and it is an Aston Martin.

It has a 4.7-litre V8 engine that puts out 420Hp. On paper that seems good but it’s pulling 3,600lbs along with it; which is a huge amount of weight for a car this small. In comparison to the Porsche 911, it weighs 500lbs less and the worst part about it is that the power doesn’t show till a high rpm is reached. So, you really have to flog it to feel like you are getting anywhere. It doesn’t feel as fast as it should. When a car looks this fast and costs this much, you’d expect it to deliver. But it simply doesn’t!

So, what do you do when your $120,000 car has beauty and soul, but no power?

Well, the engineers at Aston Martin decided that it’s best solved by a heart transplant.

Driving an Aston Martin certainly should make one feel like 007. This is the kind of car that you would save the world in. Just as the “Q” branch modifies James Bond’s personal cars, Aston’s goons somehow wrenched a 6.0-litre V12 from the larger DB9 into the comparatively tiny Vantage.

That’s what hot riding is; take the smallest car you have and cramp the biggest motor in it. Finally the Brits have taken a page from the Americans’ book.

The Vantage now has a 6.0-litre V12 that puts out 510Hp, a top speed of 190mph and does 0-60mph in 4.2 seconds. The cost for all this wonderfulness is $180,000. And for that, you get a car that’s even sexier than the V8.

If the V8 is Angelina Jolie, the V12 is Angelina Jolie in knee-high boots and a riding crochet. Added aggressive touches give it the look of a cage fighter. From the race stripped side slits and rear spoiler to the carbon details

on the bonnet, the V12 is muscular and menacing.

So, the V12 is showing some promise after the disappointment of the V8. It has the beauty and it has the soul. The question is, does it really have the power?

You can’t blame Aston Martin here. They’ve tackled the issue with lack of power in the V8 head-on and created the V12. However, they did such a great job that the Vantage has been propelled towards a higher level. It has the performance, the price tag and with only 300 being made, the exclusivity needed to achieve the prestigious tag of a supercar. tahSin momin

Car Talk

This is a car maker that defines itself in three words; power, beauty and soul. A British company with over a 100 years of experience, a rich racing heritage and a tradition of creating instantly recognisable iconic sports cars - it can only be Aston Martin

Street 5tmag

ARiES (MAR 21-APR 19) Money making incentives will be coming your way

this week. Think things through and come to a proper decision.

TAuRuS (APR 20-MAy 20) People will be coming to you with a ton of questions.

Answer them now before they put a damper on your plans for the week.

GEMini (MAy 21-Jun20) Expect to feel a tad bit overwhelmed when taking

up projects at the beginning of this week.

CAnCER (Jun 21-JuL 22) Things will be sailing smoothly for you this week.

Add a cherry on top by spending some time with your loved ones.

LEo (JuL 23-AuG 22) You’ll be on your best behavior at home this week,

and that should earn you some brownie points with your folks.

ViRGo (AuG 23- SEP 22) This is a good week to accept changes. They may

not be the kind you’re looking for, but they’ll certainly reward you at some point.

LiBRA (SEP 23- oCT 22) Job opportunities are right around the corner. Make

an effort this week to look into the associated details.

SCoRPio (oCT 23-noV 21) If there’s trouble in paradise with your significant other,

talk it out this week. Try not to blow your fuse.

SAGiTTARiuS (noV 22-DEC 21) Deserting projects you’ve started recently is a big no-

no this week. You’ll just be inviting trouble.

CAPRiCoRn (DEC 22-JAn 19) Plans have a way of not falling into place. But that’s

no reason to be upset the entire week. Make do with whomever and whatever you have.

AquARiuS (JAn 20-FEB 18) Expect to find yourself a tad bit restless midweek,

especially when deadlines start piling up. Get to it before you drown.

PiSCES (FEB 19-MAR 20) Heart bubbles may be flying your way. If you pay

attention, you’ll find that it’s coming from someone in the vicinity.

