Guyana Times Sunday Magazine

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Valentine’s Day 2016

What is love?

A search for meaning Page 2

2 Sunday Times Magazine

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FEBRUARY 14 , 2016

Times Feature

Valentine’s Day 2016

A search for meaning

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eronika Bozeman asks “What is Love” in her 2015 soulful ballad of the same name for the hit TV series “Empire”.

Years earlier, Eurodance group Haddaway queried “What is love” (1993) in their upbeat catchy hit song title. Even earlier, Howard Jones asked "What is Love" in his 80s pop tune. All three couldn’t have been farther apart in treatment of their rhythm– but the question was the same.

There have been, before and since, songsters who continue to ask the question.

It has become an age-old question that neither lovers nor scientists can provide answers that satisfy everyone. Some prefer to describe what it isn’t to hopefully arrive at what it is.

According to a 2012 Guardian UK article, whose headline described love as “…the greatest emotion of all”, “What is love” was the most searched phrase on Google for that year.

Speaking with some academics in the sciences and humanities, the article also revealed that love can never be one thing to everyone.

Love and the human condition

Humans of all ages are said to have the capacity to give and need love; the same emotion that arguably few know how to give or recognize clearly. Defining what love is tends to vary according to age.

Love remains an elusive emotion to explain, though many would swear they feel love deeply and strongly.

A physical attraction, the desire to form a close bond and remain committed for a long period to another person who shares our own values, are powerful forces, at any stage of our lives,that all combine science, spirituality and philosophy into forming ideas of what “love” is.

But love is not just romantic or platonic feelings for another. Among our modern day bards, the late

Whitney Huston says of love in her 1985 hit “Greatest love of all”: Learning to love yourself/ it is the greatest love of all…

Love and marriage

“The potency of the link between love and marriage is relatively new in the sweep of human history—and, in the view of some historians, a leading cause of the institution’s decline. For several millennia, economic security was the sine qua nonof marriage. The institution thrived as an efficient way to divide labour, allocate resources, propagate the spe-

were “in love”. “Of course!” she replied; his reply has gone down in history as surely one of the most infamous: “Whatever ‘in love’ means…”

The world hardly needs reminding of what happened to that marriage.

According to the Pew survey, when asked to evaluate the reasons they got married, some 31 per cent of married respondents said it was for financial stability, while among unmarried respondents, 30 per cent suggested they would marry for financial stability.

However, while many married persons in the survey say that love, making a lifelong commitment and companionship are very important reasons to get married, Pew notes that “when asked if they agree that there is “only one true love” for every person, fewer than three-in-ten (28 per cent) survey respondents say, I do.”

It suggests that although persons continue marrying for what they believe is love, there is some uncertainty even among those who say they married for love.

Going back to Bozeman’s ballad, she asks, “…What is love if you’re not really sure?”

And Howard Jones sings:

even sacrificially – towards attaining that well-being in whatever ways I can,” she suggested.

She was not alone in her concept of love. Suzanne, a newly wed, revealed that while she is just two weeks into marriage, for her love is not what the literally millions of singers croon about passionately or “the butterflies in your stomach” feeling; rather it is “caring for someone so much that you put them and their wellbeing above yourself. Love is giving… without expecting anything in return.”

A lawyer pointed out that while the question might seem simple, the reply isn’t, as it is “difficult to articulate the feeling”.

Interestingly, most persons eschewed the idea of what love is as described in romantic literature, Hollywood Romcom movies – and even Valentine’s Day itself; one called it “fluff”, another called it “sappy”, and another used the word idiotic.

One person who viewed it from a romantic point of view however, said, “The answer [to what love is] is never apparent until you've tasted its sweet dreams.”

Like the lawyer, the young romantic noted how difficult it is to express what love is

New bride Suzanne on her wedding day

cies and ensure that someone will take care of you when you get old. Only in recent centuries have love and mutual self-fulfilment come to occupy centre stage in the grand marital bargain. But as the trends of the past half century attest, it’s an open question whether a social institution built on love will prove as durable as one built on economic security.”(The Decline of Marriage and Rise of New Families, Pew Research Centre, 2010) In an interview after their royal engagement, Britain’s Prince Charles and his blushing, and at the time, soon-to be- bride Diana, were asked if they

What is love anyway/ Does anybody love anybody anyway…/Can anybody love anyone so much that they will never fear/ Never worry never be sad/ The answer is they cannot love this much; nobody can…

Guyanese love

With Valentine’s Day being celebrated worldwide today, Sunday Times Magazine asked several Guyanese this question, to find out what we think of this emotional phenomenon.

One academic referred to her idea of love as selfless: “Love is yearning for and delighting in the well-being of another, and working –

since it is “something that cannot be described with one word because it can be expressed in so many ways with so many words.”

Love and Valentine’s Day

While Valentine’s Day has been celebrated since early Christian-Roman times, it wasn’t until the Middle Ages that it became associated with romance.

By the 18th century it was customary for friends and lovers to celebrate the day.

Today, while many still associate the day with romance, many also use the occasion to express their love to family.

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FEBRUARY 14, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine

3

Times Feature

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t is tough to get most men to “open up” or confide in others – especially women. Some cultures dictate that men should never display emotions, such

as crying, as it is a sign of weakness.

Which is why Sunday Times Magazine commends those men who have contributed their deepest thoughts

to this special Valentine’s Day feature on the meaning of love and secrets to a happy marriage.

We hope that these comments will

serve as encouragement to young Guyanese men that it is “okay” to express their feelings, and to show the respect and love that women deserve.

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uyanese singer Renne Chester revealed: “I’ve been married for two years now to Amanda Chester and I’ve found that the following recipe works really well for a healthy and happy marriage. Let’s examine the word ‘love’ first; for me it is to understand that your partner is not perfect and you are not either. Too many people put too much pressure on themselves looking for the perfect guy or girl when the reality is we are all flawed. But there is hope in accepting the good and the bad of that person and working jointly with a relationship goal to make the both of you the right match for each other; and at the end, you’ll find a unique type of love with your print.”

He added: “I believe that one needs to be happy with self first. We do things that jointly make us happy but couples should find activities that individually make them happy. I’m passionate about singing and my wife is passionate about the art of playing steel pan. For others their passion or happiness may be different but I’ve found that when two people are innately happy then the other does not have to bear the burden of constantly doing back flips to make their partner happy; happiness is an inside job. Secondly, my wife is my best friend this really works well for us. We sit and talk and laugh about nearly everything. Thirdly, you need to communicate with each other. Be extremely open about your feelings on things. Hiding how you feel is like jumping out of a plane without a parachute, eventually the reality of your decision to not openly communicate like the gravity will catch up with you.”

Renne Chester and family

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hotographer Fidal Bassier, who has been married for 13 years, mentioned a quote he and his wife, Hala, live by: “This is a quote other families can also live by: ‘Where there is love, nothing is too much trouble, and there is always time’.”

He added: “I would like to say to my wife that I love her lots and my wish is to see many more Valentine’s together.”

Fidal Bassier and family

Dmitri Allicock and his wife, Evadney

Gokarn and Emily Ramdhani

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adminton Coach and president of the Guyana Badminton Association Gokarn Ramdhani noted: “Love is trust, respect and affection for each other. It is not only a feeling, it is also an action. My secret of a happy marriage is, most importantly, supporting each other and learning to compromise. It is the push and pull of any relationship where trust, understanding and respect must always be there in whatever you do or say.”

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verseas-based Guyanese researcher, and a regular contributor to this publication, Dmitri Allicock stated: “Love in a marriage is more than just a feeling, but a verb. The everyday wear and tear of life can fluctuate the feelings of happiness, but a commitment to instill a positive approach in your relationship and to treat each other kindly will reduce stress and overcome challenges. Remember to let go of past heartbreaks, not to dwell on the negatives and to forgive. Happiness lies within and in the manner in which we appreciate one another.”

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inger and songwriter Dave Martins, popular for songs like “Cricket in the Jungle” and “Not a blade of grass”, commented: “By ‘love’, in this Valentine’s Day atmosphere, I assume you mean marital love, and different people will define that in various ways. Infatuation aside, I see it as the exchange of trust, devotion and affection that takes place between two people, leaving them more fulfilled and joyous together than they would be separately. When two people are bringing that sharing and devotion to each other, forming the most important relationship in the life of each, they’re in a state of love.”

He added: “Priorities differ in people, so the actions that may produce happiness in one couple, may not rate very highly at all with another pair. However, among the essentials I would put the following: open communication at all times, particularly at times of trauma or discord; and willingness on both sides to see the foibles of the partner not as intentional aggravations, but simply part of who he/she is. However, in parallel, there must be efforts, on both sides, to ameliorate these behaviours, rather than blindly saying, ‘That’s who I am; take it or leave it’. I’ve seen several marriages (including one of my own) break apart on that stance.”

Dave went on to say: “It’s not on my radar, but cruising by TBN today, I was stopped by a very casual preacher giving a great marriage talk on the subject “The Power of Positive Communication”. Excellent piece all the way through. It was mainly about the impact on people in a marriage understanding the difference between men and women. It’s something I recommend readers to watch. The website is marriagetoday.com. Click on that site and see for yourself. A lot of it resonated with me big time.”

Dave and Annette Martins

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Michael Griffith's portrait of him and his wife, Karen

ward-winning portrait artist Michael Griffith offered his perspective on love and marriage: “Love is what’s left after you have seen the good as well as the bad in that person and still think they are the best thing that ever happened to you.

