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MATKA CHOWK Get skimpy Pretty in
Pink PAMMY’S
BEAUTY TIPS Write to
Renee
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These proverbial shoeshine boys are bringing a shine into the society by creating awareness against AIDS, reports
Parbina Rashid
Interesting how one comes across wisdom in the most unexpected quarters! When we still fumble with words while trying to educate our younger generations about safe sex, sixteen-year-old Arun and Ravi have managed to put across the message to at least 6,000 persons in the past couple of months. If you are thinking that their one-point agenda in life is to create awareness against HIV/AIDS, you could not be farther from the truth. They work as shoeshine boys at Sector 17 during the day, prepare for their forthcoming class VIII examination in the afternoon and snatching time in-between they perform street plays to generate awareness. However, they are not alone in their mission. As many as 25 slum children in various age groups are actively contributing to the sweeping movement against AIDS. The connecting thread being Zulfikar Khan’s Theatre Age! We all know about Zulfikar Khan and his Theatre Age. How this city- based NSD alumnus started Theatre Age in 1992 to educate slum children through theatre as well as formal and vocational education and how he innovated the waste-paper collecting technique to sustain himself and his 25 odd slum children by making paper bags out of newspapers and supplying them to various institutes. What we do not know is the startling facts that he gathered by staging a series of street plays called Zindagi ko dein hum naya ek ayaam (Let’s give life a new direction) and Hakikat on AIDS. Conceived and directed by Zulfikar himself, more then generating awareness, the play provided a platform for the team to meet people to conduct a survey to gauge the knowledge of people about HIV/AIDS. “It all started with a talk with the AIDS Control Society. They asked us to do campaign on AIDS awareness through a series of street theatre and then we later decided to conduct this survey along with it,” says Zulfiqar. Through this series of 30 shows at different places like Nehru Colony, Sector 45, Labour Chowk, Dhanas, Burail, Kumhar Colony, Maulijagaran and Sukhna Lake among others, the group of 15 from the Theatre Age interacted with about 6000 persons. A questionnaire comprising 13 questions was made which were distributed to about 300 participants at random. The result shows as many as 29.76 per cent were fully aware about the disease while 51.2 per cent had a vague idea about it. The remaining 19.04 per cent were totally ignorant about HIV/AIDS and needed much motivation towards even discussing safe sex. However, the most startling fact that came out of the survey is that while the so called illiterate section is at least willing to talk about it, the elite class would not even bother to answer the questions. “Earlier we had conducted a specimen survey at Arriezzona. But it fell through because a majority of the people would not even accept the questionnaire, forget about answering them,” says Zulfikar. Now that the survey is over and Zulfikar and his team is not happy with the awareness level, which they feel is not much despite the government and other NGOs spending much money on it, they want to carry this campaign at their own level. “We are saddened by the fact AIDS awareness in a place like Chandigarh is so low. We want to do something about it, but for a small outfit like ours money is the main constraint,” says Zulfiqar. The main source of income for the Theatre Age is old newspapers collected from city residents by Zulfikar and his teammates. “We are hoping to get more donors in the city so that we can bear the cost of educating these slum children as well as carry on our social responsibilities in our own humble way,” says Zulfiqar. Any taker? If you want to donate your newspaper you can contact Zulfiqar at 9815145453.
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Well rounded
It may be difficult to create a thing differently but if you put your mind to it, you can do it. This is how Sukhman Pasricha sums up her designing of the YPS roundabout in Phase VII in Mohali. A far cry from the regular roundabouts that more or less use the same design and greenery for landscaping, this 28-year-old—with a Master’s in architecture from Germany—has delved into her European experience to lend a Mediterranean touch to her creation. New Look
This new-look roundabout displays a pregnant oyster surrounded by fountains, greenery and the works. Saying no to the usual golden duranta (light green hedge)-covered roundabouts, Sukhman is more than satisfied with her low-maintenance roundabout, which largely has hard surfaces and vegetation that requires less water. In charge of this project from the planning to the execution stage, this architect says a number of times she had to work with her own hands too. “The labour here is not used to working with precision. For instance, I had to show them how to neatly arrange the tiles. My training in Germany came in handy. There’s a lot of stress on practical training and a hands-on approach there and we actually worked on construction sites. I made the entire oyster panel myself.”
