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The painter The painter physicianphysician

COVERSTORY

Dr Sreekumar Padmanabhan

juggles stethoscope and

paintbrush, is convinced one

complements the other. P4-5

Tuesday, February 18, 2020Jumada II 24, 1441 AH

Doha today 170 - 260

FUELLING UNDERSTANDING: “My art background has made me more sensitive, and taught me to be more empathetic towards my patients,” says Dr Sree. Photo supplied

Tuesday, February 18, 20202 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITY ROUND & ABOUT

Community EditorKamran Rehmat

e-mail: [email protected]: 44466405

Fax: 44350474

Emergency 999Worldwide Emergency Number 112Kahramaa – Electricity and Water 991Local Directory 180International Calls Enquires 150Hamad International Airport 40106666Labor Department 44508111, 44406537Mowasalat Taxi 44588888Qatar Airways 44496000Hamad Medical Corporation 44392222, 44393333Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation 44845555, 44845464Primary Health Care Corporation 44593333 44593363 Qatar Assistive Technology Centre 44594050Qatar News Agency 44450205 44450333Q-Post – General Postal Corporation 44464444

Humanitarian Services Offi ce (Single window facility for the repatriation of bodies)Ministry of Interior 40253371, 40253372, 40253369Ministry of Health 40253370, 40253364Hamad Medical Corporation 40253368, 40253365Qatar Airways 40253374

USEFUL NUMBERS

Quote Unquote

PRAYER TIMEFajr 4.49amShorooq (sunrise) 6.08amZuhr (noon) 11.48amAsr (afternoon) 3.03pmMaghreb (sunset) 5.29pmIsha (night) 6.59pm

“Where there is love there is life”

– Mahatma Gandhi

Sonic The HedgehogCAST: Jim Carrey, James Marsden, Ben SchwartzDIRECTION: Jeff FowlerSYNOPSIS: Sonic tries to navigate the complexities of life

on Earth with his newfound best friend — Tom Wachowski. They must soon join forces to prevent the evil Dr Robotnik from capturing Sonic and using his powers for world domination.

THEATRES: The Mall, Landmark, Royal Plaza

Bad Boys For Life DIRECTION: Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah CAST: Will Smith, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander LudwigSYNOPSIS: The wife and son of a Mexican drug lord

embark on a vengeful quest to kill all those involved in his trial and imprisonment – including Detective Mike Lowrey. When

Mike gets wounded, he teams up with partner Marcus Burnett and AMMO – a special tactical squad – to bring the culprits to justice. But the old-school, wisecracking cops must soon learn to get along with their new elite counterparts if they are to take down the vicious cartel that threatens their lives.

THEATRES: Royal Plaza

For movie timings and further details please scan

the QR code above with your mobile phone camera or visit qatarcinemas.com

3Tuesday, February 18, 2020 GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYROUND & ABOUT

MIA Park Bazaar 2020WHERE: MIA ParkWHEN: Ongoing till April 25TIME: 2pm — 8pmMIA Park Bazaar is a modern version of

the Old Souq tradition with vibrant mix of around 120 stalls. You can browse and buy handicrafts, accessories, paintings, clothing, food, jewellery, photography and art.

Artistic Gymnastic ClassesWHERE: Qatar Academy MsheirebWHEN: OngoingTIME: 3:15pm – 4:15pmThe Olympic sport using horizontal bar,

rings and fl oor exercises on mats for the children from age 4 till 16.

Metro Street FoodWHERE: DECC Metro StationWHEN: Ongoing

TIME: 12:30pm Street Food is the ideal venue for a leisure

experience for the whole family off ering over 20 dine-in options and 18-hole World Mini-Golf setup.

Hobby ClassesWHERE: Mamangam Performing Art

CentreWHEN:Wednesday – MondayMamangam is an art and performance

centre started with a vision of spreading our knowledge, interests and experience in various disciplines in arts across different countries for children and adults.

We offer regular classes in disciplines like traditional classical dance, art and craft, Bollywood and hip-hop styles, Carnatic music, robotics, percussion instruments, keyboard, yoga, zumba and martial arts like Karate, Shaolin Kung Fu and Kalari. For those who wish to register e-mail at [email protected] or call on 33897609/44723680

Ballet LessonsWHERE: Music and Arts AtelierWHEN: OngoingTIME: 4pm – 8pmFor more info e-mail at registration@

atelierqatar.com or call on 33003839.

Qatar Food Fest WHERE: Sheraton Hotel ParkWHEN: Ongoing till April 30TIME: 4pm — 1amThe festival is currently happening at

Sheraton Hotel Park. Qatar Food Fest features 77 stalls, food trucks, and trolleys, bringing culinary and cultural experiences from all corners of the globe to visitors and residents in Qatar.

Public Speaking Classes for AdultsWHERE: Sharq Capital, C-Ring RoadWHEN:Ongoing till July 1TIME: 6:30pm – 9pmGet trained by experts to be a good speaker.

Smedley Toastmasters is conducting a six-month speech-craft programme that teaches new members to speak confi dently and develop leadership skills. For more information, 66053485, 33232490 or visit www.SmedleyToastmasters.org

After School ActivitiesWHERE: AtelierWHEN: OngoingMusic and arts activities for students

taking place after they fi nish their day in school includes Group Music lessons, Hip-hop, Ballet, Drawing and Painting, Drama Theatre & Taekwondo. Ages between 5 and 10 years old after school hours.

2020 Grand Prix – Test and RaceWHERE: Losail International CircuitWHEN: March 6–82020 Grand Prix is set to take place from March 6 till March 8 at the Losail International

Circuit. Built-in just under a year, the circuit has been a regular venue of the MotoGP calendar ever since. You can watch the races with friends or family in an open-air setting where you will be surrounded by the uproar of larger crowds.

Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: [email protected], Events and timings subject to change


COMMUNITY COVER STORY

Community Report

“Painting should not be a profession. It should be a lifetime of dedication,” observed Maqbool Fida Husain in an episode of Al

Jazeera’s One on One programme, aired in 2010.

