1 THE PLUMS DISPATCH 5th EDITION October Edition FALL 2019 IN THIS ISSUE Muharram in LUMS……………………………………………………....Page 1 Conspiracies regarding Jeffrey Epstein’s death………………………………....Page 3 Assam: Forecasting Violence……………………………………………..Page 1 New Beginnings Entries…………………………………………………………Page 3 In Conversation with LAS……………………………………………...…Pages 1 & 2 Society Orientations: A Big Stick Competition.………………………………….Page 5 Vigil for Kashmir………………………………………………………….Pages 1 & 2 Relationships at LUMS……………………………………………………….…Page 5 Good luck for Midterms!……………………………………………….….Page 2 The Call-out Culture……………………………………………………………..Page 5 Climate Change………………….………………………………………...Pages 2&3 In Conversation with Momina Duraid………………………………………….Page 6 Muharram in LUMS In Conversation with LAS: First Female Led LUMS has a huge student body that hails from very Students from all faiths are encouraged to attend Expedition to Lughpar Pass diverse backgrounds. These intersectional and a somber mood of community is built on differences include various religious groups, and the this Farsh-e-Aza. The Religious Society also col- By Saif Imtiaz subsects within those groups. Although, the campus laborates with Turr Lahore to take students to Old gives off a largely secular vibe with gossip blogs Lahore where they can experience Azaadari first even accusing us of dancing during Ramadan, there hand. The events of Karbala are recounted and Meet Namra, Saba and Mina who were part of As it was the first female led expedition are certain spaces for those with a religious Shiite traditions are experienced throughout the the first female led expedition by LAS to Lupghar Pir Pass, everything was nothing inclination as well. night. It is a highly enlightening and spiritual expe- to Lupghar Pir Pass. Standing at an elevation of short of a miracle. When we actually Muharram is the month of the Tragedy of Karbala rience that encourages people of other faiths to gain 5200m in the upper Hunza Valley, the pass completed it, most of us were crying like we that the Shia’a in particular observe. The first ten knowledge about this history. often scares trekkers for its challenging were literally in tears!” days are marked by daily Majalis which spend some Although these are noble efforts to spread topography and extreme altitude. What was the best part of the entire trip? time speaking about religion and raising awareness awareness, LUMS still has a long way to go to But Namra, Saba and Mina were not the ones Any challenges or memories you want to of the events that marked the greatest sacrifice achieve true tolerance. Our students must work on to hold themselves back. Their story shows how share? in Islamic history. The LUMS Religious Society being empathetic and sensitive towards Shiites and with utter determination, patience and “ The best part was in fact completing the pass organizes screenings of these Majalis and the Shaam disregarding baseless stereotypes. One is resilience, no task ever seems too arduous in its itself. As far as challenges were concerned, yes e Ghareeban Majlis which marks the 10th day of undoubtedly encouraged to ask questions, but not undertaking. LUMS is extremely proud of these there were numerous of them. For Muharram is screened in the Central Courtyard. be condescending about anyone’s beliefs. three trekkers who have set an example for example, Saba twisted her ankle in between other females to follow. the journey. We saw rocks falling and Tell us briefly about your trip. What was the the trekking itself was really really scary. We motivation behind doing all of it? were told by the locals that any type of failure Assam: Forecasting Violence “We have a LAS trip every summers but the will actually result in our deaths but, having By Syed Emir Asad Zaidi one to Lupghar Pir pass was very different from said that, we were not the ones to ever step the usual because it is considered to be a much back.” more difficult trek for its extreme weather, Being part of LAS that is primarily male Today we live in a world where an absence of every person that is citizenship. altitude and geography in general. Honestly dominated, do you feel there were any conflict is unreasonable to expect. The A lot of people may be confused as to why this speaking, a number of trekkers actually give challenges that crept along? subcontinent has always been a hub for exclusion is so disastrous. On one hand you have up when they try completing the trek. There “I don’t think that has ever been a problem. territorial disputes. The two most obvious a right that should be conferred on every person was no as such motivation. The whole point of We have never been demotivated or never felt instances that come to one’s mind in this regard being stripped away from about 2 million LAS is to make you go through all those as if we could not achieve what we wanted to. are the