Back to school Back to school p24p24

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Men cry ‘real’ tears p8

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Published by: Muscat Press & Publishing House SAOC

Black & White

Postal address: P O Box 86, PC 115, Madinat Sultan Qaboos

Office location: Hatat House A, II Floor, Suite No: 212, Wadi Adai

Ph: 24565697 Fax: 24565496

Website: www.blackandwhiteoman.com

Editorial: editor@blackandwhiteoman.com

Printed at Oman Printers

Xclusive

Editor-in-chief Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali

Managing editor Priya Arunkumar

Work editor Adarsh Madhavan

Design & production Beneek Siraj

Advt. & marketing Priyanka Sampat

Conte

nts

Self-help books are a genre that is

ever popular even today. But, truth

be told that if women stop reading

them, all these self help writers would

be without a job and would be forced

to write books on how to cook better

for your family

“Be a man!” This simple statement

reverberates in our being, long

after our meeting with the once

controversial Pakistani cricketer,

Shoaib Akhtar.

52

12

10 Want to live longer? Get marrried Self help industry

thrives on women

“Be a man!”

It has been proven that married

men live longer than their single,

unwed counterparts. In fact, a large

population-based study from Finland

has shown that being unmarried

increases the risk of fatal and non-

fatal heart attack in both men and

women whatever their age

Back to school24Education creates a better society…The social status of a woman and her family is enhanced when the lady of

the home is educated. Whatever the age, whatever the limitations, every woman should come forward and study.

Woman’s empowerment with knowledge and proper guidance is very essential in today’s world. No country can

prosper if women are left behind.

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Is your article rewritten? By Adarsh Madhavan

I don’t know about the reports that appear in the

newspapers today. Have they have been totally

edited or rewritten? I remember the time when some

of my news reports were totally rewritten.

During the early days as a cub reporter, I enjoyed

doing my reports so much so I thought I was king.

The pleasure in interviewing someone, or collecting

tidbits of information and then slowly collating them

into one big whole report is a fantastic experience. All

the terrible doubtful moments spent to get a lead and

then finally typing it and the rest of the article flowing

like a river in spate, words swarming around the lead

like bees to a honeycomb and making it wholesome…

it is like creating a whole new world.

Sometimes, as a reporter, you may go over some of

the lines, marveling at the fact that you actually wrote

that particular turn of phrase. There are times you

could go off track, but, you are king, right? You cannot

make mistakes! And you are so protective of your

lines you might probably bite off some smart guy’s

head, who will rudely point out that particular usage of

yours was totally archaic or the fact that the word you

used to describe anger was strictly not a newspaper

usage, and would have rather found better place in a

novel or a poem.

When I slowly got the hang of putting together words

into a readable report, my confidence and arrogance

grew until one night, the sub editor of a local page,

who was always needling me, came and asked me

in sign language what was my problem with my

report; why hadn’t I filed it as yet? Deadline, deadline,

deadline, he indicated. Filing late night stories are

always a problem. Because, you will have the editor,

the subs and even the office boy coming and asking

you if the story was done even before you have typed

a line.

That was not a good day for me and the words were

stuck in my head and I could not bring out the lead

although I knew what I wanted to say. I knew I could

editor@blackandwhiteoman.com

get it done, but my colleagues kept streaming in and

asking me different queries and I was getting totally

mad. At this stage the sub came back and asked “how

big is the story?” I mumbled something to him, but he

would not go. “You know,” he sneered, “you better do it

fast otherwise will carry just a paragraph…”

I ignored his comment but he went on. “Make it a direct

lead, don’t bring a delayed lead otherwise I will have to

rewrite it.” Then I blew a fuse. You will not do anything

of that sort, I said turning to him with my usual nighttime-

no-lead-anger. He seemed taken aback a bit, but since

that day I found my stories getting either dropped,

relegated to remote corners, or even completely

rewritten.

I remember one tough story that was completely

rewritten; it was on a sensitive subject, and perhaps I

may not have got a gripping lead, but the one that the

editor made is still fresh in my memory. He had written it

so well that I just couldn’t take my eyes off it. Of course

other than the fact that the same English alphabets were

used, not even one word or phrase (ah, perhaps the

name of the official that was quoted!) was mine. That

was quite a turning point for me and I strived since then

to reach that level of newspaper writing. I couldn’t, of

course, match it.

Since then I began to accept that my brave attempts

at reports and articles could always be made to fit

the newspaper standards. I had a bad experience of

course which made me believe that I was simply being

victimised, but then the truth was that any report that

a reporter file could actually be redone for various

reasons.

This is something that a new reporter, freelance scribes

(some of them at least) or citizen journalists would never

understand. Most of them would feel hurt, angered and

insulted when the lines they made up so carefully and

painstakingly are either snipped or rejected. But, what

they fail to understand is that it is nothing personal. Just

a newsroom necessity.

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Mail your views and opinions at

editor@blackandwhiteoman.com

Excellent article Vandana (issue 57) – keep it up! Pinky, Muscat

My friends and I have made a pledge: we are going to watch

every Yanni show in Oman as well as in the other AGCC states

whenever this great musician performs. Of course we would

like to be part of all his shows, but then, that is impossible.

What is difficult but definitely possible is that we can watch him

perform anywhere in the AGCC region. We have promised to

do this and whichever part of the world we are in, we will come

and witness this magnificent musician perform! God bless you

Yanni!

Salim Al Harbi and friends, Seeb

Watching Yanni perform was an almost out of body experience.

His music is so fabulous. You can just feel it. It is so alive; so

lively and so wonderful! We had such a great night! Yanni, we

want more, please come back!

Abdullah Al Habsi, Al Khuwair

Why do we keep dirt in our hearts when we know very well

that it is going to kill us? I loved Vandana’s (‘Broom me out –

issue 57) column very much. It was quite a thought provoking

piece and I really enjoyed reading it. I am particularly fond of

the line, “if we can spring clean our hearts everyday with the

vacuum of forgiveness there will be none of the slipperiness

that slime causes…”! Somehow we tend to keep hurt, anger,

pain, jealousy, envy, suspicion and what not in our hearts and

we slowly succeed in hurting it and killing it. It is high time that

we go for a spring cleaning – of our hearts and minds!

K. A. Rahman, Al Ghubrah

I have always wondered why women lie about their age.

What is the big deal? Why do they have to lie? Your

article (Never Ask a Lady…issue 57) seems to indicate

that all women tend to lie about their age – as a general

statement, yes, I agree. But, in the same breath, I would

like to disagree because I know many women who have

never ever lied about their age. I can take the case of my

own family members – my mother, my sister, my wife…

none of them have ever lied about their ages. My mother

is 59 and she openly says it. But, in other ways the article

is right. Age is just a number. I know it because none of

these women that I know ever acted as though they were

old. Women have to realise that whatever their age, they

must learn to be young at heart.

W. Clifford, Qurum

Excellent article

Want to watch all performances

Come back Yanni

Spring clean our hearts

Young at heart

Reader's

colu

mn

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I have watched Yanni on both occasions here – the first in

2011 and now in 2013. Both were unique and completely

mind blowing performances. I really think Yanni is an

artist you can watch countless times, because each

performance is an unrepeatable miracle!

Komal Vineet, Wadi Kabir

It (the Yanni concert) was simply out of this world!

Fabulous! No words can describe this unique musical

experience! Yanni is always amazing, but the

performers along with him were equally wonderful. I

don’t want to miss any of his shows in Oman!

Sanjith Aaron, Qurum

There is only one Yanni – one and one only! I was not

fortunate to see the show when Yanni came to Oman in

2011. I kicked myself for not having been able to view the

show then, but I guess it has been worth the wait – I have

been to the best show of my life and I am lucky to see

this great artist perform right in front of me. I have seen

countless videos and have always enjoyed the music

Yanni makes – but, it is nothing like seeing him perform

live before you. You forget the world! You are caught in

the whirl of Yanni music! I can’t wait to see him perform

next time here. Three cheers to Yanni and three cheers

to the Black & White for bringing this great artist to town.

Akbar Raza, Ruwi

Unrepeatable miracle Out of this world

One and only Yanni

AL THABAT TRAVEL & TOURISM LLC

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Men r

ead

MEN CRY ‘REAL’ TEARS

Unlike women, some of whom are

known to cry ‘crocodile tears’, men

cry for real. So say men.

Does this mean that the salt on

women’s cheeks, when they cry,

tastes different?

It is a big statement that men are

making here. There is a degree of

acceptability when it is said as men

don’t usually cry. So, when they do,

it makes headlines. At least it used

to and although it doesn’t make the

front pages these days, it still raises

eyebrows and it still makes more

news than a woman crying.

Men are known to be the less

emotional type and so seeing them

being reduced to tears actually

washes our minds clean of any stray

thoughts that they are faking a cry.

Why would men ever want to be

known that they are real cry babies in

life? They wouldn’t. So, it is a case in

point to consider that when men cry,

it is quite often seen as a proof of his

sincerity, honesty and integrity.

It is not known why women’s

tears are quite often viewed as

manipulative, illogical and false? Is

it because they cry too much and

they have crossed the line where

their tears had a vulnerable and

submissive quality to them. There

was an era which saw tears clearly

befitting a woman than a man. But

women seem to have outdone it and

they seemed to have earned a bad

name for crying. Derisive comments

like, “it is typical of women to shed

tears as a last resort” and “women

can cry and win” have been the

outcome of copious tears by women

over the years. While women argue

that they have more reasons to cry

than men, it still hasn’t given that

respectability or the attention it used

to give them before.

While many men would like to hold

on to their emotions and would like

to project the ideal of the tearless

male, it pays to note that this is the

metro-sexual age (or are we past

that?) where men are into most

things that they would not have been

doing many years ago and so, yes,

we have seen the slow, but sure,

feminisation of men and it is a matter

of time we see men also crying and

bawling their eyes out on various

issues, even the fact that someone

has stepped on their toes. Fine, let

us not be trite. We still expect men

to cry less than women, but there

have been various instances, at

least in politics, where high profile

women were not given their due,

despite their tears while this was

not the case with top men in power.