HOROSCOPE breAth-tAKiNG beAutY

FFPBFANtAsY FootbALL pLAYers oF bANGLADesh (FFpb) FANtAsY LeAGue top 10 AFter GAMeWeeK 26

rank team Manager GW tot1 Da_Dreamers Fazle Rabbi 68 1,7152 Underdog FC Shazzadur Rahman 87 1,6763 Dream United FC Fahim Al Ifran Rahim 54 1,6564 tomahawk Galacticos Rax Rahman 46 1,6545 Firehouse Quamrul Hassan_FFPB 85 1,6536 mclovin.. Asif Khan 82 1,6477 eBeastmode Ibrahim Mohammad 36 1,6408 ABRAR FC Abrar Moeen 54 1,6329 noob FC Fathin Shadman Priyo 59 1,63010 Spellbinder Arifin Satej_FFPB 58 1,628

The code to join FFPB fantasy league is 975-707


hot toPic6 tmag

“Don’t slouch, you’ll lose your posture!” “Don’t eat so fast, a lady takes small

bites.” “Don’t shout! Girls should keep their

voices lowered.” “Always be polite, you’re a girl,

behave like one.” “My doll needs to look pretty today; it’s her first society party.”

Social conditioning, ladies and gentlemen. Say hello. It has been around ever since civilisation and hence, is usually so deeply engraved into our psyches, we don’t even know what’s wrong. From movies to ads, to our own aunts and mothers perpetuating these gender-biased ideas, we’re attacked from all corners. And it is everywhere.

Where did the stereotype about pink and blue come about? Why are boys given cars, and girls dolls? The idea that there are “boy” roles and “girl” roles, and these are mutually exclusive, starts

right at infancy.And then you go to school. Guardian.

com had a report on gender-based segregation of subjects in school. Boys are pushed towards math and physics, while subject in the arts are seen as fit for girls. Many may not realise this, but these stereotypes may be the result of the age old beliefs that women should take up less demanding and strenuous careers. Those were times when men were the decision makers and women simply decorative.

At schools and university, dating is (while taboo in society) quite rampant. However, the notion that girls are “pure” and hence, must not date, lest her character is besmirched, is another thing to ponder upon. Dating is very personal and as much a girl’s right as the boy’s. If we spare a thought as to whether we call guys as many names as we do girls when it comes to

relationships, we may amaze ourselves.Once you’re done with schools,

and out in the “real world”, it gets no better. The glass ceiling is a major phenomenon when it comes to girls’ getting jobs.

As a girl, we are taught to be polite and meek and not too headstrong. It is possibly this behaviour that keeps us from negotiating the correct salaries and positions in their careers. Employers also spare more than a thought about facts like a girl means no late hours, no strenuous work, she may get married and leave, and this ultimately results in a much lower salary and a long list of lost opportunities.

Stereotypes are age old, deeply embedded beliefs that sometimes lose relevance in today’s times and deserve to be changed. We are the best judges of where we feel we are biased and take it from there. muniRa fidai

Just your regular girl

Bhabi Barbie Co.You don’t have to be an activist to believe that it’s not easy being a girl in Bangladesh. Forget the more serious issues of violence and human rights violence. Your average, every day teen in Bangladesh has to face incredible pressures from a society hell bent on conforming her to its own warped ideals. As we look ahead to International Women’s Day, TMAG talks girls and their struggles

Photo: Syed Latif hoSSain


hot toPic 7tmag

The long roadPlaying victimOur society is always looking for ways to blame the girl; be it molestation, rape, or harassment. It’s the girl’s lack of agency that has caused her to be the prey. In Montana, US, the Montana judge G. Todd Baugh, earlier this month partly accused a 14 year old girl for being raped by her teacher, a 54 year old man named Stacey Rambold. He justified his reasons by saying that the girl looked older than her age and seemed to be “in control” of the situation.

Whether we admit it or not, we are governed by an unfair system that lets

the guys get away scott-free almost always. Of course, things are changing, but is this change coming fast enough?

