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craft Adventure
just Utopia
for me
craft By Yasir Babbar About sixty years ago, when Khairpur was a separate and independent state, many factories were set up -- match factory, textile mill, leather factory, banarsi cloth factories. Today, industry is nothing more than the legends told by the city elders. Of the 250 small factories
of banarsi clothes only 10 to 15 small factories (Banarsi Khadiyan) are "We migrated to Pakistan from India after 15 years of Independence. General Ayub accommodated us in Khairpur establishing 86 quarters for our residents. Here we set up the small factories of hand-loom machines for making the banarsi clothes," says Chacha Jaffar recalling his past. Chacha Jafar gave up his vocation but still misses the old days. According to him there were more than 250 small factories and the government allotted a quota of 'resham' which was being imported from China and Japan. When Bhutto came he stopped giving the quota of resham after which they had to buy resham from Karachi and the business continued. Chacha Jaffar adds that during the time of Commissioner system in Khairpur, the business was at its best because Khairpur's banarsi cloth was very popular and people from all over the world came to Khairpur to buy banarsi saris from here as a souvenir. But when the government announced Sukkur as the divisional headquarter and Khairpur became a district, their business dwindled. A craftsman of Banarsi
Khadi, Qurbdar Talpur says, "My father was the karigar (worker) of
Banarsi Khadi from whom I learned this craft. He can't work anymore because
of his dwindling health. In eight hours, I make only one suit and my owner
gives me only 110 rupees for my work. The money is not enough even for basic
survival but I have no other option since that is the only skill
I have." Although banarsi clothes are available in the local market but it is not the most popular. Zafar Bhai, a shop keeper tells TNS "we are selling all types of clothes here in this particular showroom for banarsi clothes because there is not much demand of this type of cloth in Karachi, Punjab or India. There is no government support in this regard which compels us to keep our mouths shut." Those who have quit the craft in favour of other jobs are better off since they are getting better pays. Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah tells TNS "Inshallah I will make my home district like Paris and I would re-establish these industries which will reduce unemployment."
Adventure
just An interesting amalgam of Spanish culture, traces of African influence, some Indian marks and, of course, the American touch -- this is Puerto Rico By Madhu Bhatia Jha "When I die and heaven
doesn't want me, take me straight to Puerto Rico". This quote is proudly Puerto Rico is an island teaming with beauty and vitality. It falls under the United States territory but with commonwealth status. Puerto Rico has been a part of the United States since 1898 and Puerto Ricans have been US citizens since 1917. November 19 -- this is the official 'discovery of Puerto Rico' day, the day when Christopher Columbus landed on the island on his second voyage in 1493. Columbus claimed the land for Spain and named it after San Juan Bautista (St. John the Baptist). In 1521, the island received the official name Puerto Rico, meaning Rich Port. The Spanish arrived in 1493 and ruled the island for the next 400 years or so. No wonder, the Spanish culture is most noticeable in every nook and corner of Puerto Rico. Though English is the compulsory subject in schools and colleges, Spanish is the primary language in the area. The Spaniards developed roadways, lighthouses and built the cities and towns. The influence of the Spanish colonial architecture can be distinctly seen around the old San Juan area. No other place offers as
much diversity as Puerto Rico. On one small island, 100 miles long and 35 Puerto Rico consists of the main island of Puerto Rico and various smaller islands of Vieques, Culebra, Mona, Desecheo, and Caja de Muertos. Among the smaller islands, only Culebra and Vieques are inhabited year-round. Mona is uninhabited through large parts of the year except for employees of the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources. When to go Puerto Rico enjoys year round summer temperatures, an average annual temperature of 80∞F (26∞C). The peak tourist season starts from November end (during Thanksgiving) and lasts till April. What to do First and foremost, relax. You cannot be in a hurry. Puerto Rico is an island of leisure. There is friendly service, smiling people and lots of cheer. You are not in Paris or New York or Las Vegas. Consider Puerto Rico your private haven. It is difficult to decide what to do first in Puerto Rico. There is something for everyone. Begin with one of the islands. Just dump your bags in the hotel or resort, change into a bathing suit and land on one of the islands. Keep in mind that there are no nudist camps or beaches in Puerto Rico. Nudism is illegal in Puerto Rico. Revel in the clean, white sand, cool blue water with a sparkling drink in hand. Rum is the national drink, and you can buy it in almost any shade. There are many activities to do on the island that appeal to both couples and families. Jet-Skiing, Sailing, Snorkeling, Scuba Diving and banana boats -- there is no dearth of water sports. And that too reasonably priced. After a day long indulgence in water sports, sample the unique Puerto Rican fare which is a blend of Spanish, African and American influence. Whether for lunch or dinner, the hearty Puerto Rican soups are a must try. As the sun sets, the adventure is just beginning. Ever had the experience of kayaking in the night? Try it in Puerto Rico. Kayak tours scheduled late night suit both the romantic and the adventurous souls. This kayak ride takes you to the Bioluminescent Bay in Vieques. It is one of the most magical places in the world, with millions of microscopic aquatic fireflies all glowing at once and swimming in dense formations. Put your hand in the water and watch the water glow. Take a dip and you will find yourself enveloped in a blue-green flush. Though this phenomenon occurs elsewhere in the world, nowhere is it nearly as bright as in the bioluminescent bays in Vieques. If this still does not satisfy your adventurous spirit, then head to the casinos located in many hotels around the island. Proper dressing is a must in these casinos, and the acceptable currency is US dollars. The island, though, is not all about beaches and water sport. The history and culture of the island is just as rich. Visit the numerous museums and cathedrals in the San Juan city. Do not miss a tour of Old San Juan which is a 465-year old neighbourhood originally conceived as a military stronghold. Today, it is a charming mix of old forts, colonial residential villas and a bustling commercial district. A leisurely foot tour is advisable for those who really want to experience this bit of the old world. The most notable of the 16th century forts in the old San Juan area include El Morro Fortress and Castillo de San Cristobal. The two forts are surrounded by sandstone walls. El Morro Fortress, largest in the Caribbean, has stood guard over San Juan Bay for more than four centuries. In 1973 it was declared a 'World Heritage Site', putting it in the same class as Versalles, the Taj Mahal, and the Egyptian pyramids. The view of San Juan bay from El Morro is spectacular. Castillo de San Cristobal was built as El Morro's partner in the city's defense. It features five independent units, each connected by moat and tunnel but still self-sufficient should the others fall. But this is just a list of the touristy things to do in Puerto Rico. The true experience you will take back is the warm hospitality of Puerto Ricans to strangers. You will be greeted with smiles that are genuine. You will notice a lot of lively hand and facial gestures. If you want to return their warmth, just complement their island and culture. The inhabitants consider themselves 'Puerto Ricans' first and 'Americans' later.