The secret of marriage in my opinion is looking pass the fights and realizing that it’s just not worth living without that person.”

He then quipped: “I want my wife to know this is forever.

So it would be best she takes care of your long-term brain cells.”

Mayor Kwasi Fraser and wife, Angela

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S-based Guyanese Kwasi Fraser, Mayor of the town of Purcellville, U.S., said: “My definition of love is lifting others up above me and caring for them with the only reward for me is witnessing their joy and happiness, which then energizes me to even love more. Courageous communication is what sustains happiness in our marriage.

There are always those moments of ‘silent treatment’ and conversations we rather not have, but we have learned to recognize the need to make them be just for a moment and quickly get back to boldly communicating with each other. Without courageous communication there is no honesty, no understanding, no passion, no relationship, and no happiness.”

A Michael Lam and family

ward-winning photographer Michael Lam Told Sunday Times Magazine, “Love is a decision to put the happiness of another person over your own. True love never dies; when you decide to love another, then no matter what happens that love remains what it began as. A happy marriage is one that knows true love.”

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Sunday Times Magazine

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FEBRUARY 14 , 2016

Times Feature

Working to make better communities

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orn out of a desire to “give back”, Footprints of Today Foundation aims to strengthen communities and empower people to create a better society.

The organisation was founded by Kiara Trotman and Hayma Singh in January 2016.

“Last year, we decided that we wish to positively give back to our now fractured and enduring society.

However, it wasn’t until early January 2016, when we

Singh, and Vickita Nandan, to join us, that we decided to form what now intends to be an impactful non-profit organization,” Hayma said in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

According to Hayma, Footprints of Today Foundation is a holistic, non-profit, volunteer organization that was established to stimulate life-long learning, advance knowledge and strengthening communities by inspiring and empowering people affected by social

“making an impact today for a better tomorrow”.

The Foundation’s objectives are to provide services to the less fortunate. Such services shall include food, clothing and other smaller immediate services; to encourage the participation of all youths in the development of cultural integration; to implement programs that will enhance educational skills and develop ethical values; to recognize the value of youths of all sex, races and economic backgrounds

The Foundation's logo

reached out to passionate young people like ourselves, namely Charisma Salisbury, Abigail Mohabir, Stacey Gordon, Saajid Husani, Travis Trotman, Juke Ross, Sonia Nauth, Lawrence Alleyne, Tracy Shamsudeen, Khawn Rodney, Ravin

traumas.

Relatively new, the Foundation’s team intends to create content that educates, informs and inspires, while reinforcing youth development. Consequently, its motto is: “Leave only footprints”, which means

and to provide opportunities for youths to take up positions of leadership in society; to participate in local and international humanitarian activities, facilitated by a network of other organizations with the same interest and identification of

needs and distribution of resources; and to serve as a national and international voice whenever necessary to achieve conflict resolution through dialogue and reconciliation and compassion, rather than by violence.

“Considering the fact that we are a relatively new organization, our only on-going initiative is the ‘Put Your Clothes To Use Initiative’, a drive to provide clothing to the needy. Our plea to the public is to kindly donate their gently-used clothing to the foundation,” Hayma expressed.

A few of the Foundation’s projects are the Rainbow Pack Initiative, which is dedicated to providing basic school supplies to primary school students regardless of their economic circumstances; the WARMTH Initiative, which is dedicated to donating blankets to the homeless; Zero Hunger Initiative, which is dedicated to feeding 100 plus homeless persons every month, starting from March; the Trees for Cities Initiative, which is dedicated to cleaning parts of the three counties and the planting of trees and other flowering plants; Home Sweet Home Initiative, which is dedicated to the repainting or replacement of deteriorated woods of houses belonging to the underprivileged, or other public institutions; Moral Ed Initiative, which is dedicated to creating a curriculum of shared culture and respectful communication with youths as the target audience; and Sew A Future Initiative, which is dedicated to donating basic sewing tools to women of the rural areas. Other projects include the Read to a Child initiative, Remove the Graffiti Initiative, toy drives, and many others.

Kiara Trotman (left) and Hayma Singh

“Our inspiration stemmed from something as simple as wanting to help others. As friends, we would also constantly talk about how we need not wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. More so, growing up as fortunate children in our own ways, we have been in diverse settings with children who couldn’t afford as much as we did, and then there were those who could’ve afforded much more. Our empathetic natures were sculpted as another motivating factor for this Foundation,” Hayma noted.

At the moment, the Foundation is funded by its members who pool their resources to ensure the successful execution of initiatives.

“For us at Footprints of Today Foundation, the sense of appreciation that comes from giving is the most impactful of all, because with it comes not only joy for ourselves, but for those who we help. It has also helped us become socially involved and, from that, we have gained new insights into the lives of others. This has helped us as individuals to value traits such as humility and compassion,” Hayma declared.

The team at Footprints of Today Foundation plans on continuing their efforts of giving back to society and strives “to make positive inputs in the lives of many”.

For more information on the Foundation, visit Footprints of Today Foundation on Facebook.

from page 3

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ntrepreneur and co-founder of Java Coffee Bar, Miguel Gurchuran conveyed his concept of love and marriage: “I cannot ‘define’ love, but I can only tell you what I assume love is: it is the feeling of joy I get every time I wake up in the morning and see my soul mate, Evie, next to me. Finding someone like

her, so different, someone I can tell anything to and someone I can’t imagine spending time apart from – if that isn’t love, well I don’t know what is. Having someone that sees your flaws, points them out, fights with you, and still tell you they love you, now that’s love.”

He added: “The secret to a happy marriage is to realize that the day you get married everything changes from what ‘I’ want to what ‘we’ need and want. I have been married for over eight years and we spend 90 percent of the time in each other’s company.

We can stay silent for hours and still have a conversation. Fellas, let her win, don’t fight it; she has a lot more to give in this relationship that we do.”

“My wife is the last person I think about when going to bed and the third person I think about when waking up. My two daughters are the first two. Seriously though, I can never ever imagine a world without my wife in my life. I love her very much.”

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FEBRUARY 14, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 5

Times Women

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Holly Veal

woman of distinction, USbased Guyanese Holly Veal, a prosecutor, public defender and private defence attorney, recently announced her candidacy for Henry County District Attorney. (Henry County is a U.S. state of Georgia.)

Holly originally hails from Wismar, Linden. She emigrated from Guyana on Dec. 16, 1995 to St Albans, NY. More than eleven years ago, she began her legal career as an assistant public defender. In that capacity she worked tirelessly to ensure that the rights of her clients were protected. Holly then transitioned to prosecution.

She worked as an assistant district attorney and was later promoted to senior assistant district attorney. Holly also served as lead assistant solicitor general. There she sought justice for victims of violent crimes, and prosecuted misdemeanour offenses in Henry County.

Holly has dedicated her life to the practice of criminal law.

Consequently, in 2012, she founded The Veal Law Firm, P.C., McDonough, GA. It is a law

firm specializing in criminal defence.

The defence attorney holds a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science she obtained from Georgia State University in 2010; a Juris Doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh, School of Law in 2004, and a Masters of Business Administration in 2010.

In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine Holly said she was motivated to run for the post of Henry County District Attorney by a “deep desire to serve”.

“I believe that my experience as a defence attorney and as a prosecutor gives me a unique perspective and insight that would be an asset to the District Attorney’s office,” she noted.

Holly’s parents, Hugh and Minerva Wilkinson (an engineer and a nurse respectively), laid a solid foundation for Holly. She said that being Guyanese and being an immigrant, having to start life anew in a new country, her family had to work “very hard” to establish themselves.

Veal pointed out that the principle of working hard and staying committed to a goal is some- Holly (right) supports organisations that empower women in her State thing herself and family lived by all felonies that occur in Henry she can with her family, husband in Guyana, and they continue to County, which include violent Lindsey Veal Jr. and their two abide by those values. crimes, sexual offenses, drug of- daughters. Last year was her “A quote from Henry fenses and major theft offenses. most recent visit to her homeWadsworth that my mother has “As district attorney, I would land. been reciting to me since I was work hard to make sure that our “I would tell youths to take a child that I always remember county remains a safe and desir- time to reflect on where they is, ‘The heights by great men able place to live by aggressively are at that moment in time. reached and kept were not at- prosecuting violent crime,” said What are your thoughts? What tained by sudden flight, but Veal. “I would send a message to are your ideas? Who are your they, while their companions ‘would-be criminals’ that Henry friends?” she advised. “Then slept, were toiling upward in the County is not going to tolerate I want them to reflect on how night’,” Holly revealed. much different they are from the that type of behaviour.”

If elected District Attorney, Staying true to her roots, person they were two or three Holly is eager to fulfil her re- Holly visits Guyana whenever years before. Most will find that sponsibilities in prosecuting

they are not the same person and they don’t think the same.

As you grow each year you will be a new person, you will have new ideals, new goals and new friends. While you are growing, in all things you do, stay goaloriented and strive for greatness in the future. Hard work and education pays off! In essence, ensure that while you are changing you are setting yourself up for a dynamic, fruitful future.”

Visit Holly Veal for District Attorney on Facebook.

6 Sunday Times Magazine

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FEBRUARY 14 , 2016

Times Book World

‘Give the Ball to the Poet’

Racism in Caribbean Literature?

By Sasenarine Persaud Part II

T

he facts of this anthology again: Three (3) poems by three (3) Indian poets out of 90. Not a single one (do we ever need redundancy!) of these three Indian poets have more than a single selection.

