Hawk TalkN E W S L E T T E R- 2 0 1 8 - 1 9

Alcott Hawk’s Call

Reviews, Views, News and Voices of the young hawks as they claim their places.

News: what we have been upto?— page 03

WHAT’S INSIDEOpinions, Views and Voices

— page 12

Musings and Creative pieces

— page 14

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| 19

YEAR IN REVIEW

Academic Year 2018 | 19

Sub-Editors

Mohid bin Abid

Mohid is everybody’s SWAT team on the

dial! He likes playing forefront and, more

often than not, he says a “Yes” to every task

he is entrusted with.

Abdul Razique Mohsin Ahmed Shayan Mustafa Zeeshan Fazal

Team Leads

Here it is the first issue of our newsletter the “Hawk Talk”!

The newsletter is a work of our passion and we have

spent much time in designing and anthologizing stories

that we thought reflected the true spirit of life at Alcott .

“Hawk Talk” evolved from a very simple idea. It began

with a discussion in the office of the Dean, Ms. Yasmeen

Rajbhoy. She expressed her desire of developing a

platform for the students to document their experiences

at the Alcott College. Yet it also became a stage to a

pervasive belief on the campus that the life at Alcott

College holds a unique and a central place in lives of the

students. The Hawk talk allowed the vibrant hawks to

voice their opinions and speak of their novel ideas and

interests in a genre that resonated with them the most.

A few of the write ups are the product of discussions in the

writing classes where the Hawks found an opportunity

for free expression; learning to communicate

effectively, narrating, reporting, persuading and

reviewing the genres and ideas which appealed them

the most. It harnessed their individual creativity and

helped them rethink of their roles in their context.

Hope you would enjoy and encourage the love and hard

work they have put in to bring about this publication.

Happy Reading!

The Editor- Ms. Qurratulain Raza

Syed Sahan Zaidi

Sahan is a team player and a “people

person “. He comes to life when he is around

his friends and yet his music sometimes

shies away in crowds.

Omer Shahnawaz

Omer may appear to you as coy and

complacent. He harbours though

a dynamic, fiery soul, ignited with

imagination, dreams and poetry.

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This September marked the dawn of the Alcott College along with its first official batch of 2020 was welcomed in its state-of-the-art campus. Alcott realizing college is a time when students discover themselves and grow both academically and develop distinct personalities provides its students opportunities beyond academics to socialize and make strong social communities of their own.

Alcott held its first official Welcome Party as a way to greet the new batch of 2020 on the 20th of October 2018 at the Airmen Golf Club. The fun began from morning when all the students left college by boarding on a bus together. They were set to start their day at the Airmen Golf Club. Airmen is known for its ambience and serene atmosphere and for leisurely activities which it offers.

The students were able to participate in relaxing activities such as swimming, horse-riding and much more, growing closer as a community sharing one of the first memories they created this academic year. The trip was organized by our event management team through a unanimous vote casted by the student body, making it not only the first of the democratic step but also a remarkable experience for everyone part of it. By Laiba Ali Khan

NEWS

Alcott Welcomes

4

Alcott held its first ever official public event along with the induction

of the first batch, the Alcott Open House. The event was to signify

the start of a new mission, the initialization of Alcott and getting the

word out there that Alcott is strong, firm and exponentially growing.

Alcott Open House

A mere idea which later turned from an ordinary conversation into the

open house. The discussion revolved around how things in life can be so

chaotic and imbalanced, about how at times life isn’t always all in order

and symmetry and can sometimes be as chaotic and wild as the circus. We

wanted to bring the concept of the circus and remind everyone that they are

the ringleaders, that each and every last one of us is the ringleader of our own

lives and we are in more control than we think we are. The Open House was

prepared entirely by the students, the decorations and artwork, the stalls

and activities and games was the combined effort and dedication of the

student body which was much applauded by the audience and the visitors.

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Sure you need to study for the future, but what about the tales that you grow up with, what about the memories, the adventures, the mischief and the enjoyment? Fairy lights scattered throughout the campus and filament bulbs lined across the courtyard. The management sure knew the perfect way to calm the educational storm that was stirring a chaos within the students after the Mid-Term Examinations. creating an everlasting bond.

The flames that rose above us all, the mixture of the orange and red, the crackling of the wood and a soothing burning scent was enough to extinguish the storm within the students. Alcott’s first Bonfire was everything it should have been, under the stars, with just enough light to enjoy the flames that crackled and popped. The barbeque that made our mouths water, the music that our bodies swayed to and the friends that were in attempts to chat the night away.

