FOR two reasons it was a gathering different than what you see at book launches. One, because the author was a 19-year-old girl; and two, because she happened to be a diplomat’s daughter. General Srilal Weerasooriya the high commissioner of Sri Lanka and his wife Dilhani were playing host of the evening. The book titled Odds, composed of poems, essays and a play, had been written by Rukhshani, their younger daughter. The audience included many friends of the family, diplomats and both young and not-so-young Islooites.
Sahabzada Yakub Khan, former foreign minister and the chief guest, started his review in English and switched over to Greek, Sanskrit and Arabic. A great linguist, he quoted from the works of Iqbal and other great sufis, Sanskrit and Greek scholars.
Rahila Durrani, Rukh-shani’s teacher and Irshadullah Khan, her mentor, commented on the maturity of her poetry that has the “compassion and the understanding of a true poet”. The poetry, they said also, “reflects the pain and sufferings she sees round her” as she had also witnessed and survived the Islamabad church bomb blast two years back. Rushika, her elder sister, whom every one remembers as Carlotta of The Phantom of the Opera fame sang a song on her sister’s request. The day was rather too special for the Weerasooriyas as it was Rukhshani’s 19th birthday.
ALL ABOUT EVE
A two day festival celebrating womanhood and catering to the multi-faceted aspects of a woman’s persona was organized at a local hotel for the ladies of the twin cities. Sufia Shahid conducted the show spread over three hours every day, that included various segments of interest to the ladies.
Dr Rezzan Khan, a nutritionist working at Shifa International Hospital, presented dietary tips and weight loss solutions to an enthusiastic all-female gathering. Dr Rubina Qureshi, a dermatologist, dispersed professional advice regarding skin and hair care. Much to the interest of the ladies, she explained that there was a medical (laser) solution to almost all skin and hair problems.
Tips on the art of speedy cooking were presented by Sobia Nadeem for the working women with no help in the kitchen, while expert chefs demonstrated the art of fine dining.
Sharing her success story, TV artist, Parveen Malik, motivated the women how to juggle a home and a career without neglecting their kids. She spoke on the different facets of her career, spread over running a school, acting in TV serials, modelling for commercials and as president of the Asian Study Group in Islamabad. Dr Fouzia Saeed of Actionaid Pakistan and author of Taboo, discussed sexual harassment at the work place.
Ladies from a beauty salon presented grooming tips after which Islamabad-based fashion designer, Sobia, displayed clothes. The best part of the catwalk was that all the models were married with children.
SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL DAY
The overthrow of the apartheid system — “a crime against humanity and the restoration of the dignity of millions of South Africans and the enjoyment of fundamental human rights and freedom,” for the first time in their lives, were the main content of South Africa’s liberation.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Freedom Day, the High Commissioner of South Africa, Moosa Moolla, played host to a large Islamabad community comprising diplomats, bureaucrats, journalists and professionals at his residence. The extraordinary turnout was evidence to the fact that the he is a best friends with many.
As a South African, he said, “We are indeed proud of this great achievement brought by years of agony, sacrifice and struggle against an oppressive state.” An abominable and an evil system, he said, was replaced by “a free, just, humane and a new democratic social order.” And South Africans were called upon to begin the process of reconstruction, of forgiving the past and concentrating on building the new South Africa in which ethnic origin, gender differences, politics or social differences would no longer determine a person’s place in or value to society. Long live the bonds of friendship and solidarity between the people of Pakistan and South Africa!
Both, Moosa Moolla and Faisal Saleh Hayat, the chief guests on the occasion lauded the African National Congress and the towering personality of Nelson Mandela and his contribution to the cause of a democratic society.
Flowers had been flown from South Africa, not only to decorate the venue but to be given to each guest. The goody bags for the guests were larger than one can imagine. Besides some tourist info, each bag contained samples of herbal tea, dried meat, a label pin of the flags of Pakistan and South Africa and a national flower of South Africa known as Protea.
FOR two reasons it was a gathering different than what you see at book launches. One, because the author was a 19-year-old girl; and two, because she happened to be a diplomat’s daughter. General Srilal Weerasooriya the high commissioner of Sri Lanka and his wife Dilhani were playing host of the evening. The book titled Odds, composed of poems, essays and a play, had been written by Rukhshani, their younger daughter. The audience included many friends of the family, diplomats and both young and not-so-young Islooites.
