Three free writes for the subject Magazine Journalism:
1. Every girl during her pre bridal phase has to master herself at all domestic activities before she moves towards her future house, our elders say. I am one such example, battling to knead and roll perfect round rotis – sternly instructed not to transform the shape even in its slightest appearance!
Tough competition between Nikon and Canon. (Photograph by Kulsoom Ali)Well, the excitement to write is not about the win. It is very amusing to discover human nature – the moment a human turns into an owner of something, that very possession HAS to be the best since he owns it. Since the mastermind invention of Digital SLRs, I have always been familiarized with the Nikon brand. Combining the manual and digital features in one body with a great digital charisma, I decided to own a Nikon D40x (Now D60) for personal use (before I proudly owned a Canon).
Seeking ‘good words’ for the aforementioned model from others, very few encouraged me for the brand. Many people whom I referred to for sincere advice said, ‘You Can, Canon!’ In other words, they meant buy a Canon. Among the people I sought advice was Jisha Nair, the renowned fashion photographer and two other professional photographers based in Abu Dhabi. Not wanting to revolute my decision from a Nikon to a Canon, I toned-deaf myself for the recommendations.
A glimpse of the stalls at PhotoWorld Exhibition, 2008. (Photograph by Kulsoom Ali)The Grand Stores (Nikon dealers in the UAE) and Canon store neighborly exhibited their stands at the PhotoWorld Exhibition. It was a perfect spell to dig differences and features of the products stemming from the two. It was also best in terms of gauging the demographics of the target audience at each stand.
Yes You Can, Canon! (Photograph by Kulsoom Ali)I revisited the exhibition around closing time on the final day to collect my camera. A Lamborghini was exhibited at the Grand Stores with a stylish and classy female model to attract visitors. There was more to this at the Canon stand. Different models of Canon cameras were fixed on tripods for visitors to experiment with. The cameras pointed towards a motorbike on display with two scantily dressed and sexually appealing women who were inviting visitors to pose for a shoot with them. Who would refuse a heartfelt invitation from sensual females? So, Canon managed to magnetize a larger crowd in addition to the raffle draw they held for three days – where I emerged lucky to seize the precious prize on the second day.
Much said about the duo, the features and results of the two remain almost alike. In fact, I was pleased to hear the salesperson at Canon stand admit (wished to remain anonymous) that there are many features in Nikon products that are up-to-the mark and are yet to be accomplished in Canon products.
But in the end be it Nikon or Canon, ‘it’s the eye that matters more than the lens’. Creativity springs from the brains within and not necessarily from the lens of the camera – which after all is the man-made replica of our ingenious human eye.
An unmanageable walk in the floods. Two men walk with support from one another.
Ever wished for a mind-boggling question not to appear for an exam at Manipal University? You cross your fingers or not, eventually it all depends on that single examination paper that is randomly handpicked from a whole bundle of similar question papers structured for the exam. And this task of random handpicking is performed by Mr. Narayan Rao, the controller of examination at Manipal University (India) who was recently on a visit to Manipal University in Dubai. Kulsoom Ali, a third year student of Media and Communications, specializing in print media, questioned him with reference to the backstage task of examination control practiced at Manipal University, Dubai.
Kulsoom Ali: Welcome to Manipal University, Dubai campus. How is your experience as a first visit to our new campus at Academic City?
Narayan Rao: Thank you for the warm welcome. Frankly speaking, this is a beautiful campus. Unpredictably, the weather is also pleasant, reversing to what I calculated it to be. So far, it has been a relaxing trip.
KA: Having said that, what observations have you gauged so far, with specific reference to educational bearing and the MBA students currently appearing for the examinations at the campus?
NR: One of the first few things that I noticed were the students’ relaxed expressions even though they were appearing for exams. I observed the examination practice during the exam conducted for MBA yesterday and believe me, I was contented. Everything is flowing smooth – from attentive supervision to proper control of students in the examination hall.
KA: Everything has a room for improvement. What would you as a controller of examination suggest further developments or improvements in the current examination practice held at the Dubai campus?
NR: Yes, definitely. Everything is in place here but as regards examinations, according to me, an individual hall solely dedicated to conduct examinations must be allotted. It is easy to network and conduct exams in a huge hall with careful supervision. Normally, universities do have such halls, commonly referred to as conference halls. The room may not necessarily be utilized for exams alone. During regular study sessions at the university, several meetings and important conferences can be held in the same room.
