Incarcerated but for a cause…
Throughout the journey of time this world has come across many women who have proved that they are as strong as men and at times stronger. Their thirst for democracy gives them the courage to face various turmoils just so freedom is attained. You! takes a look at one such phenomenal figure...
By Lubna Jerar Naqvi

And even though now she appears tired physically, mainly due to age and constant pressure, her soul seems made of steel as she ploughs through one detention after another, under the severest of conditions. There is little doubt that Aung San Suu Kyi will go down in history as the one who stood against all hope for her country and will be included amongst the greatest freedom fighters of this century.

 
women at work
The effervescent soul
This week meet  Shaaiyanne Malik - known for her flamboyant style and bridal wear...

By Waqas Hasan Sharif

In our chauvinist society, it's always refreshing to meet dynamic women like Shaiyanne Malik. She is filled with passion and possesses an incessant energy to work. She has been in the field of designing for the past 20 years and has surely made us proud. Shaiyanne is happily married to Sohail Malik - a well known theatre personality - for the last 25 years and has three adorable kids. In an exclusive interview with You! she talks about her likes/dislikes and her career and life in general...

 You! What got you interested in designing?

Shaiyanne: I have always been inclined towards creative pursuits. I started with an interest in theatre, had the lead roles in school plays, and after performing in a couple of Sohail's productions I realised my flair in designing and went on to design sets for his plays. Designing became a passion and eventually bridal wear became my trade mark.

You! What's your forte?

S: My forte is bridal wear. I started with bridal wear and then branched out into formal wear, western wear and my pret line.

You! As a woman designer have you faced any difficulties?

S: No none whatsoever, in fact as a woman there are many advantages, everyone treats you with respect.

You! How do you perceive our fashion industry?

S: It is highly glamorous and competitive and has all the potential for growth. We are fortunate to have designers like Nilofar Shahid, Rizwan Beyg of international calibre. There is no dearth of talent but we do need support from the government for the promotion of this industry. And yes, we (all designers) need to have a uniformed fashion council where we can all work together amicably. 

You! What are your most memorable shows?

S: Every time I do a show it becomes my best but I think my personal favourites have been 'Sari Through the Ages' performed in four cities of Pakistan which traced the history of the saree right from the beginning, and 'The mystique of matrimony' , performed for IDEAS - the Defence exhibition. However, the fashion show which I did in Turkey in 2000 was really one of the highlights of my career. There I represented Pakistan in a South Asian competition including India and won all four awards!

You! What are your views on the current recession? Has it affected our fashion industry too?

S: Fashion industry is one place where the recession has not hit that hard. I guess one always has ups and downs but the important thing is to have a positive attitude which can see us through every difficulty.

You! You have worked with almost every model. What's the difference you have noticed between senior models and up coming models?

S: Senior models rule because of their professional attitudes the younger models expect to achieve the same status without the hard work, but I guess they soon realise  that there are no short cuts.

You! Do you think fashion channels have contributed in any way to the fashion industry?

S: Yes very much so, people have gained an exposure to the fashion industry, designers, models etc.

  You! How do you keep balance between work and home?

S: Well I guess it's called management skills, also my kids and family highly support my work. When my children were young I gave them more time than my work but now they are grown up, I can devote more time to my work. I am always there for them and they are secure in the knowledge that they come first before anything else.

You! What are your current engagements?

S: I have a major fashion show in the Far East and I have a series of exhibitions lined up in U.S.A. Also I have launched another venture under the banner of Samanzar and that is a bridal salon. The concept is a little different. I have given my brides 'one window operation'. I offer my brides different bridal packages according to their budgets.

We have also set up Samanzar design studio where a group of highly skilled professionals working for us and have been designing interiors for over three years now.

You! What's the secret of your success?

S: Dedication commitment and  hard work besides the fact that I love what I do and do it with a passion

You! You have been married for 25 years now, so what's the recipe of a happy marriage?

S: I don't have one, I mean recipe! Maybe mutual respect.

 You! As a working woman what do you suggest to our women?

S: I suggest that every woman should work whether it is full time part time or volunteer work but it's really important to interact with other individuals in a working relationship. It gives us confidence and a whole new perspective on life.