By contrast, a staggering sixteen (16) of the other poets have more than one selection; of these sixteen, there are four (4), who are represented with five (5) selections each (super poets, these are not – and, as if to underscore this, neither Derek Walcott, nor Martin Carter – our greatest poets - are in this group); one poet has four poems; eight poets have three) poems and two poets have two poems each.

Fifty-four (54) poems, more than half in the volume, by sixteen (16) poets, with only three (3) Indian poets included, and several other fine nonIndian poets excluded, is inexcusable.

The exclusion of Cyril Dabydeen, who – like myself – has published more than eight poetry collections primarily with the two most important and established publishers of West Indian poetry in the World (TSAR/Mawenzi in Toronto and Peepal Tree in Leeds – “Home of the best in Caribbean and Black British Writing”!) is incomprehensible.

Cyril Dabydeen has received awards – like me – for his poetry. He has also received the Guyana Prize for Literature; granted, that this prize - like most literary prizes - is a corrupt, self-serving and incestuous one, with judges who become entrants/ winners, then judges again, then entrants/winners again, then judges again should be abolished and reorganized, as should its Caribbean Award – why should Guyana alone bear the entire Caribbean on its destitute shoulders – and the Committee dissolved and reconstituted in a diversity that reflects Guyana (a la the current Academy Awards diver-

sity).

After almost 30 years, in a country where people of Indian ancestry form the largest ethnic group, the Guyana Prize Committee has yet to have an Indian secretary, or Chair. But more on this subsequently.

Of West Indian poets writing today, there can be no question that Cyril and I are among the major and preeminent poets from the region and I didn’t say among Indian poets.

Invoking Richards again, who has noted that there wasn’t a bowler that he could not face – a batsman with supreme confidence in himself! This does not mean that Richards did not play his share of injudicious strokes and did not have his share of bad scores and, yes, ducks in international cricket and Test matches.

I have noted elsewhere; there is no poet writing in the English language who is better than I am. I didn’t say I am better than anyone else. This does not mean that there has not been injudicious and even, like Richards, ducks along the way - the same as with any great and prolific artist. I suspect it is the same with Cyril’s work.

Let us look at the facts of this anthology from another angle. There are 42 poems in this anthology by Jamaican poets – almost half the anthology – perpetuating yet another fallacy of the region and its culture.

Many outside the Caribbean tend to equate Jamaica, and more specifically Afro-Jamaica and Afro-Jamaican culture as the Caribbean. That AfroJamaicans have been among the most aggressive of West Indians, and, in promoting themselves have, no doubt, contributed; this is also apparent in this anthology. The West Indian editor of this anthology is based at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica.

Perhaps, I should consider myself lucky to be included in “Give the Ball to the Poet” and just be quiet!

To be fair, the Chair of the project, the Caribbean P o e t r y Project (CPP) sought a last minute accommodation. It is easy to forget that only by chance in January 2013 did an acquaintance who heard of the Caribbean

Man O Man! When without money, eats vegetables at home; When has money, eats the same vegetables in a fine restaurant.

When without money, rides bicycle; When has money, rides the same ‘exercise machine’.

When without money, walks to earn food When has money, walks to burn fat; Man O Man! Never fails to deceive thyself!

Poetry Project (CPP) send me a note asking why I was not a part of this project and why no Indian poet from the Caribbean was involved in this project.

One of the odd things regarding the advisors of the CPP was that three of the seven advisors (all West Indian writers) know of me, have met me, and are aware of my work. I am sure they also know Cyril and/or his work. Was it a coincidence that these three writers/advisors are Jamaican?

Another advisor was a poet of African ancestry born in Guyana. There could be, can be, no excuse for the almost total absence of Indo-Caribbean participation in this project.

In May of 2013, a note, with a link to a Stabroek News article that the project was in Guyana and Guyana was to benefit from this project found its way into my inbox. The 10 facilitators of the project in Guyana included the following: “Dr Jennifer Obidah, Director School of Education, UWI Cave Hill; Professor Morag Styles, Chair of Caribbean Poetry Project, Cambridge University; Dr Georgina Howell, Cambridge University; Professor Mark McWatt, Poet/Facilitator; John Agard, Poet; Grace Nichols, Poet; Esther Phillips, Poet/Facilitator; Sam Soyer, Facilitator; Dr Sandra Robinson, Coordinator, Caribbean Poetry project, UWI Cave Hill and Gina Burnham, Project Research Assistant.”

There is no Indian name among these ten persons. But then, Indians have been known to anglicize their names, or have had their names anglicized during colonialism. The three Guyanese poets/ facilitators on the team being Agard, Nichols, and McWatt.

Perhaps, a coincidence that this last was the chief judge in the Guyana Prize concluded two months ago in which my poetry collection, and Cyril’s, were shortlisted. These three poets (none Indian) read from their work during this trip to Guyana.

What is wrong with this picture? People of Indian ancestry still constitute the largest ethnic group in Guyana (and Trinidad). We don’t forget and yet we do forget to “let trifles got to trifleland”* All of this is almost as three decades ago.

We retreat to our quiet corners. Who amplifies thoughts of the unvoiced? It is said that no one should take anything for granted. No one should feel entitled – except, perhaps, the entitled who say: no one should feel entitled! You give the ball to the poet; he opts for the bat.

That this anthology originated out of the Caribbean Poetry Project at the University of Cambridge in conjunction with the University of the West Indies with the aim of fostering the teaching of Caribbean poetry in the UK and the West Indies is laudable. But teaching and perpetuating the same old biases of what is the West Indies, and who is the West Indies, most certainly, isn’t.

When without money, wishes to get married, When has money, wishes to get divorced.

When without money, wife becomes secretary; When has money, secretary becomes wife.

When without money, acts like a rich man; When has money, acts like a poor man, Man O Man! Never can tell the simple truth!

Says share market is bad, but keeps speculating; Says money is evil, but keeps accumulating.

Says high positions are lonely but keeps wanting them.

Says gambling and drinking is bad, but keeps indulging; Man O Man! Never means what he says and never says what he means...

Anonymous

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FEBRUARY 14 , 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 7

Times Heritage

In remembrance of Muharram

T

he now dormant tadjah festival of Guyana had its origins in the Islamic religion of the Indian Shia Muslims who arrived as indentured workers in British Guiana almost two centuries ago which later came to include non-Muslims.

Ironically, it was this national inclusion,to the disapproval of colonial authorities, whichwould lead to the festival becoming extinct on the local religious calendar today.

The history of the tadjah

The Guyanese tadjah was a procession of mourners marking the anniversary of the assassination of Hussain, who was the grandson of the Prophet Muhammed.

The first month of the Islamic New Year, Muharram, is one of the four sacred months in Islam. The tenth day of Muharram is the day of Ashura, which is considered to be a very important day in the Islamic calendar.

The day is internationally observed to commemorate the assassination of Hazrat Imam Hussain Ali and his supporters at the battle of Karbala.

When Hussain refused to swear allegiance to Yazid, the second Umayyad Caliph, he and his supporters were brutally massacred while traveling from Madina to Kufa.

While some Muslims regard Muharram as the month of mourning, for others it is commemorating the Battle of Karbala.

Muharram, meaning forbidden, is so called because it is considered unlawful to

fight during this month.

The Times of India notes that the word 'Muharram' is derived from the word 'haram', meaning sinful.

In India as well as other Muslim territories, tazia (tadjah) processions often mark the occasion of Muharram.

Replicas

Hussein, the two sons of Ali and the prophet's daughter, Fatthima, who were persecuted and murdered by [the] Caliph.”

Observed in what was then British Guiana, the tadjah would depict “a miniature mosque, made of light and pliable materials: the frameworks of slight bamboo were 'intricately connected wickerwork style and neatly covered with folded, multi-

According to “Islam, Globalization and Postmodernity” (edited by Akbar S. Ahmed, Hastings Donnan), Muharram rituals were referred to as “Hosay” or “Hosse” (a derivative of “Husain”) in Trinidad to refer to Husain’s tomb replica as well as the event.

Older Trinidadian Shia Muslims used the Arabic word taziyah, meaning “mourning”; “condolence” to describe the mausoleum or tomb replica.

Guyanese (and some Trinidadian) indentured immigrants used the “patois” term tadjah (variously: tajah, tadjieh, tazia, tazzia) to describe the commemorations.

In the book “Islamic Art in the 19th Century: Tradition, Innovation, And Eclecticism”, edited by Doris BehrensAbouseif and Stephen Vernoit, tazia means a model of the tomb of Imam Hussein.

The tazia resulted from the difficulties worshippers had in making the trip to Imam Hussein’s shrine, which led to replicas of the tomb being constructed by those too far away to access the site.

Local historian Lloyd Kandasammy writes that the festival was staged “to commemorate the martyrdom of Hassan and

Tadjahs in British Guiana

coloured tinsel paper ornamented with gold and silver trimmings,' The height of the tazzia varied from twenty to fifty feet,” he says. “Within the Tazzia were two small coffins representing the remains of Hussein and Hassan.”

The local processions

Broad St looking west circa 1900s

Section of New Amsterdam as seen from the river 1908

was dwindling, the festivals might remain a local institution owing to the Creoles.”

On April 19, 1873, the first all-Creole Tadjah festival at Plantation Sparta was reported in great detail by the Royal Gazette.

In that same year three other festivals were staged at Sisters Village, Daniels Town and Plantation Leonora.

The Royal Gazette reported that the

In pre-independent Guyana, the tadjah was taken in a procession along the road while its participants loudly chanted the names of the two martyrs.