The progress madeAccording to a study conducted by IPS (International Press Service), early estimates for the last accounting year that ended in March shows that there’s an enrolment ratio of 52:48 with girls taking the lead, and this trend is consistent since 2010 where more girls are now enrolling themselves in schools. It is true that girls are slowly progressing, be it in terms of achieving

stellar grades in “guy” subjects such as Maths and Physics or Nishat Majumder, standing on the zenith of the Everest and making Bangladesh proud.

The downsideHowever, in addition to being a whiz kid, they need to look oh-so-fine too. In a recent study by Oliver James, a clinical psychologist in March in UK says that 15 to 17 year old teenage girls are going into depression coping with the pressure of being excellent academic achievers while still looking good.

It’s natural for most guys to take

notice of the brainiac but only after he is done analysing every nook and cranny of her womanly curves. Families too, don’t budge from this stereotyped mentality; if we have two girls with relatively the same kind of educational achievements, a family would be more inclined to pick out a prospective bride that’s on the slimmer side of the weighing scale. Sadly, the bar usually seems to be just out of reach, even if it’s by a margin. When do they know they are good enough? nataSha Rahman

Skin Colour, Beauty and the Consumer Fortified MediaWhen I was very young, I used to hear the term “heroin chic” being thrown about to describe media darlings. I knew heroin was a bad word, but what I didn’t understand was the admiration attached to the term. A generation later, I realise that it was a popular look then; underweight, pale, angular woman with dark circles underneath their eyes. Well, it was the 90s. As I grew older, like most curious girls, I did my research. The flapper era of the roaring twenties with red lips and swinging hips, the swinging sixties and the beehive and pearls. The seventies with flowers, bead and the tie-dyes and, the eighties with its big haired androgyny, leather and makeup. The pin ups and their tanned va va voom curves, I had looked at them all. That’s

how the conception of beauty had evolved in the West, after all. Looking closer to home, I realised something with a start. It’s something most girls live through day in and day out – while the outfits may have changed, and so had the hair, the standard of beauty still hasn’t. It’s the colour of your skin ladies and gentlemen.

Let me start with an example that still appals me. A year ago at the trade fair, there was a radio infomercial airing for a whitening cream. The father was embarrassed to take his dark daughter out, until he found the whitening product and now, all is right in his world. With whitening products advertising in the same vein in TV slots and the celebrities endorsing them, the beauty standards set for both women

and men had never been tougher. Channel surf (please go ahead, I’ll wait). Every woman and man you come across has lightened their skins to shades lighter than their original colours.

Your cricket hero is endorsing skin lightening products. Your TV is telling you that success is just a skin colour away. Not only does it drive home the notion that being dark is not okay, but also that being dark is something to be ashamed of. Time that the advertising media, the media gurus stood up and took a long look around. If there is any true notion of equality to be had in Bangladesh, colour distinction should be the first to go. Dark is beautiful and that needs to be accepted, embraced and celebrated. nabeeLa m

Bhabi Barbie Co.


writteN iN the StArS8 tmag

Gender stereotypes sometimes lead us to colour roles assumed by men and women, with our bias. Munira Fidai decided to look into two roles that are stereotyped to be “women’s chores” and delve into the lives of Murad Karim (trainee chef) and Juzer Najmuddin (designer) to find out what inspired them to bbend setreotypes and follow their dreams

i DiD it MY WAY

When you started thinking about becoming a fashion designer, how did you tell your family and what was their reaction?I never thought of becoming a designer initially. I just loved to sketch illustrations with fashionable dresses and accessories, especially western dresses and saris. Seeing my sketches here and there, my friends and teachers recommended me to do fashion designing. I was still wondering if there was any future to this but then I got to know about Shanto Mariam University from my cousin where she was doing her HONS in interior. She asked me to give that a try. That was just the beginning. I started with merchandising there but during the first year I showed great potential in sketching and illustration and all my teachers told me to do fashion designing.