You! How do you unwind?

S: Being with my kids and  going for a cup of coffee with friends. Also, I need my own space to unwind.

 You! One thing you hate about yourself?

S: I don't hate it, but I would be better off if I didn't have these traits: I am over sensitive, take everything to heart and too emotional.

You! Your philosophy of life:

S; We have only one life, so try to live it to the maximum. Feel free to dream, because dreams eventually come true. Fight for what is right. Live with a passion. Find happiness in the smallest things, generosity being one of them and laughter is by far the best medicine!

beauty
Innovative strokes
This week in our beauty section, stylist Mona J has given a stunning look to Nadia...

By Shaza Khalid

My work is my passion. I enjoy what I do as there is so much creativity involved in my work," says Mona J.

She has recently celebrated the first anniversary of her well-equipped salon located in Defence, Karachi. "I started working from my home around four years back. But the idea of opening up my own salon had been in my mind since the beginning," says Mona. Along with hair and makeup one gets all the services including manicure, pedicure and facials. According to Mona, her salon is popular for Guinot and Dermalogica facials. "I try to give immaculate services to my clients in a hygienic environment. I don't compromise on quality and believe completely satisfying my clients."

Mona, who is a trained beautician from beauty academies like Mudd (New York), Tony & Guy and Vidal Sassoon, laments the absence of a certified institution on a government level. "Sadly, in Pakistan, there is no substantial/national institute which register salons. You see parlours in every nook and corner of the country and nobody bothers in finding out whether the owners are qualified enough to run those salons or not. Many women come to me after they have had a bad experience at some unknown parlour. Whoever has the space or money sets up a salon as it is a lucrative business. The government should take notice of this malpractice and all the salons should be registered so that clients know that they are in safe hands before entering any salon."

She keeps herself updated with the latest techniques and styles in hair and makeup. According to her makeup with a tinge of orange is in these days. For eyes greens and purples are hot favourite among women. "As far as hair is concerned the messy or unruly look is very popular. Curls are also back in fashion with a bang," she informs.

Mona, who has also done a skin course from Singapore, advises young girls to use sun block regularly as it saves their skin from harmful sun rays. She is of the view that women with mature skin should go for facials at least once a month. "It's also a myth that you need facials after the age of 30. As soon as you hit 25 start taking care of your skin more vigorously by going for facials and using night creams," she emphasis. "Regular cleansing and moisturising is also very important in keeping your skin intact," she adds.

Though Mona enjoys every kind of makeup, she particularly enjoys creative makeup. "In innovative makeup you have all the liberty to unleash your creativity. It's always exciting and challenging." However, she finds bridal makeup most demanding. "Bridal makeup is actually the testing of your skills. You have to make the bride beautiful. If she is an ordinary looking bride then you have to enhance her looks and if she is beautiful then you have to make her look more radiant. In both cases a stylist has to come up with a 'perfect' bride."

She respects all the senior artists in the industry but her all-time favourite artist is Kevyn Aucoin. "His books on beauty are highly appreciated all over the world. I have learnt so much from his books," says Mona.

Mona has an incessant energy to work and grow and she envisages a multi-storied salon build on international standard in future.

She believes that every woman is born beautiful, "She just needs to realise how beautiful she is"!

 Credits:

Hair and makeup:

Mona J (0334-3363079)

Model:

Nadia Hussain

Photographer:

Kashif

health
Diabetics can fast too!
Do you know that fasting is actually beneficial for patients suffering from Type-2 diabetes. You takes a look...

By R. Khan

Fasting is mandatory in Islam and every one wants to avail the blessings of Allah by observing fast this month. However, there are some health conditions which can make fasting harmful for the patients. Diabetes is one such ailment. The question arises whether it's safe for diabetic patients to fast? Well sometimes it is but still a diabetic should always consult his/her doctor before observing fast. There are some types of diabetic patients who can fast. They just need to be extra cautious of their eating habits.

Diabetes is a disease that causes an abnormally high level of sugar, or glucose, to build up in the blood as the amount of insulin produced by the body is insufficient to overcome the resistance which causes an increase in the glucose level.