Husain’s countryman, Dr Sreekumar Padmanabhan — known as Dr Sree to his friends and patients — seems to have taken that advice to heart. A resident of Qatar, the physician spends every spare minute outside his job doing what he loves: painting.

Since his arrival in Qatar in 2007, Dr Sree has held 36 exhibitions, a dozen of which were solo. He is a

regular at Katara’s international and local painting exhibits, and he’s taken part in Qatar Foundation’s popular Art Atelier workshop and exhibition — all the while practising medicine.

The physician says that, as an artist and an Indian, the launch of Husain’s Seero fi al Ardh art installation at Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Education City — taking the artist’s vision to its conclusion — makes him proud. But he would also expect nothing less in Qatar.

“One thing about Qatar that is unique, and sticks out a mile, is the generosity, respect and acceptance the country shows to artists,” says Dr Sree. “It doesn’t surprise me that Qatar Foundation would take an unfi nished work of Husain, complete it and then share

“Choice of colours reflects the times (artists) live in”

— Dr Sreekumar Padmanabhan, painter-physician

One thing about Qatar that is unique, and sticks out a mile, is the generosity, respect and acceptance the country shows to artists

— Dr Sreekumar Padmanabhan‘ ’


COMMUNITYCOVER STORY

INSPIRATIONAL: The late M F Husain with his work of art that is now the centre of all attention at the Qatar Foundation’s Education City.

Photos supplied

it with the public — it’s a part of the personality of this country.”

Though the physician never met Husain, he was captivated by his style of painting, especially the use of certain colour combinations in his artwork.

“I believe that where artists are concerned, the choice of colours refl ect the times they live in, and the experiences they have,” he explains.

“If you compare the manner in which Renaissance artists and Husain used combinations of red, gold and amber, you’ll notice that the European palette was far more subtle and restrained than Husain’s. Husain’s bold colour choices mirror his life — and India.”

Dr Sree notes how first-time visitors to India are generally struck by three things – noise, colour, and movement. Husain captured these attributes in his paintings. They can be seen in the bold colours he chose, and in the manner in which figures of people and animals were positioned in a frame, portraying a sense of contained energy.

The physician – who is a family medicine and occupational health specialist – can’t remember a time when he was not painting or doodling on a piece of a paper.

“Art was a part of my existence,” he says. “The only time when I had to consciously make an eff ort not to paint was during my studies in medical school.

“After qualifying as a doctor, I lived in another country in the region prior to coming to Qatar – I never got the chance to explore art as much as I wanted, there. So

I admit I was doubtful of what I could do in Doha, especially while practising as a doctor.”

Today, Dr Sree says that his artistic experience in Qatar has surpassed all his expectations — the last 12 years have seen him produce more than 200 paintings,

conduct exhibitions at Katara and venues run by Qatar Museums, lead art events supported by various embassies, and set up art groups within the community.

A visit to his home in the Salata Jadeed neighbourhood of Doha gives a better insight into the sheer

number of painting he’s completed since his arrival in Qatar. Every nook and cranny is fi lled with framed paintings of all sizes.

In his studio on the third fl oor, cardboard cartons are stacked against each other, bulging with portraits, and paintings that depict animals to Arabian landscapes – and everything in between.

“It wasn’t just my art that progressed since I came to Doha. I did all this while studying further,” he explains. “I acquired three medical degrees and certifi cations while in Qatar. And I teach courses at Hamad Medical Corporation, too.

When asked about the infl uence that painting has had on his profession, he says, “I’ve noticed that my art background has continuously sharpened my observational skills. It has made me more sensitive, and taught me to be more empathetic towards my patients.”

Dr Sree says that Husain’s fi nal art installation is more than the culmination of the artist’s life and work. He feels it is an acknowledgement of one culture by another – and refl ects the artistic opportunities that are opened up to residents of Qatar.

“The magnanimity of Qataris when it comes to providing artists with an outlet for their creativity has to be experienced to be believed,” he notes. “I doubt if there is any other country in the world where I would have experienced the level of respect and recognition that I have been given here.

“The people of Qatar embrace art; it’s in their blood. I see proof

of it every day; in the way the eyes of my patients light up when they learn I’m an artist; in the manner in which I am constantly invited to paint or display at exhibitions.”

“Where else would artists like me get a chance to work and exhibit artwork alongside those of renowned local artists such as Yousif al-Homaid? And which other country would choose to preserve the legacy of artists — like Husain — irrespective of nationality and culture?”

The installation comprises a suspended sculpture of Abbas Ibn Firnas, a replica of the fl ying machine of Leonardo da Vince, fi ve Murano glass horses, and fi ve vintage cars, all of which move to music selected by Husain, with a giant mosaic of horses — paying tribute to Qatar’s equine heritage and Husain’s love of the animals — forming the backdrop.

The Seeroo fi al Ardh’s main show chronicles how fi rst nature, then machines, advanced the ambitions of people throughout the Arab region, allowing them to shape the world around them; and how — even before the European Renaissance was born — the Arab world was home to an age of enlightenment, experimentation, and innovation.

Performances take place at 9am, 11am, 5pm, and 7pm every day except Fridays and are free of charge, but pre-registration is essential and under-16s must be accompanied by an adult. To register, please visit https://www.qf.org.qa/community/seeroo-fi -al-ardh

The Seeroo fi al Ardh’s main show chronicles how first nature, then machines, advanced the ambitions of people throughout the Arab region, allowing them to shape the world around them; and how — even before the European Renaissance was born — the Arab world was home to an age of enlightenment, experimentation, and innovation


COMMUNITY

Nepalese expat cricket players making their mark in Qatar

By Usha Wagle Gautam

Nepal’s sport scene is grim: players are in dilemma about whether to continue playing or put their

passions at the bay at the face of low remunerations and an uncertain future. After passing mid-twenties, players in every sport feel they have been dawdling enough, and consequently feel they have to earn for themselves and their families. As a South Asian country – the bastion of cricket – Nepal has some traces of passion in the game. But a slow economy and lacklustre investment takes a toll on players who might have played in diff erent segments of league. Hence, many opt for green pastures abroad, and Qatar remains to be the prime location of Nepalese sport wannabes. But, old passions and old habits are hard to die.