Sukhman, incidentally, is an alumna of Chandigarh College of Architecture and the first Asian to do her postgraduation from the well-known FH-Anhalt at the Bauhaus in
Dessau, near Berlin. Abstract design
Maintaining that more effort has to be put in to make an abstract design look appealing, this mother of a three-year-old girl says that the final placement of the 14-foot-high and 10-foot-round open oyster made of diamond-cut blue acrylic sheet tested limits of her ingenuity. And, she admits, she couldn’t have done it without the help of acrylic artist Abninder Singh, who was open to suggestions and experimentation. The Mediterranean theme gets accentuated with a wide layer of white chips spread in the form of waves on the outer edge of the roundabout, six fountains around the oyster and the lower dome directing fine sprays on to the pearl. At night, the scene appears more fanciful. Thanks to the light work, the oyster glows beneath a gossamer veil of water spray. White & Red
Sukhman has not given a go-by to the mandatory outer white wall, but has offset the stark look with red tiles arranged in a slope. “White gets dirty faster, so I’ve used the more attractive red too.” Unlike other roundabouts where ‘hills’ are nothing but mounds, here each hill has a proper slope and comes with a valley and the requisite greenery. A variety of palms, including cycus and lady palms, adorn the round island, 191 feet in diameter. In line with the blue-and-white theme highlighted by the blue oyster are the blue flowers that pop up here and there. A special variety of cacti that flowers for eight months has been brought from Calcutta. The vegetation, however, will take about six months to come up fully. Employed with Dr Heinisch Building Solutions, Sukhman took about three months to complete this Rs 7.2 lakh-project in March.
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MATKA CHOWK I had parked in front of the British Library – the other day. When I came back, a small Maruti 800 was double parked behind me, in gear. I waited a good five minutes. Then I started walking around, hoping to catch glimpses of anyone in the shops, with a hurried and guilty expression. With no luck in sight, I went back to my car and started honking. As, the heat rose and the clock ticked - so rose my temper. A few concerned fellow drivers, clucked their tongues and shook their head in empathy. I stood there and contemplated various methods of torturing the person who would appear to claim the Maruti. A good thirty minutes passed, rivulets of perspiration were now flowing down my face freely, and hopefully hiding the vicious anger I felt in my heart. Then, appeared a pleasant mannered older gentleman, carrying his British Library books. Looking at me (maybe prompted by my utterly miserable state and taking pity) he stopped and enquired. He was kind enough to offer some help. First, we tried to push the car, and failed predictably. Then he offered to call the police. A small group of folks hanging by had gathered by this time. One driver appeared with a long and thin rod and started fiddling with the door. I was aghast and stopped him. Then came another, with his Maruti 800 key in hand and said, “isse try karoo?” We acquiesced. He put in the key and viola! The car door opened and we put the car in neutral and rolled it off. Before I could thank everybody in right measures, my good Samaritans dispersed. We are plagued with double-parking in Chandigarh. Sometimes, they walk away right in front of you with a sweet smile and a “Bas, paanch minute me a raha hoon.” I have a friend, whose entire bar of ice cream melted while waiting for the other driver to show up. Another told me a humbling tale of how she had to chase a man into the chemist shop in order to get her car out. To add insult to injury, the man insisted on finishing his purchases while she waited and heard stories of every affliction that ever befell him. And then he was ready to move his car. In a maddeningly crowded market area, I found a parking and within seconds a car was parked behind mine. I sweet little lady disembarked and came up to the window and asked very placidly – “Aap dukan ja rahe ho?” Little startled – I said yes. She said “Mein bas is DCM ke shop me ja rahi hoon. Aapka kam ho jaye to aap mujhe woha dhund le na.” And she walked off swinging her little purse, while I stared after her, my mouth agape. Double parking has turned into an art here.