I was guessing that telling my family would be a difficult job, but surprisingly enough, they were okay with it as I had the support of all my teachers at university. I had a hard time answering to relatives though. Comments like “How come you’re into fashion designing being a man?” “That must be so difficult being a boy” “Usually women do this” were thrown my way but I had much confidence in myself and that I could do well in it and I love to be

creative so it didn’t stop me.

Did you have to face jokes from friends or society in general that designing is a feminine job? If yes, how did you overcome this view?Not friends. Friends, rather, were very helpful. They helped me during my assignments and in some cases, in my designs too, by giving me some truly exceptional ideas. Yes, society always has something to say about everything, but they won’t come and give me a job or run my family for me so keeping those things out of my mind, I worked honestly.

Have you managed to prove them wrong?Here I am, an executive designer of Interfab Shirt Manufacturing, sister concern of Viyellatex Group. I think this is proof enough of how far I have come to proving them wrong. There are still people who think that fashion designing is for ladies. But I believe it’s the 21st century where women are walking at par with men in all aspects of life. The profession is very much in demand and has growth potential too. As we have so many brands in our country like Aarong, Yellow, Artisti and so forth, we need this profession.

the DesiGNerWhen did you start thinking about becoming a chef?I am bought up in a family where food is something that is extremely important. Ever since childhood, my taste-buds were satiated with delicious food. When I was about 18, with no interest in studies, (I have completed my o-levels, though in a completely different field), I started working but not really in the cooking line. One day my sister forced me to think about what I should really do. She introduced me to a Diploma course in Dhanmondi, in an institute called the ITHM institute. That is where I found my niche- what I wanted to do in the future. I completed my Diploma in Food and Beverage. My results were enough encouragement for me. I found out I loved cooking and would want to definitely make a move with working as a chef in the leading food chains.

How did you tell your family and what was their reaction?When I discovered I loved cooking, I went up to my parents and I told them that I would preferably want to seek a job as chef. I was very lucky that my family was extremely supportive about my decision. Their reactions where

positive, and they encouraged me to move ahead and figure out my niche. Did you have to face jokes from friends or society in general that cooking is a feminine job?Yes, critics were always an inseparable part of me during the pursuit of my career as chef but it never broke me or bothered me, rather it encouraged me. Not everyone is built with similar talents, don’t you think? I loved my work and it never mattered to me of what others thought.

Have you managed to prove them wrong?My biggest support was my family and nothing else honestly mattered to me. After years of training and establishing grounds of understanding cooking methods, I feel all of the critics of my life now appreciate my talent. I have definitely never thought of proving anyone wrong in the process but with practice everyone achieves perfection, and my love and admiration toward the food industry has proved my success to them anyway. I have received beautiful comments from those very critiques and that in itself is a big achievement for me.

the trAiNee cheF


You write it 9tmag

non fiction

bo

ok

WhAt it tAKes to be A MANMacho, responsible, rugged. Some women would swoon at the thought of having a man like this, and men too nowadays aspire to conform to the norms the media has carved for them. Let’s look at the ideas of what is not considered to be “manly.” The jobs guys can’t do If your parents find you sitting in a corner knitting or painting or doing your nails, then that’s it for you. They would either try to counsel you themselves, or reprimand you for gathering these girly habits. It’s almost impossible for guys nowadays to even contemplate the idea of wanting to be a hair stylist, aroma therapist or a nail technician. These professions may earn big bucks in the Western world, but even mentioning this to your folks here would mean a row at the dinner table.

Money matters You must be the “man” in the relationship. The male ego is so widely discussed and infiltrated in the mind that guys who don’t have a male ego suddenly want to have one. For instance, if the girl even suggests paying the bill on a date, the guy either flips or suddenly loses his manhood. In his head, “Guys always pay the bill” – there’s no way he will allow a woman to take that from him!