Nepal Cricket Club (NCC), in Qatar, is one of such ensembles formed by the community who work and play. The 20 players’ ensemble was formed in 2004 which now includes 35. In 2009, NCC went on to become the champions of TMC Club Tournament. In 2010, it repeated its sportsmanship. In 2012, it became runners-up in the same tournament. The team has excelled in prime community leagues in 2013. The team has performed exceedingly well in Gulf Premier Leagues, Abu Hamour Champ Leagues and Qatar Premiere Leagues. The factor encourages the most, with an over 400, 000 population, Nepalese audience buy tickets of the play-off s in which Nepal is playing overwhelmingly. As of now, NCC is gearing up for a new season-2020.

Skipper of NCC, Ash Mohamed says he was a huge cricket fan. “Since I arrived in Doha, I have been watching each and every cricket show.” Gradually, his legs and hands itched, he started practising himself. Thereafter, he played mini-series hosted by the community, and ultimately got a chance to play friendlies with other communities. That was the time when Nepalese community was unaware that Qatar Cricket Association (QCA) was busy organising events that would have encouraged the community to participate. In 2004, he took a lead in forming NCC.

Manish Yadav, manager of the club, says, even though it was founded in 2004, the team participated in TMC only in 2009. One of the club’s mottoes is to showcase that Nepalese are not only the honest and working bees but also agile sportspersons.

“Workmanship came along with sportsmanship.” The club also trains the future players in the team; they train tricks of cricket trade and instil confi dence in the newcomers. For the Nepalese team, there is no shortage of fanfare – folks buy ticket passionately and cheer up for the team. “They have

the passion”, Yadav says.“But it is not an easy task,” says

vice captain Entekhab Ahmed. There is a persisting anxiety over the funds. Initially, the club members emptied their pockets to fund, and second, there was no management body. “As players have migrated here for work, then,

it would be unethical to ask them to empty their pockets for the funds.” Slowly, they are starting to get funds from the community members. As we sat for talking, Ahmed took the opportunity and asked all to come forward in supporting the team and contribute with whatever means they could.

“We thrive by the support of Nepalese community members,” Ahmed says.

Life is unbelievable: what we left clings onto us. This is the thing that has happened to all of the cricked players at the NCC. They had left cricket for jobs in Qatar, but they couldn’t do so altogether. They have carried passion wherever they went.

Jannat Miya, NCC adviser, says they have the symbiotic relationship with the community. “The community has to support and fund us, and we entertain and bring pride to the community.”

Player Roshan Mandal is happy being in Qatar. “We earn something and we are busy with work, but we put some money and some time in cricket, so we are happy.” Mandal believes that cricket has brought the players with natural freshness – physical and mental health.

Cricket is now becoming a craze in Nepal, a country who curiously followed football for decades. Nepalese cricket team plays high international matches and some players even play prestigious leagues abroad. And, a proper cricket pitch is being built in the west of the country, not by the government, but by the public. The same craze is brought by the Nepalese in Qatar or wherever they land. Nepalese are making cricket popular in Qatar, and are participating in every match against the South Asian neighbours making themselves and others happy.WINNERS: Nepalese players express their joy after winning a tournament.

TEAM: Nepal cricket club team in a group photo.


COMMUNITY

Qatar Oryx Chapter of ASHRAE conducts technical workshopQatar Oryx Chapter of ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) recently conducted a workshop on the subject of ‘Smart Actuators and Digitalisation in HVAC Systems, Thermal Balancing in Hot Water Network & Steel Butterfly Valves in District Cooling Network’ for the air conditioning engineers in Qatar at Intercontinental Hotel Doha – The City.Danfoss FZCO supported the event. Around 100 engineers from various sectors in Qatar attended the event. Stanley De Vries, Business Development Director from Danfoss B.V Netherlands, was the visiting keynote speaker with Oussama Rouis, Sales Engineer, and and Ismail Serhan Ozten, Sales Director for ME/Africa from Danfoss FZCO, were the guest speakers for the day.Danfoss presented new connected technologies in HVAC system to improve the eff iciency and flexibility of chilled water systems.Kinan Fahs, chapter president-elect and chairman of Electronic Communication

Committee for Qatar Oryx Chapter of ASHRAE, welcomed the engineers and was the main co-ordinator for the workshop. In his address, he informed about the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between The Gulf Organisation for Research and Development (Gord) and ASHRAE Qatar Oryx Chapter, to foster sustainable development through joint initiatives. He also spoke about five workshops, which were planned in the coming three months for the fellow engineers in Qatar.Seenu Pillai, chairman of chapter’s Technology Transfer Committee, was the master of ceremonies for the workshop. The event speakers were later felicitated with appreciation plaques.ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is a global society advancing human well-being through sustainable technology for the built environment. The society and its members focus on building systems, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, refrigeration and sustainability within the industry. Through research, standards writing, publishing and

continuing education, ASHRAE shapes tomorrow’s built environment today. ASHRAE, worldwide, have over 56,000 members with 183 chapters from 132 nations divided into 15 regions. The Qatar Oryx Chapter of ASHRAE

was formed in 2008 and has about 260 member-engineers in Qatar. The chapter holds regular technical workshops and seminars apart from technical conferences in Doha.

Indonesians in Qatar celebrate Sport DayCelebrating the 9th National Sport Day of Qatar, the Social Association of Indonesian Community (which in Indonesian Language stands for ‘Ikatan Sosial Warga Indonesia’ – ISWI), held its Sport Day at Al Khor International School recently.Over 300 Indonesians attended the event which off ered many sport activities like jogging, fun walking, archery and bicycling even arm wrestling in three categories for men, women and children. To attract more participants, the organiser also prepared door prizes, including two bicycles for lucky winners.Beside doing sport activities, the participants enjoyed traditional Indonesia cuisines off ered by five food stalls. The participants treated their homesickness by tasting Indonesia cuisines. Various dishes from many parts of Indonesia like Aceh, Minang, Sunda and Java were available on the day.ISWI is the oldest Indonesian community group in Qatar. The ISWI Sport Day is also served as an event to strengthen friendship among the Indonesians in Qatar. A participant commented: “Our daily job and activities sometimes made us diff icult

to meet our Indonesian colleagues. Not even once a year.”The Embassy of Indonesia in Doha, led by Ambassador Mohammed Basri Sidehabi, took part in the event by providing consular services for the Indonesians and disseminating the importance of safe migration using mobile application named Safe Travel. The application which developed by the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs of Indonesia is very important for

Indonesians who travel abroad.In his remarks, the ambassador expressed his appreciation. “While serving as ambassador to Qatar, I have attended at least four ISWI Sport Day events. I always try to attend every events held by Indonesian communities in Qatar. I hope in the future ISWI could enhance its contribution for the improvement of Indonesia’s image in Qatar.”