There are eight million diabetic patients in Pakistan. Mild diabetes which is called Type-2 diabetes accounts for about 98 per cent of all diabetic cases in the country. Surprisingly, fasting is beneficial for this type of diabetes but patients need to take extra care of their diet.

Insulin dependent diabetics should not fast:

Severe diabetes is called Type-1 and such patients are Insulin dependent. So these patients should preferably avoid fasting, especially if they are on three or more insulin injections daily. They have a very high risk of developing hypoglycaemia which is the clinical syndrome that results from low blood sugar and can lead to a very serious condition as such they are asked to take in proper food at appropriate intervals. No intake of water during fasting also puts such patients at increased risk of dehydration.

Similarly, diabetic patients who are prone to high blood pressure should also not fast. Women patients who are pregnant are also at risk during fasting, so they should avoid fast during Ramazan.

So it is advised that only a very stable, motivated and compliant patient who can monitor his sugar level at home and strictly follows his doctor's direction is allowed to fast.

Fasting is beneficial for Type-2 diabetics

People with Type-2 diabetes can fast if they carefully watch what they eat, they can control their sugar and cholesterol levels with no adverse effects.

A good diet plan is essential. After the long hours of fasting, type-2 diabetics should take food with nutritional values such as dates which are an excellent source of fibre, carbohydrates, potassium and magnesium. Over eating at iftar and sehri should be avoided. High calorie traditional foods such as pakoras, samosas and jalebis should not be taken. The diet should be balanced with plenty of fibre and it is better to take dinner at dusk when the fast ends. Drink as much water as possible between iftar and bedtime so that the body may adjust the fluid levels in time. To add a little taste you can opt for fruit juices. If you are hungry late at night, you can opt for a light snack comprising milk or vegetable.

Few fruits like apple and grapefruit are beneficial for such patients. Although diabetics can have any fruit, they should preferably avoid mangoes, custard apples, grapes, chikoo and bananas as they have a high sugar content. There are three fruits in particular that are especially beneficial for diabetic patients - apple, grapefruit and jambul (jamun). Apples have high pectin content and are very beneficial to diabetic patients. Pectin is found in the rind and in the pulp, and acts as a detoxifier of the body by supplying an excessive amount of galacturonic acid. This helps remove harmful waste from the bloodstream and can lower a diabetic's insulin requirements by up to or even more than 35%. Besides being rich in pectin, apples are also rich in Vitamin B1. Vitamin B1 prevents the damage of the brain cells that can occur due to diabetic acidosis

These points are not the sole criteria for a diabetic patient to start fasting without any qualms. So, it's important to go over the medical history and discuss this topic in detail with your doctor.

Tips to stay healthy

- To remain healthy, a diabetic person must eat from all the major food groups

- Increase fruit consumption

- Sufficient amount of water should be taken between bed time and iftar to avoid dehydration

- Avoid spicy foods

- Stay away from caffeine, including tea, coffee and colas

- Avoid oily and fried food like pakoras and samosas

- Maintain normal levels of physical activity. Excessive physical activity may lead to higher risk of hypoglycemia and should be avoided before the sunset meal

- Fast should be immediately ended if hypoglycemia (blood glucose of 60 mg/dl) occurs since there is no guarantee that their blood glucose will not drop further if they delay the  treatment

- Avoid ingesting large amounts of foods rich in carbohydrate and fat, especially at iftar time

Letters

Dear Nadine,

My problem is not different from the others but for me it is very unique. I am in 10th grade. I like a guy X who is doing A Level right now. He is very cute, smart, and handsome. We met at an academy where I also go for tuitions. He is from another school. In the beginning I just used to ignore him, but now I really like him. I guess I love him. He doesn't know about my feelings at all and I don't know whether he likes me or not. But the problem is that my brother got straight A's in A level and before him my sister also got straight A's and now my father is also expecting the same result from me. I, too, wanted straight A's but if I concentrate on my studies I will definitely lose him because I don't know what his future plans are, where he lives, what his number is etc. I know that he will not talk to me at all because he is an intelligent guy and he belongs to a respectable family. My friend who is in his school told me this. I have not told anyone about my feelings except for my cousin and you. Please guide me. How can I concentrate on my studies and get him as well? I cannot tell him about my feelings because I, too, belong to a respectable family, and in my family no one has ever done anything like this. Please help me out.