Emotionally vacant You may be hurting from losing a match, fretting over not getting your lunch on time, or simply having a bad day. But if anyone hears a guy say “I am having a bad day” that only makes him seem weak and “unmanly.” Imagine a guy suddenly crying because the football hit him where it hurts the most. The next day, he notices he suddenly has only five friends left, most of whom are now embarrassed to be around him. Girls snicker at him and the guys try to boss him around. If you think this pressure to confirm to a macho stereotype is confirming, you’re absolutely right. TMAG encourages you to follow your heart.

nataSha Rahman

corpses oN the LooseFor those of you who began watching AMC’s The Walking Dead, you might want to take into account the age old saying “Read the book first.” You already know the book, however, let’s have a quick run through the book shall we?

Rick Grimes wakes up from a coma to find himself inside what was now a hospital in ruins. The town is overrun, by “walkers” and they out number the humans. On his quest for survival he stumbles upon two others: Morgan Jones and his son Duane who take him in for some time.

Eventually they both go separate ways in order to survive the zombie apocalypse. What makes the comic better? Well, for starters, the plot

doesn’t unfold slowly, second of all the artwork: We’ve all seen the hacking, slashing, poking, prodding of zombie guts, but the graphic artwork is a work of sheer brilliance on print. Kudos to Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard for the sketches.

For those of you who have just started watching the show or almost at the end of season 4, do check out the 21 volumes of The Walking Dead (TWD) trade paperbacks that are available for reading at Goodreads.com and Amazon.com. You’ll certainly understand the difference between Robert Kirkmans story and Frank Darabonts direction.

Rubab nayeem khan

fic

tio

n

Somewhere along the way, she picks up an adorable guard called Touchstone and they both accompany her on her quest to find out what happened to her father.

Sabriel as a character is incredibly relatable. Too many fantasy heroines are either damsels or warrior women- Sabriel is neither. She acts and thinks precisely like a young woman in her position. Strong, intriguing, and no slack with a sword in a bad situation, she is a wonderful role model and a friend to turn to with every read. The Abhorsen home is perched on a tiny island, tucked away in a crumbling if still magical Old Kingdom. The eldritch part of the land is partitioned, from a small semi-industrialised town named Ancelstierre. The partition is a great wall, on one side of which old magic breathes, while it wanes on the other side. Except for when the North wind blows, and the dividing line becomes blurred.

nabeeLa m

Garth Nix’s ability to swiftly form an alternate world and an instantly addictive plot is interwoven throughout the pages of Sabriel. He manages to fashion a world that is half familiar and yet so unsettling. Book 1 of Garth Nix’s Old Kingdom series starts with Sabriel, an 18 year old in her last days at the Wyverley College for women of quality. You see, her father is the Abhorsen, a necromancer who is both feared and respected.

Abhorsens see dead people, and lay the undead to rest. Sabriel first began to follow in her father’s terrifying footsteps, literally walking into death, when she was 12. Our heroine’s no fainting violet. She knows what waits and she welcomes it – she will become the Abhorsen. Supernatural entities called the “sendings” will serve her. Little did she know that it would be this soon, and that she was fated to be plagued by Mogget, a dangerous, morally ambiguous talking cat.

the hero she WAs

a couple of unconcerned hours of slumber. It was either the pile of papers that needed signing tomorrow or his wife’s booming shouts about insuring her new Chevrolet – something always kept his tired mind up and running.

Guiltily reaching for the drawer, he popped a sleeping pill- and for the umpteenth time, promised to himself this was the last. The scattered agreement papers of his new flat and that unopened business email from his Korean client seemed to be plotting against him. He gave up, rushed at his computer and started working. The early birds started chirping.

Just as he closed his eyes on his super fluffy luxury pillow and let the dreams take over, his wife jerked him awake for prayers. He went through the motions of the day, from office to meetings to the phone calls, till he finally went home and laid his eyes

For the thousandth time, he wished he could go back to school- to the days where he was unshackled from responsibilities. He was as old as the hills, but nothing could win him

the FiNAL Wish

co

mic

bo

ok

on Sayar. His warm soothing eyes, generous smile and his carefree nature was something Mr Tridib took refuge in.