A well lit photograpgh of the bonfire!

Hawks on fire! Bonfire 2019

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One of Alcott’s core missions is to facilitate students with placements in the universities of their choice. The students are counselled and are helped academically so that they could pick the right university for their future academic endeavor which could help them fulfill to pursue the academic field of their choice successfully.

As a part of the career counseling programme, Habib University, paid a visit to the college and held a short session to help the students and give them the much needed information about academic streams and programmes of the Habib University. As it is one of the leading liberal arts and science institutions, Habib explained the the concept of how various universities work and the different atmosphere which is provided in liberal art institutions. The students were given activities to do as the session progressed to keep the students engaged and interested as they gained knowledge about higher education and different fields of education that they may pursue after A-Levels.

Habib Visits

No one of us knew that a couple of hours of playing parlor games would create a family under the umbrella of Alcott College. None of us knew that we would be dedicating an entire night in cherishing laughter, creating an everlasting bond.

Abdul Razique may appear to you as an epitome of control. Delve deeper and you will meet a soul embracing his inexorable energy, smiling to each curve ball being thrown his way , handing out sarcasm.

He wants to change the world, but before that he needs a break.

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Caption: Nam posuere neque nunc, hendrerit dictum lorem maximus sed. Nunc a finibus diam, a pulvinar justo. Nulla suscipit maximus magna

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Hawk Fest 2019Hawk Fest was a mega inter-college sports tournament organized by the Alcott college that spanned over three days. Alcott welcomed colleges like Lyceum, Nixor, Beaconhouse, Cedar and others to display sportsmanship and to participate in competitive sports activities. Being an inclusive event, it was not just a male-oriented but there was equal female respresentation in matches of Futsal, basketball and table tennis.

In the first circuit of matches we had Futsal, Basketball and Cricket matches. The venue was spacious with grassy grounds and ideal Futsal and Basketball court. The crew worked vigilantly organizing and monitoring all events and of course overlooking the much needed arrangements of lunch and tea.

The second day was a buzzing and busy day with the semi-final matches coming to a conclusion. By the end of the third day, the enthusiasm was at its peak.

By the end of the third and the final day the enthusiasm and excitement was as its peak as the winners stood victorious hugging, screaming and laughing.

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We witnessed the finalist and the winners of different categories lift their medals and trophies. in the closing ceremony of HawkFest held Alcott College Campus. All the colleges were warmly invited with their coaches and the winners were applauded and appreciated.

Everybody thoroughly enjoyed the mega-event and the Alcott Community beamed with pride on the final day for hosting such a successful event collaboratively. By S. Sahan Zaidi

10

One of the students, Shahnawaz Aamer had this to say about the experience:

“Donating blood is one of the most charitable acts a human being can do for the people of his/her country and when the staff of Indus Hospital

came to our college to accept blood donations, the thought of a needle piercing into my arm frightened me but I gathered the courage to do it because if I gave my blood, I would be saving a life, my fear for the needle was nothing compared to how much my blood and courage could help someone else. Although I was first to volunteer, seeing all of my friends join me and for everyone to be facing their fears so proudly gave everyone the sense of togetherness and that we were capable of doing so much if we worked for it together.“

The Civil Defense Authority visited Alcott College to hold the First Aid Emergency session for the student body to prepare students for emergencies and dangerous

situations that may potentially happen. The students were briefed on prevention of injuries and how to navigate exits/safe spots in case of an emergency, on how to handle panic in stressful situations and what to do and what not to do.

Basic medical first-aid was explained and the students were taught how to help others that had been injured through demonstrations of how to handle their injuries

until professional help arrives. They were taught how to tie knots for bandaging wounds and how to help the emergency services, this also included textbook definitions of various types of injuries like broken bones and deep cuts. The commitment from our staff, volunteers, and the students enabled us to conduct a successful exercise that tested our ability to respond in the event of any such emergencies. We are committed towards improving students’ life and ensuring that they are prepared to face any of such circumstances.

Indus Blood DriveFirst Aid Training

Alcott not only educates students academically but also on how to be better human beings.

Being charitable and selfless is a part of being moral human beings as the world needs more people willing to give back to everyone around them who may be less fortunate.