Anonymous

Dear Anonymous,

First of all, you are wrong when you say you met at the academy, because you haven't even talked with each other. The correct thing would be to say you saw him at the academy and liked his looks. You are probably 15 or 16 years old since you are in 10th grade. This is a very impressionable age and no doubt you became attracted to him because of his looks. This is called infatuation, and is very common in girls and guys your age. You are too young to become involved in any relationship right now, and must concentrate on getting those A's your father wants you to. You stated that if you concentrate on your studies you will lose him! Whatever gave you this outlandish idea? Anyway, you haven't got him, dear, and no one is going to get him for a long time. Your handsome guy is too young to settle down. I guess he is probably not over 18 or 19. He has to complete his education and pursue a career, and you should do the same. He has not spoken to you or given you any reason to believe that he is interested in you. He would have spoken to you, had he been interested in you, even if he is from a 'respectable' family. If the guy is interested, he will find a way to communicate his 'interest' to you. In the meantime try to snap out of it and focus on your studies. Your lack of concentration in studies will make your father upset, and create admission problems for you. Good luck!

Dear Professor,

I am a 40-year-old housewife. I have been married for 18 years and have four children. My husband is a very caring person who works very hard for us. He has a respectable job in a private organisation, but it is not easy to bring up four children in his salary, although we have our own house. My other siblings are well off and their children study in top private schools and colleges. They have every item of luxury that money can buy. They go to hotels very frequently and I have to think hard before even taking them out to a fast food joint once a month! When I compare what my siblings are doing for their children to what we are providing our children, I feel extremely depressed. I can give you one example. My son recently passed his matriculation examination with extremely good marks. I wanted him to get admission in a private college, but it proved to be too expensive. He is in the top government college right now, but his cousin who passed out with him is in the top private college. This is very frustrating and I don't know what to do about it. I have two other sons and a daughter who will be soon out of school and when I think about their higher education I feel depressed. I keep comparing my status with my siblings, and blame my husband for not being a good provider. I think I have been very mean towards my husband, although he does work hard and on the surface we seem to be respectably well off. What people don't know is that I have to make so many sacrifices to maintain the facade. All this is taking a toll on me. I have become grumpy and shrewish, and often become cross with my children. Am I going mad? What should I do?

Worried Mom

Dear Worried Mom,

You seem distraught and depressed, so first of all you need to understand that you are not mad; just a little envious of those in your family who are better off than you are. In any normal family there are some members who are very rich, and some who are not. The important thing is to realise that the actual happiness depends on the relationship you enjoy with people you care about. Your husband is a good person and cares about you. You have intelligent children who manage to get into government colleges on merit. Yet you are bothered because of a nephew who got enrolled into a private college, paying for his passage. You ought to be proud of the fact that your son is smarter because he got his admission on merit. I am sure that your other children will take after their older brother and get into top colleges on merit. Since you have bright children, you only need to explain to them why you cannot go to fast food joints or hotels as often as their cousins do. Also explain that in the long run it is the good old home made food that keeps us healthy. Count your blessings and thank God for what you have. You have probably been doing a little soul searching lately and have realized that you need to change your attitude with your husband. Show him that you care for him and are aware that he is doing his best for his family. Be content with what you have, and leave the rest to God. What you should do is to enjoy the success of your children when they do well in studies. Good luck!

Problems that need a solution? You can e mail Prof. Nadine Khan at nadinekhan_34@yahoo.com

Note: If you feel you need someone to talk to when you are alone, to share a problem with, or just to get something that has upset or disturbed you off your chest, share it with us. 

Write to Prof. Nadine Khan, c/o Editor 'You!' magazine, The News, Al-Rehman Building (4th Floor)  I.I Chundrigar Road, Karachi.

Ramazan Pakwan
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

Like every place boasts of having its very own unique culture, iftar traditions also vary widely from country to country. You! takes a look...