Utopia
for me By Amara Javed People say that the world
is a wonderful place; they seem to think that they are surviving in an As a young, educated and articulate female living in Lahore, there are a lot of things (mainly those imposed by society) that I unwillingly deal with. I wish the world would just let me and my kind live in peace. But there are always the enquiries, the gossip mongers, the relatives who sympathise at the 'rebellious' daughter? Rebellious? Being 24 and not married does not make me a rebellious person. Maybe I just like liberty; maybe the saas-bahu dramas are not tempting enough for me to give in; maybe I want to go the Jane Austen route. Whatever the case may be the fact remains that I am an eligible bachelorette; quickly approaching that age where I will be over the hill. Therefore, the rat-race for marriage and proposals is ON. I'm trapped in a society which is gradually going through the ugly transition between modernity and traditionalism. And my family too is semi-conservative, semi-liberal. It's really not a good thing to be hanging in the middle; as with most things that are neither here or there, we are dealing with problems. Big problems. We want to move forward and be independent, yet we are too afraid to let go of the things we think are time-tested and true. One of them being arranged marriages. Don't get me wrong. I understand the importance of arranged marriages in a society like ours where gender segregation is largely practiced and supported. But there has to be a more civilised way to do it. Why must we be made to feel like a holiday turkey on sale in front of a parade of prospective customers? I would die to get rid of the dreaded rishta scene. All young ladies know what I'm talking about. Your parents want you to get hitched, so they hire some eccentric personality to find a 'suitable' match for you. And oh my, what suitable matches they find. It's like a circus. Allow me to set up the scenario. First your parents get a call from a potential suitor's mother, then you're ridiculously made to doll yourself up and present yourself with the chai trolley in front of the viciously scrutinising gaze of mommy (in-law) dearest. Those moments make me want to scream. Why am I made to put myself on display in front of this person who is shamelessly examining every little, trivial thing about me. I feel like throwing my chai cup at those aunties. Then you sit and the auntie looks at you head to toe, with raised eyebrows. She probably objects to the creases in your shalwar or the way your eyebrows are shaped. Then comes the most entertaining part of the evening: the pathetic attempts at conversation. 'Haanji beta, aap kia naam kya hai?'; 'Kaunsay college may para hai?;' or my personal favourite 'Cooking ka shauk to ho ga.' Such meaningless rambling, as if we're Neanderthals unable to carry on an actual dialogue. I'm sure my mother provided all this information when you prodded her on the phone! These vague questions are probably just a way to ensure I have all my teeth and don't stutter. They don't care that I'm a modern, intelligent woman capable of forming my own opinions. They just want a pretty little thing for their sons to look at. And God forbid if you don't fit into their ideas of beauty. You know what they're looking for: tall, long hair, white skin (an image reminiscent of the female figure dominant in ghost stories). What do the rest of us do? The ones that don't resemble Gisele Bunchen? We take what we can get. My utopia is a place where young women do not fall prey to the conventions of society. It's a place where we don't have to continuously put ourselves on display for strangers to decide if we're good enough or not. How perfect the world would be if we weren't subjected to such torture. Honestly, most of us are light-years smarter than our parents think. We should be trusted to make our own decisions and mistakes. Even if the decision is a catastrophic one, at least we can say we have learned something. Of course, parents always mean well, that doesn't mean they always do well. They are humans, and to err is human, is it not? Ultimately, I think it's about time we turn the tables on our male counterparts. Why don't we play the part of the suitors and let them play the holiday turkeys?
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presently working in. Banarsi Khadi which is the small industry for
manufacturing banarsi clothes, especially the banarsi sari, suits and scarfs.
Qurbdar also feels disappointed because he sees no future in
this business. Many workers from this area have shifted to Karachi's Orangi
town, doing the same work, because of substantial demand for banarsi clothes,
especially the banarsi sari.
displayed on t-shirts and caps on sale in Puerto Rico. It is a common sight
to see tourists smile and flock to buy these t-shirts. Once you have been to
Puerto Rico, you will understand why.
miles wide, you will find an amalgamation of different cultures. You will
find the Spanish culture, traces of African influence, some Indian marks and,
of course, the American touch. This blend is what gives Puerto Rico its
uniqueness.
idyllic existence and things just cannot get better. I, however, beg to
differ. In my opinion there are countless things, big and small, which need
massive improvement.