Alcott joined Indus Hospital in its humanitarian mission to spread awareness of blood donation,

its necessity and how much donating blood can help so many people. Indus Hospital visited the college as a part of Alcott’s Blood Donation Drive and motivated the students to take part in donating blood for the ones in need.

11

HEALTH

Pakistan is the sixth most populous country in the world with a population of over 191 million people. An estimated 30 to 40 per cent of all deaths in Pakistan are due to cardiovascular diseases which claim more than 200,000 lives every year in the country while coronary artery disease is now the leading cause of death in Pakistan. At least 12 Pakistani die every hour due to heart attack. An artery supplying blood to the heart is known as a coronary artery, in CAD the inner layer of the artery is damaged. This damage can be caused due to various factors, including:

•smoking•eating meals high in cholesterol •inactive lifestyle •high blood pressure

Unhealthy fats in our diet increase the risk of fatty deposits in our inner wall of the artery, this buildup of fat can block the artery leading to a heart attack.

There are several ways in which you can prevent your risk of developing coronary artery disease, like:

• A healthy diet which provides full nutrients. You should avoid food containing saturated fats, because these will increase the levels of bad cholesterol in your blood.

• Quit smoking.

• Be more physically active.

Being healthy reduces your chances of developing high blood pressure. Regular exercise will make your heart and blood circulatory system more efficient, lower your cholesterol level, and also keep your blood pressure at a healthy

12

As we all are aware peer pressure is the phenomenon where we tend to get influenced by the lifestyles and the ways of thinking of our peers. Peer pressure may be seen beneficial, but it is most often observed to have negative effects on society.The thoughts, behavior and tastes of fashion, music, television and other walks of life of the masses are often seen having a deep impact on society. We tend to get influenced by the lifestyles of our peer group. The changing ways of life of our peers often forces us to change our ways of looking at life and leading it. It’s a human tendency to do what the crowd does. Few have the courage to resist the peer pressure and be their own selves rather than being one amongst the lot. Peer pressure has become a big part of our teenage lives. Whether they are at school or work, peer pressure can affect their output and even impact their general outlook on life.

Teenagers tend to follow the crowd. If they are caught in the act of smoking or drinking they cite peer pressure as the main influence behind their actions. It is a continuous struggle for parents to figure out how to help teenagers deal with peer pressure, especially when they aren’t always around to oversee their activities. What parents fail to understand is that in some instances peer pressure in the right environment can work for the benefit of their child. When a teen makes the right choice under peer pressure doesn’t that count as a plus point?

OpinionIs It Good to Give in to Peer Pressure?

According to research, if properly harnessed, the same pressure can motivate individuals to stay focused and work hard towards achieving their

goals. Positive effects of peer pressure on teenagers are also evident by the example of a student who is motivated to get good grades because his friends are getting good grades – an action that can be attributed to positive peer pressure. Positive peer pressure can help you reflect on your actions and amend your ways to become a better individual. Observing others working hard to achieve their goals will encourage you to step up your game and strive towards something positive. When a teen knows that his teammates are practicing hard to become better basketball players then it will directly affect his own performance. He will put in twice the time and energy to raise the level of his game and ensure he has a place on the team.

Having a group that exerts positive peer pressure can also help you give up bad habits and pick up healthy ones that can shape

both your personality and your future. A change in perspective about life and motivation to do well because of pressure from your peers may become inspiration in that instance. Therefore, it is better to learn something from peer pressure by adopting good habits and avoid succumbing to its negative side.

An analytical approach of looking at peer behavior can act positively. Recent studies too have shown that peer pressure might have an upside to it too; that in certain environments peer pressure can inspire an individual to be a more focused and determined individual. by Ilsa Mobin

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HE SAYS:

SHE SAYS:

Toxic stereotypes and behaviors are common in all groups of people, which also includes men. For decades, men have been the providers and the caretakers of the house with no exceptions, they’re placed in the position of leadership and responsibility and thus their decisions have to be smart and emotions cannot sway them, but this has lead to men that show emotions being labeled as “Weak” or “Womanly”. It’s an issue that people still cause to this day, as young boys are told that “Men don’t cry” or “Don’t be a wuss”. A male with emotional issues is looked at condescendingly.