Sayar was keen on joining the family company and for any other father, this would be a proud moment. However, Mr Tridib shuddered with sadness and remorse. He was 60, yet fit as a fiddle. Emotionally, he had been wasted away, and knowing that Sayar wanted to “stand on his own foot” he would never agree to live off on his father’s hard earned money. Tonight, Tridib popped a pill. This would be his last.

Next morning, on the edge of the bed was a lifeless Tridib. Near him, was a will with everything he owned, now Sayar’s. Sayar found a crumpled note in his dad’s hand, “So that you can sleep peacefully at night.” With trembling fingers, he closed it and finally understood his dad’s dying wish.

nataSha Rahman


music news

Stereo10 tmag

tuNes AND toNes

GirL poWer tuNes

1. Don’t let me get me Pink

2. Kali maa Viva

3. i am not a robot Marina and the Diamonds

4. Girl on fire Alicia Keys

5. naariyan Amit Trivedi, Karthik & Shalmali Kholgade

6. Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill you) Kelly Clarkson

7. Who says Selena Gomez

8. unwritten Natasha Bedingfield

9. you gotta be Des’ree

10. Skyscraper Demi Lovato

the goodsheet

toP

10

SHLoCKBLACKTuning – Half Step Down (D# G# C# F# A# d#)

VerseBm G D AAmader jekhane Bm G D Ajete icche koreBm G D AShei shopno ta muche dileBm G D AKeo mukhosh porbe naBm G D ANijer chayar bairey Bm G D A jawa jae naBm G D AEta mene nile Bm G D A nirghum raat katbe na

ChorusF# G D AKaar jole bhaashate gele phulF# G D AKaar chokhe hoyecho nisshhwoF# G D AKano shwikar koroF# G D ADukkho shob chetonar mul

spLit iN tWo

sPotlight

the eXtrA-terrestriAL chArMLabelled as one of the greatest debut albums of the 90s, “Dummy” by Portishead, ought to be in your “must-listen-to-albums” list. Despite being 20 years old, the Mercury prize winning album consists of sounds you’ve never heard before. Compositionally, the foundation is built up on a groovy set of hip-hop beats, accompanied by spine-chilling instrumentation, produced by Geoff Barrow. Ranging from heart-sinking delay effects to space drone samples, the genius British instrumentalist made exemplary use of The Rhodes Piano. The unique compositions are tastefully wrapped around the soulful, distinctive voice of Beth Gibbons. Lyrically, almost all the songs are embodied with deep underlining messages. Other songs encapsulate immensely interesting concepts, such as the first track of the album, “Mysterons,” which is based on the race of Martians from the 60s British sci-fi TV series, Captain Scarlett

The seventh studio album “Heartthrob” by the Canadian indie rock duo Tegan and Sara was ranked 3rd on Billboard 200 charts in 2013. Among other indie rock duos, these two stand out for the personalities they hold - identical twin sisters who are both gay. The lyrics are a tad bit cheesy; however, the music is something that an indie fan would want to look forward to. The songs are a mesh of upbeat and mellow tracks. For an indie rock duo, they certainly know how to keep things different, so that one can understand that there are vast differences between them and other bands that are performing the same genre. You’ll certainly find songs to which you can peacefully sway your heads to and some that’ll get your groove on. Regardless, songs like “Now I’m All Messed Up,” “I Was a Fool,” “I’m Not Your Hero,” “Drove Me Wild” and “How Come You Don’t Want Me Anymore” should give you some clarity about Tegan and Sara. Don’t forget to tune into Tegan and Sara on Soundcloud or Youtube.

Rubab nayeem khan

and the Mysterons. “Dummy” has been credited for revolutionising the music industry and popularising a new genre, trip-hop (often referred to as the Bristol sound). If brand spanking new sound, is

what you seek or the audible charm to complement your euphoric state of mind, acquaint yourself with Portishead’s work of art, “Dummy.” zaki adnan


PLAYroom 11tmag

We recoMMeND

So this week we bring you one of those gems that you may never come across when you surf the web. Now, we all have our favourite superheroes and characters from various movies. That is all good, however, have you ever wondered about pitting some of these characters/heroes against one another and wondering who would come out victorious? Obviously you have, and this is where the Youtube page of “batinthesun” comes in www.youtube.com/user/batinthesun.