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Get skimpy
As the sun decides to flash its rays full on, it seems like the right time to turn our backs smartly at the sun. Backless blouses, however, are an absolutely no-no since they’re likely to tan those ice-rink-smooth backs badly. So what do we wear to take some weight off our shoulders? Something that takes a break from those oh-so-tight, can’t-breathe outfits. Something that’s jazzy and yet, absolutely wearable. And when it comes to picking up bits and bobs for that breezy summer look, what else can it be but skimpy spaghettis. Lest you miss playing a peak-a-boo with the devious allure of this lil’ garment, here’s some juicy info on the kinds of spaghettis available in town. Spaghettis are sizzling the City Beautiful by their sensual cuts and fabrics. While the casual ones are available in fabrics like regular cottons, Matka cottons and Tusser cottons, more formal ones crowding the city store shelves are in Georgettes, Chiffons, Lycra and Linen. The party wear has glamorous spaghettis embellished with rhinestones, coins, beads and sequin work. Even the traditional Dabka work is adorning some spaghetti available in town. The casual ones sport floral and zig-zag prints. Opines Salil Gulati of Salil Studio, sector 22,Chandigarh, “With the temperatures soaring and heat setting in, we are designing even suits with spaghetti-like straps and noodle straps. Our suits sporting noodle-doris are selling like hot cakes. Most of them are in lycra, linen and matka cottons and are priced from Rs. 1500 onwards. Informs Neha from Ten West, Sector 10, Chandigarh, “We are stocking lots of sprited spaghettis this summer in all kinds of motifs and embellishments. Ranging from Rs. 295 to Rs. 695 onwards, our spaghettis are available in all colours, right from the wispy pastels to shocking pink and turquoise. And we’ve got lots of accessories to team them up with—scarfs, shrugs and chunky loops.” Adds Ranjan from Incense designer studio, sector 35-D, Chandigarh, “My range of spaghettis starts from Rs. 200 and goes on till Rs. 600.They sport sequins, beads, dabka work, stones and coins.” Then, there are some designers like Rashmi Bindra who’ve created hand painted spaghettis. Urban Rootz, Sector 10, Chandigarh is also stocking lots of hand painted spaghettis. So girls, pick up these delightful lil’ teeny-weeny spaghettis and get ready to set hearts aflutter.
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Pretty in Pink Gladrags Mega Model 2006, Arti Sharma, is in the city for her first fashion show after winning the coveted title of Mega Model on April 8. Here for the launch of a new clothing store SN Clothing Company, retailing for Monte Carlo fashion wear brand and the ‘Classic Polo’ summer wear (two exclusive showrooms) she will walk the ramp tomorrow along with a host of other models before she flies off for an international pageant to be held in Germany in mid-June. For this young lady from Faridabad, it was “hard-work, dedication and focus” that got her the crown coupled with “lots of exercise. I am a gym freak and spend two hours every day working out, and diet control, the key to remaining fit,” she smiles. So what won her the crown? “I was the most confident girl out there. I have no problems wearing anything. In fact I also won the Best Model title within the competition.” Indeed, in a close-fitting pink swishy number that shows of her figure to perfection, tinted contacts for that exotic appeal and leaf shaped earrings to match—she is the picture of well pretty in pink! Interested in dancing, modelling and acting ever since she was in school inspiration to go much further came from Sushmita Sen. “I got my portfolio clicked by fashion photographer Rahul Dutta and work started to come in.” And not just content with being on the ramp, she is also learning fashion photography from Dutta who incidentally is also her “rakhi brother”—who says the fashion fraternity fights! “I have often been asked what next because modelling is considered to be a short-term profession, but I believe that if you maintain yourself well you can go on and on. Also with photography, I plan to remain in this industry for as long as I can.” All this because she loves things beautiful!