T he issue can be fixed and is slowly improving as time progresses, if young men are taught to be accepting and supportive to other people, it’s part of human emotion to be sympathetic towards other humans and people should be aware

of how to react and how to better treat a friend or a companion if they’re not at their best mental state. As humans, we go through thick and thin and it’s only human to react to things the way we do. For me, my best friend has taught me how to react when issues arise and how to be helpful and lend a hand to people without making things worse. By Omer Shahnawaz

“Feminism” is still regarded as a bad word. Most of you might think/ misperceive it as a movement aiming for female dominance to counter unfairness of patriarchal societies when it in reality it is advocacy of women’s rights on the ground of equality of sexes i.e. equal opportunities to education, growth and to succeed. Women all around the world face crimes that are gender based: they are isolated, abused ,raped, tortured. Let’s not look at this from the perspective of two different sexes but from the perspective of humans. There is a lot of work being done for women. If we look around we could see women are deprived of voice or opportunities of speaking up for their health, hygiene, education which are part of their basic human rights.

There many She-roes we can look up to in our contexts women like Maruim Mukhtair the first female combat pilot of pakistan who died in a crash on duty she was later given the state award for her bravery and commemorated her life in a film too. Another is that of Malala Yousuf Zai who worked for women education and was given the noble prize the list could go on but the need in our society is for good people who understand and encourage such work. Yet it is this very misogyny that despite Malala winning the Noble Peace Prize she is not esteemed by many back home. Even film maker Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy who won the first Oscar for Pakistan is loved abroad but is facing flak in Pakistan for raising voice against “Acid Victims” or what may be perceived as a “negative issue”.

We live in the 21st century but have we overcome our inherent misogyny? how many of mothers, sisters , wives and daughters are helped by the men of our homes in work? How many of us work outside the toxic gender stereotypical roles assigned to us? And if someone does, how many of us support them? We need to make gender equality a natural way of life so much so that being “like a girl or a woman” is no more a derogatory phrase. Let’s bring this change! Let you and me be the reason for this much needed change. by Laiba Ali Khan

A day for the She-roes

On the occasion of Women’s day, the Hawks sat down for a talk. While we commemorated the important she-roes of our contexts and history we also spoke of what needs to be done. They had meaningful conversations on gender roles and inequality in all my classes regardless of their religious beliefs, ethnicity and socioeconomic backgrounds. They watched powerful videos of advocacy and answered the following questions:

1. Why is it important for men and boys to be a part of the discourse?

2. What instances of gender inequality, sexist social norms or stereotypes are dangerous and unfair for both genders?

3. Why should we feel not attacked by each other’s point of view and how to broach the subject objectively.

Students also exchanged their views on case studies such as: -the Nairobian decline in sexual assaults after boys were taught the concept of consent and how to stand up for girls instead of teaching the girls self- defense which did not affect the statistics of assault incidents at all, -the gender imbalance caused by one child policy of China in which a majority chose to keep male children, -the problem of female feticide in India, - the prevalent acid attacks statistics “crimes of passion” in South Asia, -violence towards vulnerable, -unreported rape cases owing to victim blaming in South Asia to topics such as gender wage gap to disproportionate Women’s legislative representation in reproductive health policies all over the world.

We also discussed how gender stereotypes are dangerous for all. One of the greatest successes of the session was that many of male students began a healthy discussion on advocacy for women and also began standing up for them on online forums. They carried the discussion forward too amongst the members of their families, friends and communities.

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Mis understandings

Rounding the arounds,Always part of the lost and founds

Didn’t cherish, And was never cherished

Unable to miss,Yet yearns to be missed

Bounded by the bonds,But, of them, was never fond

Treated the fresh wounds,And the old ones herself in rounds

Yet she failed to realize, How her real eyes,Fed, to her, the real lies,And destroyed her real life

Why?To put her down,Present her as a clown,So that she would drown,Inside her own frowns,

The truth was;Always part of the losts and founds,

But she was treasured only for the founds

Capable of cherishing,More than she was cherished

None of them would’ve held ever,The bonds, to them, dearest than her

Was missed more than she knew,And missed every time with a passion new

She deserves to be crownedFor all the pain, without complains, she consumedThe pain which, even in desperate times, she

MUSINGS

refused to exhumeAnd just like that, every time this routine resumed

After all, of what use is the endured pain without a serving conquer?What’s a conquer without its newfound kingdom?What’s a kingdom without its throne?What’s a throne without a king?And what’s a king without his queen?