There seems to be an underlying

understanding, nay, compassion for

men, when they breakdown. It seems

as though many feel for men when

they cry; seeing the stoic, stony man,

suddenly melt seems to move many

men and women alike who feel that

it is more real. It is as though we

automatically understand that women

shed tears over literally everything

and men would normally cry only

over significant issues. So, there is

this genuine feeling that men are

crying because something important

has happened and not just because

someone jilted them or spoke harshly

at them (a la women)!

But whatever said, over the top

emotional displays would not be

entertained. These days men are

encouraged to let loose, but that

doesn’t mean that they should end

up in a blubbering mass of tears.

Such displays would make everyone

look uncomfortable. My point is

simple: if men want to cry, or in the

rare times that they cry, let it be done

in a dignified manner. And let them

not do it too frequently, otherwise

they will reach the same sad status

that women are in today when you

walk past a crying woman without

even a second glance. That would be

a crying shame!

(*) B&W had carried a feature on the topic

of men crying several issues back.

Men cry – this has already been established and today it is almost a cliché to even talk about it (*). But the controversy that is brewing is on the topic that when men cry,

they cry real tears. Is this true?

by Ajithkumar Deb

8May 7 - June 6

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10May 7 - June 6

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Men r

ead

You men

want to live longer? Then, get married!

This seems to be the new mantra for men who are

looking for new means to extend their lives. This also seems to be a new

way to woo recalcitrant men to the altar. But, it is not false

news. For research does suggest that marriage is good for health –

especially for men.

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It has been proven that married men

live longer than their single, unwed

counterparts. In fact, a large population-

based study from Finland has shown

that being unmarried increases the risk

of fatal and non-fatal heart attack in both

men and women whatever their age.

Conversely, say the study investigators,

especially among middle-aged couples,

being married and cohabiting are

associated with “considerably better

prognosis of acute cardiac events both

before hospitalisation and after reaching

the hospital alive”.

The study, published early this year

in the European Journal of Preventive

Cardiology, was based on the FINAMI

myocardial infarction register data from

the years 1993 to 2002.

The study included information on

people over the age of 35 living in four

geographical regions of Finland. All fatal

and non-fatal cardiac events - known

as “acute cardiac syndromes”, ACS -

were included and cross-referred to the

population database. “Our aim,” said the

authors, “was to study the differences in

the morbidity and prognosis of incident

acute coronary syndromes according

to socio-demographic characteristics

(marital status and household size).”

The register recorded 15,330 ACS

events over the study period of ten

years, with just over half (7703) resulting

in death within 28 days. Events occurred

almost equally among men and women.

However, the analysis also showed

that the age-standardised incidences of

these ACS events were approximately

58–66 percent higher among unmarried

men and 60–65 percent higher in

unmarried women, than among

married men and women in all age

groups. The prime reason for men

living longer in a married atmosphere

is easy to understand. Imagine a man

experiencing chest pains in a congenial

family atmosphere as opposed to living

alone – the former man gets immediate

attention and is quickly taken to the

hospital.

It has been proved beyond doubt that

most men tend to ignore any ailments

that they come across and tend to

put off going to a doctor or seeking

medical attention. But, in a marriage, the

woman, who is more importantly a better

caregiver will surely send her husband

to the doctor even if it is a mild symptom

afflicting him. This can work both ways,

but let us focus only on the man here.

In fact, extreme cases of men ignoring

their ailments include stories of men

running up flights of stairs just to prove

that they do not have any heart ailments

have been recorded. In general wives

tend to look after their husband’s health

than vice versa, some reports suggest.

Married women make sure that

their men attend routine medical

appointments and also down the

medications they are supposed to take,

without fail.

There are also statistics to prove that

married people get to the hospital an

average of “30 minutes sooner than their

unmarried peers”.

The Finland based study found out that

being unmarried or living alone is known

to increase total and cardiovascular

mortality and cardiovascular disease

incidence.

GET MARRIED!W a n t t o l i v e l o n g e r ?

by Ashley Haydn

11May 7 - June 6

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12May 7 - June 6

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“Be a man!” The once fastest bowler in the world flexes his muscles, looks down at his feet and then looks straight into your eyes when he says this: “Be a man!”

This simple statement reverberates in our being, long after our meeting with the once controversial Pakistani cricketer, Shoaib Akhtar.

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Although he spoke briefly to the Black & White at the

Crowne Plaza, where he was put up, he touched upon all

things non controversial and almost nothing on cricket.

His brief tete-a-tete with B&W illuminated the other side of

this hell raiser on the sports field. Many forget that despite

being riddled with controversies, Shoaib had always

kept his head and played the game like a man and also

managed to break records.

Whatever happened outside the field never affected the

cricketer who was always a tearaway bowler, an honest,

straight-in-the-face talker who called a spade a spade

and even when he had to bear the brunt for it, always

took it in his stride.

He shrugged his broad shoulders when he was asked

about his perennial love affair with controversies: “Well,

who does not get caught in controversies? If you are

famous, everything you say or do becomes a controversy;

and if you are too famous, then you will be in a lot of

controversies. So, I don’t think much of it!”

Shoaib’s confidence is quite contagious. He does not

allow you any room for weakness and says that whatever

situation you are in, you have to get out of it and “never

give up” on your dreams. Only the weak give up their

dreams. “No, you’ve got to be a man!” the fiery erstwhile

bowler stresses.

There is a raw, physical energy that seems to emanate

from him and perhaps that is why he is mostly caught

in the whirl of controversies. It is an energy which can

put most of whom he meets on edge, especially when

you have the wrong intentions. Otherwise, his air of self

assuredness is something you can bask in.

The famous bowler’s eyes glistened a bit when he spoke

about his friendship with Aziz Khan, a tongawala outside

Lahore Railway Station. The latter had helped him,

given him a space to sleep at a time when Shoaib was

penniless and desperate. Shoaib’s promise to Aziz (for

helping him) was that he would come back to him once

he joined the Pakistan team, a promise he kept.

Shoaib smiles lightly when asked about this friendship.

“I made a promise and I kept it. I went and saw him after

I got into the national team and I also did what I could to

assist him,” he says not revealing what help he gave Aziz

Khan. Apparently, he had looked after him and his family

very well.

Shoaib, dubbed the ‘Rawalpindi Express’ (he

hails from Rawalpindi in Pakistan), was once

the most fearsome bowler in the cricketing world, also one of its

most controversial sons. The 38-year old former cricketer, who is the first

to cross the 100-mile barrier twice, was in town

recently to promote a blood donation cause in Oman. He was brought

to Oman by Super International, which

had partnered with the Ministry of Health (MoH),

to organise the 7th annual walk (*) for blood donor awareness at Al Sahwa park, in Seeb.

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Excerpts:

Who is Shoaib Akhtar?

Cricketer! First and foremost a cricketer – everything else

after that!

Someone like you can always be an inspiration to

many out there who are in the crossroads of their

lives both in the field of sports and otherwise…You

have gone through tough times too, but that did not

deter you…

I would place great emphasis on physical activity…it is

a must! It is very important that we encourage children

and the youth to play and be physically active. Physical

activities, games and sports bring about positivity and

goodness around; it makes the youth more responsible

and accountable. Youth should invest their energy on

their dreams, work hard, rather than waste their time

sitting in front of televisions or computers... Life is all

about moving ahead, about motion, activity... it is never

too late to start an activity or create a group.

Tell us your interest in Oman and about your visit

here?

This is my first visit to Oman. I was in Dubai as part of a

promotional campaign; I was invited from there to Oman

to spearhead a blood donation drive. So, I thought why

not? It is sad to note that many youngsters here are

tragic victims of road accidents and the alarming rate of

accidents have created a significant demand for blood.

I wish and hope my presence will make a difference. It

is our responsibility to save lives, and donate blood, but

more importantly it is a requirement to channelise the

energy of the youth to something positive rather than

speeding on the roads. The youth have a responsibility

towards the nation and the community they live in. I hope

in a small way I can contribute to the development of

cricket in town, we are in talks with authorities to start

an academy, train and coach those interested in playing

good cricket...

Oman is such a beautiful country and it has a youthful

population. I feel that the residents should encourage

sports and games and lead youth towards positivity.

Games and sports play a good role in teaching

responsibility, teamwork, discipline, self-esteem,

accountability, leadership qualities, and the ability to

accept challenges in life, generate healthy competition,

develop a “never give up” attitude.

One piece of advice to all those who want to come up

in life…?

Never be afraid to dream…Every stage of life is about

progress and evolving. I believe in dreaming. Dreams

are vehicles which will take you to your goals. Never be

afraid to dream. Dreams have the power to make you

a man in the real world. Be street-smart too, but chase

after your dreams. Every child dreams, grows up with

the dreams; your childhood ends when you realise your

dreams. Be calm and focussed, the more silent you are,

you can listen to your dreams. I have many dreams, and

will continue dreaming until I breathe. I have realised

my dreams out of sheer hard work and will continue to

do so... I am a content man, dreams is not about being

greedy. It’s about having a purpose in life!

Has the Shoaib of yesteryear changed today?

Change is imminent: Life is all about evolving. When I

look back, I know I have evolved. Every human being

has to change at least once in 10 years. You cannot act

like a 10 year old when you are 20 and when you are 30

you cannot still aspire to be 20. Evolve, grow up and stay

focussed on your goals.

Is success and achievement the final goal and

destination? What after that?

Then it is time to give back to the community. Giving

is a process that begins the moment you start to earn.