Mr. Narayan Rao during the interview. Photograph by Kulsoom Ali.KA: The purpose of your visit to the Dubai campus is to scrutinize the examination practice since you are the controller of examination at the Manipal University. Could you please outline your profession as a controller of examination?
NR: I have been with Manipal University since June, 1959. Earlier, I was a teacher of pharmaceutical chemistry and later took the job of an examination controller. In simple words, my job is to conduct examinations. I receive sets of question papers from each Board of Studies (different subjects) that are collected in a question bank. I am licensed to randomly pick a set of question paper and that becomes the final exam paper to be given to the concerned departments of the university. No one knows which set of paper has been selected till the time it is handed to students in the examination hall. After the examination is conducted and marks forwarded to me by the faculty, I assign grades according to the cut-offs (grade allotment) that are decided by the Board of Studies. The final result with GPA calculation is prepared and sent to the concerned departments for immediate release. The results are published within ten days after the last examination.
(For an in-depth article on the complete procedure of examination control and result preparation, please click here.)
KA: But how is it that the results are not published within ten days in the Dubai campus?
NR: Yes that’s true; it takes time to publish results in the Dubai campus. It is due to difficulty in communication and message transfer. Plus, the result is emailed from India that takes time.
KA: With fast growing technology and at the click of a button, does email take considerable amount of time to complicate the pace of communication leading to a delay in publishing the results?
NR: Sometimes emails don’t reach across countries at a quick pace. This causes a delay plus the external evaluators in Dubai are difficult to find. Unless you find one, how can the evaluation be quick because it is a systematic process that requires a thorough effort.
KA: Yes, your latter part of the answer satisfies the impatience that surfaces in us (students) who anxiously wait for a quick release of results after the examinations! Well, thank you so much for your time sir. It was a great pleasure meeting you!
Mr. Narayan Rao explaining the backstage process of examination control. Photograph by Kulsoom Ali.The Board of Studies (constituted as per the directive of Academic Senate of Manipal University) is required to send sets of question papers to Mr. Narayan Rao (controller of examination), prepared according to the specification table. These sets of question papers form a question bank where at least 20 question papers in each subject are added annually.
On receiving the question papers, Mr. Rao randomly selects one question paper from the whole lot. That very question paper becomes the final exam paper to be handed to students appearing for that exam.
In the case of Manipal University, Dubai, the selected exam paper is sent to the representative of the controller of examination. Required number of copies are made, sealed in an envelope and placed in a cupboard whose keys remain with the representative only.
On the date of examination, the question papers that are sealed in the envelope are handed to the invigilator 30 minutes before the exam begins.
Soon after the completion of written examination, the sealed bundles of answer sheets are piled in their respective covers by the invigilators and kept ready for central valuation which commences on the succeeding day of the theory examination.
A list of eligible internal examiners is forwarded by the deans to the office of the controller of examination. This list is further scrutinized and the final panel of internal examiners is done b y the Board of Studies. The panel of eligible external examiners is also done by the Board of Studies.
Central valuation is done by double valuation. All answer papers are evaluated by the internal examiner and external examiner separately. The marks are not awarded directly on the answer paper but on a separate evaluation sheet. This prevents the influence of one examiner on the other. For every theory paper, guidelines are provided for evaluation.
Once the internal examiners complete the valuation, the external examiners assess the answers. The marks allotted by the two are noted and if the difference is not more than 15%, the average of the two are awarded to the student as the final mark. However, if there is a difference of more tan 15%, the paper is subjected to a third valuation by a subject expert. Here, the average of the two marks, which are closest among the three evaluations, is awarded to the student.
Mr. Narayan Rao says, “The mark must be favorable to student. Karnataka High Court of India also stated that this marking method is the best way to grant justice to a student.”
After the valuation has been done, the mark sheets are sent to the controller of examination in India. He assigns grades according to the cut-offs (grade allotment) that are decided by the Board of Studies. The final result with GPA calculation is prepared and emailed to the concerned departments at Manipal University, Dubai, for immediate release.
-SJ
Mr. Michael Rundell airs his views to Kulsoom Ali. Photographs by Maitri Somaia.World's biggest mall, biggest airport, tallest building and now the biggest sailing ship. The big chronicle goes on.