-Nermeen Naveed

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We all have good days, ordinary days or just okay days. But there are some days when you just wake up with a weird empty feeling inside, days when you feel like a lone plastic bag, with out the energy to do anything at all. At those moments its hard to remember moments when you didn’t feel this way. Whether you feel lost at work or as if every thing just drained you inside out- and it’s tough to shake the feeling off.These bad days can turn into bad weeks, the bad weeks into bad months and it clouds over everything.

Being a mental health professional, I feel this is very good for people who battle anxiety, depression and other emotional and mental stress. I recently stumbled upon a concept called “No More Zero Days” by reddit user ryan01A zero day is a day in which you haven’t done anything towards your goal or dream. These can be explained as binary 0’s and 1’s. Either you’ve progressed (1) or haven’t (0), the idea of a No Zero Day is to take any small or large step towards your goal, to have string of 1s instead of 0s.

Been in bed since you woke up and now it’s 12 pm? It’s okay! Go freshen up and maybe do something small, do one push up or write one line in what you were working on. Giving up one thing leads to giving up more and it turns into the feeling of falling into a dark hole where its easier to give up entirely after a few days. At some point, we’ve all been guilty of saying “What is practicing one question gonna do?” or “Revising just a single class won’t get me an A, its pointless”. The most important thing is to make sure there’s no more zero days, no matter what you do even small and seemingly insignificant steps when done consistently can lead to amazing results.All you need to do is be consistent on the no zeros, once you start getting strings of 1s, it only gets easier to be consistent and productive!

Even if what you do doesn’t feel like too much, it’s like keeping yourself running and preparing for working harder, no matter how small the step you did a lot more than you think you did. Truth is, if you feel good; you’ll feel good and it works the other way around too. A lot of things slowly add up, whether its for the good or bad, you are strong enough to decide and control it. I promise myself that from now on, I’ll try my absolute best to make every day a #NoZeroDay! And I hope whoever this reaches joins me in this journey! By Omer Shahnawaz

No Zero Days

SPORTS

PSL Cup 2019This is PSL season and Pakistan is running high PSL fever but where does the PSL come from and when did it become so import ant for us?

The PSL stands for Pakistan Super League. It’s the T20 franchise league that was founded in Lahore in 2015 with 5 teams initially. It now comprises of 6 . One of the most awaited and critical match between two team is of the traditional rivals Karachi King and Lahore Qalander. The two most aggressive teams have been the most competitive ones with strong players too. Especially, the Lahore Qalander debatably has the presence of AB Devillier who is famously known as MR. 360 for the fact he can shoot the ball in any direction and hence hyperbolically associated with it.

The rival team Karachi Kings is blessed with a player Babar Azam who sticks to the pitch and returns when his century is completed. Apart from this, these teams also have great bowling line ups. Two solid bowlers in each team. Lahore Qalanders have signed a young talent from Pakhtoon Shaheen Afridi who probably is the most famous rising star recently in PSL. In such a young age he got wickets of the most famous and professional player. On the other hand in his rival team we have a well-known, experienced and a very professional fast bowler named Mohammad Amir who is very famous for his remarkable Yorkers which even the most experienced player can’t play.

This most awaited match is on the 10th of March in Karachi’s Home Stadium and I am rooting for Lahore Qalander because of Mr.360 and Shaheen Afridi.

(The Article was written before the finals of PSL and therefore reflects Authors’s predictions only. On 16th Feb Lahore Qalanders won against Karachi King by 22 runs and 28th Feb Karachi King won over Lahore Qalanders by 5 wickets. Both teams didn’t get to face each other again in the tournament and Quetta Gladiators took the cup home!)

by Zain Nauman

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Watching Imran Khan lift the World Cup in the Melbourne Cricket Ground, symbolised for every Pakistani the possibility of

success in the face of impossible odds. Self-belief is so often lacking in young nations which were subjugated to colonial rule

for centuries. That moment united a country.

1992: The Ignition!

Over three decades, Pakistan cricket has been on a rollercoaster ride, which peaked in the 1990s. This was a time when it also

sunk into the depths of hell, on a tour to England.After the victory at the MCG, Pakistan put forward world-beating teams at the next two World Cups. They included the fastest bowler in the world, Shoaib Akhtar, an off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq who broke Alan Donald’s record and created a delivery called the ‘Dusra’ which had never before seen in cricket. It included a couple of all-rounders, Azhar Mehmood and Abdul Razzaq, giving unrivalled depth to the team. Add to that Saeed Anwar, who held the record for the highest One-Day International score in cricket. And the crown jewel, in arguably the most lethal fast bowling pair in history: Wasim Akram and Waqar Younus.Despite some rare successes, what was clear to everyone was that a revival was not possible without bringing international cricket back to Pakistan.