It's almost maghrib and the whole family is gathered around the dining table, all set to attack the variety of dishes being served. As soon as they hear the mauzin's call for prayer, everyone starts gobbling up the food; there are pakoras, fruit chat, dahi baray, chholay, chicken rolls, sharbat and what not. It's Ramazan after all!

The above mentioned sight can be witnessed in every Muslim household during the 9th month of the Islamic calendar - that is Ramazan. It is the month in which Muslims all over the world fast. Eating, drinking, smoking and sexual relations are prohibited from sunrise to sunset.

Those observing a fast take a meal early in the morning which is called 'sehri' while the fast is broken in the evening with a meal called 'iftar'. Traditionally, the first thing that anyone eats at the time of breaking the fast is a date, followed by other sumptuous fare like those mentioned above. Like every place boasts of having its very own unique culture, iftar traditions also vary widely from country to country. Muslims in many countries prepare dishes that are the speciality of their region. In fact, in some countries, there are dishes that are particularly associated with the iftar meal only. In South Asia, for example, the iftar meal is considered incomplete without pakoras! Be it the iftar deal of an expensive restaurant or the house of a common worker, pakoras of different types and tastes are a compulsory component!

In this article, we will go on a journey to know about the staple dishes of iftar around the world are!

Iran

Fesenjan

In Iran, fesenjan, which is also known as khoresht-e fesenjan or fesenjoon, is the special food consumed this month. It is a thick, tart stew made from pomegranate juice and ground walnuts. It is traditionally made with poultry duck or chicken, but some people also use balls of ground meat, fish, and sometimes do not use meat at all. Fesenjan can have a sweet or sour taste depending on the cooking method. It is served with Persian white or yellow rice. The flavour of this thick, rich, sweet and sour dish surprisingly improves if it's served the next day.

Saudi Arab

Al-Kabsa

The Saudis are well known for the variety of their traditional dishes that reflect the diversity of the regions and the custom of the people. Most of the dishes contain meat, rice, wheat, vegetables and spices that give these recipes a special flavour. Al-Kabsa is one of the most popular cuisines that one can find in Saudi Arabia. It is the traditional Saudi rice and meat dish cooked with either red or white meat or chicken. A huge range of spices as well as salads can be added to it. It is thought to be a staple dish throughout the Kingdom.

Egypt

Ful Medames       

Ful medames is an ancient Egyptian dish with origins that reach back to the time of the pharaohs. The simple dish has brown fava beans (large, flat, edible beans; also known as broad beans) are partially or completely mashed, slow-cooked and served with olive oil, chopped parsley, onion, garlic, lemon juice and spices. This dish is the daily breakfast meal for millions of Egyptians and is typically eaten with Egyptian bread. Preparation of ful medames takes a lot of time, most of it spent in soaking and simmering, so if you want to eat it at breakfast, you better start preparing for it a day before!

South Asia

Pakora   

Pakoras, the savoury fritters, are a very popular snack in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, especially during Ramazan. All kind of vegetables and sometimes, small chunks of meat are encased in chickpea batter and then deep fried, the crispy crust giving them a unique flavour. Pakoras are often served with tomato ketchup or spicy chatnis.

North Africa

Harira                    

Harira is a soup from the North African region and is especially popular there as an iftar meal. There are innumerable variations of this hearty, healthy soup, but most recipes include chunks of lamb simmered with tomatoes, chickpeas, spices and herbs. Lemon juice can also be added at serving time as well as salt and sometimes, pepper. It is usually served with hard-boiled eggs sprinkled with salt and cumin.

East Africa

Doro wat               

In Eastern Africa, doro wat, a spiced chicken stew, is an iconic Ethiopian dish that's especially popular during Ramazan. Doro wat is traditionally very spicy, but the amount of cayenne pepper can be adjusted to make this richly flavoured chicken dish. It's typically served with the distinctive spongy bread of the region known as injera. Doro wat is perhaps the best known food from Ethiopia and is often referred to as the Ethiopian national dish.