The festival also included dance and displays, including re-enactments of the battle and the fall of the brothers, as well as performances from costumed dancers.

Peter Halder, in his article on guyanathenandnow website, states that in British Guiana the festival was eventually assumed by Hindus, to the disapproval of the Muslims.

Reflecting on the occasion, Kandasammy writes, “The warlike demonstrations, which followed the throwing of the Tazzia into the water, soon led to violent attacks against non-Indian groups.

In 1867, two revellers were killed and several others were seriously injured on the East Bank of Demerara when rival processions clashed.

In the 1890s Durguh Pujah, a Hindu celebration, and Muharram came to be celebrated at the same time. Violence erupted as each procession crossed paths.

There was a discernible decline in the tadjah festivals during the 1880s. Between 1880 and 1890 only Plantation Non Pariel in 1882 staged a tazzia festival.

In 1880 a report in the Argosy newspaper stated “although Indian participation

celebration at Sisters Village resembled a "masquerade band as the revellers marched with martial thread and about one hundred women brought up the rear contorting themselves to the eternal cake walk."

Africans were not the only participants, but Chinese and Portuguese were also integrally involved as they were contracted from time to time to construct the ornately designed tadjahs for the festivals.

In later years the festival continued to dwindle and became heavily commercialised, with little regard for its religious significance. Prizes were awarded by managers of estates for the most colourful and decorative tadjahs in a bid to resuscitate the declining festival.

Eventually, the promotion of the annual celebration was encouraged by the owners of rum shops, which led many to believe that the festivities had degenerated into mere drunken revelry and could no longer be regarded as a religious affair.

On January 19, 1871 the colonial government implemented a series of strict regulations.

The continued threat to the public as a result of the “high” incidence of violence was cited as the main cause for the introduction of this legislation to ensure that “the business of the Tazzia was conducted in an orderly way.”

The regulations also prohibited Tadjah processions from entering 'the precincts of the city of Georgetown and New Amsterdam' Once elaborately celebrated on every estate in British Guiana, the tadjah festival dwindled. The last procession was held in 1917.”

8 Sunday Times Magazine

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FEBRUARY 14 , 2016

Times Travel & Tourism

King William IV Falls (Photo from dheapsfishingadventures.blogspot.com)

Scenic landscape in the vicinity of the Falls (Photo

by CraftmaticAdjustableBed on flickr)

K

ing William IV Falls is located along the Upper Essequibo River, near the Amerindian village, Apoteri.

German-born explorer Sir Robert Schomburgk, who carried out geographical, ethnological and botanical studies in South America and the West Indies for Great Britain, named the falls King William IV Falls in honour of the-then British monarch and first patron of the Royal Geographical Society.

Dangerous rapids for boats (Photo by CraftmaticAdjustableBed on flickr)

Describing the King William IV Falls, “The Guiana Travels of Robert Schomburgk, 1835-1844” stated: “…

The water descends in two falls, the upper is larger, and may amount to from 12 to 14 feet in height; the water precipitating itself over a ridge of jagged rocks, pursues its way foaming and tossing to the second fall…so the falls from the upper to the lower cataract amount at least to 20 feet...”

A tourist, who recently visited the area (Apoteri village to King William

IV Falls), said: “This stretch of water is amazing with no logging, gold mining and no commercial fishing. Not a piece of trash in sight. After traveling in the South American rainforests, this is one of the most pristine areas. Water is teeming with fish: even one of your biggest freshwater fish, the Arapaima, along with giant catfish. Cock of the Rock birds, along with jaguar sighting, makes this a special place.”(Cover photo: Lower end of the Falls, Photo from barbelblogger.blogspot.com)

The Falls provide an adventure for fishing enthusiasts.

The Jau catfish is one of the many fish species caught at the Falls (Photo by CraftmaticAdjustableBed on flickr)

Water cascades through rocks into the Essequibo river (Photo from barbelblogger.blogspot.com)

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FEBRUARY 14 , 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 9

Times Healthy Living

D

rought is a natural phenomenon in which rainfall is lower than average for an extended period of time, resulting in inadequate water supply. Drought can lead to public health problems.

Drought can affect areas or communities differently depending on several additional variables. These variables include the structure and capacity of existing water systems; local governance of water use; economic development; the at-risk populations living within the affected area, andother societal factors, such as the presence of local social networks.

Drought and your health

Fire and dry soil and vegetation increase the number of particulates that are suspended in the air, such as pollen, smoke, and fluorocarbons. These substances can irritate the bronchial passages and lungs, making chronic respiratory illnesses like asthma worse.

This can also increase the risk for acute respiratory infections like bronchitis and bacterial pneumonia.

Other drought-related factors affect air quality, including the presence of airborne toxins originating from freshwater blooms of cyanobacteria. These toxins can become airborne and have been associated with lung irritation, which can lead to adverse health effects in certain populations.

The possible public health implications of drought also includecompromised quantity and quality of drinking water;increased recreational risks;effects on air quality;diminished living conditions related to energy, air quality, and sanitation and hygiene;compromised food and nutrition; andincreased incidence of illness and disease.

Reduced stream and river flows can increase the concentration of pollutants in water and cause stagnation. Higher water temperatures in lakes and reservoirs

The drought has been attributed to the El Ni単o weather phenomenon

lead to reduced oxygen levels. These levels can affect fish and other aquatic life and water quality.

Runoff from drought-related wildfires can carry extra sediment, ash, charcoal, and woody debris to surface waters, killing fish and other aquatic life by decreasing oxygen levels in the water.

Those who depend on groundwater as a primary source of water may find that over time, reduced precipitation and increased evaporation of surface water mean that groundwater supplies are not replenished at a typical rate.

Drought can limit the growing season and create conditions that encourage insect and disease infestation in certain crops. Low crop yields can result in rising food prices and shortages, potentially leading to malnutrition.

Drought can also affect the health of livestock raised for food. During drought, livestock can become malnourished, diseased, and die.

People who engage in water-related recreational activities during drought may be at increased risk for waterborne disease caused by bacteria, protozoa, and other contaminants such as chemicals and heavy metals.

Exposure can occur

through accidentally or intentionally swallowing water, direct contact of contaminants with mucous membranes, or breathing in contaminants.

In untreated surface waters, some pathogens, such as a type of amoeba (Naegleria fowleri), are more common during drought because low water levels may create warmer water temperatures that encourage their growth.

Increases in infectious disease can be a direct consequence of drought.

Viruses, protozoa, and bacteria can pollute both groundwater and surface water when rainfall decreases. People who get their drinking water from private wells may be at higher risk for drought-related infectious disease. Other groups also at increased risk include those who have underlying chronic conditions.

Acute respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses are more easily spread from person to person when hand washing is compromised by a perceived or real lack of available water. During water shortages, the risk for infectious disease increases when hygiene is not maintained.

E. coli and Salmonella are examples of bacteria that during drought can

Untreated surface water can be a health threat in drought conditions

more readily contaminate food and cause infectious disease. Food can serve as a vehicle for disease transmission during a drought because water shortages can cause farmers to use recycled water to irrigate their fields and process the food they grow.

When used to grow crops, improperly treated water can cause a host of infectious diseases (such as those caused by toxin-producing E. coli and Salmonella), which can be life-threatening for people in high-risk groups.

In addition, the likelihood of surface runoff, which can occur when rain fails to penetrate the dry and compacted soil that often accompanies drought, can cause the inadvertent contamination of crops.

Persons exposed to contaminated recreational waters are more likely to become infected with patho-

diseases. For instance, during dry periods, wild animals are more likely to seek water in areas where humans live.

These behaviours increase the likelihood of human contact with wildlife, the insects they host, and the diseases they carry.

Drought reduces the size of water bodies and causes them to become stagnant.

This provides additional breeding grounds for certain types of mosquitoes (for example, Culex pipiens).

Making smart choices during drought or drought-like conditions

Inadequate water supply can cause people to store water. This can lead to storage of stagnant water that can become manmade mosquito breeding areas if not properly managed.

Water used for food preparation or hygiene for in-

hygiene reduces or controls many diseases. Drought conditions create the need to conserve water by reducing water consumption, but these conservation efforts should not get in the way of proper sanitation and hygiene.

Personal hygiene, cleaning, hand washing, and washing of fruits and vegetables can be done in a way that conserves water and also reduces health risks.

Installing low-flow faucet aerators in businesses and homes is one example of how to reduce water consumption while maintaining hand washing and other healthy hygienic behaviours.

The health implications of drought are numerous and far reaching. Some drought-related health effects are experienced in the short-term and can be directly observed and measured.

Fire safety is important during dry-weather conditions

gens that thrive in the shallow warm waters that exist during drought conditions.

In periods of limited rainfall, both human and animal behaviour can change in ways that increase the likelihood of other vector-borne

stance, must be stored in a covered container to avoid contamination. It is also important to be watchful for leaks, and avoid wastage.

Having water available for cleaning, sanitation, and

However, the slow rise or chronic nature of drought can result in longer term, indirect health implications that are not always easy to anticipate or monitor.

(Source: cdc.gov)

10 Sunday Times Magazine

FEBRUARY 14 , 2016

Times Fashion

D

esigner Marcie De Santos has a fashionable, bespoke collection of statement pieces, perfect for any body type.

These stylish one-of-a-kind dresses can be worn for formal, casual and elegant events, depending on how you accessorize. “This collection, which also includes hand-painted pieces, was designed to help women feel empowered. Show off

and embrace those 'beautiful curves' ladies, with class, elegance and sophistication in these fabulous pieces,� the designer declared in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

Call 685-4545 for more information. Also, check out MARSAE by: Marcie De Santos on Facebook.