However, the team lost its way as we entered the 21st century. As some icons retired, others lost form and a team filled with superstars, suddenly found itself fielding a playing eleven that could lose to any team on its worst day. The posterboy for the team, during this period of decay, was Shahid Afridi, a player with great marketing potential but not in the same category as the stars of the earlier decade.

Unfortunately, the worst was yet to come as Pakistan was embroiled in a conflict that swept away cricket in its midst. A brutal terror campaign signalled the death of international cricket in Pakistan. The attack on the Sri Lankan team and images of their rescue in a military helicopter were a nightmare for a nation of cricket lovers. It was without doubt the biggest tragedy in Pakistan’s cricketing history.

During the next few years, the team muddled along, playing home games outside the country. It struggled to cope with scandals

that engulfed it from time to time, even leading to prison terms for some players. Yet, even in this gloomy environment there were performances that gave hope such as reaching the semi-finals of the 2011 world cup and attaining the top spot in test rankings.Despite these rare successes, what was clear to everyone was that a revival was not possible without bringing international cricket back to Pakistan. If Pakistan cricket were to witness a renaissance and emerge from its dark ages, it needed to engage the millions of fans in the country, bringing cricket to their doorstep.

To achieve this, the Pakistan Cricket Board decided to launch the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Despite obstacles and notable naysayers, Najam Sethi continued to push the event through, with a clear roadmap in mind.

In its first year, PSL 2016 didn’t manage to hold any games in Pakistan but it was successful in roping in world-renowned players and producing cricket that was competitive and entertaining.Next, PSL 2017 managed to hold the final of the tournament in Lahore. It marked the beginning of the transition, showing to the world that Pakistan was open and capable of hosting matches of an international level, without concern.

This year, PSL 2018 has spread it’s footprint hosting 3 matches domestically in two different cities, proving that PSL is not a one-hit wonder. And the story continues, with plans to host half of the tournament matches of PSL 2019 in Pakistan.In a short period, PSL has achieved what was unthinkable, just a few years ago. The tournament has galvanised people, breathed life back into a cricket-crazy culture and most importantly, paved the way for the rebirth of the game.And it is for this reason that PSL is not just a cricket tournament anymore. It has turned into a symbol of pride for our nation. Its is a story of perseverance, engendering a spirit in the people that has the potential to permeate every aspect of our society because cricket has always been more than ‘just a game’, for the millions who call Pakistan home.

Where are the heroes of the future? Where are the legends of this era that little kids will try to emulate when playing cricket on their streets? It seems as though our current lot of players are destined to walk into the sunset mocked, scorned, barely liked and conveniently forgotten. However, as a fan of this beautiful game and one who longs to see the days of glory return I, for one, am still optimistic about our future. All we need is a little more chaos and greatness will follow.

By-Muhammad Umer Farooqi

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Memoirs of Him

10 July 2018;He’s sitting in an aeroplane, bound to Turin.Love of his life sitting beside, his mother. His son in front of him, and his partner holding his arms.It was a difficult decision, but they were all with him. He’s walking into the darkness with just one light...light from the fire that was still burning strong within himself. He closed his eyes........Scene changes.He’s sitting in the Old Lady’s office. Few Italians in front of him. Hundreds of thousands outside jumping with joy. Celebrating his arrival like a hero. They put forward a paper for him to sign. He pauses for a second before penning it down. He closes his eyes.......Scene changes.He’s in a line, a line of Madrid players. Waiting to receive the Champion’s league’s winners medals for the third straight time. He feels that atmosphere. He knows that he is long way from there. He opens his eyes. Signs his name on the paper. He made his bed, now he has to sleep on it..........Scene changes.Same city of Madrid. Familiar nights of the ‘Liga de campeones’. Too familiar opposition. He’s destroyed them in every game before. Everytime he stepped onto that pitch, those red-blue giant’s faces would turn purple. Tonight they were not looking worried, he knew why! He looked down on his shirt, the crown logo was not there anymore. He closed his eyes..........Scene changes.Same city if Madrid, familiar night, familiar opponent but unfamiliar result. He’s distraught and devastated. On the verge of elimination. Too many mouths to shut, too many people to prove. He’s still not broken. He closed his eyes. .......Scene changes.He is standing in the darkness. His all teammates around him. Millions of black and white fans around him. They can see only one thing. The fire within him. In the hour of darkness, only one thing that is lighting and giving them hope..Him!He closed his eyes

