MONDAY 28 APRIL 2014 • [email protected] • www.thepeninsulaqatar.com • 4455 7741 inside Bhaag Milkha CAMPUS Bhaag sweeps • QU-CPH celebrates accreditation IIFA honours achievement P | 4 P | 8-9 MARKETPLACE • Safari Sea Food Festival For the people of Gagauzia, a Russian- kicks off today speaking autonomous region in southern Moldova, a passion for horses comes with the P | 7 territory and creates an emotional bond with FOOD Russia. Watching the crisis in neighbouring • A look into Diego Ukraine, many feel torn between East and West and Frida’s and would favour a return to Moscow’s fold. favourite dishes P | 7 HEALTH • Hiking may benefit men with cardio risk factors P | 11 TECHNOLOGY • Spotify challenging Apple’s iTunes • Apps of the day HORSE-LOVING P | 12 Learn Arabic • Learn commonly used Arabic words and their meanings GAGAUZ P | 13 2 PLUS | MONDAY 28 APRIL 2014 COVER STORY Gagauz fear for the future of their horses or the people of Gagauzia in southern Moldova a passion for horses comes with the Fterritory and creates an emo- tional bond with Russia. “I have loved horses since I was small, my father, my grandfather and great- grandfather were all in the trade,” says Constantin Keles, 54, a breeder at the country’s only stud farm. Dressed in a leather jacket, he opens the stable doors on the farm in Ceadir-Lunga and reads out the names of his much-loved steeds as he walks through: among them are Jean-Paul Belmondo, named after the French actor, “the president” and “the Queen”. Keles says he can trace the genetic origin of all 63 horses at the stables all the way back to 1780, and they are all Russian. The stable was built when this green and hilly region bordering Ukraine was still a part of the Soviet Union. Watching the crisis that has gripped Ukraine, many in Gagauzia find them- selves torn between East and West and hope they might return to Moscow’s fold. Currently an autonomous region within Moldova, the 160,000 people who live in Gagauzia, mostly ethnic Turks who converted to Orthodox Christianity in the 19th century, speak Russian and many feel closer ties to Russia would mean a better life. PLUS | MONDAY 28 APRIL 2014 3 Fearing for the future of his horses is another emotional factor drawing Keles’ allegiance towards Russia. He worries about the indifference of pro-European Moldovan authorities, who are looking to privatise the busi- ness and provide only sparse funding for stud farming — the stables have been without electricity and low on food for months. “The horse is an important part of our national culture. Private inves- tors have only one interest: making money in the quickest time possible. They could decide to close the farm, or use it to breed ostriches, as has hap- pened elsewhere,” he said, recalling the failure of other privatisations in the former Soviet republic, which is now the poorest country in Europe. Horse as dark as coal Since 1982 more than 500 animals have passed through this stud farm, all of them descended from a Russian breed famed for its strength and ele- gance, the Orlov trotter. In a field just outside Gagauzia’s cap- ital Comrat, Vitalie Tchakusta trains for hours with his horse, Lepistock, whose name means “little leaf” in Russian, preparing for the May 6 Gagauz festival dedicated to the horse, called Hederlez. “If Ceadir-Lunga is privatised, this has spent somewhere between $30,000 festival will no longer happen,” he said. (€22,000) and $40,000 buying horses. The mayor of Comrat, Nikolai “We have the best horses and the Dudoglu, says he hopes a solution will best trainers, all we lack is the money be soon be found. to build an equestrian school,” said Ivan “The Moldovan government should Mardari, a member of the Gagauzia cancel plans to privatise the stud farm, Assembly. and pass it to the Gagauzia adminis- As much as hopes for the future, it tration,” he said from his office, where is the desire to preserve the past that one wall features a painting of a black drives antagonism towards Moldovan horse. rule. “The name Comrat comes from the “Horses have accompanied us Turkish “komur at”, which means throughout the length of our history,” ‘horse as dark as coal’,” he says, said Keles. explaining that the town was named “When we made our houses out of after a famous horse from the 18th mud, when we worked the land, when Century. our young people went to ask their For the last three years, the official, fiancee for their hand in marriage who owns 1,300 hectares (3,200 acres) -- horses were always there. This is a of arable land, vineyards, and orchards, tradition we need to preserve.” AFP When we made our houses out of mud, when we worked the land, when our young people went to ask their fiancee for their hand in marriage -- horses were always there. This is a tradition we need to preserve. 