Support our local designers!

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Sunday Times Magazine 11 FEBRUARY 14 , 2016

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Star Times Hollywood

B

eyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter, born September 4, 1981, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she performed in various singing and dancing competitions as a child, and rose to fame in the late 1990s as lead singer of R&B girl-group Destiny's Child.

The group’s hiatus saw the release of Beyoncé's debut album, Dangerously in Love (2003), which established her as a solo artist worldwide, earned five Grammy Awards and featured the Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles "Crazy in Love" and "Baby Boy". Following the disbandment of Destiny's Child in June 2005, she released her second solo album, B'Day (2006). Beyoncé also ventured into acting, with a Golden Globe-nominated performance in “Dreamgirls” (2006), and starring roles in “The Pink Panther” (2006) and “Obsessed” (2009). A self-described "modern-day feminist", Beyoncé creates songs that are often characterised by themes of love, relationships, and monogamy, as well as female sexuality and empowerment. She has won 20 Grammy Awards and is the most nominated woman in the award's history. “Forbes” magazine listed her as the most powerful female musician of 2015. Beyoncé is an avid philanthropist, working with women and children. She is currently married to rapper Jay Z, with whom she has a daughter, Blue Ivy Carter.

12 Sunday Times Magazine

FEBRUARY 14 , 2016

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Times Hollywood

Bread-seller photobombs Interviewer asks Penelope Cruz about her ‘ugly feet’ Tinie Tempah, lands modelling contract

S

inger Tinie was being snapped by singer-songwriter and photographer Ty Bello in his ancestral Nigeria when a bread-seller just happened to walk past, photobombing the shoot and completely stealing the show in the process.

After seeing what a natural the girl was in the shot, Ty launched an appeal to find

her and help kick-start her modelling career.

With help from local residents, Ty tracked down the 27-year-old whose name is Olajumoke Orisaguna. They've since worked together on a spread for local Nigerian magazine, This Day Style.

Alongside the cover, Ty wrote: "This just made me cry. She really is a blessed woman with an amazing story. I almost cant believe it! @thisdaystyle thank you for being the most amazing publication and believing in this story." [sic] An agency named Few Models has now signed Olajumoke.

(Glamour)

O

scar-winning actress Penelope Cruz was left red-faced when presenter Savannah Guthrie asked her about her "ugly feet" in a Today Show interview.

Every now and then celebrities have to endure uncomfortable interview questions when promoting their new projects. And this was exactly the case when Penelope Cruz was interviewed for the Today Show to promote her new film “Zoolander 2” and presenter Savannah Guthrie brought up her feet.

She said: "I don't even know how I feel about this. I think you said it, that you, despite what you look like... you've said you have ugly feet."

With a confused look, Penelope answered with: "No, no, no, no! I haven't said that. I'm OK, I'm OK with my feet. I haven't said that."

Attempting to explain what she meant, she went on: "Because you were a dancer..."

Penelope explained: "When you're a ballet dancer, you lose your toenails. You get used to throwing them away. You don't even feel it anymore."

Bringing it back to her feet, Penelope said: “I think they are OK," to which Savannah replied, "OK, you think they are pretty?" To which Penelope said: "No, no. I think they are normal." (Glamour)

Meryl Streep: ‘We are all Africans really’

M

eryl Streep has added to the recent Oscars diversity race row after "dismissing" a race issue by saying "we are all Africans really".

She made these comments at The Berlin International Film Festival, where she was asked about the fact she was chairing an allwhite panel.

She added that the festival is determined to include "all genders, races, ethnicities, religions." Its 2016 jury is made up of seven white people: actor Lars Eidinger, British film critic Nick James, French photographer Brigitte Lacombe, British actor Clive Owen, Italian actress Alba Rohrwacher and Polish director Malgorzata Szumowska.

The actor was also asked by an Egyptian reporter if she "understood films from the Arab world and North Africa," according to AP. Meryl Streep responded by saying: "I've played a lot of different people from a lot of different cultures."

"There is a core of humanity that trav-

K

endall Jenner's endorsement is worth eight figures and she won't take any less. The 20-year-old model is suing a skincare company which uses her face and likeness without permission.

Cutera uses her photo in advertisements for a laser treatment provided by the company. The ads, which popped up in New York this month, claimed acne "completely ruined" Jenner's self-esteem and the company helped her achieve her "nearly flawless skin."

It failed to mention whether Jenner had used the treatment.

According to the lawsuit, Jenner never signed up to be Cutera's model. "Cutera's use of Kendall Jenner's name and likeness is not, and never has been, authorized," the lawsuit read. "Cutera has never sought Ms. Jenner's permission to use her as a 'face' for its products and services, and Ms. Jenner has never

els right through every culture, and after all we're all from Africa originally," she said.

"Berliners, we're all Africans, really."

The actor also pointed out the panel is female-dominated: "This jury is evidence that at least women are included and in fact dominate this jury, and that's an unusual situation in bodies of people who make decisions," Streep said. "So I think the Berlinale is ahead of the game." (Telegraph)

given such permission."

The court documents stated her numerous achievements including appearances on high-profiled magazines such as Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Allure, Harper's Bazaar and InStyle. She also boasted her clothing line, reality TV show and social media presence.

Jenner and her legal team are seeking US$10 million in compensation and a temporary restraining order against Cutera in addition to the prohibition of "any use of Kendall Jenner's name, likeness, identity or person."

Jenner indeed complained about her acne problem in her blog last year. She credited dermatologist Dr. Christie Kidd for clearing up her skin. One of the treatments Kidd used for Jenner was Cutera's Laser Genesis, but Jenner would not count that as an endorsement. (AceShowbiz)

Sunday Times Magazine 13 FEBRUARY 14 , 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

Star Times Bollywood

F

awad Afzal Khan is a Pakistani film and television actor, singer and model.

Khan has established himself as a critically and commercially successful actor in the Pakistani dramas and film industry.

Khan rose to prominence in the 2007 Pakistani movie “Khuda Kay Liye”, and later gained acclaim as a lead actor in TV shows “Humsafar” and “Zindagi Gulzar Hai”, for which he won the Best Actor Award at the Lux Style Awards.

In 2014, Khan made his Bollywood debut in the romantic comedy film “Khoobsurat”, for which he received the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut. The actor also regularly participates in charity and social causes in Pakistan and internationally.

14 Sunday Times Magazine

Times Bollywood Hollywood movie ‘Deadpool’ opens with Bollywood song

T

he recently released superhero film “Deadpool”, starring Ryan Reynolds, uses the iconic song “Mera Joota Hai Japani” from the movie “Mera Naam Joker” (1970) in its opening and closing scenes.

Director Tim Miller reportedly fell in love with the song after he heard it in a pub in New Zealand.

A source close to the director said: “Tim Miller had heard ‘Mera Joota hai Japani’ in one of the pubs, a long time back. He loved the song so much that it got stuck in his head. He would often hum the tune.”

The source added that the film’s cast also loved the song and wanted it to be included in the film.

“When he was directing

Deadpool, he thought of using the same Indian song that he had heard in the pub, long back. He made Ryan Reynolds and the crew listen to the song, and they loved it instantly.

That’s how he decided that the film should start and end with this Bollywood song starring Raj Kapoor,” the source said. (Hindustan

T

he youngest crop of actors in Bollywood clearly has their priorities set right: Work always ranks above personal life, and Sidharth Malhotra and Alia Bhatt are the latest to prove it.

The rumoured couple will spend Valentine’s Day separately as they have the shooting of their respective films scheduled for February 14.

While Sidharth will be busy shooting “Baar Baar Dekho”, Alia will be in Goa for director Gauri Shinde’s next in which she is working along with Shah Rukh Khan.

“On Valentine’s Day, I will be in Goa with Gauri Shinde for her film. I will go on a date with Gauri Shinde,” Alia told reporters at the trailer launch of “Kapoor And Sons”.

Sidharth, who will be shooting for his next with Katrina Kaif, said, “I will be travelling, shooting for ‘Baar Baar Dekho’, sadly.” (Hindustan Times)

Parineeti Chopra turns singer

Y

ash Raj Films recently announced their next romantic film starring Parineeti Chopra and Ayushmann Khuranna.

Parineeti, who will be seen on the silver screen after two years (her last venture being “Daawat-E-Ishq” opposite Aditya Roy Kapur), will turn singer for the upcoming flick, “Meri Pyari Bindu”.

The 27-year-old actor will be singing a number for the film, hoping to explore different aspects of creativity. The production house tweeted a video that shows Parineeti humming the famous Kishore Kumar song “Meri Pyari Bindu” from “Padosan”.

In her upcoming flick, that also stars Ayushmann Khurrana, Parineeti plays the character of an aspiring singer Bindu. “The movie is a beautiful love story between Bindu and Ayushmann’s character, set in Kolkata. It is going to be a beautiful, heart-wrenching love story,” added Parineeti.

During a recent interview, Parineeti said, “I think it’s a coincidence that a lot of the actors who are working right now happen to be passionate singers. Obviously, every actor wants to do different things. They don’t just want to act but also explore different sides of their talents. It’s really great that the audience, music directors and everyone else in the industry are open to the fact that actors should not just act but also sing.”

Parineeti also revealed that she is a trained singer and her directors and music directors have often advised her that she should sing. (Hindustan Times)

Times)

Shah Rukh Khan pays fine for illegal ramp

A

n RTI query has revealed that Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan has paid a fine as the penalty for constructing an illegal ramp outside his bungalow Mannat in Mumbai.