Talabat partners with Bedaya to support Made in Qatar initiativeTalabat and Bedaya have committed together in the initiative to support Qatari youth and new business by bringing you brands which are Made in Qatar.Talabat has agreed to work together to off er their services to the Qatari youth in close co-operation with Bedaya Center.Bedaya Center is a lively and enjoyable place to be for Qatari youth, where it is possible to network, get good career advice, learn new ideas and entrepreneurship.Currently Talabat off ers brands like Kassra Khaneenah, Mondialya, Feel Qatar and Al Fawah with more brands coming onboard soon.Commenting about the agreement Ruqaya al-Sada, Entrepreneurship Adviser at Bedaya Center, said, “We are delighted to partner with

Talabat to facilitate the seamless delivery of Qatari local products off ered through ‘Dukan Bedaya’ using the Talabat platform. This partnership will go a long way in supporting our entrepreneurs and their products. ‘Dukan Bedaya’ is located at the Cultural Village – Katara opposite to Ard Kanaan restaurant and the working hours are from 10am to 10pm.”Francisco De Sousa, Managing Director for Talabat, commented: “Talabat is constantly looking for initiatives for supporting Made in Qatar brands and the Qatari youth.”Talabat is one of the largest food ordering and delivery platforms in the Middle East, operating in seven countries: Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Jordan.


COMMUNITY

Dreama hosts Association of African Ambassadors’ Wives in Qatar

The Orphan Care Center Dreama recently hosted the Association of African Ambassadors’ Wives in Qatar. The members of the association attending the event

were the wives of ambassadors of Mali, South Africa, Republic of Djibouti, and Republic of Niger.

The visiting delegation was briefed on the experience of cultural, artistic and media empowerment carried out by the centre for its children, which is a unique and distinct experience of its kind at the regional level.

The association chose to visit Dreama Center as it is one of the best orphan care centres in the Middle East. We looked through the plans of Dreama in all fi elds and methods of care and services provided to children.

The centre worked to promote development work in the fi eld of children’s rights, in line with the sustainable development plans established by the United Nations.

Mariam Bint Ali Bin Nasser al-Misnad, Executive Director of the Center for Orphans Empowerment and Care Dreama, expressed her happiness over the impact of joint co-operation with the association in Qatar. She outlined her aspirations to launch a new stage for the centre that would be more open to the international community, the diplomatic community, and humanitarian and development organisations.

She also thanked the African ambassadors’ wives in Qatar for their participation in the volunteer teams in Dreama and for organising regular visits to orphans, and their contribution to promote the integration of abandoned children and orphans into society and empowering them with knowledge, culture and sports. Al-Misnad said: “I am glad to see the crowd of diplomatic fi gures today who have united on one humanitarian goal, which is advocating the rights of orphan children. Humanitarian issues always require

concerted international and domestic eff orts to improve the conditions of human lives.

“The Dreama Center has become fully responsible for the United Nations development goals, including raising the state of co-ordination and international co-operation in the fi eld of childhood.”

She added that the vision of the centre has become more open to achieving social and humanitarian co-ordination between Dreama and the heads of diplomatic missions in Qatar to serve the interests of children.

She emphasised the role of eff ective international partnerships in exchanging experiences and the solidarity of civil society organisations at the local and international levels to achieve the sustainable development goals.

Al-Misnad underlined the need to focus on development fi elds related to children’s rights, noting the role of the centre in promoting social integration and empowerment for the children of Dreama, raising awareness of social responsibility towards this important segment of society,

and working against the social stigma that may accompany orphaned children of unknown descents.

The visiting delegation thanked the executive director of Dreama for good reception and provision of adequate information on the vital role that Dreama takes over in providing high-quality services to the children in Qatar and working to empower and integrate them into society. The association also agreed to be the part of the volunteer team in Dreama and to organise regular visits to the children of the centre.

GUESTS: The members of the Association of African Ambassadors’ Wives that attended the event included the wives of ambassadors of Mali, South Africa, Republic of Djibouti, and Republic of Niger.


COMMUNITY

VCUarts Qatar to host lecture on Artificial Intelligence and Art today

Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) in Education City, a Qatar Foundation partner university,

will be hosting a lecture by Dr James She from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), titled, ‘AI and Smartphone Technologies for New Artwork Creation, Interaction and Definition.’

The lecture will take place at 12:30pm on Tuesday, February 18 (today) at the Atrium at VCUarts Qatar. All are welcome to attend.

Emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and smartphone technologies are making disruptive changes and new possibilities for people in business, manufacturing, travel, education and even art.

In this talk, examples of AI and smartphone technologies will be selected to show how recent developments in those technologies could facilitate the creation of, and interaction with, artworks. Dr James She will also share the story of how his artworks are evolving due to the related technologies invented by himself and others.

Through these artworks, Dr James She, a new media artist and university professor who is interested in merging traditional and new media techniques, will explore trends in artwork creation, new forms of artwork, and novel interaction modalities. He will discuss a few key moments in art history, and rethink definitions of art, craftsmanship, ownership and other related matters which may affect how we evaluate artwork produced by AI and smartphone technologies.

At the same time, the Gallery at VCUarts Qatar is hosting an exhibition that combines augmented reality, art, and the music of Johann Sebastian Bach from an album by acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma, to give visitors a unique and immersive audio-visual gallery experience. The exhibition, titled, ‘Into the Light’ will run until February 22.