When you get things from the community you live in, it

is a must to give back to the community. It is a social

responsibility to pass on whatever possible – even if it

is a small amount. Every one of us have a capacity to

live and let live. The world becomes a better place if we

can share a little bit of burden for others, share and care

for those under privileged. Remember however rich you

are, even if you live in a palace, you can only sleep in

a single room. You may walk around for hours in your

palatial home, but as an individual, all you need is a bed

space to sleep. It makes more sense to give away to the

underprivileged than to waste it on cosmetics and other

superfluous spending. You will get more blessings and

goodwill by doing so!

(*) event was not held owing to bad weather

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Should I cover my son’s eyes?By Adarsh Madhavan

O

ff th

e wall

adarsh@blackandwhiteoman.com

When the cinema screen erupted with mindless violence,

sex, etc., my mother would shield my eyes. I would still try

to peek through her clenched fingers, but to no avail. I could

only hear the weird noises from behind the wall of fingers.

After the non viewable scenes were played out, she would

let me watch. Her palms would never be too far off for any

offensive scenes, which my tender age did not permit me to

view.

But, within few years after that, bunking classes, I watched

the same type of violence and whatnot in thatched roof

theatres in my hometown in Kerala. I don’t know if the

violence shaped me, or whether I became an uglier person

because of such viewing. But whatever, over the years

I became a kind of softie and definitely took a particular

distaste for mindless violence and onscreen ugliness. I

am unable to watch gore, deadly scenes of violence and

mayhem where characters butcher each other as though

they were swatting flies. It is not just the violence alone, but

the aftermath of the violence, where bloodied bodies are

strewn around like in a battlefield, have become unbearable

to watch. I know that if we don’t have the stomach to watch

it even, now would we find the courage to come in face to

face with such horrors? Terrible things happen around us,

but then, if our future belong to people with steel stomachs

and iron fists and if the world need those who can walk

through violence like they were taking a mid-morning stroll

in their garden, then I might be preparing my child wrong.

For I am shielding him from ugliness spewed out on the

small screen. Although I have not introduced him to the big

screen as yet, he is hooked on to the small and he can live

on cartoons. But then there are times when he gets to see

movies other than cartoons. That is when we realise that

the stuff we have been used to watching, crazed violence;

men and women clinging together and doing well, what they

ought to be doing in such situations and the like and then

we think, is this right for a five-year old? Because we don’t

know, we change the channels at that appropriate moment,

just when the protagonist lifts that menacing scythe

to bring it down on his former friend turned betrayer’s

hand (they show a close up of the cut hand later) or

when they show the innards of a massive shark’s

mouth that is about to gobble up a woman’s pale leg;

or when a member of a beggar-racket group gouges

out a boy’s eye to make him a petty beggar for life;

or when a group of terrorists jump on a woman to

openly molest her while her family watches…the

list of horrors is seemingly endless, but the point is

should I let him watch these ugliness on the screen?

Make him stronger to face the real world out there?

For, there is no denying it. These things happen in

the real world. These horrors; these killings, these

plunders, these murders, these rapes and torture

are happening in the real world and no horror movie

can actually bring out the reality that is happening

just out of our windows. Will I, by shielding my little

one, from the screen violence, ultimately make him

a softy, a sissy, a coward who will cower under the

weight of real happenings out there when he has to

face the world? Will he run away from the tests of

time because I make him look at the world with rose

coloured spectacles? Am I doing it right by switching

channels when a man and woman turn the heat up

with their romance; or when a man chokes his woman

by the neck? When, how and which are the occasions

that I should shield my son’s eyes?

Evil exists in the world. Bombings, killings and utter

mayhem are all out there and even these real aspects

are screened on the small screens too, so it is not

just the movies. But, whenever the screens erupt in

violence, I switch it back to Tom & Jerry. It is better

to make him watch Tom being beaten to near death

by a cunning Jerry than watch him recoil in horror

over some torn limbs. I could be wrong, but I have no

choice…

Off

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Sayarti has just launched a wider range of Energizer Automotive

Batteries that are suitable for all types of passenger cars,

commercial vehicles and trucks and buses.

To reassure the customers on the longevity of the batteries,

Sayarti is presenting customers a special introductory offer of 18

month warranty on all Energizer Automotive Batteries purchased

and installed professionally at any Sayarti outlets.

Mohammed Balushi, Sayarti manager, said, “We’ve all

experienced battery failures, especially in the hot summer

months. It is a real inconvenience when the car won’t start

and you’re left in the sweltering heat. The biggest challenge

for battery manufacturers who market their products in the

Middle East is to make the battery withstand high ambient

temperatures.”

The Pizza Company opened its doors at the Muscat Grand Mall

recently. The well-known pizzeria, founded in 1981, pioneering

Italian food concept in the East has opened its first branch

in Oman under the management of Emirates and Bahrain

International Restaurants.

The ‘Me & Mom’ event, being conducted for the third

consecutive year, was held recently. “Our event – held in

celebration of the mother and child – was a huge success!”

said Nipa Shah, the event coordinator. The event, which

included plenty of games, quiz and activities, was held at the

Dosa Plaza. “Everyone had a lot of fun with delicious brunch,”

Nipa said. Other attractions include face painting, henna, tarot

card reading, and plenty of prizes and gift hampers.

Cadillac was the 'Official Car' for the recently concluded

Yanni (World Without Borders) concert in Oman. The event,

which was held at the City Amphitheatre, witnessed a

capacity crowd and everyone went home mesmerised by the

musical magic of Yanni and his talented artists. The Oman

Trading Establishment (OTE), who are the official dealers

of Cadillac in Oman, said that they were happy to be the

support sponsor for this sellout event that attracted 5,000

fans. “Yanni is a phenomenon and we are happy to be part

of this event,” a spokesperson from the OTE said.

Energizer Automotive Batteries summer offer

Sayarti is the official distributor of the recently

launched Energizer Automotive Batteries, with a

product range covering passenger, commercial

and truck batteries in the Oman market.

The Pizza Company opens its first outlet in Muscat

Me & Mom event a big success

Cadillac sponsors Yanni live in Oman

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alizz islamic bank S.A.O.G announced the appointment

of its Shariah supervisory board at the bank’s second

general meeting held at the businessmen hall at the

Capital Market Authority.

His Highness Sayyid Taimur bin As’ad Al Said, chairman

of the board, board members, and a number of

shareholders were in attendance.

The newly appointed supervisory board consists of

Sheikh (Dr) Mohammed Abdul Rahim Sultan Al Olama,

Sheikh Dr Osama Mohammed Saad Bahar and Sheikh

Nasser bin Yousef bin Nasser Al Azri. These prominent

Shariah scholars are qualified individuals who collectively

bring a wealth of experience in jurisprudence, Islamic

finance, research and banking.

“As we move closer towards becoming operational, the

newly appointed Shariah supervisory board will prove to

be a tremendous asset given their caliber, diversity and

wealth of experience in Islamic law. They will work closely

with us to ensure that we deliver sophisticated banking

solutions that adhere to the principles of Shariah and are

designed for every life stage,” said Sayyid Taimur Al Said.

alizz islamic bank appoints Shariah supervisory board

The world premiere of the first BMW X model (the BMW

X5) in 1999 saw the BMW group call into being the Sports

Activity Vehicle (SAV) segment – one in which BMW X

models remain the market leaders. The BMW X3 and

BMW X1 were likewise the first SAVs in their class and

continue to set the pace among their rivals today. This

development took on a new dimension in May 2008 with

the introduction of the BMW X6 – the first Sports Activity

Coupe (SAC). This still unique concept brought together

the rugged looks of a BMW X model with the emotional

aura and sporting character of a BMW Coupe for the first

time. The enduring popularity of BMW’s first SAC is borne

out by its consistently high sales figures. The short history

of the BMW X range is already a successful one. Since

the first BMW X model took to the stage, average sales

across the BMW X line-up have progressed on a constant

upward curve: one in four new BMW cars is now a BMW

X model.

The BMW concept X4

Octal was recently invited to present the company’s

effective deployment of SAP R/3 networking systems

to IT teachers and students at Salalah College of

Technology (SCT). Greeted by an overwhelming

response, the college is now keen to incorporate Octal’s

expertise into the curriculum as an ongoing case study to

supplement the students’ coursework.

Vinod Vidya Sagar, Octal’s head of IT applications,

delivered the presentation. He explained, “At Octal we

have created an efficient matrix to integrate sales orders

within the production and accounting departments

for streamlined processing in order to increase our

competitive edge. As the company continues to grow and

make significant strides in both local and international

markets, we had to create a secure, reliable, and scalable

system to log orders and maintain high visibility across

the whole supply chain. Using SAP R/3 has enabled us

to integrate the entire operation under a single process

that deals with different languages and currencies

while securely storing our customer information to drive

business growth.”

Octal inspires Salalah College of Technology students

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The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority has unveiled a series of

road shows in cooperation with Air Arabia across the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council

countries, beginning April 17 to woo the massive and constantly growing population of

AGCC and Arab tourists. The countries on the SCTDA’s itinerary include Oman, Saudi

Arabia and Kuwait, according to SCTDA director general, Khalid Jasim Al Midfa.

Sharjah’s popular airline Air Arabia has joined hands with the SCTDA in the AGCC

campaign. The first stop on the road map was Oman on April 17 where leading

players of the country’s travel and tourism industry came together at a workshop and

dinner in Muscat hosted by the authority. The guests were briefed about Sharjah’s

tourist attractions and numerous options and opportunities offered by the emirate for

the Omani and AGCC visitors.

Sharjah road shows

Offering more value to its customers

on its wide range of credit cards,

Bank Sohar has launched an exciting

new campaign where 90 lucky

customers get the chance to win

high value gifts over the next three

months. For every purchase of

OMR30 or more using Bank Sohar

credit cards (internet, classic, gold

and platinum), customers will get

a chance to win a ‘Mystery Sahara

gift’ in a monthly raffle draw. The

bank will give away a total of 90 gifts

to the lucky winners as part of the

promotion, which runs from April 15

to July 15, this year. Thirty gifts will

be given away at each of the three

draws, conducted monthly during the

promotional period.