The ramp was demolished and the actor paid the cost of demolition to the municipal authorities.

RTI activist Anil Galgali said he had sought information from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) about action taken

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FEBRUARY 14, 2016

on the illegally constructed RCC ramp outside the bungalow by Shah Rukh.

Galgali sought information about the cost incurred and payment received if any.

As per the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888, and the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966, the BMC can recover the cost it incurs from the owner on demolition of any illegal construction carried out by the owner. (IANS)

A

ctress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who stars in “Sarbjit”, a biopic on Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh, recently visited the Golden Temple for the shooting of her film.

Clad in Punjabi suit with her head covered with a dupatta, the actress paid obeisance in the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple.

Thereafter, she went to Langar (community kitchen) of the Golden Temple where she cooked food, cleaned the floor with devotion.

Shooting for film began in the afternoon and it continued till evening whereupon different kind of scenes were shot including inside the community kitchen while cleaning utensils, cleaning floor of Langar, cooking vegetables.

She was seen standing before the deg (big ironed rounded

utensils) used for cooking for several hundred people.

In the Omung Kumardirected movie, the 42-yearold actor plays the role of Sarabjit’s sister Dalbir Kaur.

The film is slated for release on May 20. It will be shot in various cities of Punjab.

The film captures the plight of prisoners lodged in various jails across the border.

“I hope the biopic will highlight the plight of Indian prisoners lodged in various jails in Pakistan,” said Dalbir Kaur sister of Sarbjit Singh, who struggled for decades to get her brother out of the Pakistani prison.

Sarabjit died after a brutal attack by jail inmates in a Pakistani jail in 2013. He was convicted of terrorism and spying by a Pakistani court and sentenced to death in 1991 but the government had

stayed his execution for an indefinite period in 2008.

His sister and family started a campaign for his release saying he was the victim of mistaken identity and had inadvertently strayed across the border in an inebriated state.

(Indian Express)

Sonam Kapoor plans to ‘direct incredible stories about strong women’

A

ctress Sonam Kapoor, who aspires to be a director, says she will direct incredible stories about strong women.

“I will certainly turn director as I think there are more women required in that field.

I think in the next couple of years I will direct a film that will talk about incredible stories about strong women,” Sonam told IANS.

Sonam is currently busy promoting her film “Neerja”. The Ram Madhvani directorial features the actress as Pan Am chief purser Neerja Bhanot, who was gunned down by terrorists on a hijacked flight in 1986. She saved over 300 lives on that flight, but lost her own.

The film is slated for February 19 release. (IANS)

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febrUARY 14, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine

15

Times Trends

Trending 2015

Star of the week

Colour trend:

P

ink is back! But it’s not cute anymore; it’s fresh and defiant. Get some inspiration for your next ‘pink’ look from these stylish-looking celebrities.

Actress Brie Larson teamed her sheer pink blouse with a highwaist striped pencil skirt - chic, yet playful.

Those unsure about going for head-to-toe pink should look to actress Chloe Moretz, whose baby pink blouse works well with her black trousers. An effortlessly chic evening look.

F

rom a tender age, Sharima Khan developed a passion for racing cars. Her father, who also races, inspired her to get behind the wheel and onto the South Dakota racing track. Sharima describes her father as her “biggest fan, mentor, trainer and man behind her success.” Developing an unquenchable thirst for adrenaline, Sharima started racing cars at age 16 and has not stopped since. Her first competition was an Endurance Race, which she drove with her father in 2011. Her last race was Nov. 15, 2015, where she placed second.

Sharima and her father are the Endurance Race 2000cc class champions for two years. The 20-year-old said although racing is “risky and challenging, it is also exciting”.

She views it as a “privilege and honour to compete with some of the best drivers in Guyana”. Sharima plans to race regionally and internationally and to make it to the Formula One racing arena. The belle of car racing is grateful to all those who have supported her, especially GUYOIL. (Photo by GFX Factory)

The Victoria Secret model and actress Rosie HuntingtonWhiteley wears a romantic, ethereal gown nipped in at the waist with delicate rosettes.

Dancer and actress Zendaya rocks a little pink ensemble, teaming it with lashings of sass.

16 Sunday Times Magazine

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FEBRUARY 14, 2016

Times Art

‘Good art is not what it looks like, but what it does to us,’ says young artist

P

ossessing a talent for being creative, Andre Jacobus was inspired to pursue art, which serves as therapy and catalyst, to become a distinguished artist.

“Art is one of the few things I enjoy doing. Also, I am always in the habit of creating stuff, so that is why I decided to take it up,” Andre said in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

The artist recalled that since he was five years old he was already sketching and was “very much into art books”. Andre credits his father, also an artist,

for recognising his potential and motivating him to pursue art.

Although possessing an innate talent for art, Andre sought to get formal training to hone his artistic skills. He attended the E R Burrowes School of Art, majoring in painting, and graduated from the institution in 2013.

“I love every aspect of painting. Now, I am moving away from the traditional style of painting on canvas and paper and doing it digitally on the computer, which I taught myself to do. My earlier artworks were all realism because

"Illustration of Georgetown"

I

sion is animation and digital works, which can be viewed on YouTube.

The artist plans on “getting better” in his artistry and to someday have a solo exhibition of his work.

“Good art is not what it looks like, but what it does to us. My advice to young artists is to just keep loving what you do, which, in my opinion, is the key ingredient because art can

One of his many digital creations

Isha Johnson

sha Johnson has a knack for creating unique crafts, which she developed out of a desire to provide beautiful cake boxes for weddings and other events.

With the assistance of the internet as well as her personal ideas, Isha creates her works of art.

“Since a teenager, I’ve always had a knack for craft, and love to be creative and unique. My mo-

of the scenes I wanted to achieve in my paintings, but most of my works are now fantasy art and surrealism,” he noted.

The artist, who is also known for his skilful capoeira (a Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dance, acrobatics and music), said he is inspired by famous artists such as Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci and Salvador Dali.

Andre is fascinated with the endless possibilities of creating celebrated works of art by starting off with a blank canvas, paper or screen. His most recent pas-

tivation to start my business, Memorable Moments, came from few of my staff and friends who, after seeing some boxes I made, urged me to do it as a business, since such service is really not offered here. My boxes are not the generic ones you get here. They’re one-of-a-kind, custom-made pieces,” Isha said in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

Creating unique boxes

comes naturally for Isha, who mentioned she constantly tries to hone her skills by practicing and researching.

“This is something I really enjoy doing on the side, because I already have a career – being a manager for a call centre. I’m motivated when I see the satisfaction on people’s faces when they collect their boxes. I would have helped by making their moments memorable,” she expressed.

Isha mainly offers handmade favour and cake boxes in a variety of colours to complement colour schemes and events’ themes. She works along with her clients to provide the best.

Isha also tries to come up with new designs for every customer with the aim of creating unique boxes.

“My plans for Memorable Moments would be to include wedding planning, making bouquets, event decorating and much more, which I have already embarked on. On my Facebook page, I have as my motto: ‘Imperfectly Perfect Boxes’. This is based on my desire to provide people with perfection, but at the same time to know that although my creations are not done by machine, they are just as satisfactory.

I have chosen the name Memorable Moments with the aim of being able to help in making my customers’ moments as memorable as can be,” revealed.

For more information, visit Memorable Moments on Facebook.

Andre doing what he knows best - creating works of art

change the world!” Andre declared.

For more information

"Into the forest"

on the artist, email andrejacobus1993@gmail.com or check out Dré on Facebook.

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FEBRUARY 14 , 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 17

Times Tech

Apple to open first offshore technology development centre

F

ollowing Google and Microsoft, Apple Inc. is to open its first technology development centre outside the United States, in Hyderabad, India.

The new centre will be built on 250,000 square feet of land in the real estate firm Tishman Speyer's WaveRock facility at Hyderabad's IT corridor at a cost of US$25 million.

It is anticipated to create 4,500 jobs for locals.

IT majors such as Infosys, Wipro, Microsoft, and Cognizant have already set up their offices in the

Tech news

IT corridor.

The California-based multinational technology development company will initially open its innovation centre in June and launch fully fledged operations by the end of this year. It plans to develop maps and make them available in its iPhones and Mac systems.

Though Apple had a technology support centre in Bengaluru, it closed the facility a decade ago, citing poor quality services.

Apple has so far kept the development of core technology operations inside the company and mostly in

the United States. It has only outsourced commoditised application maintenance to vendors, according to a media report.

Jayesh Ranjan, Secretary to IT department in the state of Telangana, could not confirm to ZDNet when the company would sign a memorandum of understanding, although it is expected either by the end of this month, or a week later in March.

Tishman Speyer's Hyderabad representatives declined to comment about their deal with Apple.

Facebook pulls Free Basics from India

F

And that’s not the only problem

acebook has reportedly pulled its Free Basics Internet service from India following a countrywide ban on the program.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Monday ruled that apps like Free Basics violate net neutrality, so service providers have been prohibited from offering them.

Facebook declined to comment further to PCMag, reiterating the comment it shared earlier this week. "Our goal with Free Basics is to bring more people online with an open, non-exclusive and free platform," it said. "While disappointed with the outcome, we will continue our efforts to eliminate barriers and give the unconnected an easier path to the internet and the opportunities it brings."