The team describes itself as an independent, self-contained, film and music production company. They have released a series of short films, featuring Hollywood quality fight scenes between: Scorpion vs The White Ranger, Batman vs Deathstroke, Wolverine vs Predator, to mention a few. The videos are an absolute treat to watch, although at times the character you are betting for might lose. If that happens, rest assured it’s not the team’s fault since they take votes before making these films and that determines who comes out on top.

What makes these guys stand out is that their productions are top notch. To top it off they have tight scripts and some great presenters. They have received such critical acclaim that TIME Magazine has quoted: “Hollywood could learn from Bat in the Sun.” Finally, if you ever feel bored and want to watch something to entertain you and simultaneously fuel your inner geek, log on to their page.

fuad m hoSSain

bLAziNG DAtA

web critic

APP of the week

eLLeN pAGe: the WAY out oF the cLoset

Juno coming out

“I’m here today because I am gay. And because ... maybe I can make a difference,” Page had announced to the world at a conference in Las Vegas. The Canadian actress had further gone on to say that she was “tired of hiding” and “lying by omission” at the conference aimed

the suN KNiGht

Tired of waiting for your data to transfer over Bluetooth? All your data transferring troubles are about to come to an end. Meet the new app in the block, SuperBeam. It is the easiest and fastest way to transfer large amounts of data from your android device to another using WIFI direct i.e. the devices must be in the same network. With blazing fast transfer rate, all you have to do is pair your devices with NFC of QR code scanning. You can send over data of ANY kind, be it photos, videos, zip file or even APK.

You would need SuperBeam installed on both devices for successful commute. You can either use a file manager to transfer the data via

SuperBeam or send the file directly through it. A QR code and a passkey will show up in the transferring device and the receiving device can either scan the QR code or enter the passkey to start the data transfer. All the files, even the folders, will maintain their original integrity post transference.

Although the app is free, it is ad supported. There is a paid version available for anyone who doesn’t want to deal with the pesky ads.

So what are you waiting for? Download this amazing app and get cracking; SuperBeam makes file sharing fast and convenient, as it should have been. aSm foySaL

for LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning) youth. 2013-2014 seems like a brave year for actresses coming out to the world. Whether it was Jodie Foster with her Golden Globe speech, Raven Symone (of Disney’s That’s So Raven fame) and her tweet or, Michelle Rodriguez in her interview with the Entertainment Weekly – it seems that the actresses are finally comfortable enough to out themselves as gay or bisexual. What does that mean for the current generation then? Are the people more open minded? Has the tolerance level risen? There is all that and more certainly, but it also means that the actresses are getting braver. They are finally able to accept who they are, and step out proudly to pave way for the younger generation. Maybe that’s why Ellen Page’s coming out means more to the LGBT youth. The 26-year old who had first appeared

in the limelight and won the hearts of moviegoers as the pregnant teenager in the 2007 film “Juno,” represents the LGBT youth as opposed to stars like Foster and Rodriguez who are at that stage of their lives where very little can touch them. For a young actress like Page, with the crushing weight of the industry’s expectations on her shoulders, coming out is a significantly harder decision. It is a fact that her young LGBT fans can connect to. Yet, she had. In an honest, funny and an articulate speech Ellen Page had come out on Valentine’s Day. She stood on that podium in Las Vegas, as a symbol of hope for the many young LGBT youth who suffer in silence, in fear of rejection. Perhaps her effort isn’t enough but maybe it is a precursor for a world where equality really exists, regardless of gender, race and sexual preferences.