The exhibition opened on January 15 with a well-attended panel discussion titled, ‘Art + Technology: How do artists

use it to shape their craft and the way their audiences experience it?’

Amir Berbi, the Dean of VCUarts Qatar, explained that the lectures and exhibition highlight how the university is increasingly combining art, design, AI and VR technologies, and is bringing them into the classroom and to new audiences with lectures and exhibitions by renowned experts.

“Artificial intelligence and virtual reality are increasingly being used in our programs, such as Art Foundation, Interior Design, and Graphic Design, and they have enormous benefits for our graduating students who are entering industries in Qatar and around the world where these skills are much in demand,” he said.

Dr James She, who is the founding director of HKUST-NIE Social Media Lab, is currently a visiting professor at the College of Science and Engineering at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar, and launched the first AI and Art event in Qatar in 2019.

His recent interests explore the use of smartphone and AI technologies which have been developed by him and others to create visual or interactive artworks.

In the last six years, he has been exhibiting his interactive artworks in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Brisbane, etc. His scientific research includes AI for Art, Design and Media, Data Science in Social Media and Multimedia, and Green IoT technologies for future social and interactive media. EXPERT: Dr James She

SAMPLE: AI and Smartphone Technologies

ISL Qatar wins first place at Global Act Impact AwardsStudents at the International School of London (ISL) participated in the ‘Global Act Impact Awards’ (GAIA) at the recent THIMUN Qatar 2020 and won first place for their Solar Panel project.The main purpose of the ISL Qatar students’ project was to plan for the installation of solar panels in the reception area of the school, so that this area can run independently of the national grid. The next phase is to transition each sector of the school to run off solar energy.This project looks to help the environment along with advocating an important cause and preventing the disastrous effects climate change has on the planet. The more people that can engage in a project as broad as a renewable-energy project, the more we can gradually improve the state of the Earth.THIMUN Qatar has worked to become a platform for global impact and change. In such spirit, as part of their MUN Impact initiative, this year’s THIMUNQ conference hosted the first ever GAIA contest.ISL Qatar has an outstanding reputation for high academic standards, prestigious International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes and an impressive record of admission to the best universities worldwide.


COMMUNITY INFOGRAPHIC


COMMUNITYLIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE

ARIESMarch 21 — April 19

CANCERJune 21 — July 22

LIBRASeptember 23 — October 22

CAPRICORNDecember 22 — January 19

TAURUSApril 20 — May 20

LEOJuly 23 — August 22

SCORPIOOctober 23 — November 21

AQUARIUSJanuary 20 — February 18

GEMINIMay 21 — June 20

VIRGOAugust 23 — September 22

SAGITTARIUSNovember 22 — December 21

PISCESFebruary 19 — March 20

You could receive some sort of windfall today, Aries. Use it wisely.

Consider buying some time to figure out what you want to do with

your life. It’s likely that your career isn’t exactly ringing your bells

these days. You’re ready for new challenges and opportunities.

Meditate on what would make you happy and then take a systematic

approach to achieving it.

Today is meant for socialising and connecting, Cancer. Your

creativity is at an all-time high, so also try to work in some quiet time

where you can do some writing or painting. If friends invite you out

in the evening, by all means, take them up on the off er. You may

meet someone who could be pivotal to your career. Be open to all

possibilities.

You’re ready for a career change, Libra, or at least a change of venue.

Have you considered telecommuting one day per week? That might

give you the variety you seek without needing to find a new job.

You may meet someone today or in the near future who will have a

dramatic influence on your career decisions. Listen carefully.

You’re about to experience a major change in your life’s direction,

Capricorn, and it may occur today. Keep your mind open to all sorts

of possibilities. You’re likely to receive some important information.

Of course, you may not realise its importance right away. It’s only

with the passage of time that you will look back on this event as

pivotal. Make sure you don’t miss it.

It’s likely that you will succeed at whatever you set out to accomplish

today, Taurus. If you’ve been held back by worries over the integrity

of a relationship or the long-term prospects of a partnership, you can

dispel concerns by confronting the person directly. You may find he

or she has the same feelings about you! Honesty is important today.

You can’t help but notice that your home looks a bit drab, Leo. Today

you could plan to do something about it. It won’t take much money,

just time and a little creativity. Paint some samples on the walls. Your

spirits will improve. You can make big changes to the mood of the

place simply by introducing more colour.

What is your dream, Scorpio? Answer that question as specifically as

possible today, then set about attaining that goal. All signs indicate

that whatever you begin today will pay off big time. Even though you

may feel that your dreams are too ambitious, there’s no need to feel

overwhelmed. Vow to take things one step at a time. Keep in mind

the old adage, “Once begun is half done.”

You’re unstoppable today, Aquarius. It seems you can do anything.

Your confidence and energy are high. There’s no question that you’re

ready to take the world by storm. Is the world ready for you? Think

carefully as you formulate plans for your new project. Whatever you

do will succeed, but be sure you’re doing what you really want to do

rather than what others expect of you.

Your energy may flag a bit today, Gemini. There’s nothing to worry

about, though you could take better care of your health. What

happened to that exercise regimen you vowed to start? It’s never

too late to improve your eating habits and begin working out. Even

if you only walk three times a week, you will notice a dramatic

diff erence in your appearance and outlook.

You have a to-do list a mile long today, Virgo. You may spend a lot of

your day running errands. It certainly takes a lot to run a household,

as you no doubt realise. Try not to get overwhelmed with all that you

feel needs to be done. Most of the deadlines are self-imposed. No

one will know if you don’t meet them.

This may seem odd, Sagittarius, but you may not be the person you

think you are. There are indications that you have hidden talents. If

they come out today, no one will be more shocked than you! This

could take your career in an entirely new direction. Strategise ways

to incorporate this talent into your career. Your work will take on a

new dynamic, and you will take a major leap forward.

It’s likely that you’re being held back by certain traumatic past

events. Before you can make further progress in your life, Pisces,

you must address these painful memories for the last time. If it feels

too frightening to do alone, seek professional help. You will find that

mustering the courage to do this diff icult, emotional housecleaning

is more than half the battle.