Scene changes.Old lady’s home. Red and blue giants came with a grin on their face. He is standing on the pitch, still giving hope. He knows what’s going to be on the other end. Everyone knew what was going to happen. He said it, he’ll do it. He will fight till his death but emerge victorious. .........Scene changes.He’s standing few yards out from the goalkeeper. Ball at his feet, no one in between and a million dreams on his back. He’s not nervous, nor is he afraid of what will happen. So many people to prove, so many mouths to shut. His journey so far wasn’t easy. His journey from here on, will only he tougher. But he is ready to take it. Refree blows the whistle. He takes his signature deep breath. The Old lady can’t watch this. She closed her eyes...........Scene changes.Summer evening. Streets of Madrid.A young couple from their all day of roaming around in the capital are heading home. They are too tired and want something refreshing.They see a fruit vendor. They go to him.“Señor, can we have some watermelon juice”. A mid-aged man rushes to take their order. The young lady recognises him. “Excuse me, weren’t you the coach of Atletico Madrid?”He closes his eyes.

And cries.

The above story is a simulated narrative based on life of Christiano Ronaldo. by Hammad ur Rehman

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TRAVEL

Kalam valley is situated in the north of Pakistan in the province of KPK near Swat.The valley is full of lush green sceneries, traditional folk music and the temples.The valley has variety of activities to offer and attracts many backpackers throughout the year.In summer the valley is roofed by greenery and many waterfalls sprouting from here and there. While in winter the valley is covered in snow with almost no sign of flora.

The route to Kalam itself is none less than an adventure with possibility of only two vehicles passing by simultaneously the roads are very narrow and have pits and pots here and there. Where one mistake could very possibly be your last.Every year many adventure junkies go to kalam to fulfill their need for adrenaline as the valley has a lot to offer. During summer kayaking is common in the swat river in addition with recreational hunting. Camping and trekking is also one of the highlight of the valley as night sky is filled with galaxies and stunning mountains provides a perfect spot to camp and relax under the never ending blue.

The hotels at kalam are also extremely cheap you can easily get a room for two for 1500 rupees (11$ roughly). We are not talking about any ordinary room. The rooms are fully equipped with basic necessities such as blankets, fan, chairs, heater, hot water, Wi-Fi, clean bathroom and Tv.

The diet in the valley mainly consists of spicy food and meat encompassing different types of karahi, sajji, tikka, kebabs and bar-b-que. The restaurants are mainly situated along the bank of the river which uplifts the whole experience of eating and deliver aesthetic vibes.

Overall kalam is a great place to visit in order to refresh your mind and body and to break free of the daily routine plus to have an experience to remember for your whole life. I am sure that coniferous forest and the lush green valleys with snowcapped mountains won’t disappoint you.

By Zeeshan FazaL

Life in Thar is mainly simple with crafts livestock and handicrafts as the main livelihood of most people. Carpet weaving, Thari shawls (‘loyees/khattees’) and hand fans (made from peacock feathers) are some of their most famous crafts. However recent times have breathed new life into the region with huge coal mining industries entering the region and electricity being made in Thar. This is a good step for most locals as employment rates and infrastructure have significantly improved but it also means that the region is undergoing globalization which may threaten the rich culture and natural beauty of Thar, resulting in the culture fading away as globalization occurs. Nonetheless, to what extent will the influence actually extend?...Only time will tell.

– Mohsin Ahmed

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UNESCO defines “Culture” as that complex whole which includes knowledge, beliefs, arts, morals, laws, customs, and any other capabilities

and habits acquired by a human as a member of society. ‘Cultural heritage’ is the legacy of physical artifacts and intangible attributes of a

group or society that are inherited from past generations, maintained in the present and bestowed for the benefit of future generations.

The region derives its name from Thar and Parkar. The name Thar is from Thul the general term for a sand region and Parkar literally means ‘to cross over’. The desert district of Tharparkar is rich in terms of Culture and heritage. The region is home to many ancient heritage sites which includes remnants of ancient mosques, forts, and Jain as well as Hindu Temples. Thari

culture is somewhat a mixture of Gujarati, Rajasthani, and Sindhi Culture. However, the Rajasthani culture overshadows the other two.