-SJ
There’s a proverb in Urdu that goes, ‘Aik paan ke dus tukdey’ (10 portions of one leaf). The gist of this saying is that all 10 portions of the leaf are of the same nature since they all belong to one leaf.
This saying wholly matches the current election scenario in the United States. Be it Hillary Clinton, Mc Cain or Obama, it’s all the same. Everyone makes claims and promises for the people but the execution goes missing. However, each of these American candidates have their own reasons to grab power.
If Mrs. Clinton comes to power . . .
The Clinton name has been recognized in the US politics due to which Hillary may have the driver’s seat to sweep victory in the Presidential race. She perpetually has her husband’s drawing card to play with and earn support from voters. Though, the battle has a long way to breathe, the popularity element to secure victory is beginning to neutralize. One reason for her success, if at all, might be the towering support from Whites and Latinos who make around 80% of American population compared to African-Americans who are currently the staunch supporters for Obama in minority. Being the first lady in the US to compete for presidency, people may vote her to advocate women’s rights too.
If Obama grabs the seat . . .
If granted the presidency, I feel Obama has a sound reasoning to the issues he shall venture. He is the first nominee for the US president who is willing to talk with leaders of US foes such as the Islamic Republic of Iran and North Korea. He has minimized the ‘supposed’ self-created threat from Iran which presently is an extremely sensitive issue with the Bush administration. Bush is panicky over the possible alliance between Obama and the Iranian President Ahmadinejad who is a blow to the American policies. Probably Obama would also try to build the country’s image that has been tarnishing with the course of war with Iraq.
If McCain is the big man . . .
McCain has a lot of backing from people involving advisors who are pro-war, anti-Islam, conservatives and American allies who support the current policies of the Bush government. Probably he will survive only if unfair elections take place like the previous one. He seems to be the next Bush in place.
What happens to the guiltless Iraq?
The Bush administration has already played very dirty with the Middle Eastern loop. Hillary Clinton supported George W. Bush to invade Iraq back in 2003 and still considers the country to be a danger to the American government interests. So, naturally Clinton’s victory as a president will further upsurge the scores of people butchered in Iraq and mess the status quo further since she favors no timetable for a complete troop withdrawal.
However, Obama strongly opposed war with Iraq prior to the invasion. But even if he comes to power, the war may halt initially but it won’t cruise to a complete halt because reports mention that war with Iraq was planned long back under Clinton’s presidency but implemented in Bush’s government.
But in the end I’ll be surprised if McCain bags the presidential race because his policies are very similar to Bush’s policies that have left the nation at wit’s end. It would also be surprising if Obama comes to power due to his Afro-American background and his willingness to talk to the country’s major foes that is currently out of the question with the Bush administration. But personally speaking, he seems the best option from the triad.
-SJ
Many of the recipes relate to religions and festivals throughout the year ranging from Mother’s Day to the summer football season and including Halloween, Eid, Diwali, Asian weddings, Christian and Chinese New Year. In short, all wonderful excuses to eat as much food as possible says Vicky Bhogal, the author.
Vicky is an icon in the world of cookery. Belonging to a Sikh family, her family ensured that she grew up in a Western Society with strong Indian values, including learning to cook and this book is an application of Indian values with British and Asian ingredients.
The recipes are neatly compiled, allotted in sections of the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter. Considering the spell of spring, the time for gentle and simple flavours, Vicky has added recipes such as ‘Saffron and Pistachio Rasmalai’. Having categorized summer as one of the lazy times of the year, the author has compiled recipes which are frosty and refreshing. Handful of recipes in each seasonal section tempt the viewer to grab a copy at once. Additionally, basic ayurvedic principles regarding food are covered in short.
The book also covers all the basic utensils and equipment required in a typical Asian kitchen along with measuring ingredient charts, grocery shopping preparations, cooking techniques and tips. For those who are unable to comprehend various Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu and Gujarati terms used in recipes can refer to the glossary of terms at the end which are put in plain words in English.
What attracts the readers more are the author’s short, personal interesting anecdotes related to each recipe in the book. She has creatively included short stories, images and extracts of poetry setting the mood of the respective seasons. A colorful appearance of the book with multi colored pages creates a fancy impression but at the same time makes it difficult for the reader to read the text on dark coloured background.