Sitting more may raise heart disease risk in older women

Spending a lot of time sitting may increase heart disease risk among overweight and obese post-menopausal

women, warns a study.“Reducing sitting time

improves glucose control and blood flow, and engaging in physical activities, even light-intensity daily life activities like cooking and shopping, show favourable associations with reduced mortality risk and prevention of heart disease and stroke,” said lead study author Dorothy Sears, Professor of Nutrition at the Arizona State University College of Health Solutions in Phoenix, US.

In this study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the researchers measured the sitting habits of older women and who were overweight or obese.

The study included a total of 518 women with an average age of

63 years and an average body mass index (BMI) of 31kg/m2.

Study participants wore accelerometers on their right hip for up to 14 days, removing the devices only to sleep, shower or swim.

The accelerometers were used to track and record sitting and physical activity of the study participants throughout the day.

A single blood test, concurrent with accelerometer wear, measured blood sugar and insulin resistance.

Each additional hour of sitting time per day was linked with a more than 6 per cent higher fasting insulin and a more than 7 per cent increase in insulin resistance, the results showed.

Each additional 15 minutes in average sitting period was associated with a greater than 7 per cent higher fasting insulin and an almost 9 per cent increase in insulin resistance.

“We were surprised to observe such a strong negative link between the amount of time spent sitting

and insulin resistance, and that this association was still strong after we

accounted for exercise and obesity,” Sears said. – IANS


COMMUNITY CARTOONS/PUZZLES

Adam

Pooch Cafe

Garfield

Bound And Gagged

Codeword

Wordsearch

Every letter of the alphabet is used at least once. Squares with the same number in have the same letter in. Work out which number represents which letter.

Puzz

les

cour

tesy

: Puz

zlec

hoic

e.co

m

Sudoku

Sudoku is a puzzle based

on a 9x9 grid. The grid is

also divided into nine (3x3)

boxes. You are given a

selection of values and to

complete the puzzle, you

must fill the grid so that

every column, every anone

is repeated.

ACHAEACOLCHISLYCIAAEOLISCORINTHLYDIAARGOSDELPHIMACEDONIA

ASSYRIAEGYPTNUBIAATHENSETRURIAPERSIABABYLONIONIARHODES

BACTRIAITHACASPARTACARTHAGEKNOSSOSSUMERIACHALDEALATIUMTHEBES


COMMUNITYPUZZLES

Colouring

Answers

Wordsearch Codeword

Super Cryptic Clues

Solutions

Across1 Taking new hanky out? There’s gratitude! (5,3)6 European Monetary Union gets the bird (3)9 Sea in which canoe collapsed? (5)10 Reg hops about finding burrowing rodents (7)11 Cured fish, apparently very filling (7)13 It turns backwards and forwards (5)14 Rodney wanders over there (6)15 Sweet that’s doubly good in France (6)18 Darkness is an odd thing (5)20 Name of girl from a strange nation (7)21 Taking issue about press operator (7)22 Drag one’s feet in a cubicle? (5)23 Fellow turning to move his head? (3)24 A printer turning turtle (8)

Down2 One who’d change for dance (7)3 Religious woman not aff ected by revolution (3)4 Preparation for guy or Tibetan leader - food made from curdled milk (6)5 Top giving me support (9)6 Standing up before empty court? (5)7 Incompetent psychiatrist entered, not getting less? (12)8 No boy demands new version of Dickens novel (6,3,3)12 Handling medicine (9)16 Language translated by Belgian (7)17 Leatherworker finding old coin (6)19 Blush when injured by animal’s horns? (5)22 Watering place in cyberspace? (3)


COMMUNITY BOLLYWOOD

Kartik Aaryan and Sara Ali Khans onscreen chemistry in Love Aaj Kal has failed to a create spark at the box offi ce.

The Imtiaz Ali’s fi lm managed a mere Rs28.51-crore haul at the domestic market after the fi rst day of over Rs12 crore.

“Love Aaj Kal is rejected... Dips on Day 2, falls fl at on Day 3... Advantage #ValentinesDay (Day 1), else *3-day total* would be lower... Tough road ahead (weekdays)... Friday Rs12.40 crore, Saturday Rs8.01 crore, Sunday Rs8.10 crore. Total: Rs28.51 crore. #India business,” posted trade expert Taran Adarsh.

Trade Analyst Komal Nahta also tweeted: “As against Love Aaj Kal fi rst day of Rs12 crore, the second day witnesses a drop in collections rather than a jump. Will the second day close at Rs8 crore or 7 crore or 6.5 crore? Probably Rs6.5 crore! That would be a big drop!”

Love Aaj Kal is Ali’s remake of his own hit of 2009 of the same name that had starred Sara’s father Saif Ali Khan with Deepika Padukone. The fi lm narrates two parallel love stories — one set in the past and one in the present — to trace generation gap through the changing perception of love over the decades.

Initial reaction of the Valentine’s Day audience was mixed after the fi lm was mostly panned by critics. The fi lm failed to capitalise on the fact that it was a solo Bollywood release this past weekend. — IANS

Love Aaj Kal fizzles out at the box off ice

My film choices are the gift of success: Tapsee

By Arundhuti Banerjee

Bollywood actress Taapsee Pannu is gearing up for multiple projects in the coming months, and she says that success has given

her the confi dence to make unusual choices when it comes to signing fi lms.

“Success has given me the confi dence that I am heading in the right direction and my judgment on fi lms are right. So, my choices of fi lms are the gift of success. If I give inputs in the process of making a fi lm and people listen to me, it is because I have managed to become a bankable actor. Filmmaking is a business and unless producers have the confi dence that investing in my fi lms will get a fi nancial return, why would they put their money,” Taapsee told IANS.

The actress recently won the Best Actress (critics) award at a popular awards gala along with Bhumi Pednekar for her 2019 Diwali release Saand Ki Aankh. Last year Taapsee also played pivotal roles in fi lms like Badla, Game Over, and Mission Mangal.

Starting her career with regular fare in the south Indian fi lm industry, she made her debut in Bollywood with the David Dhawan slapstick Chashme Baddoor in 2012, but went on to become a face of content-driven cinema after her role in Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury’s 2016 fi lm, Pink. She also gained popularity with strong performances in fi lms like Baby, Naam Shabana, Mulk and Manmarziyaan.