Commenting on the latest promotion,

R. Narasimhan, DGM and head of

retail banking at Bank Sohar said,

“Bank Sohar has a large number of

credit card customers and we are

always looking to acknowledge and

reward them for their patronage

with exciting promotions. Our latest

promotion follows the stellar success

of our ‘cash back promotion’ we ran

last year. This new promotion will be

held over three months and we will

be giving away OMR 20,000 worth of

prizes.”

Bank Sohar ‘Mystery Sahara’ credit card

His Highness Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said officially

inaugurated the Sugar Apollo Clinic for Diabetes at a

special gathering that was also attended by Sangita

Reddy, executive director, Apollo Hospitals Group, India

recently. Sugar Clinic Muscat is the first international

Sugar Center of the Apollo Group outside India and is

in collaboration with the International Medical Centre

L.L.C., Oman. Sugar Clinic – Muscat offers a host of

services which includes - full-time endocrinologist and

diabetologist, diabetes foot clinic-equipped with latest

screening capabilities, diabetes eye clinic – manned

by a full time ophthalmologist and equipped with state-

of-the-art non-mydriatic Fundus Camera, dietician and

physiotherapist. With an eye for education the center has

a team of trained diabetes nurse educators who work

closely with clinicians and individuals availing care at

the center. Sayyid Shihab said: “Diabetes is a growing

menace in the country and I wish to congratulate Apollo

Hospitals and the International Medical Center team

for initiating a unique concept to tackle diabetes for the

residents of Oman”.

Elucidating the concept of Sugar, Sangita Reddy, said:

“Sugar is a unique offering, which follows a structured

care pathway and a multi-disciplinary team approach

to work with the individuals affected with diabetes to

improve clinical outcomes and quality of life."

Sugar – diabetes management center

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HSBC Bank Oman S.A.O.G.’s

customer-facing employees have

recently concluded a customer

service representative training

workshop entitled ‘Frontline

First’ that combined operations,

systems and product knowledge

training exercises. The three day

training workshop aimed at arming

employees with the necessary tools,

skillsets and learning materials that

empower them to serve customers

with the highest standards of

professionalism, care and utmost

attention to detail.

Ali Al Abri, head of human resources

at HSBC Bank Oman said, “One

of our top priorities at the bank is

to continually improve our level of

customer service in order to further

enrich the overall HSBC banking

experience. This is achieved

by taking our staff training and

development very seriously because

of our deep belief that if employees

have the right tools to deliver results

and achieve their full potential, our

business performs better.”

HSBC Bank Oman training efforts

Millennium Resort Mussanah, one of Oman’s leading

lifestyle destination resorts, recently invited members

of the press with their families for a fun filled ‘Media

Weekend Getaway’ in Mussanah. During the two day

visit, guests enjoyed a variety of activities including

a special tour of the resort and its multi-purpose

facilities, participation in a number of water and sports

activities as well as a mini golf tournament challenge

for children and adults.

Millennium resort hosts ‘media weekend getaway’

Mouawad, the luxury jeweller and watchmaker,

officially inaugurated its new boutique at Opera

Galleria, Muscat’s new prestigious shopping

destination recently. The new showroom is the

second for Mouawad in Oman’s capital and

the first to be designed according to the new

generation store concept. The grand opening was

attended by both local clientele and VIPs and

was honoured with the visit of popular Yemeni

singer and television host, Arwa as well as two

generations of Mouawads. “I am very excited

to be here today to celebrate the opening of

Mouawad’s second boutique in Oman. Oman is a

fast growing market and the appetite for luxury in

general and for jewellery in particular is growing;

it has always been a very important market for us

and we wanted to cater the increasing demand of

our local clientele,” commented Pascal Mouawad

during the opening event.

Second Mouawad boutique at Opera Galleria

For photography

enthusiasts looking for

a high-end compact that

delivers outstanding

images even in low light,

the game-changing

Olympus Stylus XZ range stands out from the crowd.

Photocentre, the authorised distributors for Olympus in Oman,

has bolstered the range, with the addition of the slender

Olympus Stylus XZ-10. “The XZ-10 offers an ideal combination

of optical brilliance, fast lens response, pocket-sized design

and the usability required to shoot and share every day

on the fly,” said Mohammad Al Farei, managing director of

Photocentre. “It has all the technology needed for capturing

exactly those rich colour shots you want with low noise,

irrespective of shooting conditions.”

The XZ-10 comes in black, brown or white and is now

available for sale from Photocentre, retailing at OMR199.

Contact: 24565305/24571708.

Lightweight Olympus XZ-10 at

Photocentre

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At the conference for English Language

Teaching at Sultan Qaboos University held

recently, Dr Peter Waters, English lecturer

at the German University of Technology

in Oman (GUtech) demonstrated how

to implement current research on the

educational value of writing. His workshop

entitled “Writing to Learn” emphasised that

writing is essentially a means of learning

not merely a record.

Dr Peter, who has worked in Oman for

many years, has a firm understanding of

the teaching practices and learning needs

of students within the Sultanate. He argues

that despite the widespread use of the

digital media, the art of writing should not

be abandoned or given a secondary role in

education.

Writing is essential as a means of learning

General Automotive Company, the official dealers of

Mitsubishi in Oman, is now offering its most popular

models, the Lancer GL, Lancer EX, Galant and

Pajero’s, with new all-time-low fixed pricing.

Commenting on the offer, Mark Tomlinson, general

manager of General Automotive Company said,

“This really is a great deal for anyone interested in a

new Mitsubishi, and the practical ‘last price’ assures

customers they’re getting the absolute best deal

available on a new car.

We guarantee that no negotiations or bargaining

skills are needed, the customer can just walk in,

choose the car that they like and drive away in their

Mitsubishi announces ‘last price deals’

new Mitsubishi safe in the knowledge that they’ve received

the best deal possible, without the need for negotiations. That

means no hidden costs or gimmicks to worry about and all

vehicles included in the offer have been clearly marked in the

showroom.”

The ‘last price deal’ covers all versions of the Lancer GL,

Lancer EX and Galant, aside from the saloon models, GAC

also have some Pajero’s included in the offer but these are of

very limited availability and preference will be given on a first

come basis.

Musthafa and his wife Almana of the law firm

Musthafa Almana recently flew down from

Dubai along with the delegation to award S.A.S.

Naqvi, sports consultant during the UTSC

Hockey tournament held in Muscat.

Nawras was recently honoured at the 2013 Dubai Lynx Awards for its free

WiFi activation service promotional video entitled ‘Piggybacking’. In addition

to being shortlisted in eight categories, Nawras and the company’s advertising

agency, Leo Burnett, took home a Silver Lynx award for use of digital media

and a Bronze Lynx award for consumer services.

Omar Nazih Azar, Nawras head of branding and campaigns, said, “To reflect

the capabilities of our new WiFi service, we partnered with Leo Burnett,

winner of 2012 and 2013’s Dubai Lynx Network of the Year award. Together

we created an activation campaign that illustrates how easy it is for customers

to use the new WiFi service at Muscat Grand Mall.”

Nawras honoured at 2013 Dubai Lynx Awards

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Omantel Toastmasters Club is one of the major initiatives

promoted by Omantel in a bid to enhance speaking and

leadership skills of its staff. The initiative also aims at

enhancing their self-confidence and communication with

others.

The club was established in June 2011 by a group of

the company staff to be the 17th club from among 20

toastmasters club in the Sultanate affiliated to U.S based

Toastmasters International (TMI)

Omantel Toastmasters recently hosted Lance Miller who

has been 'on-the-road' for Toastmasters since becoming

the 'World Champion of Public Speaking' in 2005, from

among 28,000 competitors representing 90 countries.

The club currently prepares to take part at the ‘District 20

PR Awards’, in which 80 clubs from Middle East will take

part. The competition categories include press articles,

websites, social networking, periodical newsletter and

marketing ads.

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The Oman Pharmaceutical Conference 2013 was

recently organised by Oman Medical College at the

college campus, Muscat with the theme “Advances

in Drug Delivery systems and Pharmaceutical Care

Practice”. The conference was inaugurated under the

auspices of Dr Sultan bin Ya’arub bin Qahtan Al-Busaidi,

advisor of health affairs, Ministry of Health (MoH). Dr P.

Mohammed Ali, the honorary president and chairman

of the governing council of Oman Medical College,

dignitaries from the MoH, and ministry of higher education

graced the occasion. The keynote address was given

by Ph. Sawsan bint Ahmed bin Jaffar, director general,

directorate general of pharmaceutical affairs and drug

control.

The two-day event accredited by the Oman Medical

Specialty Board was attended by more than 400

delegates including pharmacists, assistant pharmacists,

students and other healthcare professionals from

Oman and other AGCC Countries. The conference

provided a variety of events including plenary lectures,

workshops, panel discussions, pharma exhibition and

poster presentations highlighting research in the field of

pharmacy.

Oman Pharmaceutical Conference 2013

Omantel Toastmasters

The team titled ‘No Flying Yoke’ claimed the top podium

spot at the first ever Red Bull Soapbox Race held recently

at Bausher Sand Dunes and with it an all-expense paid

trip to the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi along

with an exclusive paddock walk to experience the F1

garage and the chance to meet the Red Bull Racing

Team. “It was a really good day and very fun. We had no

expectations and we just wanted to make it a fun day out

for the kids and the family - winning was just a bonus,”

said Gary Witherspoon team member for No Flying Yoke.

Team scores were based on three criteria including

speed, showmanship and creativity. The panel of judges

included Oman’s acclaimed race car driver Ahmad Al

Harthy, radio and TV personality Murtadha Al Lawati, TV

personality Ibtihal Al Zadjali and Sulaiman Al Rawahi.