events leading up to the creation of people. However, the same question persists here; challenges which other individuals haven’t LAS has been great and very accommodating Pakistan and Kashmir, which is extremely what is so disastrous about not possessing a completed. You do not really have to be a throughout this process. While, it might be relevant today. A slightly less obvious yet very citizenship? The Rohingya crisis in Myanmar is a professional trekker and being a male dominated, we did have a female relevant instance however is that of Assam. classic example of ethnic cleansing. Accused of newbie yourself is perhaps what propels you to president last year. Moreover, you now see Assam is a state in northeastern India that is being illegal immigrants from Bangladesh as well, go ahead with the task.” more females joining the society and that is famous for its wildlife and silk bazaars. The almost 7000 were killed in just the first month of Have you ever tried or thought of completing indeed a proud moment.” Indian Government, headed by Narendra Modi, the latest exodus. So don’t be fooled by the BJP’s a similar trip in your life earlier? You have set an example for females has published a list that declares almost 2 plan as history has shown that a mass removal of “We have NEVER thought of doing something everywhere, what other values do you want to million people in Assam as stateless. alleged illegal immigrants is often not without of this sort earlier and speaking for most encourage among other female students of The National Register of Citizens (NRC) was bloodshed. One can draw similarities between this females at LUMS, I don’t think anyone actually LUMS? released on Saturday 31st August in accordance form of governance and that of the Trump think on these lines.” “If you think you can do it, you should not with the deadline the Indian Supreme Court had Administration which consistently violates and How does it feel being among the first stop! If you set your mind to it, pull through set. 1.9 million citizens of Assam have been misapplies Congress laws to forge as many extra women to pass the Lupghar Pir Pass? it” effectively stripped of their citizenship due to a barriers for migrants coming in from Mexico. It is “It feels great! We can’t describe in words how Advise to girls who plan on completing lack of documentation in their possession that absolutely paramount to bring these issues into unbelievable this entire experience has been. similar LAS trips? could prove they resided in India prior to 1971, the light, as it is often the poorest, most “You got this!” when a number of Muslims migrated into Assam vulnerable segments of society that fall victim to from Bangladesh. 120 days have been given to these operations. Suicide rates have gone up in people left off the list to somehow prove their Assam, which should illustrate clearly just how decisions wrong or they will immediately helpless these people are about their situation. become illegal immigrants to be housed in This piece started with the point that it is only detention centers set up for this purpose or reasonable to expect conflict in this day and age deported to Bangladesh. However there has been yet that is not reason enough to be complacent no such concrete plan announced for the about such issues. The least any one can do is treatment of these newfound ‘illegals’, which keep contributing to these discussions so that the throws the fate of those excluded into even more plights of these people aren’t forgotten in time. doubt. The BJP in India has on multiple occasions used matters of national security to expedite political influence and has made a mockery of the lives of people living in Kashmir and now Assam. To prove this further, when the NRC backfired by excluding Hindus as well, the BJP announced that it plans to amend Assam’s citizenship laws to allow Hindus returning from foreign countries to become Indian citizens. It is utterly absurd how such a major political entity in Indian politics can be so shallow and careless in its approach towards such an indispensable right of Vigil for Kashmir By STAFF Kashmiri people whose oppression was facilitated by the On the 2nd of September 2019 the Student Action Committee Constitution of India. organized a vigil in the newly renovated Central Courtyard in They lamented how despite the immoral atrocities of an entire the Academic Block. This Committee was headed by Student society, the world has stayed silent with an almost total media Council representatives, Mahnoor Saeed and Usman Sipra. blackout for the “Indian Bazaar” runs this world. There was Usman Sipra “felt that some sort of protest against the injustice therefore a social, economic and political dissection of the being carried out against Kashmiris by the Indian government Kashmir issue and the recent nullification of Article 370.