“How I stand for gender equality and women’s right has nothing to

do with success, but everything to do with upbringing. I was never told that I am any less because I am a girl. I have a sister and, whether it is education, jobs or any other choice we made, in our house my parents never questioned it because we are girls. So the choice of fi lms that I

make is a refl ection of my mindset. My audience sees my belief in my choices,” she said.

Currently, Taapsee is gearing up for the release of Anubhav Sinha’s directorial venture Thappad. The fi lm is scheduled to open on February 28. — IANS

Dhvani dreams of becoming India’s pop icon

Budding singer Dhvani Bhanushali of Dilbar and Vaaste fame has tasted success in Bollywood as well as in the pop music scene. That’s not the end of her dreams, though. She wants to be India’s pop icon someday.

“That dream is going to be fulfi lled through non-fi lm songs. It also gives me a chance to feature in my own videos and the song is associated to my face and name instead of being a voice for someone else’s face,” Dhvani said.

She joined the music industry in 2018 and in less than two years, she has touched great heights. Vaaste, a non-fi lm song that was co-sung by Nikhil D, grabbed the second spot on YouTube Top Trending Music Videos in India last year.

On handling success, she said: “I have never let all of this get into my head. I think that’s how a person can grow. I love singing and it’s my passion. I don’t want to become stagnant by letting this get into my head. Yes, I love the response the audience gives me for my work and that just encourages me to work harder.”

There are relatively less solo songs by female singers in Bollywood. “I’m aware that there are less songs for females in fi lms and I feel that should change and get better but I think I make up for it by having an independent career,” said the Psycho saiyaan hitmaker.

She has teamed up with many singers like Sachet Tandon, Diljit Dosanjh and Sukhbir. She feels that there’s always something to learn from every artiste.

“Each artist has a diff erent point of view towards the same thing. And it’s not about being right or wrong, it’s just that in the end we have to be on the same page and in that process, you learn a lot,” said Dhvani.

She has often collaborated with composer Tanishk Bagchi. “Tanishk sir is one of the best persons in my life. Working with him is so eff ortless,” said the singer, who had teamed up with him on songs such as Leja re and Na ja tu.

She doesn’t see anyone as her competitor though. “I am my own biggest competitor. I look up to a number of artistes, but I want to be known as myself,” she said.

Dhvani has made a name for herself in the original as well as recreations spaces. Recreated songs are not always loved by the original creators or singers. — IANS

COMMITTED: “My audience sees my belief in my choices,” asserts Tapsee.

COMPETITION: “I am my own biggest competitor,” says the singer.

Tuesday, February 18, 2020 15GULF TIMES

COMMUNITYSHOWBIZ

The obsession with rebooting your favourite TV shows

TAKING A SHINE: Supporting actors David H Holmes, left, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph steal the show in High Fidelity.

By Neal Justin

A new streaming service is trying to drum up enthusiasm by promising to reunite six beloved “friends”

who last fl irted and fought their way into our hearts more than 15 years ago. But don’t reserve a table at Central Perk just yet.

Peacock is bragging about bringing back Saved by the Bell, the 1989-93 sitcom so tone deaf about teenage life that it made Welcome Back, Kotter seem like a documentary. The NBCU-owned newcomer, which launches in April, is also working on the further adventures of Punky Brewster and yet another reboot of Battlestar Galactica.

Executives would obviously rather be promoting the return of Ross and Rachel, but these days programmers are eager to recycle any familiar titles they can get their hands on.

This week alone off ers the updated versions of The Soup, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and a Hulu adaptation of High Fidelity. ABC announced last month that it plans to bring back both Thirtysomething and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

Either Hollywood is running low on fresh ideas or viewers have an unprecedented appetite for nostalgia. The gatekeepers are betting on the latter.

“In the climate we’re living in, it feels like this show is the warm hug everybody needs right now,” said Loren Ruch, senior vice president of production for HGTV, at the Television Critics Association press tour. HGTV has tapped Jesse Tyler Ferguson of Modern Family as the new host of Extreme Makeover, which last aired as a regular series in 2012. “And who would you rather get a good warm hug from than Jesse and his team?”

Part of the strategy is that time-tested titles will help attract viewers bombarded with a staggering number of options. More than 500 scripted series debuted last year. The upcoming addition of new competitors like Peacock and HBO Max in 2020 is certain to blow that record out of the water.

“In a marketplace where it is very hard to launch new shows, having built-in familiarity is great,” said Heather Olander, an NBCU senior vice president who greenlit reboots of Temptation Island and The Biggest Loser for USA Network.

To a certain extent, the strategy has worked. Many shows that got rebooted during the past fi ve

years — MacGyver, Charmed, Lost in Space, The Twilight Zone, Queer Eye, Dynasty, American Idol — have done well enough in the ratings to remain on the air. Others, like 24: Legacy, Ironside and Murphy Brown, were barely out of the starting gate when viewers were put out of their misery.

“As you can imagine, the bar is very high,” said HBO Max’s head of original content, Sarah Aubrey, who is developing a new version of Gossip Girl with the soap’s original creators, Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage. “I think one of the benefi ts of having the original creators involved is that they are very clear on what the essential elements of the show are and are not. But they’re also really excited to bring a modern lens to it 10 years later.”

Same old, Same oldThat formula almost worked

for Will & Grace. Viewers were initially thrilled to see what the old gang was up to after an 11-year hiatus. But it soon became apparent that not much had changed. The new episodes became hard to distinguish from the classic reruns. Interest faded; the series wraps up (again) later this year.

On the other hand, the revival

of Roseanne — later retitled The Conners — remains a solid hit for ABC, in large part because the fi ring of Roseanne Barr forced the show to focus on her daughters, braving a frontier of fresh, and often funny, challenges.

Some of the best reboots have avoided the temptation of cast reunions altogether.

Freeform’s Party of Five has relocated from San Francisco to Los Angeles, where the Acosta kids are struggling to keep their household and family restaurant from falling apart after their parents are deported to Mexico. The siblings share some of the personality traits of the Salinger children growing up in the ‘90s. But, at best, they’re cousins twice removed.

