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.
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
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
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