4 PLUS | MONDAY 28 APRIL 2014 CAMPUS SIS forms student council hantiniketan Indian School (SIS) held the Investiture Ceremony at the School Activity SHall recently. The programme began with Principal Dr Subhash Nair welcoming the Chief Guest K C Abdul Latheef, President of the School Management Committee, the Guest of Honour Abdul Kadar, General Secretary of the School Management Committee, and the newly appointed Student Council Members. Hosted by the former Head Girl Shilpa Susan Samuel of Class XII. The school Choir presented a song prepared by the Music teacher Derryck Messey. The President of SIS invested the badges of office on the Head Boy Kelinton Edmond, Head Girl Sarah Salah, IT secretary Sampath Narayanan, Cultural Secretary Sheryl Shibu, Literary Secretary Nina Saleem and Tahseen, Sports Captain Ashsish Milind, Assistant Head Boy Naveen Kelvin and Assistant Head Girl Salwa Jalaludeen. The badges were also awarded to the House Captains, House Prefects and class prefects. Members and pepped them up to shoulder respon- the boundaries of the school but to be great leaders Tanvir Mehndi, Head of the Department of sibility with actions and bring out positive results of future around the globe. Physical Education, conducted the oath taking cer- in all areas. Dudley O’Connor, Vice Principal of CBSE (i) Wing emony followed by the choir singing the School Song. In his address to the newly appointed torch bear- of Shantiniketan Indian School, proposed the vote Speaking on the occasion Abdul Kadar con- ers of the school Latheef, reminded the students that of thanks. gratulated the newly appointed Student Council they have not been appointed to be leaders within The Peninsula DMIS holds orientation for Indian writers inaugurate kindergarten parents BPS Malayalam Club parent orientation of KG 1 and 2 was organised by Doha Modern erala Sahithya Academy President Perumbadavam Shreedharan and writer A Indian School to ensure that the transition from home to school is done KP K Parakkadavu inaugurated the Malayalam Literary Club in Birla Public smoothly. The KG Coordinator Moushumi Dutta addressed the gathering, School. In his inaugural speech Sreedharan emphasized the importance of restor- guiding them through the learning process in the Kindergarten and assuring ing the perishing social values through reading. In his address Parakkadavu spoke the parents of all the support they require. about the influence of good books in everyone’s life. The function began with The prgramme was also attended by the Principal Madhukar Jha, the welcome speech by Mohanakumaran, Malayalam teacher and the Presidential Academic Auditor Diewthy Chandran and the Assistant Principal Jacob address of Sindhu Manoj, HOD, Dept of Malayalam. Principal A K Shrivastava, Mathew. The teachers were introduced and the parents got a chance to see Sr Vice Principal Shirly Rappai and all Malayalam teachers were present for the classrooms and meet the class teacher of their ward. the ceremony. Darsana, Malayalam teacher, gave the vote of thanks. QU-CPH celebrates accreditation achievement atar University College of Pharmacy (QU-CPH) recently celebrated the accreditation achievement by its Continuing Professional Pharmacy QDevelopment Program (CPPD) from the American Council of Pharmacy Education (ACPE). The programme which is now the second in the Gulf to achieve the ACPE status. It follows its accreditation achievement in June last year from the Qatar Council for Health Practitioners of the Supreme Council for Health. “Continuing pharmacy education is important to Qatar to ensure the ful- fillment of the values and goals set out in the National Vision, the National CPH Dean (third Health Strategy, and other national development strategies by updating the left) with Dr Aisha skills and competencies of pharmacists and healthcare providers to be in line Al Ansari, SCH, with the needs and expectations of the community,” CPH Dean Dr Ayman El Dr Nadir Kheir, Kadi said, adding, “This recent achievement marks this programme for excel- CPH and Dr Matt lence and quality and underlines the College’s commitment to the health and Maughan, Sidra. welfare of the society”. The Peninsula COMMUNITY / MARKETPLACE PLUS | MONDAY 28 APRIL 2014 5 Seminar on Iqbal held Safari Sea Food Festival kicks off today afari Mall and all its outlets will be holding a week long Safari Sea SFood Festival starting today. A wide range of fish, lobsters, prawns, crabs, octopus, squid, shark will be on display during this festival. More than 25 varieties of Indian fish, which is imported specially for this festival, and fish from Pakistan and more than 100 varieties of different kinds will be for sale. Safari’s Hot Food and Bakery section will be displaying an array of cooked sea food dishes including Kumarakom Fish Curry, Alappuzha Chemeen qbal Academy Middle East (IAME) of Allama Sir Muhammad Iqbal of Guzergah-e-Khayal Forum.