“I’m not interested in people who say, ‘I can’t fi nd the original in this show.’ I didn’t reboot the show to give them the exact same thing,” said writer and producer Amy Lippman, a driving force on both Party versions. “We had the opportunity to reboot the show over and over and over again, but the reasons were never good enough because I thought we did it OK the fi rst time around. The reason you do it now is to say to the audience, ‘There are qualities in the original that are present

here, but it’s a new story and a new family. But it’s told by the same people. If you liked it then, I guarantee there’s something to watch in this one.’?”

One Day at Time, which kicks off its fourth season next month, also decided to return with a Latino family. There are obvious cultural adaptations — grandma Rita Moreno occasionally throwing a tantrum in Spanish — but the series also refl ects other issues that weren’t addressed during its 1975-84 run. Justina Machado’s character, for example, struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder from her time in the Army.

Refl ecting the timesBut the show’s chief adviser

is wary of making too much of the diff erences between the two incarnations.

“This is just another version of that show as we did it at another time,” said Norman Lear, who is also enjoying success these days with ABC’s live reenactments of some of his other classic sitcoms, including All in the Family. “I never sat down to cure America of its problems. We just refl ect them. I think that’s what television and theatre does. It refl ects the problem and then we get up, walk

out and talk about it and live our lives perhaps just a hair diff erently as a result.”

In High Fidelity, which premieres Friday on Hulu, the main character, played by John Cusack in the 2000 movie, is now being tackled by Zoe Kravitz. Producers hope the gender swap will help distinguish the series from both the fi lm and Nick Hornby’s novel.

“I didn’t want to redo it without making this change,” said series’ co-writer Veronica West. “We watch a lot of romantic comedies with female leads and their problems always seem to be that they can’t fi nd the right man or they’re desperate to get married or they’re self-destructive in some way. But when a man is the lead, the problems are internal. It was interesting for us to tell this from a woman’s point of view and let her issues with romance really just be about learning how to fi gure herself out and not being about fi nding Mr Right.”

Of course, all the rules about making radical changes could go out the window if Hollywood ever arranged that Friends reunion. Fans would be thrilled to hear Phoebe still performing Smelly Cat — at least for a little while.

— Star Tribune (Minneapolis)/TNS


COMMUNITY

By Mudassir Raja

“Comedy is a necessity to get through life with the fewest scars. Humour is the best antidote to help relieve all struggles”, is

rightly said by Suzy Kassem, a prolific American thinker, poet, writer, and philosopher.

Thanks to diverse population of the country, there is a taste and demand for a variety of comedy and comedians visiting from diff erent parts of the world. And so people in Qatar frequently get chances to attend and enjoy comedy shows by comedians of international fame and standing.

Seriously funny comedy by an award-winning stand-up comedian is soon coming to Qatar. He is both well-known and notorious for his comic jibs and attacks. He does not shy away from controversies.

Omid Djalili, a British stand-up comedian, actor, television producer, voice actor and writer, is all set to amuse Doha audience at Marsa Malaz Kempinski The Pearl on April 8. The comedian’s show is being arranged in Qatar following the popular demand. The stand-up comedy show is organsied by Swiss Events Group, an event organising company in Qatar.

Though it is not going to be the fi rst show by Omid, he is no doubt popular enough to be heard live by people who follow stand-up comedy. There are certain controversies around the man who has won many accolades for his political and social jokes.

Djalili was born in Chelsea, London, to Iranian Baháí parents. He attended Holland Park School and then the University of Ulster in Coleraine, Northern Ireland, studying English and theatre studies.

The fi rst signifi cant success of his stand-up comedy career was at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1995 with Short, Fat Kebab Shop Owner’s Son, followed by The Arab and the Jew with Jewish comedian Ivor Dembina in 1996.

He has performed in numerous countries, including Qatar, Australia, Ireland, Sweden, Belgium, Canada and the United States. In US, he had his own HBO Special and did 22 episodes of the NBC sitcom Whoopi with Whoopi Goldberg.

He did his part for Comic Relief after the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami and also in 2005 he appeared on the British TV show Top Gear as a celebrity driver. The same year he broke Edinburgh Festival box offi ce records with over 16,500 ticket sales.

In 2006, Sky Television picked him to be the face of their Saturday

Award-winning comedian Omid to perform in Doha on April 8

night fi lm premières, and he also announced a new tour of the UK called No Agenda. In 2007, he was voted by the British public as the 60th best stand-up comedian in a Channel 4 programme The 100 Greatest Stand-Ups.

The same year, he guest-presented the BBC political quiz show Have I Got News for You. The Omid Djalili Show started on BBC1 on 17 November 2007. The series was a mix of sketches and stand-up material. A second series was recorded in late 2008 and began broadcast on BBC 1 on 20 April 2009. He performed on We Are Most Amused on ITV1 to mark Prince Charles’s 60th birthday in 2008.

As far as his acting career is concerned, Djalili has appeared in a number of fi lms, most notably Gladiator, The Mummy, Mean Machine, The World Is Not Enough, Alien Autopsy, Spy Game, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, Grow Your Own, Notting Hill, Mr Nice, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, Sex and the City 2 and provides his voice in Over the Hedge.

In 2009, Djalili became the voice of Yusuf Amir in the popular gaming series Grand Theft Auto.

He took up the role in the Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony spin-off game. In 2010, he starred in the David Baddiel-scripted fi lm The Infi del.

For the years to come, he starred and was part of many movies and TV shows. In 2019 he appeared

as Dr Lenselius in the BBC adaptation of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials.

Like other celebrities, his life is also not free of controversy. In 2019, Djalili was criticised for making disparaging remarks about the Welsh language on Twitter

Djalili has won awards for his comedy. These include the EMMA Award, Time Out Award, and LWT Comedy Award for Best Stand-up Comedian, Spirit of the Fringe Award as well as the One World Media Award for his Channel 4 documentary, Bloody Foreigners.

In 2007, Omid Djalili was voted by the British public as the 60th best stand-up comedian in a Channel 4 programme The 100 Greatest Stand-Ups