She is 18, 30 or at times even 50. Sometimes she is a daughter, a sister or a wife. Or even a mother who blows herself up with explosives. She is not doing this with the purpose of taking her own life. She is detonating herself with heavy explosives primarily to take the lives of others. In short, she adopts the path of suicide bombing.
What really makes someone who is in this golden age of her life to do this? When the thoughts of a beautiful life fly like a butterfly over different colours of life. What really makes these women to take such steps? Is life not precious for them? We adopt so many personal and social measures to protect life from all forms of dangers but then we witness these young ladies and even men give up their life so easily just for the sake of taking the lives of few others who they consider as enemies.
The world condemns and considers these acts of suicide bombing as terrorism and presents fundamentalism and extremism of religion as the root cause behind such actions. Suicide bombings have been witnessed by many. Like the Sri Lankan LTTE lady’s attack on India’s late Prime Minister Rajeev Gandhi, in Palestine-Israel conflict, Iraq and elsewhere. Muslims are seen in the front line of such actions, not because their religion teaches them to do this but due to some other reason which lies deep inside the human innate nature which can take any human being to such a stage. Why don’t we realize or consider to dig deep inside the cause as to why this bomber killed herself. Why did she not care for her life?
We have made suicide bomber an object of concern but we have not looked at those parameters which have become cause for this action by this person. This bomber commits suicide bombing because she has suffered a loss, much greater than her life. She is oppressed. Her faith is oppressed. Her value system has been tarnished by others. She is helpless; she does not possess weapons to fight wars which other nations possess. The only thing she has is her own life. By blasting herself amidst others and taking lives of others, she is not telling the world to count how many bodies have fallen out. She is sending a message to the imperialists of the world that her faith and ideology is much beyond life and their faith is now under oppression. If the world remains silent to the oppression of one group over other which is helpless and powerless, what can then be expected from the oppressed class? Rather than giving their lives by just being oppressed, they prefer to give their lives on their own along with taking lives of the surrounding people.
When a woman suffers atrocities of life, she at times commits suicide to get relief from the pain of this world just because she cannot remove her worries. She prefers to kill herself. Synonymous is this with the case of suicide bombing. A woman goes for suicide bombing in tense situations. The sound of these suicide bombings will still be heard if a woman adopts to express her annoyance with life this way. Children will continue losing their mothers, husbands will lose their wives and daughters will depart from their mothers in this entire life’s game of expressing catastrophic troubles in their lives.
A write-up on 'Souk Culture' evaluated for end-semester examination in Jan '08.
-SJ
This is the Central Market (Blue Souk) that stands near the famous Khaled Lagoon in Sharjah. It is well-known for jewelery outlets, antiques, carpets, electronics and garments.
Photographs by Kulsoom Ali
A long shot of the souk from the street. The Central souk is constructed with two adjoining wings (seen in the picture) connected with a bridge-like tunnel. One wing deals with garments, electronics and gifts while the other is solely dedicated to jewelry outlets.
The frontal appearance of the souk's entrance. The blue tiles ornated on the walls can be seen in the picture. 
A small fountainhead facing the entrance enhances the souk's outward show.
A low-angle shot from the souk's entrance on the ground floor. Shops are lined on both sides with a pathway in the centre that leads to elevators and stairs leading to the upper floor.
A busy market place. Paintings displayed on sale; the background illustrates customers engaged in shopping and conversations.
- SJ
It always happens that the day you're not carrying your professional photographic equipment, you lose out on capturing great shots at scene.
Regrets apart. On a fine morning, I noticed this mini rainbow patterned by the dispersion of sunlight in driblets of water from sprinklers on the grass.
This article was published in a local student publication (Campus Journal) in the New Year supplement, 2008
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A New Version of Me
by Kulsoom Ali
Another year is slipping away, ushering the pangs of yet another crisp New Year at the threshold. The year 2007 shall soon be vaporized and stamped as history and the future shall now become our present. We all are anticipating this New Year with silvery hopes to yield happiness, prosperity and a good life but what lies ahead is shaped by our sole efforts in leading either a victorious or a flat, defeated life.