The region is widely influenced by tradition, which in term preserves its culture. One example would be the traditional mud or brick houses with conical straw roofs (locally called ‘Chaunras’) which puts the culture of Thar on display. Another cultural aspect of the region would be the attire of Thari people with women wearing distinct bright and colorful dresses along with bangles in their arms that stretch up to their elbows. Music, dance and folklore also hold significant weight in the culture of Thar. Local singers (faqirs) along with traditional dances (dandan, rasooro etc) collaborated with the age old tales such as the ‘Umer Marvi’ breathe new life into the culture of Thar and also attracts tourists.

The Life and Culture of Tharparkar

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Song Review: Green Day – Basket Case

One of the greatest albums from God’s favorite band starts off with a punk-rock anthem that touches very serious issues, the song is titled “Basket Case’’ and it’s the first song you hear from the album “Dookie”. Just the opening intro is enough to convey the concept of the song and what it’s trying to portray “Do you have the time, to listen to me whine about nothing and everything all at once?” indicates that the song is about a psychotic trance where what’s significant and what’s insignificant hasbeen mixed together in a senseless rant, and the lead singer consistently follows that theme as the music is fast paced and sounds very joyful, the song indicates how his mental illness has caused the lead singer to feel so chaotic and anxious that he has to be desperate to gain control “Grasping to control, so I better hold on”.

The song was part of the breakout success album Dookie, that sold 20 million copies worldwide, and got Green Day to the forefront of the 90’s punk rock era. by Omer Shahnawaz

Film Review: Gully Boy

The main idea which one can get from the trailer and posters of Gully Boy is that it’s going to be a musical movie and many expected it to have a decent album & soundtrack. But boy they have delivered a modern masterpiece. Many viewers including me aren’t a fan of rap music when they went to watch the film but after coming out of the theatre my taste in music changed and suddenly I’ve become a fan of rap music just because of this album. Lyrics of songs are so hard hitting that you feel them and relate to them as they describe the current situation of their country and here in Pakistan we can relate to them as well.

All the characters have done a fabulous job in their respective roles but the main standout performer was debut Siddhanth Chaturvedi (Mc Sher) as he portrayed the role of Mc Sher with so finesse that many thought that he is a rapper in real life, he has been a scene stealer all along the film even in the song Mere Gully Main he was the main attraction but the fact that he has been so convincing has to do a part with Ranveer’s portrayal of Murad as a mentee that Siddhant’s mentor role shines out bright. Ranveer portrays the boy next door Murad with such perfection that a mega star is nowhere to be seen during the movie. Alia Bhatt has also done a fine job as loving and violent girlfriend of Murad as Safeena, other supporting cast of the film has done a fine job too specially Vijay Varma (Moeen) but one scene in particular of Vijay Raaz in the end in which he sees his son with tears in his eyes is beautifully captured and is really special. Overall the film is one of the best I have watched in recent times and is really worth watching for every age group and every type of audience.

Film score: 4.5/5 By Shayan Mustafa

REVIEWS

The movie released on February 14, 2019. Directed by Zoya Akhtar, starring Ranveer Singh (Murad), Alia Bhatt (Safeena) in the lead roles. The film is a musical drama and is inspired from the lives of Indian rappers Naezy & Divine. The film basically deals with the issues of a boy from a lower working class family in the slums of Mumbai who doesn’t know that he has a talent to be a rapper. The film makes the viewer to have a go at their ambitions and their passion and never settle for less. It makes us wonder about our choices as it shows that everyone gets one chance in their life and it’s only a matter of how they grasp it and take the opportunity. In one scene Murad’s father is scolding him that their destiny is to be simple and accept whatever is happening in which he questions his father that has he ever wondered that their destiny might’ve been different had he tried something else. This scene made me feel that we should always try to achieve what we believe in and never settle for anything less than we deserve.

The film’s cinematography is a work of art as the slums of Mumbai have never been captured so realistically and vividly as the viewers feel that they see these type of streets every day. Other than the streets, the different angles during Gully boy’s rap battles makes the cinematography indeed a work of art as they manage to make the viewer feel the intensity and what he feels inside. Dialogues of the films are the main part of the movie which differentiates it from other movies on the same topic. The writer hasn’t used any complex or strenuous words to get the feeling but instead they have used simple words which are common in our daily conversation that we feel the emotions the meaning which the characters are trying to convey behind those words.

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