nabeeLa m

comic striP

Size 2.9MBPrice FreePlatform Android


chANGes

Teenage is a time of metamorphosis, when a child sheds their baby skin and blooms into adulthood. This is a formative period where they learn to make substantial decisions and relationships give them a good idea of how maturity and affection reside harmoniously and how they can gain better communication and interaction rationale and gain control over their feelings.

teeNArAmA12 tmag

imPortAnce of dAting

Let there be Love

In a conservative society like ours, teenage dating is often seen as taboo. While it is safe to say that a precious few families are trying to come out of this mindset and letting their children pursue their feelings, it is often after a long time that parents actually stop feeling horribly squeamish about this. To grant your minds some peace, here are a few reasons why dating should start being the norm and not the exception muniRa fidai

A MAp oF sorts

An overall understanding of how intimate relationships work is brought to teens via dating practices. They will begin to understand what is required of them in relationships and what to expect. They will hone these skills in the later part of their lives, but being in a healthy relationship during the earlier stages gives them a more mature outlook towards it.

settiNG bouNDAriesBoundaries determine acceptable treatment. Teens learn to set boundaries in a relationship as and when they feel their personal space or freedom is being invaded. This helps them distinguish, very early, the extent to which they can and should allow things to happen, and draw the line where it crosses those personal limitations. This can give them great foresight on abusive or unfair relationships which is invaluable, to say the least.

the tALK

Communicating well is a skill relationships demand, almost by default. Teens can become more vocal about what they want in a potential partner and demonstrate their feelings, and also become great listeners in the process. Teens become adept at picking up non verbal cues and concepts of negotiation and compromise - life skills that usually involve harsh lessons.

A year after the deadly factory fire that killed 112 garment workers at Tazreen Fashions Ltd. in Bangladesh, survivors and the families of those killed and injured say they have been forgotten by the society. They are nowhere. What is the real picture of our working girls?Sumaya, a worker of Tazreen Fashions, received a blunt head trauma on the night the factory burnt down. Afterwards for several days, she was bleeding through the nose. And, now? Since last two months she is waiting for death at

A year after the deadly factory fire that killed 112 garment workers at Tazreen Fashions Ltd. in Bangladesh, survivors and the families of those killed and injured say they have been forgotten by the society. They are nowhere. What is the real picture of our working girls? udiSa iSLam

sisterhooD: WheN GArMeNt GirLs Are iNvisibLe

BSMMU. Bed number 7 of block E may be her last address. When she cried out, she wasn’t crying alone in pain. Her bruises speak for all the women who are working in the garments industries.On July 4, eight months after the incident, doctors at Dhaka Medical College Hospital diagnosed her with exophthalmoses, a swelling of the eye which is common among patients suffering from blunt head traumas. On July 14, she had a surgery. After this, she was diagnosed with tumour. When I went to meet her last week, her responses were similar to those of a recovering patient, however, she is dying. And we are waiting for the news.Rubina Begum, who worked at one of the factories in Rana Plaza for two years, is suffering from a serious pelvic fracture. She has been unable to work

and has been advised by doctors that she may never engage in strenuous activities, such as intercourse. These two tragedies in the history of the garments industry, incidents that are strikingly similar, also coincide with the international women’s movement which has its own glorious history. We have rich struggles and achievements in our movement, but have things really changed?While celebrating International Women’s Day, can we ask ourselves if the women who are working in garments sectors getting enough respect? On that note, let us give a tribute to those women whose names have already been forgotten. We look forward to a day when the slogan of “International Womens Day” will actually serve it’s purpose, and the

changes will become visible. We should face struggle together, considering the fact that garment workers make up the majority of our country. Sydia Gulrukh, an activist anthropologist who has been struggling for justice for Tazreen workers wrote in an article that, “In 1911, many women in the funeral procession in New York City had carried placards which said “We mourn our loss; we demand real progress in workers protection. In 2010, we did not mourn our loss. We read of our loss in the newspapers.”

Case

study

TMAG Volume 1 Issue 45

Documents

Transcript of TMAG Volume 1 Issue 45