Every human constantly struggles to mould a better-looking future. We make a resolution or two at the onset of every New Year to turn ourselves for the good and some of us might have invented the most nonsensical and freakish resolutions for the New Year but a few serious ones amongst us earnestly aspire to turn into a new leaf. Girls target a new year fighting the flab, boys let go of the fags and some even make serious pledges to show up regularly at colleges and universities!
Such efforts are definitely to be lauded upon but before we take pride to make a resolution, let’s question ourselves, ‘Will I sincerely keep on with the pledge?’ Because it’s no big task to simply grab a pen and a notepad to jot our resolutions down. What happens soon is a death to these resolutions because a written vow without a serious intention and handiwork gets you back to a zilch!
“Resolutions and promises always fail,” states Rachana Sippy, a clinical psychologist working as a Student Counselor at Our Own English High School, Dubai. But she quickly adds, “Unless you are committing yourself to excellence that pushes you in accomplishing high standards.” Rachana feels that students must form resolutions for the best by believing in their capabilities first. She says that every individual has a unique talent and potential that might be missing in the other individual. “I suggest students to aim for small but achievable and realistic targets. If you do happen to fail, don’t grumble. Try various formulas - if method A fails, adopt method B which might succeed. But never wait for the next hour because most of us procrastinate so always say to yourself, ‘I must complete if I undertake a task. I must do it now and not tomorrow.’”
She strongly believes in the magic of the paper. She says, “Always think on paper! Write down your goals and identify your favorite reasons and excuses for dilly-dallying and see what’s holding you back. For instance, break the monotony if you have to study a boring subject. Begin by selecting a subject that interests you followed by the uninteresting one. When you achieve this goal, pat yourself on the back and say Wow, I’ve done it!”
But, are students under the opinion of forming resolutions at New Year? Neha Rafeek, a third year Bachelors student of Media and Communications at MAHE, Dubai says that resolutions need not be made at New Year alone. She opines, “I don’t believe in the concept of New Year resolutions since it’s just another fancy culture today.” She feels we should write resolutions if only we can adhere to them but not to follow the usual trend. “I don’t understand why people have to wait for a 365-day cycle to revolutionize themselves for the good. I can write a resolution today, tomorrow or next month and not necessarily at the onset of a New Year to improve myself! As an illustration, I would like to control my short temperedness in near future. But I certainly wouldn’t wait for January 1st to dawn for practice.
A better future for students weighs importance mainly through good grades, a rewarding peer support and a non-obese lifestyle. Girls always plan to shed a few kilos at the beginning of the New Year. It is probably more of a desire to pick up those shaped curves rather than a serious workout. “The initiative to work something for the good is greatly missing in youth today,” says Mehfuza Haffiz, a dietician and a nutritionist by profession at VLCC Centre, Sharjah. She believes that taking an initiative itself is a challenging task. “I highly encourage students to aim for a healthier life in future. I’m not convincing them to isolate junk food from their meal plans but I suggest they take heed before they hit obesity.”
UAE is ranked one of more than 40 countries in the world with increased levels of obesity and people who are overweight. Mehfuza reasons that physical activity is barely on the mark in the UAE and recommends regular bouts of cardiovascular exercise to help keep oneself in shape. “The youth must at least devote 45 minutes to an hour to regular exercises like walking, cycling or jogging. It increases your stamina and most importantly knocks down your weight and eventually boosts your self-esteem.” Planning nutritional yet delicious meals keeps us away from those extra kilos too. She couches, “It is a good idea to select healthier recipes that call for bakes and grills rather than deep-fried items that simply add to your weight.”
Mehfuza also acknowledges that the students today are hard-pressed for time but she also identifies the benefits that we, as youth enjoy. “I do agree that a lot is expected from the students that pose them a big challenge but they should know that they also possess the state-of-the-art technology that we couldn’t enjoy in our school days. And probably this is one reason that snails them down for vigorous physical activities as part of their regular schedules.”
Veritably, we may emerge as medalists, only if we harmonize our resolutions with fervid actions. Before planning to write your goals especially at this onset of the New Year, convince and encourage yourself that you shall religiously commit to the new resolutions. G.K. Chesterton ‘….’ says, “The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes.” Hence, don’t just envisage a bright ‘year’ ahead but promise yourselves that you are metamorphosing till the end of era. But always remember the golden key to believe in yourself first.
-SJ