‘No Flying Yoke’ wins Red Bull Soapbox Race

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EDUCATION WITH PURPOSE

Education has no limits! The more you learn, the

more you realise not just how little you know and how

much you need to know but also, you understand that

whatever you learn is like a sip of the ocean from a

remote corner of the globe. There is so much that you

need to know. And, the limits to education is all what

you set yourself and that is why there is a need for all

of us to learn, and that too constantly.

EDUCATION – A STEPPING STONE

When His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said took

over the reins of Oman in 1970, he introduced the

literacy programme for adults, with an aim to groom

the citizens of Oman to participate in the growth and

progress of the nation. He knew that education was a

stepping stone in the building of a nation.

Education is a tool that can change the destiny of a

nation. Illiteracy was a major hurdle then, but today

we can be proud that the country has fought it to a

great extent.

UNLOCKS HUMAN POTENTIAL

What does education do? It teaches us how to

think scientifically, rationally, logically and well,

mathematically. It opens the door to various unknown

facets of life. Most importantly, a classroom teaches

us how to think socially. We are finally what we know

and learn. And literacy unlocks human potential and

helps us pull ourselves out of poverty and oppression

and better our lives. It helps us to think big and better

our lives in all spheres.

Education is a tool that can change the destiny of a nation. Although Illiteracy was a major hurdle in the earlier days, today we can be proud that the country has fought it to a great extent

Mohamed Issa Al ZadjaliEditor-in-chief

In Black...

& White

In B

lack &

Whit

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BLAME PARENTS

Over the years of travel and education, I have come

across different countries and various educational

policies. There are countries that have made it mandatory

for a child to finish high school. School authorities in such

countries do not take it lightly when they find students

wasting precious time instead of studying and learning.

In fact, they blame the parents of such students and

hold them responsible for their children’s irresponsible

behaviour. The truth is that if we ensure that every child

attends school, there will be no adults left uneducated!

WOMEN LITERATE

The B&W team met up with some senior women who

have bravely undertaken the task to finish off their

incomplete education, even if it meant learning with their

own children. The department of continuing education

at the ministry of education is doing a commendable

job by taking literacy to the villages, to the doorstep of

the villagers, with an aim to eradicate illiteracy amongst

womenfolk there. More than 200-odd women from the

villages near the Muscat region completed their third

grades and collected certificates at a function held

recently. As they say, an educated woman in the family

keeps generations educated! Let us wish the womenfolk a

better life through literacy!

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Back to

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“Are you ready for dictation?” asks Fareeda Al Balushi, a young volunteer teacher, to her morning

class held in a spacious hall of Jabr bin Zaid mosque, in Al Hail.

“Yes!” chorus the enthusiastic, youthful Omani students.

The door to the hall opens and a ‘student’ rushes in and takes her seat, a bit flustered for coming in late. She quickly surveys the scene, pulls out the required textbook and a sense of relief floods in her, quite visible to the onlooker – she is now

on par with the rest of her classmates.

Well, this sounds as normal as any classroom in town. Walk into any Omani classroom and perhaps you will see a similar scene: a semi-composed teacher and

his/her nervous students.

However, the difference in this class is that the students are older than their teacher and all of them are ladies. Almost all of them are mothers, perhaps, even grandmothers. And they seemed more confident than their younger counterparts.

That may not be unusual, but the enthusiasm of this set of senior students is simply infectious. They were really gung-ho about their morning class and eager to learn.

We stood at a quiet distance and soaked in the scene. The most unusual part of the scenario is the fact that many Omani women have taken the responsibility of getting

back to school. And they seem to be loving every moment of it.

A CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE

Fareeda wrote that day’s date on the board and then

asked her students to open a particular page in that

book. The students promptly did that. “Yesterday, I told

you about the dictation we are having today – are you all

ready?”

“Yes!” the ladies chorus.

“WRITE THE WORD ‘COME’!”

One of the students quickly came forward and wrote on

the board. Then Fareeda went on to ask her students to

write other words, ‘help, party…’ etc.

The student scribbles a ‘u’ at the end of the word ‘part’

and then quickly corrects it to ‘y’ when her teacher asks

the other students to correct it. “Pee aaa are tee why!”

they chorused.

More questions and the students’ hands shoot up, eager

to be the first one to give the correct answer. There are

mostly hits and of course some misses. But, on a whole

the students appeared to be quite bright and more than

their abilities, it was their zeal to learn that stood out.

As we soak in this animated ambience, enjoying the

familiar buzz of a classroom, Khayria Ahmed Al Zadjali,

head of the department of continuing education, ministry

of education (MoE), stands next us, beaming. She has

every reason to feel proud. It is no mean feat of the

ministry to get these ladies back to school.

She noted how the children of some of the ladies were

studying in the same class as their children. “Both (the

senior and junior students) had no problem with that. And

we are very happy with the interest these ladies have

shown,” she said of the students, most of whom were

from Al Hail area.

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The students are part of the MoE’s literacy villages’

project, a very recent concept aimed at decreasing the

number of illiterate people in Oman within a short space

of time. It aims to encourage all sections of society to

participate in the battle against illiteracy and involves the

entire village community. The curriculum is the same as

that used in the MoE day schools in addition to some

support programmes related to life skills. The life skills

curriculum is delivered by the ministry of religious affairs,

ministry of health, Royal Oman Police, Civil Defense and

other organisations in or close to the village.

For some days, the B&W team quietly viewed various

students from different classes and schools and

discovered a whole new world filled with eager women

who were trying hard to regain the education that they

had lost. Admittedly, it was a difficult task for both the

students as well as the teachers, but the strongest bridge

across this chasm was the unbridle enthusiasm displayed

by the students, many a teacher’s fond dream.

LET THE WOMENFOLK BE LITERATE

“With an aim to empower women with education, the

literacy villages’ project expanded towards eradicating

the high illiteracy percentage of womenfolk in the villages.

The older women did not have the opportunity to attend

normal day schools. Even if some did, they had to drop

out of schools owing to family obligations, marriages or

living conditions. When the MoE kick started the literacy

villages’ project, after the 2003 statistics, many men came

forward to take part in the adult literacy programmes,”

Khayria Ahmed Al Zadjali noted.

But, as is the case, men and boys could travel far

and wide and even stay in hostels to pursue their

studies, while women and girls fell back and remained

at home, unable to follow suit. Women had many

family obligations to attend to and could not come to a

particular location allocated for studies. “The population

was very minimal in the villages and it was not wise to

build a school, hence ministry of continuing education

set up study locations at local mosques or seblats or

even at sheds at remote villages to facilitate group

studies under the supervision of a local educated

girl candidate, trained by our team. All accessories,

books, stationeries were provided by the department

including training and supervision by a trainer from the

department,” Khayria Al Zadjali explained.

205 WOMEN COMPLETE THREE YEARS OF STUDY

“This year we have an achievement we can be proud

of. From the villages of Muscat region, 205 ladies have

completed three years of study and also finished Grade

3. We will be awarding certificates in May and after

this successful completion, these 205 ladies will go

straight to Grade 7. We, at the department of continuing

education, feel very optimistic on their performance

and perseverance. These ladies have successfully

completed their three years of study, despite facing

many challenging situations. They have attained their

goals because they dedicated themselves to finishing

their tasks and achieving their grades.

Most of the ladies started off without even knowing how

to hold a pen. Looking at the current scenario, we can

proudly say we have achieved more than our target

of eradicating illiteracy in the villages,” Khayria Zadjali

proudly noted.

The vision was to halve the illiteracy percentage by

"Most of the ladies started out without even knowing how to hold a pen. Now, we can proudly say we have achieved more than our target of eradicating illiteracy in the villages,” Khayria Al Zadjali proudly noted

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2015, but Oman has excelled itself by achieving the

target by 2013 itself, she added.

“We choose a local lady who has completed her

high school and train her to teach the ladies of that

particular village.

“Books and stationeries are provided and a location

is chosen. Initially the womenfolk are taught the

Holy Quran, so that they can get used to the right

way of praying and living. The MoE has set books

and curriculum for the adults’ education and that is

followed for the first three years. There are some

villages where ladies sit together in ordinary sheds

and learn.

The timings are flexible and it is decided by the

group themselves. A supervisor from our department

will be available initially almost all days, then once a

week, to supervise the schedules and help the local

teacher manage the new group. We have found that

many of these ladies are very intelligent and learn

all subjects very meticulously. There is one lady in

Quriyat village who is very good in Mathematics.”

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Muna Al Zadjali

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Innovative night schools

The Umama bint Al A’as School in Al Khoud is quite a huge one. A heavy silence enveloped the large premises of the school when we strolled in during one recent early evening -- post school hours. But, as we pitter pattered to one

segment of the school we discovered nearly a dozen students huddled in a classroom listening attentively to a teacher. They were so engrossed in their work that neither the teacher nor the students paid attention to us standing in

the doorway.

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After some time, Muna Ahmed Al Zadjali, principal of

the night school at Umama Al A’as and Khayria Zadjali

knocked and we all entered. The students, led by Sundus

Ibrahim, a science teacher, were all happy to let us into

their world, telling us how they grabbed the opportunity to

get back to school.

FAMILY WILL LEAD A BETTER LIFE

Sameera Al Maskery works at a bank, but she is

determined to finish her education as that will give an

automatic career boost. “I am currently pursuing my

grade 10 and hope to pass and obtain my certificate this

year,” she tells us. She began attending the evening

classes two years back with an intention to complete her

studies and thereby progress in her career. “Currently I

am working in the customer service department of a bank

here in Oman and upon completion of this course and

after obtaining the certificate, I will be in a much better

position in my career. This will be an ideal stepping stone.

Personally I feel every woman should educate herself,

not matter what her limitations are. A woman holds her

family together, brings up the children and if she is also

educated the whole family will be able to lead a better

life,” Sameera opined.