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PAMMY’S BEAUTY TIPS Earlier, ageing of skin was solely attributed to the genes. But that’s not the case today. You can reverse timeworn skin with a multitude of skin treating creams, drugs and devices. We can now reverse the times by using broad-spectrum sun-filtering day creams, and topically applied retinoids etc. For successful skin care you need to identify your skin type and also if the products chosen are fit for the purpose. Dry Skin—is recognised by the grey or ashen appearance. It is often sensitive, tight and uncomfortable with fine small invisible pores. It rarely breaks out and has a tendency towards dryness, fine lines can be traced especially around eyes and mouth. Cleanse your face with a moisturising gel or facial foaming cleanser. Make sure to stay away from soaps, which dry out, tighten and irritate the skin. Wet, lather and rinse with the aid of warm water. I always give a lot of importance to natural oils on the skin. The protective layer can be damaged by too much hot water or harsh soaps and detergents. Skin loses its ability to retain moisture and loses its glow giving ashen colour to the skin. Dab toner on to remove the remaining residue and help the moisturiser absorb better. Always apply moisturiser on moist skin so that you can lock the moisture in. For very dry skin, oil infused moisturiser is the best option. For mid to moderate dry skin, a super hydrating moisturiser will do. Very dry, aged or damaged skin responds to occlusive moisturisers that contain oil or silicone, which sits on the top layer of your skin and stops moisture from evaporating. Stay off perfumed products; always go for hypoallergenic products. Once a week remove the dead cells and unclog pores by using a gentle face scrub. Mix the scrub with the facial wash and don’t go over the delicate areas. Oily Skin—Shiny, large visible pores with blackheads on the nose and forehead, frequent breakouts are the signs of an oily skin. Skin appears to be thick and sallow with large pores, clogged with dirt and oil, when squeezed pores exude fat. Face is shiny even after cleansing, skin might have moderate to severe acne and is prone to blackheads and blemishes. Consult a dermatologist if you already have not, your best option would be to go on prescribed medicine. Always cleanse your face with a gentle clay cleanser. Avoid the use of ordinary soaps, which tighten and dry your skin. All products should be tested for comedogenicity. Just oil free does not suggest that the product is free of oil, if the emulsion is oil in water that almost amounts to the same effect. Use a gentle exfoliate, twice a week to unclog pores, avoiding delicate areas. Use fuller’s earth as a facemask to unclog the pores. Don’t pop, squeeze your pimples. Combination skin—Combination skin is recognised by little dry and little oily areas on the face. Shiny T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) with large pores on nose and the dry areas have small or invisible pores. Use a gentle exfoliating cream avoiding delicate areas. Twice a week exfoliate to unclog pores and let skin breathe. Normal skin—Normal skin speaks for itself with small clean pores, smooth complexion, excellent skin elasticity, few or no blemishes at all. People blessed with this skin are few and don’t need much to do. Use a balanced skin care meant for normal skin only. Sensitive skin—Sensitive skin reacts to sun, wind, fabrics, and cosmetics. Skin burns easily when exposed in the sun. Sensitive skin is dry and thin, always itches or stings. Caution is the word for you if any product leaves your skin red, discontinue the use of it immediately. Be careful in selecting the products, go for hypoallergenic or botanical ingredients. Glycerine soap is recommended here and avoids the use of fragrances. I hope after going through this article you know what is your skin type and you can successfully determine the daily steps you should take and what to look for in products. Good Luck!