Algeria

Lahm Lhalou                        

Lahm lhalou, which, in Arabic, means "sweet meat," is a very popular dish in Algeria, especially during the month of Ramazan. The daylong fast is broken first with dates, then with mouthfuls of this scrumptious fragrant dish of tender lamb cooked with sweet fruits. Normally, no salt is added to the dish so as not to cause thirst during the next day's fast.

Compiled by J.S.

Mirror mirror on the wall
Mirrors are a wonderful way to add depth and beauty to your home.

You! takes a look...

By Fatima Khalid

"I'm just holding up mirrors at interesting places, I'm trying to capture life at strange angles."

- Dar Williams

Whenever a person starts out on his own the first aim he has in mind is to find the ideal place to live. One's home is most probably one of the most personal things in their lives; it is their safe haven, comfort zone and special space all in one, so it's understandable that people want to decorate it with pieces that reflect their personalities and adorn it with many things to make it just right. A house is like a canvas where the furniture serves as the base and the accessories become embellishments to make it picture perfect. 

Sometimes while trying to add character to a place people lose track of their objective and end up either over or under accessorising. If you are one of those people who are trying to add a new facet to your place then try mirrors. Yes, mirrors add that extra oomph to a room like no accessory or piece of furniture can. A mirror can actually make your house look classy, spacious, trendy or funky depending on the effect you are trying to achieve.

Stop thinking of it as just a  tool to check out your reflection before you head out the door, add a funky frame to your mirror and you can do wonders with it. Any reflective piece that you add to your room will give it extra dimensions. It is a known fact that mirrors add the illusion of extra space to any place that they are added to, which is perfect for people that have small houses or rooms. So while you're actually beautifying your room you inadvertently add to its character and depth too.  Enclosed in furnished wood, bamboo, metal and stained glass sometimes embroidered with artificial leaves and flowers, marble bits, jewels and colorful glasses, the decorative mirrors can be used anywhere from your bathroom to your bedroom.

There are a number of ways you can play with mirrors; before placing the decorative mirrors firstly analyse the place where you are going to place it. You can bend the mirror to reflect the image of something very beautiful rather than allowing it to reflect an empty space or wall. You can find a huge landscape mirror to cover the extent of one of the walls of your drawing room. Add accessories such as candles and photo frames to the periphery and you will add life to the room. If you want you can play with the colour of the mirror's frame and the colour of the walls. A complementing colour scheme will also do wonders for the overall look of the room.  Here you also have to remember that the positioning of the mirror is extremely important for example, if you want to make your hallway look bigger, you need to hang a mirror in the right angle so that it can give you the desired result. Why stop there? Whip out your set of glass paints and paint an abstract on the mirror, matching the ambience and colours of your room. 

Try a floor mirror to add some class to your room. These days the thing to remember is that when it comes to mirrors big is in, so pick out a giant floor mirror and set it at an angle in your room and add a decoration piece or two to keep it company and voila you have a great setting.

Mirrors can also be used to enhance the lighting of the room. When placed in the right angel and area a mirror becomes a facilitator of light. You can manipulate the exiting lighting fixtures of your room or introduce natural light into the place with its help. So if you have a dark room, just hang a mirror to enhance the light of your room. It does not matter if you have an ethnic look or a futuristic ensemble as you can always get corresponding pieces to suit your overall theme. So what does the mirror on your wall say?

Reflecting the beauty inside out..

-  Put the decorative mirrors on an adjoining wall to a beautiful artifact in such a way that it imitates its image. This will give a more spacious look to your room.

- Paint one of the walls in your room darker than other walls and put the decorative mirror on the dark wall possibly near the window. This will generate more natural brightness in the room and give depth to your room.

-  You can also place decorative mirrors designed with flowers at the entryway to increase its charm and beauty.

-  Hang a cluster of decorative mirrors having different sizes and shapes to make a wall exhibit striking and eye-catching.

-  Adding a decorative mirror to a counter top backsplash is very easy to manage and increases the brightness in the kitchen.

-  Traditional decorative mirror can be placed on the furniture that is not very good looking. It will increase the beauty of that furniture.

-  Decorative mirrors can also be added behind the book cases to make them attractive and adding a virtual space for them.

-  Put a decorative mirror in a place where it imitates something very interesting like a fireplace. This adds to the charm of your room.