DAUGHTERS PROUD OF MOTHER

Fatma Al Balushi’s case is slightly different. She had

done her basic education in the United Arab Emirates

(UAE), but was not able to complete her education owing

to various reasons. The moment she found an opportunity

she was back to school.

“Currently I am in my late 30s and have two daughters

studying in grades10 and 11, respectively. Owing to

many reasons, I could not complete my grade10. But

thank God, I am in the process of completing it now. I

love to learn and my family is very supportive. Hopefully,

I will complete and obtain the certificate successfully. My

daughters feel happy and proud of me,” Fatma said.

MOUNTING THE ARABIC CHALLENGE

Nasra Abdullah Mohammed finished her higher

secondary in Tanzania. However, Arabic remained a

challenge to her. “So, I took a special course on Arabic. I

am studying for the last 18 months and it has been a real

enlightening experience for me. I hope to finish my grade

10 this year.”

MAKING UP FOR THE LOST CHANCES

Maryam bint Essa, in her 40s, started off her education

from Grade 1, virtually starting from scratch.

She has seven children, three of whom are in secondary

school. She has been working hard and hopes to finish

her grade10 by this May.

"I love to study. But family responsibilities and various

other related reasons prevented me from attending

school during those days. But, that is alright; I am not

going to cry about the past. I am happy I got the chance

and am determined to complete my studies.”

Khayria Al Zadjali (second from left) along with her team at the department of continuing education

33May 7 - June 6

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Today, these students are her inspiration.

“There is no real age where you can stop

learning or educating yourself. These

students are the best example of that,” Muna

said, as she introduced us to students from

another classroom in the same school.

“Life teaches you at every stage and every

woman should get educated. All limitations,

hurdles are only excuses. If there is a will,

there is a way. It is a universal truth that

education enhances human capacity and

unlocks talents and abilities. Education

creates a better society too…The social

status of a woman and her family enhances

too when the lady of the home is educated.

Whatever the age, whatever the limitations

are, every woman should come forward

and study. Woman’s empowerment with

knowledge and proper guidance is very

essential in today’s world. No country can

prosper if women are left behind. It is time we

ensured every girl is educated, so there will

be no illiterate woman tomorrow!”

EDUCATION IS A CHALLENGE

“Education is a challenge for every woman,”

Deena Al Ajmi said. “She has lot of

responsibilities to meet with and gives a low

priority to education when she is young.

Also, access to schools was not also easy;

it only allowed boys to attend. But, all

women should understand education uplifts

her lifestyle, opens her mind and equips

her to make a better lifestyle for her family

members. I study with my children and they

are actually happy that I am pursuing my

education. I am also a working woman,” she

added.

LEARNING IS A BLESSING

Another student, Zareena Al Balushi,

smilingly noted how her son was in the same

class as hers. “Now, I am competing with

him (her son),” she smiled again. But, on a

serious note, she added that it was quite a

relief to have her son in the same class as

they could discuss various subjects together.

“Now, I have no regrets. Learning is a

blessing,” she said.

No age for education

This is the age of women, like no other. At least in Oman. Knowing

the potential of developing education among women, the

MoE has been keenly pursuing the task of educating their lot. “It is a lot of hard work for everyone

concerned – the educators, students and their teachers,”

notes Muna Al Zadjali, who is also a social worker. A social worker,

guide and student counselor in the morning and an educationist in the

evening, Muna runs on full, with not even time for herself. “It is a

full time responsibility,” she avers.

2 0 1 3B&W

B&

W X

clu

sive

34May 7 - June 6

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A felicitation programme was held recently by the department of continuing

education, MoE, to celebrate the completion of Grade 3 by 205 women

from the villages of Muscat region. Twelve teaching supervisors were

awarded at the function

Celebrating education

35May 7 - June 6

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36May 7 - June 6

2 0 1 3B&W

Managem

ent

talk

Attitude and business...By Dr CK Anchan

Dr Anchan C.K.

managing director,

World Wide Business House

Business is about people. People need to be motivated, they need to

be inspired, and they need to feel like they’re wanted and needed. That

their contribution is of value. They need to be in a situation where the

work environment is pleasant to come to every day so they can take

the world on and be successful. In a global market, etiquette assumes

more importance as you develop business relationships with people from

different cultures. The people with whom you interact can gauge the level

of your professionalism by the lengths to which you go to exercise proper

etiquette.

If you don’t set the right tone, if you don’t have the right attitude, why

should anyone else have the right attitude? Here’s where we all really get

ourselves in trouble. Just by changing your thoughts, you can change your

attitude. Realise that you already have the power in within you to change.

“The satisfaction and happiness you derive from life depends on your

aims, attitude, and actions. Those who wait for life to supply satisfaction

and happiness usually end up with boredom and sorrow instead," says

Dennis Gaskill.

The attitude you project in your encounters with people throughout the

business day can determine the degree of success of those encounters.

When you approach people – employees, customers, vendors – with

respect for their differences and for their values, you build a foundation for

a future positive business relationship. Business attitude reflects feelings,

beliefs and values.

Follow business etiquette when you write business letters, express

appreciation for customer loyalty, provide customer service and introduce

your product or service to potential clients. Similarly, be sure to follow

rules of etiquette when you talk on the phone, communicate through email,

interact in person and represent your company. In international business

relationships, do your homework. Know time zones, working hours,

religious and secular holidays, and table manners.

Be aware of your thoughts at all times. Concentration is the power to

overcome those negative thoughts. Your feelings are what you make

them. If you focus on what is missing in your life, you will prolong that

lack. Instead switch your thoughts to something positive, reflect about

something good in your life. Be positive.

As quoted by Ziggy Marley, “you can complain because roses have thorns,

or you can rejoice because thorns have roses.”

36May 7 - June 6

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37May 7 - June 6

2 0 1 3B&W

472931685

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eatures Syndicate, Inc.

Difficulty Level7/16

Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given

numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares

so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same

number only once.

SOLUTION:

9826

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38May 7 - June 6

2 0 1 3B&W

Kid

stuff

Our daily bread…. Fun facts on

BREAD

Did you know that bread has been around for centuries? Experts

believe the first grinding stone was invented by the Egyptians around

8000 B.C.

38May 7 - June 6

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39May 7 - June 6

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Blake the baker bakes black bread

• Bread is probably the one food eaten by people of every race, culture

and religion.

• An average slice of packaged bread contains only 1 gram of fat and

75 to 80 calories.

• One bushel of wheat will produce 73 one pound loaves of bread.

• During the 1700s, the Earl of Sandwich gave his name to the

sandwich: meat between two slices of bread sandwiches account for

50 per cent of bread consumption

• Breaking bread is a universal sign of peace.

• In ancient Egypt, bread was a form of currency used interchangeably

with money

• Napoleon gave common bread its name when he demanded a loaf of

dark rye bread for his horse during the Prussian campaign. “Pain pour

Nicole,” he ordered, which meant “Bread for Nicole,” his horse. To

Germanic ears, the request sounded like “pumpernickel,” which is the

term we still use today.

• One bread superstition is that if you put a piece of bread in a baby’s

cradle, it will keep away disease.

• In Russia, bread (and salt) are symbols of welcome.

• Superstition says it is bad luck to turn a loaf of bread upside down or

cut an unbaked loaf.

• 2,357 number of feet the longest loaf of bread measured on record in

the U.S

• Bread is baked at temperatures as high as 400F! That kind of heat

can kill an adult in less than one minute.

• Flat breads were first baked from the crushed grains, but later it was

discovered that adding yeast made the bread rise

39May 7 - June 6

2 0 1 3B&W

Not a laughing matter

Missiles of misinformation

We have been thinking of it since quite sometime now. Finally, we have taken the plunge to bring home to you

some offbeat stuff. Here goes, if you like it, give us the green signal for more; if not, just take it with a pinch of salt. For this fortnight, here is some nitter natter for the B&W Bitter Batter:

Nit

ter

natt

er

Thank God there wasn’t any problem posed by the tremors

that was felt in Oman when a 7.2 magnitude earthquake

hit a sparsely populated mountainous region of Pakistan’s

Baluchistan province recently. The tremors did not cause

any damage to any buildings and other properties in

Oman.

But, then a variety of events followed after that. One was

the panic that was felt among many and understandingly

of course, because it was not a joke. Many people felt a

rumble, and some felt their cupboards, chairs, beds were

rattling for some seconds, but there were those who felt

nothing, yet seemed to find it quite funny that people got

scared and came out of the buildings that they were in.

The moment that these people realised that there was a

tremor, they trooped out of their buildings and stood out,

because that was the safest thing to do in such situations.

When residents of a well known residential cum office

building felt the tremors, there were many who did not feel

them at all. Which is fine and it can happen, but what is

distressing is the way the latter look down upon those who

actually felt the tremor. They seem to find it quite funny that

some folks experienced the tremor and they found it quite

hilarious that many fled their offices to the relatively safe

outdoors. The idea was to move away from the buildings

in the event of a tremor that causes such damages.

There was nothing wrong in doing that and it is not a

cowardly act or something that was “sissy”. It was just plain

common sense to come out of a building when tremors

are on. Of course, they did not feel it, but is that cause

for laughter? Anything could have happened if indeed the

tremors had continued, but thank God it did not!

Laugh, enjoy, but not when there is a situation of concern.

In such situations it pays to know who has the last laugh!

Such natural episodes are subject for big discussions, but if these

stay at that serious level, it would be fine. There is nothing wrong

in discussing the various possibilities of such incidences. After all,

it is a tremor. And there is every reason to have concern. But, what

should not emanate from such incidences are the false stories;

tales and rumours of various types and some of which are going to

cause unwanted fear in the market. Why do people who have no

clue of anything simply go around passing tales of important issues

that they do not have any idea of? Perhaps, they are hallucinating,

but whatever the reason, their fertile minds should not play host

to such rumours, nor should they propel them into the market like

little missiles of misinformation.