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I am 21-year-old and a serious hard working kind of guy and yet recently I have managed to fail in a very important set of exams. This was an unexpected blow to my self-esteem. I felt for some time completely inadequate. I turned into an introvert and stopped going out. It was as if I had committed a crime, I felt my whole career situation had fallen through somehow my friends pulled me out of this and gave me lot of moral support. I feel it was my laziness and incompetency that led me to this unusually bad result. But now I have decided to put it behind me and start all over again. Still at times when I sit down to study, I am plagued by doubts and fears. I feel demoralised and unsure of myself. Please advise me. Lucky
Chabra, Chd. Dear boy, please to go ahead with the idea of a fresh start. Start by not criticising yourself and just giving yourself enough love and respect. Get out of the “poor me” syndrome. Regret is a terrible habit and will pull you down all your life if you will allow it to hang on for long. Just tell yourself that you learnt a very valuable lesson the hard way and now it is time for you to move on. Please do not waste any more time feeling guilty. Life is too short to be wasted in punishing ones own self. You must be able to realise your own sense of self worth. Learn to find joy in all you do. Also try and find it within yourself to thank the universe for all it has given you. Allow the feeling of joy and contentment to flow in you. Go out with a new zest for your work. Nothing will stop you from succeeding of you are sure you can make it. I am a young woman of 24-year-old but somehow feel years elder and tired with my life. I have been feeling that anger and resentment have been playing havoc with my health. I don’t know how to stop this as I realise the causes and the reasons. My whole pattern of thinking is so very negative. I know I am destroying myself but don’t know where to turn. I suffer from self-hatred. How can I feel better? Divangi Saron, Mohali Please don’t let anger overtake your life. Anger whether it is towards your-self or towards another person is a very destructive thing. It can eat into your immune system and give you many health disorders. Since you have already mentioned that you understand this about yourself, it is very easy for you to get rid of this negative emotion. You need to take charge of your life. You are experiencing a lot of negativity but are allowing it to just pass. A ‘let it be’ attitude will not get you anywhere. You need to deal with your emotions and thoughts. Thoughts can be changed and so can self-destructive patterns. Some old patterns take time to change but nothing is impossible. Give yourself time to look within at the deeper rooted causes of your resentment, they cannot have just started recently. It is an over the years process. Find the company of someone you enjoy being with and can trust. Most important in life is to you. Trust and value yourself things will come round surely. Rush in your queries to Renee at lifestyle@tribunemail.com or care of Lifestyle, The Tribune, Sector 29-C, Chandigarh
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FILM REVIEW Psychedelics can play havoc with creative pursuits. Director Michael Caton-Jones of Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction (Fun Republic/Kiran) is one such casualty. As the camera starts rolling, he goes on hallucinogenics and conjures up a vision, which is as bizarre as it is frivolous. American crime novelist Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone) who has moved from San Franscisco to London is again under a cloud following the mysterious death of a famous sports star with whom she is having an affair. Detective Roy Washburn (Davis Thewlis) asks criminal psychiatrist Dr Michel Glass (David Morrisey) to evaluate the novelist. As the doctor of the mind falls for the wily charms of the writer, people around him are murdered with alarming frequency. The whodunit ends with the motive of the filmmaker remaining a puzzle. Time for you to wonder what it was all about. Was it about the deception of the novelist? Or, was it about the vulnerability of the shrink to the mind games of his beautiful patient? It was none. It was a routine crime thriller which became even more pedestrian by the time it reached the Indian shores with many scenes chopped off. Sharon’s skin show (whatever is left of it) hardly compensates for her lack of acting. She appears more like a seductress than a crime novelist. Missing is the deadly passion she was able to infuse into her character in Basic Instinct. David Morrisey as the criminal psychiatrist is no match to Michael Douglas who as a cop gets sucked into Stone’s vortex of lies and seduction in the original film. David Thewlis as the corrupt detective is the only saving grace of the awful sequence. Charlotte Rampling as the psychiatrist’s mentor is hugely
wasted. If you have been sitting cross-legged waiting for a repeat of Basic Instinct, it’s time to rush to the exit.
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—
Dr Ravinder Chadha |
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FILM
REVIEW
She has arrived! From the “girl next door” status to a celebrity ranking, there is much exhilaration and a delightful nonchalance in her words. “I did expect to win” is the candid response and she wears her glittering crown with veteran self-assuredness!
Swimming is an
all round fitness sport as it incorporates
all aspects of fitness like speed, stamina, strength and flexibility.