The controversy, meanwhile, made headlines in Silicon Valley when Facebook board member Marc Andreessen posted a tweet that suggested India was better when it was under the control of other countries. "Anti-colonialism has been economically catastrophic for the Indian people for decades. Why stop now?" he said in

the since-deleted tweet.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg was quick to respond, announcing publicly that he found Andreessen's comments "deeply upset-

ting," and ensuring that they "do not represent the way Facebook or I think at all."

"India has been personally important to me and Facebook," Zuckerberg said. "As

our community in India has grown, I've gained a deeper appreciation for the need to understand India's history and culture.

I've been inspired by how much progress India has made in building a strong nation and the largest democracy in the world, and I look forward to strengthening my connection to the country."

Andreessen later apologized "for any offense caused".

Zuckerberg announced in 2013 that he wanted to connect "the next 5 billion people"—a promise that developed into Free Basics (then called Internet.org), which provides people with cheap smartphones and access to specific services that don't eat into monthly data usage. The app launched in early 2015 in six Indian states with more than three dozen Web services.

Officials, however, complained that Facebook was favouring its partners—a violation of net neutrality.

As concerns mounted, a handful of initial partners ditched the program, and in December, the TRAI ordered the temporary suspension of Free Basics in the region.

Tech BYTE

F

or most people, the cockroach doesn't inspire anything but the shivers and a mild sense of revulsion. For scientists at the University of California at Berkeley (UC Berkeley), however, the insect has inspired a whole new way of thinking about robots.

After studying the way in which roaches squeeze through tiny cracks and crevices, the team developed a robot with similar capabilities.

In addition to finding that the creepy critters can take the equivalent of 900 times their body weight on their backs, the UC Berkeley team also found that, even when squashed down to one-quarter their size, they can still run remarkably fast.

Kaushik Jayaram, the leader of the study, built a simple robot that uses this technique and, while it can't quite flatten out to the degree the roach can, it is capable of being squished down to half its size while still maintaining forward locomotion.

CRAM, the cockroach-inspired robot that can keep moving even when squished to half its size (Gizmag.

Credit: Tom Libby, Kaushik Jayaram and Pauline Jennings – courtesy of PolyPEDAL Lab, UC Berkeley)

To develop their robot, called CRAM, which stands for "compressible robot with articulated mechanisms," Jayaram first filmed the roaches using a highspeed camera.

This let him see that when roaches flatten themselves out to fit through narrow cracks, they can no longer use their feet to propel them.Rather, they use the sensory spines on the bottom part of their legs (their tibias) to move forward.

This is a bit like how, if you were walking on all fours, you'd need to get down on your elbows and use your forearms to move you through a tight space.

The researchers believe robots similar to CRAM could one day help in disaster rescue efforts, such as finding survivors in the aftermath of an earthquake.

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Times Home & Cooking

Recipe of the Week

Ingredients

R

ed and white have long been associated with romance; in home décor,if not for romance then for visual impact and appeal. From bed linens to furniture to walls, the boldness of red and the subtlety of white are often paired to create amazing rooms…

2 large sweet potatoes ¼ cup light virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, finely

chopped 2 garlic cloves, minced ½ teaspoon fine sea salt ½ teaspoon black pepper ¼ cup Parmesan cheese

For some rooms, red may not be used in proportion but yet yields a striking impression

Method Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Peel sweet potatoes and cut into thin disk slices, approximately ⅛ of an inch thick. Transfer to a medium mixing bowl.

Toss with remaining ingredients until all sides are covered.

Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminium foil and assemble stacks

4-5 slices high, using wider slices for the base. Make sure to get Parmesan cheese in between the each slice to serve at the "glue".

Bake for 45 minutes or until stacks are tender on the inside, but have crispy exteriors.

Garnish with additional rosemary and Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Serves 12 stacks.

GREATEST COOKING TIPS

T Red accents in a room draw your attention instantly and need to be used carefully for balance and elegance

o prevent strong odours when cooking cabbage, add a whole walnut to the cooking liquid. Also, never overcook cabbage this can cause strong odours as the cabbage breaks down and releases hydrogen sulphide.

If you put too much mayonnaise in chicken salad or pasta salads, add some bread crumbs to absorb it.

When preparing avocados, to avoid the browning of avocado flesh when exposed to air, immediately place the peeled fruit in lemon juice until ready for use.

To check if baking powder is still fresh, stir 1/2 teaspoon baking powder into 1/4 cup of hot water, if it fizzes it is okay.

A Red is a great choice for an accent wall in a bedroom where the other colours are muted

HOME HELP

dd one cup of baking soda to your laundry to deodorize and boost the effectiveness of your detergent. It assists with breaking down compounds like grease.

Remove perspiration stains from your clothes by adding 4 tablespoons of salt to one quart of hot water. Soak fabric until stains fade.

Keep your drains clear by adding 1 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of white vinegar to them (in that order) and allow to fizz. Twenty minutes later, rinse with hot water. The same mixture applied to shower heads will unclog the nozzle.

To get white water rings off leather furniture, dab them with a sponge soaked in full-strength white vinegar.

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Sunday Times Magazine19

Family Times

PARENTING

Part II

JOKES

The perils of illiteracy A man attempted to rob a Bank of America located in San Francisco.

He walked into the branch and wrote, "This iz a stikkup. Put all your muny in this bag."

While standing in line, waiting to give his note to the teller, he began to worry that someone had seen him write the note and might call the police before he reached the teller's window.

So he left the Bank of America and crossed the street to Wells Fargo.

After waiting a few minutes in line, he handed his note to the Wells Fargo teller.

She read it and, surmising from his spelling errors that he wasn't the brightest tool in the box, told him that she could not accept his stickup note because it was written on a Bank of America deposit slip and that he would either have to fill out a Wells Fargo deposit slip or go back to Bank of America.

Looking somewhat defeated, the man said, "OK," and left.

He was arrested a few minutes later, as he was waiting in line back at the Bank of America.

Play your age lady is having a bad day at the table in Monte Carlo.

Down to her last 100, completely exasperated, she cries, "What rotten luck! What in the world should I do now?"

A gent next to her, trying to calm her down a bit, calmly suggests, "I don't know... Why don't you play your age?"

He walks away. Moments later, he is intrigued to hear a great commotion at the roulette table. Maybe, she won!

Rushing back to the table and pushing his way through the crowd, he is stunned to see the lady lying limp on the floor, with the table operator kneeling over her.

He asks, "What happened? Is she all right?"

"I don't know,” the operator replied, “she put everything on number 24 and when 36 came up, she screamed and then fainted."

A

Medical students wo medical students were walking along the street when they saw an old man walking with his legs spread apart.

One of the students said to his friend, "I'm sure he has Petry Syndrome. Those people walk just like that."

The other student says, "No, I don't think so. The old man surely has Zovitzki Syndrome. He walks just as we learned in class."

Since they couldn't agree they decided to ask the old man.

They approached him and one of the students said to him, "We're medical students and couldn't help but notice the way you walk, but we couldn't agree on the syndrome you might have. Could you tell us what it is?"

The old man said, "I'll tell you, but first you'll tell me what you think."

One of the students said, "I think it's Petry Syndrome."

The old man said, "You thought.... but you are wrong."

Then the other student said, "I think you have Zovitzki Syndrome."

The old man said, "You thought.... but you are wrong.

So they asked him, "Well, what do you have?"

The old man said, "I thought it was gas... but I was wrong.

T

1

Teaching your child to care about the environment

. Our food choices impact the planet: The simple fact that what we eat strongly affects the planet is a chief lesson all children should learn, especially since most adults have yet to understand this simple truth. Showing children how to make responsible food choices is one of the easiest ways to preserve the Earth’s resources.

With animal agriculture being the chief offender where air, water, and land pollution is concerned, explaining the correlation between the animals reared for food and the important concept of global climate

change to kids is an essential step.

Making these teachings fun can include cook-

ing with children to develop a taste and appreciation for plant-based menus.

Reading labels to decrypt hidden animal products or processed ingredients is also important.

2. Our packaging choices also pollute: While the food we eat definitely impacts the planet, so does what it’s wrapped in.

Plastic dominates not only our food packaging but most of the consumer items we use and buy.

Explaining the impact of polluting packaging to children is an effective motivation to reduce our plastic consumption and dispose of it in such a way that it doesn’t end up in the ocean.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

STORY TIME

The gift of a cow tail switch Reflections

A

great warrior did not return from the hunt. His family gave him up for dead, all except his youngest child who each day would ask, "Where is my father? Where is my father?"

The child's older brothers, who were magicians, finally went forth to find him. They came upon his broken spear and a pile of bones.

The first son assembled the bones into a skeleton; the second son put flesh upon the bones; the third son breathed life into the flesh.

The warrior arose and walked into the village where there was great celebration. He said, "I will give a fine gift to the one who has brought me back to life."

Each one of his sons cried out, "Give it to me, for I have done the most."

"I will give the gift to my youngest child," said the warrior. "For it is this child who saved my life. A man is never truly dead until he is forgotten!" (A West African Tale)

I carry your heart with me i carry your heart with me(i carry it in my heart)i am never without it(anywhere i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing,my darling) i fear no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true) and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide) and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

By Grammar G

All tied up A

tongue-twister is defined as a sequence of words that is difficult to pronounce quickly and correctly. Some describe it as tying up their tongue. Tongue-twisters can be found in many languages, where even native speakers find it difficult to speak them quickly and correctly.

These verbal challenges combine the effects of alliteration (repetition of a sound), particularly of similar but not identical sounds, with a phrase designed to make it made very easy to mispronounce words.

While most of us know the very familiar “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers…” tonguetwister, there are many more in the English language – and they provide lots of fun to those who enjoy them.