Such acts are simply testing the patience of the authorities

concerned.

40April 7 - May 6

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41May 7 - June 6

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Talking of half truths. There are many in the game that resort

to such tactics, especially when there is competition involved.

The current in thing to do seems to be organising mega

events. Since we are in the game, we come across many who

openly compete with us. This happens despite making it clear

to them that our entry into this market was incidental and we

had no interest in event managing as such. Being a media, our

events have a cause, and since they are cause driven, they

do not fall into that category of commercial events. Yet, there

is this unspoken competition which exists and we tend to feel

a bit awkward in dealing with the same. Like the other day,

one of them mentions that they are going to bring a ‘biggie

show’ here and have fixed up a date and also claimed to have

booked a popular venue in town. Now, that is good for we

need big shows in town as they raise the profile of a country

as an event destination. But, casual enquiries revealed that no

bookings have been made at any such centres. Wonder why

they say such things to us when we are nowhere in the game

and are not interested either.

Have you noticed this, there are some

supermarkets that will remove all

price tags during the weekend? From

Saturday to Wednesday/Thursday,

they feature the price tags on the

items and from Thursday to Friday or

maybe only on Friday these price tags

suddenly cease to exist. Not even on

one item. This was told to us earlier by

a shopper and currently, two others

have said the same thing. We haven’t

seen it as yet, but will look around and

see if all supermarkets do this. As far

as we know, this is a practice by only

some rogue supermarkets. The good

ones stay good.

Biggie event to come?

Weekend prices?

(Note: Readers who have something bitter to chatter about can either email on editor@blackandwhiteoman.com or call 99218461)

42May 7 - June 6

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Interesting developments

with friends and family makes it

a dynamic week to get ahead, so

stop walking down memory lane

or taking too many nostalgia trips.

Let the past go and focus on the

future. Your imagination is a source

of wonderfully creative inspiration.

Use it.

Venus enters beautiful

loving Taurus and sets the emotional

tone for the coming week, but the

moon in your sign early in the week

confuses your emotional barometer

as you range from edgy to stable,

then erratic to calm. Don’t buy into

old insecurities.

Venus enters your sign and

makes you happy and satisfied with

the simple pleasures of life. You’ll

get caught between a feeling of

insecurity and stability mid week, but

things will level out by the weekend

when you’re surrounded by the

people who love you.

Do whatever it takes

to make work relationships more

harmonious as there’s something

in the air that requires everyone to

pull together. If there’s a chink in the

armour, plans could all fall apart.

If you miss out this time it’ll come

around again. Be patient.

Using your imagination is a

valuable asset this week, so put it to

practical use. Being resourceful will

have a happy impact on your budget

so keep your finger on the pulse.

Emotional chemistry between you

and someone new causes sparks of

passion. Enjoy.

Communications have more

of an emotional than an intellectual

undertone, and you’re not sure if you

like it. Mixing friends with money is

never a good idea, so when someone

puts you on the spot it may lead to

bad feelings. Find a way to say no

without ruining the friendship.

March 21-April 20

June 22-July 23

April 21-May 20

July 24-August 23

May 21-June 21

August 24-September 23

Your ARIES

CANCER

TAURUS

LEO

GEMINI

VIRGO

Horo

scope

WILLIAM MARTIN "BILLY" JOEL (BORN MAY 9, 1949)

is an American pianist, singer-songwriter, and composer.

Since releasing his first hit song, 'Piano Man', in 1973, Joel has

become the sixth-best-selling recording artist and the third-

best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to the

RIAA. His compilation album Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & 2 is the

third-best-selling album in the United States by discs shipped.

Joel had Top 40 hits in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, achieving

33 Top 40 hits in the United States, all of which he wrote

himself. He is also a six-time Grammy Award winner, a 23-time

Grammy nominee and one of the world's best-selling artists of

all time, having sold over 150 million records worldwide. He was

inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame (1992), the Rock

and Roll Hall of Fame (1999), and the Long Island Music Hall

of Fame (2006). In 2008, Billboard magazine released a list of

the Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists to celebrate the US singles

chart's 50th anniversary, with Billy Joel positioned at No. 23. He

stopped writing and recording popular music after 1993's River

of Dreams, but he continued to tour extensively until 2010.

43May 7 - June 6

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Money matters are never

far from your thought processes.

You seem to think there’s a windfall

coming your way as you can feel

it in your bones, but that’s not to

say you should spend it before

you get it. Fix breakdowns of

communications at home over the

weekend.

The moon in Cancer

brings an emotional sensitivity to your

dealings with partners and family

members. Maybe its time to speak

from the heart over issues that have

upset you in recent years, but you will

have to put your hand up to things

you‘ve instigated too you know.

Venus in Taurus brings

sensual, sexy laid back people into

your life, which is great if you’re

foot loose and fancy free, but could

be dangerous if you’re already

partnered. Don’t do anything to get

your fingers burned. Use the sun/

Mars energy over work issues.

Spring is in the air so you’ll

turn your attention to making your

home zone the most comfortable it

can be. Your home life is happier

these days and it shows. Good.

Be sceptical about a get rich quick

scheme a friend tells you about.

Avoid it like the plague if you’re wise.

Brush up on your people

skills and you’ll find you have all

the tools you need to make great

headway in your career and social

life. Be constructive over yourself

expression as there’s a fine line

between being proud of your

achievements and being a blowhard.

Confused about money

matters? At sixes and sevens over

a tax situation? It may be time to

consult with the professionals. Don’t

sweep money matters under the

carpet. The stars make you stubborn

during the weekend, but try to meet

others half way here.

September 24-October 23

December 23-January 20

October 24-November 22

January 21-February 19

November 23-December 22

February 20-March 20

starsLIBRA

CAPRICORN

SCORPIO

AQUARIUS

SAGITTARIUS

PISCES

Top notes

Middle notes

Base notes

X SPRAY

E-MAIL: marketing@albahja.com, Website: www.albahja.com

For men

FREE 20,500 copies (being audited)

Circulation Enquiries: 98675976/24565697Advertisement Enquiries: 97679290/24565697

www.blackandwhiteoman.com

AVAILABLEall over Oman on 7th & 21stof every month

First Free Fortnightly magazine

Stop doing that, this is the tenth time I am telling you…I will not tell you

again…This is my last warning…I am sick and tired of telling you the same

thing…Ok, I’ll make some mango milk shake for you just the way you like it…

Please don’t go to bed hungry…If you are angry don’t take out your anger on

food…Just a few clippings of sentences that the most important and lovable

person in the world speaks. I needn’t spell it out but am still gonna say it

because I like the way it rolls on my tongue…MUMMMMMY.

Only a mom can be shouting at you and still loving you at the same time.

She’ll be concerned about your food, your boyfriend/girlfriend, cooking for

you, setting deadlines for late nights, still get up to open the door when you

are late and then reprimand you the next day about stretching the deadline

and still you know you can patao(cajole)her to let you go out nightclubbing…

yet again. She’ll bore you to death about lectures about reforming your life but

always be the first to praise you and be ready to strike anyone down if they

dare speak up against you.

She is the biggest buffer between your dad and the strict discipline he

imposes and helps you to just break a few more rules, escape the scathing

admonishments and even wheedle a little extra money for buying something

you covet.

Words only provide a passing glimpse of what MUMMMMMY means to

me but a Biiig Bear Hug is the beginning of that relationship which can’t be

topped.

This Mother’s Day let’s go out there and envelope Mum in all our love, and

make her feel the Queen of our hearts and the world.

I’m sending mine to heaven where my mom is.

Till next time

Love and Hugs

Queen of the world

Vandana, award winning author (‘360 Degrees Back to Life')

By Vandana Shah

It's m

y lif

e

Vandana Shah, Author 360 Degrees Back To life, editor of Ex-Files. www.vandanashah.com.

Email me what you’d like to say on 360degreesbacktolife@gmail.com

Follow me on twitter Vandy4PM

47May 7 - June 6

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48May 7 - June 6

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Easy and simple

Tired of packing your basic tuna or chicken sandwich for lunch? Get creative and keep it simple... your sandwiches at home or at the office can be as sophisticated as any other sit-down meal. These sandwiches will reshape your existing ideas of what’s

possible. Get excited!

Cookin

g

48May 7 - June 6

2 0 1 3B&W

49May 7 - June 6

2 0 1 3B&W

Ingredients

2 tablespoon(s) coriander seeds

1 1/2 teaspoon(s) fennel seeds

1 teaspoon(s) whole black peppercorns

1 teaspoon(s) crushed red pepper

1 dried bay leaf, crumbled

1 tablespoon(s) sweet paprika

1/2 cup(s) extra-virgin olive oil

Extra-virgin olive oil, for the grill

4 clove(s) (large) garlic, minced and mashed to a paste

with a pinch of salt

28 ounce(s) (2 14-ounce blocks) firm tofu, drained, each

one cut crosswise into 4 slabs

Salt

8 brioche buns, split

1/2 cup(s) mayonnaise

1/4 cup(s) barbecue sauce

Lettuce, for serving

Pickles, sliced, for serving

Red onion, for serving

Tomatoes, for serving

Directions

In a skillet, combine the coriander and fennel seeds,

peppercorns, crushed red pepper, and bay leaf and cook

over moderate heat, shaking the pan, until fragrant, one

minute. Transfer the spices to a grinder and let cool. Add

the paprika and finely grind the spices, then transfer them

to a bowl and stir in the 1/2 cup of olive oil. Stir in the

garlic paste. Arrange the tofu in a baking dish. Spread all

but 1 tablespoon of the spice paste over the tofu. Cover

with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up

to 48 hours.

Light a grill and oil the grates. Season the tofu with salt

and grill over moderate heat, turning, until just heated

through, 10 minutes.

