Woman

South Asian women join hands for peace and justice

South Asia has one fifth of the world’s population and women are becoming a force to be reckoned with in this part of the world.

Women are increasingly asserting themselves in South Asia’s male-dominated social structure, fighting for their rights and championing common social causes. The next step was joining together to raise their voice against injustices perpetrated against women.

Thus the pleasant and picturesque Central Park in the Indian capital of Delhi became a hive of activity as women from over 20 organisations in South Asia joined hands to celebrate the South Asian Women’s Day on November 30.

The orange bands on their foreheads marked their silent presence with colourful banners insisting that “War and Violence have no future; Just Peace is the future” and “We want peace in South Asia, not pieces of South Asia!”.

The South Asian Women’s Day was an occasion to spotlight women’s struggle for peace, justice, human rights and democracy in the region.

Following the declaration of 30th November as South Asian Women’s Day by SANGAT - a network of South Asian feminist activists - in October 2002, this day is celebrated annually as a part of the International Fortnight Campaign against gender-based violence that runs from November 25 to December 10 (World Human Rights Day).

The women of South Asia, on this occasion, expressed solidarity with the people of Pakistan, Myanmar and Bangladesh, demanding the restoration of democracy. They also expressed solidarity with defenders of human rights, writers, and cultural activists like Taslima Nasreen, Asma Jahangir and Salima Hashmi.

They signified anger at forces spreading violence and hatred in the north east of India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar and elsewhere.

In a powerful statement from the podium, the popular Bangladeshi band ‘Bangla’ led by Anusheh Adil, played a piece that was specifically dedicated to South Asian Women’s solidarity.

According to Anusheh, “It is time that the region’s women come together to speak out against violence against women and girls and for women’s empowerment.”

Kamla Bhasin of the SANGAT secretariat, pointed out that other events were also happening in the region. As activist Tripta Batra put it, “The silent unfolding of candle-lit events in 12 South Asian cities may not add up to much beyond being visible as determined dots of intent.”

“More than anything else, you see here the urge of ordinary people to live at the pace of peace - and then, how can we forget that peace flows through the presence of silence ?,” Batra adds.

South Asia is a region that is bound together by a shared cultural heritage, by common socio-economic, developmental, and environmental concerns, and histories of conflict.

The countries in this region are similarly affected by globalisation, militarisation, growing fundamentalism and vested political interests - giving way to unsustainable, unequal development and increasing violence against women.

Food delight:

Faaga Riha

Country: Maldives

Yield: 12 portions

Preparation time: 10 - 15 min

Ingredients :

500 g Bitter gourd (thinly sliced,
soaked in salted water)
50 g Semi-dried Tuna (cleaned,
cut into pieces)
100 g Onions (sliced thinly)
4 Garlic Cloves (sliced thinly)
6 Curry Leaves
2 pcs Rampe Leaf
50 g Coconut (grated)
10 g Chilli Powder
45 ml Coconut Oil
Salt to season

Method :

Fry the onions, garlic, curry leaves and rampe leaf until onions are golden brown. Add in the bitter gourd, tuna, coconut, chilli powder and seasoning. Braise stirring until the bitter gourd is crisp.

Hair Facts

SACHITRA KALUBOWILA

* Roughly 100,000 - 150,000 hair follicles found in one person’s head and each follicle can grow much hair over a lifetime.

* The average growth of hair is 0.35mm per day and for a month it is about 10 to 11 mm per month. Hair growth is cyclical with repeated periods of activity, rest and shed.

* The duration of the hair cycle is influenced by age, pathology and a variety of physical and physiological factors.

* Hair becomes drier and thin with the age and it is advisable to do an oil massage once a week.

* Restrict strong tea and coffee intake. Drink water (between 6-8 glasses a day) and unsweetened fruit juice.

* Always take a balanced diet, including fresh vegetables and fruits. They can promote healthy hair growth and you should not take any supplementary vitamins.

* Hair grows faster between 16 to 25 years and between age 40 to 50 tend to lose about 20 per cent of hair. For men it may be higher and especially noticeable on the top of the head. Do a regular massage using a hair growing tonic. It will help stimulate the blood vessels around the hair follicle and increase the absorption rate of nourishment to the hair.

* Hair can be categorised in to dry, oily or normal.

* There are many varieties of shampoo and conditioners in the market. But select the correct shampoo and conditioner according to type of your hair.

* After bathing allow your wet hair to dry naturally.

* If you do not find time to dry naturally use a dryer at the lowest speed and heat setting. Do not concentrate the heat on to one spot for a long time.

* If you wish to do hair colouring, perming or straightening (chemical treatment), first check your scalp and hair condition with a professional hairdresser and select recognised cosmetic products according to the hair type.

* If your hair is pre- treated, wait at least three to four weeks from the previous treatment.

* Always follow the sensitivity test before any chemical treatment.

* Regularly clean your hair brush, combs and towels.

The writer is Chief Chemist at Harumi Holdings (Pvt) Ltd.

Warm memories of a White Christmas

Caryl Nugara

Looking back into the past I gather memories of Christmas celebrated amidst the warmth and love of my family.

The prelude to the season began with activities like colour washing the house and varnishing the furniture. Going on shopping sprees was a pleasure we looked forward to.

The colonial shopping arcades in the Fort and the intricate combination of retail stores in Pettah were teeming with crowds all bubbling with the prospects of the coming season. Attractive window dressings displayed Santa in his sleigh against a winter background.

We walked into Cargills, Millers and Whiteaways to buy chiffon, taffeta and charmeuse for Christmas dresses, imported shoes, satin lingerie and many other things that our mother needed.

On December 23, a cypress tree and fresh flowers packed in moss in an elongated wicker basket was conveyed to us from a friend in Nuwara Eliya.

I was enchanted with the deep green, resilient foliage of the three from the misty heights of the hill country emanating a wonderful fragrance. Mother arranged the flowers in her polished brass vases.

Silver flecked lace curtains swished in the soft December breeze, brocaded cushions gleamed and the red congoleum with snowflake designs lent a peculiar patina while tinsel glittered among green and red decorations.

The children were permitted to help in preparing the cake and I recall those Chinese ingredients and preserves that came in small, grey stone-jars.

The aroma of the traditional Christmas lunch of ghee rice, turkey, salt meat, rashes of bacon and ham, salad and the dish of roast meat steeped in Worcester source was over-powering.

The adults had cherry-wine served in mother’s slender glasses. Visitors were entertained with Christmas cake, slices of yule-log, ‘Peak Freans’ cream crackers and cheese.

The interplay of customs like visiting neighbours and relatives was something I did not appreciate, but attending Service while the stars were still in the Christmas sky was to me an appealing time spent within the flower bedecked church, singing hymns and kneeling down to pray while the full spectrum of organ music enthralled me.

We received cards which depicted Father Christmas, holly wreaths, poinsettias, mistletoe, bells and baubles and scenes of far away places encircled in snow.

The carol party went from door to door with Santa carrying a red lantern on his crook. They song poignant melodies like ‘Silent Night’, ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’ and ‘Oh Bethlehem’.

The celebrations went on for about two weeks and to end it all, men in strange costumes paraded the roads by night.

Petrol lamps carried along threw gleams of white which highlighted the weirdly painted faces of male dancers gyrating wildly excited with the throbbing beat of drums.

So Christmas transcended ethnic and religious boundaries, was vibrant and appealed to all bringing homely pleasure, joy and the happiness of sharing.