Tongue - twisters are also used to help speakers practice correct pronunciation, and those learning English to improve their accent. Politicians and actors are among those known to use tongue-twisters to improve their speech.

e.e.Cummings Some tongue-twisters are made into short poems while others may be just a phrase. Let’s take a look first at a poem: Theophilus Thistle, the Thistle Sifter, Sifted a sieve of unsifted thistles.

If Theophilus Thistle, the Thistle Sifter, Sifted a sieve of unsifted thistles, Where is the sieve of un-sifted thistles Theophilus Thistle, the Thistle Sifter, sifted?

Now try these for more fun: 1. Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear. Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair. Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn’t fuzzy, was he?

2. I saw a kitten eating chicken in the kitchen 3. How can a clam cram in a clean cream can?

4. Many an anemone sees an enemy anemone.

5. Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.

6. A skunk sat on a stump and thunk the stump stunk,but the stump thunk the skunk stunk.

“The sixth sick Sheik's sixth sheep is sick” is sometimes described as the hardest tongue-twister in the English language.

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Times Sunday Puzzle

Have fun with these Valentine’s Day brain teasers: 1. Where does Easter come before Valentine’s Day? 2. Do you know what is in the middle of Valentine?

see solution on page 23

see solution on page 23

see solution on page 23

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Sunday Times Magazine 21

Times Kids

Creature Corner

GEOZONE

Amazon River Facts

T

he Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus melanoleucus) is a large raptor that can be found ranging from southern Mexico to South America: through the Amazon basin and Atlantic coastal forest of Brazil to northern Argentina. Its range also extends east to Venezuela and the Guianas.

Although the birds prefer lowland forests, they can be found in a variety of habitats; generally in areas with a mix of forest and some open areas.

It is described as a soaring predator, often flying to high

altitudes. When it spots potential prey, it folds its wings for a quick pursuing descent.

Althoughits diet primarily consists of birds that can be found in trees, thecarnivoroushawk-eagle’s diet includes a variety of mammals, toads, reptiles, and ground birds.

Despite a population trend that appears to be decreasing, the species was re-assessed in 2000 as of Least Concern due to its wide geographic range.

The Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle is mostly threatened by habitat loss.

Maze Daze Help cupid find the heart

The objective of the game is to fill all the blank squares in a game with the correct numbers. Every row of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order.

Every column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Every 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all please see solution on page 23

digits 1 through 9.

1

Martin Strel swims in the Amazon River on his way to earning a Guinness world record

.The Amazon River is roughly 6,400 km (4,000 miles) long.During the wet season, it can reach more than 190 km (120 miles) wide.

2. The river’s immense volume of fresh water dilutes the ocean’s saltiness for more than 100 miles (160 km) from shore.

3. From Feb 1 - Apr 8, 2007 Martin Strel, a Slovenian longdistance swimmer, swam 5,268

km (3,274 miles) of the Amazon River. He swam for up to ten hours a day for 66 days, and became the first person to swim the river.

Strel dedicated the swim to the protection of the rainforest.

4. Its westernmost source is high in the Andes Mountains, within 100 miles (160 km) of the Pacific Ocean, and its mouth is in the Atlantic Ocean, on the northeastern coast of Brazil.

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Sunday Times Magazine 23

World Times

A

ccording to historians, a man named Valentinus was martyred on February 14 late in the third century A.D. It gets murky from there because the St. Valentine who inspired the holiday may have been two different men.

In addition, in history there are about a dozen St. Valentines, plus a pope. And one of them is a woman.

Officially recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, St. Valentine is known to be a real person who died around A.D. 270.

However, his true identity has been questioned since that era.

One account from the 1400s describes Valentine as a temple priest who was beheaded near Rome by the emperor Claudius II for helping Christian couples wed. A different account claims Valentine was the Bishop of Terni, also martyred by Claudius II on the outskirts of Rome. Because of the

similarities of these accounts, it’s thought they may refer to the same person.

Enough confusion surrounds the true identity of St. Valentine that the Catholic Church discontinued liturgical veneration of him in 1969, though his name remains on its list of officially recognized saints, notes the acclaimed history.com website.

The saint celebrated on Valentine’s Day is known officially as St. Valentine of Rome in order to differentiate him from the dozen or so other Valentines.

In the church,St. Valentine has wideranging spiritual responsibilities.People call on him to watch over the lives of lovers, of course, but also for interventions regarding beekeeping and epilepsy, as well as the plague, fainting and traveling. As you might expect, he’s also the patron saint of engaged couples and happy marriages. (Source: history.com)

St Valentine for whom legend often supersedes fact

Two of the world’s greatest love stories

F

ew places in the world inspire a reflection of love than the Taj Mahal in India, considered one of the world’s greatest manifestations of love.

Mumtaz Mahal, or “Chosen One of the Palace,” was Emperor Shah Jahan’s wife and the favourite of his three queens. Legend tells that with her dying breath, she asked her husband to promise to build the world’s most beautiful mausoleum for her.

Six months after her death, the deeply grieving emperor ordered construc-

tion to begin.

Today the white marble mausoleum, in which the Shah placed his beloved queen and in which years later he too would be laid

Brain Teaser Answer 1. In the dictionary.

2. The letter N. SUDOKU

Taj Mahal

The late Duke and Duchess of Windsor

KID SUDOKU

CROSSWORD

to rest beside, has become a world masterpiece of IndoIslamic art and architecture, and a universal symbol of love.

Millions of people visit the Taj Mahal to see the building dedicated in the name of love.

Another famous love story is the story of forbidden love, scandal and sacrifice –one of the ultimate love stories of the twentieth century.

Edward,British Prince of Wales, married American commoner Wallis Simpson and they began a relationship. Even after her divorce, the British monarchy

and Parliament rejected any talk of marriage between the two.

When Edward succeeded to the throne in January 1936, he proposed to Simpson and it almost became an electoral crisis.

Edward made the decision to relinquish the throne.

In his abdication address to the nation he said, “I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as King as I would wish to do, without the help and support of the woman I love.”

Edward was given the

title Duke of Windsor and the two were exiled to France where they married in 1937.

When Edward died in 1972, he was returned to England and buried at Windsor Castle; 14 years later, Simpson was buried beside him.

The 3,000 -year-old god of love

T

he ubiquitous Cupid has been featured in print and film for hundreds of years especially on Valentine’s Day to become an icon of love.

But his story goes back much further, to the Greeks – and he wasn’t a baby but a grown up sex- symbol whose good looks were said to make both Gods and mortals “weak at the knees”. His name was Eros (from whence comes the word erotic), the god of love.

Later Greek poets portrayed him as a mischievous and playful child.

The bows and arrows have also survived from Eros’s era.

According to Greek mythology, Eros had gold arrows for love and lead arrows for hate.

One story says (for reasons not mentioned) he once used

his gold arrow on the sungod Apollo and a lead arrow on a nymph named Daphne.

Needless to say, Apollo’s love for Daphne was the nymph’s hate for Apollo.

It was the Romans who reinvented Eros as Cupid and made up their own stories. He still wasn’t a baby yet however.

It would take the Renaissance period for baby Cupid to be ‘born’. During this period, painters began representing Cupid as baby angels with bows and arrows whom they called Putti.

By the time the tradition of sending Valentine’s Day cards came around, images of Putti as Cupid the baby came to be associated with the day of romance.

Rubens, Sir Peter Paul (1577 - 1640) Putti: a ceiling decoration

24

Sunday Times Magazine

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Fun Times

Archie

Make your idea count by turning it into something spe(March 21cial or making it profitable.

April 19) Love will unfold if you speak from the heart and share your goals openly.

ARIES

Taking part in events that TAURUS will bring you in contact with (April 20people who could enrich your May 20) life will be rewarding. An open mind and collaborations look promising.

What your heart tells you GEMINI (May 21- and what your intelligence June 20) suggests will cause confusion.

Don't make assumptions or overreact. Take a deep breath and wait to see what happens.

The relationships you have with others should be protect(June 21ed and treated with care. If July 22) you share your feelings, you will be offered a heartwarming response that will brighten your day.

CANCER

LEO You've got the moves, so (July 23- strut your stuff. Jealousy is Aug. 22) likely, but if you are gracious and kind to critical onlookers, you will rise above negativity.

Dilbert

Don't let confusion get in VIRGO your way. Take a step back and (Aug. 23assess your situation. As long Sept. 22) as you remain practical and in control, you will get good results. Romance is encouraged.

Don't be taken advantage LIBRA of or put up with unrealistic (Sept. 23- demands. Do what's best for Oct. 23) yourself and don't look back.

Self-improvement projects and creative endeavors look promising.

Peanuts

Pump up the volume and SCORPIO get things done. Your goals (Oct. 24Nov. 22) are achievable if you set a course and don't stop until you reach your destination.

Make romance a priority.

SAGITTARIUS You'll be offered plenty of (Nov. 23- advice, but not everyone will Dec. 21) be looking out for your best interests. Weigh the consequences before you take on someone or something that could lead to regret.

Calvin and Hobbes

Positive suggestions and CAPRICORN alterations can be made.

(Dec. 22Improve your surroundings Jan. 19) or put your affairs in order to clear the passage for a new beginning. Romance will lead to greater happiness.

Do whatever you can to AQUARIUS (Jan. 20- make a difference. Bringing Feb. 19) about the changes that you feel will make your world a better place will be worth your while.

PISCES Don't follow the crowd (Feb. 20- when your ideas and plans March 20) suit you best. Give others the freedom to do as they please and you will be given the same in return.