Grill the buns until toasted. In a bowl, mix the mayonnaise

and barbecue sauce with the remaining 1 tablespoon of

spice paste. Spread the mayonnaise sauce on the buns

and top with the tofu, lettuce, pickles, red onion, and

tomatoes. Close the sandwiches and serve.

Place 1/2 sliced apple and 2 slices

deli-style turkey meat on one slice

100 percent whole wheat cinnamon

raisin bread. (Sprinkle lemon juice and

cinnamon on other apple half and save for

a snack later.) Top with 1 slice reduced-

fat cheddar cheese. Place in toaster oven

with a plain slice of bread. When cheese

is melted, remove both halves from

toaster and sandwich together.

Cinnamon raisin grilled cheese sandwiches

Spiced-tofu sandwiches

50May 7 - June 6

2 0 1 3B&W

WOMENSTEREOTYPINGSTOPSheena always had an aggressive streak in her. And this usually

came to the fore when she got excited. Being a born leader, she

knew how to lead and she knew how to make people sit up and

listen when she talked, but her mother would always tell her to be

less aggressive in her approach and try “to be more like a woman”.

This used to disconcert her earlier, but over the period of time,

she used to take such comments in her stride. And it was not just

her mother alone; there were plenty of advisers who used to tell

her to “tone herself and speak and behave like a woman”. Sheena

could take it, but for lesser mortals, this type of behaviour was

“unacceptable in women”.

Why?

Shape n

sound

50May 7 - June 6

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51May 7 - June 6

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ways, but, in general there are more

women who hesitate to take the step

towards self promotion because

somehow they have been fed with

the belief that women should not

speak up all the time; they have to

behave more like women…what in

the world is that? What does behave

like women mean?

STOP FLESHING THE

CARICATURE

Does it mean that they should be

unassertive, apologetic people

pleasers? It is high time that women

stop adhering to that caricature. If

women have no problem in being

forthright and assertive with their

children and the partners at home,

why is it that they cannot adopt the

same strategy in the workplace too?

It has been proven beyond doubt

that women can handle any type of

responsibility and they are mostly

in control of themselves. But, it has

been found on more occasions

than one that they have to prove

themselves many times to move

ahead in the workplace, whereas

men do not have to wait that long to

climb up the career ladder, at least in

their office.

GIVE THEM A CHANCE

There are simple ways to get

noticed and rewarded at work, but

since most cultures see women

in a more passive role anything

out of the ordinary is considered

to be too “unwomanly”. This is the

stereotype that women need to make

a collective effort to shatter. And

companies should also consider

mentoring and women who have the

mettle to lead instead of pandering

to their traditional stereotypes of

men above women on the job front.

Things are changing and they will

change, but there are plenty of

polished, highly talented and strong

women out there who can fit into a

leader’s role with consummate ease,

yet are languishing because of a

want of an opening. It is time we give

these women a chance!

WHY ARE WOMEN “TOO

AGGRESSIVE”?

Why is it that most women are

targeted as being “too aggressive”,

“too dominating”, “too rude” etc

when the same action by a man

in the workplace would not even

fetch a raised eyebrow? Whatever

aggressive behaviour that men

display at the workplace is never

even considered wrong unless they

actually do wrong? Women only

have to be a bit assertive and they

are suddenly considered a threat;

not displaying the right womanly

behaviour and totally wrong. That

is when realisation sinks in: this is a

world where a man is complimented

for being aggressive, and it is an

insult when we say the same thing

to a woman? Does this women

need to change and women who

are beginning to assert themselves

need to duck under the cover of

false modesty? Not at all. Despite

whatever modernity that has gripped

us, there are certain stereotypes that

both men and women adhere to and

which are wholesomely accepted by

society. So, women who try to break

that myth are always considered to

be loud, aggressive and what not.

CAN’T TOOT THEIR OWN HORN

It is also a fact that women are

not always able to trumpet their

accomplishments; they are bad at

self promoting. Of course, there

are men who are not good at self

promoting either. It does work both

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Shape n

sound

Self help industry

thrives on women

Self-help books are a genre that is ever popular even today. But, truth be told that if women stop reading them, all these self help writers would be without a job and would be forced to write books

on how to cook better for your family.Ask any self help writer and he or she will tell

you that they would not be able to exist without women. This is not a derisive remark. Women are indeed the biggest supporters of self-help books. And the good thing is that women are

not closet readers of self help. They do it openly and they discuss it and they also thrive on them. If you say not all women are into self help, then that is right. But it is also right that many women are into self help. And as is the case, it is when their lives are in turmoil that they tend to lean on self help. Until then, even the most confident of

women who would never have relied on self help would slowly reach out.

by Sue Kasey

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Top notes

Middle notes

Base notes

Poem

E-MAIL: marketing@albahja.com, Website: www.albahja.com

WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH

Catherine Denver explains why she reached out for

self help. “I had only a passing interest in books on

strengthening marriages and relationships, but I never

thought that I had to work on salvaging my relationship

with my husband until the dreadful truth hit me that

my marriage was not actually working – Dave (her

husband) was seeing someone and it came as a shock

to me. Suddenly, 10 years of my marriage dissolved in

a matter of seconds. I tried my best to pull it together

and I did not just want to let go.”

But, it was just a matter of time that she did and

she remembers reaching out to a self help book

on marriage. “But, I found it too ridiculous to read it

after my marriage had collapsed! So, I just threw it!”

However, some weeks away, she began to consume

other self help books, especially on self esteem.

Somehow her life had fallen apart and she was then

turning out to things which she would have laughed at

earlier.

It was then that she realised that self help books were

no laughing matter. You can publicly ridicule them, but if

you are not reading them after everyone has slept, how

could you account for the huge sales? All of the popular

names are still selling and even the ones who are no

longer there are still selling.

MORE WOMEN INTO SELF HELP BOOKS

To say that majority of them were being picked up by

women would sound wrong, but that is the truth. It does

not mean that women who pick them are less confident

and under the veneer of confidence and self assurance

lie a woman who is just about to crumble would be

so far away from the truth. It is not about lack of self

confidence; it is the need to improve. Men are mostly

into books that are of a different genre altogether. They

do read self help, but, they are more into books that do

not delve on the emotional factor – that they leave it to

their women.

A DIFFERENT AGENDA

The latter have a different agenda. They want to not

only score on the competitive front, they also want to

understand their highly evolving selves. They want to

improve their relationship with everyone, be it their man,

their children or even on the social front. They want to

find out a way to succeed on all fronts and are not just

content to beef up on one front only, unlike men.

MENTAL MAKEUP

Go to any relationship seminars and you will understand

what I am saying. The majority would be women and

the men that are there would have obviously been

dragged there by their women. You can’t blame the

men because, it is part of their mental makeup and

it is also how they have been programmed over the

centuries. Perhaps, men still find it hard to admit that

they need help – of any sort – while women do not fool

themselves that way. Whatever the reasons, it is to the

benefit of the huge self help industry.

He sits there facing a camera and says from

today my movies will have the heroine’s

name before the hero’s name... “I believe not

just in equality, I believe women should be

always in front!”

Well, will that make any change in the daily

lives of any single woman?

Will it even make a difference to the

actresses’ involved? Will she be respected or

paid more?

Should all the womenfolk stand up and say:

wow, he saved our souls?

Someone else was stating that there is a

growing tolerance for women! And that there

are many who now consider their daughters

are at par with their sons and actually want

daughters?!

I was born a girl. Not unwanted. Not

“tolerated’’. But immensely blessed with a

mother who gave me an identity; a mother

like every other living being. A mother who

grew her children with equal tolerance,

choices, morals and attitudes... She never let

knew me know that I am born in a ‘gender’

that was low and underprivileged. She was

proud of herself.

Probably in today’s scenario, I may have

to reword to that I am one of the ‘fortunate

female’ of the species who grew up with

freedom of all sorts. I could eat what I

wanted, sleep when I wanted, and choose

a career, a dress, a thought, a smile, a

glimpse, a life I wanted!

All because I was fortunate enough to be

blessed with a mother, who grew me up with

every choice she gave to her two sons, made

me what I am today. Unassuming, silent, but

strong and resilient, that she saw us through

all the worse stretches of our lives.

It is ironic that the world celebrates Mothers’

Day while looking down and abusing the

female of the species which she represents

too. Mother is probably the only commonality

that binds all of us together and when she

is celebrated why can’t a daughter, sister,

By Priya Arunkumar

priya@blackandwhiteoman.com

Should we be

celebrating at all?

wife, friend, colleague be celebrated and

respected?

So why should I or any woman accept any

of the comments that go around against

women, not just by a bunch of ignorant male

chauvinists, but also by well educated broad

minded people, who openly believe in the

‘equality’ of sexes?

I am brought in to this world by a woman,

grew up as a strong individual by a woman

again.

But, when I look around I see only a few

fortunate, while the majority of the womenfolk

are tolerated, abused, exploited, deprived

even in their own homes! I am left with no

choice other than to accept with a heavy

heart the truth, the bitter truth, that I am

not an equal. ‘We’ are not equal. Yes, we

women are tolerated, sometimes accepted,

sometimes successful.

And the ugliest truth is that only a few mothers

succeed, while a lot of mothers fail!

Fail to bring up their sons and daughters with

equality, self respect and sensitivity; fail to

instill in them the responsibility of taking the

society forward with fairness and in goodness;

fail to grow them up as unbiased individuals;

fail to teach them the fact that they are not

superior or inferior to any other being; fail to

teach them to live with pride and dignity.

It is the same mothers we celebrate, who

crave for a son and kill their daughters in their

womb.

It is the same mothers we celebrate, who hold

their sons with pride and dignity, while looking

down on their daughters...

It is the same mothers we celebrate, who ask

for dowry for their sons’ wives...

It is the same mothers we celebrate, who

feed their sons better food and deprive their

daughters...

It is the same mothers we celebrate, who

failed to protect her own species!

Should we be celebrating at all?

Hooked

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