Community Community Doha College Thai couple teachers gives away P7present P16 modified results of action trolleys to help people research projects with disabilities during ‘Learning who cannot aff ord Festival’. wheelchairs.

Monday, July 22, 2019 Dhul-Qa’da 20, 1440 AH

Doha today: 320 - 380

RawRaw dealdeal Chester Hollman III on life taken away and retrieved — 28 years apart. P4-6

COVER STORY

HOLLYWOOD

A favreau-able Akshay vs John verdict. Bharat Kumar vs Mr Bharat. Page 14 Page 15 2 GULF TIMES Monday, July 22, 2019 COMMUNITY ROUND & ABOUT

PRAYER TIME Fajr 3.26am Shorooq (sunrise) 4.55am Zuhr (noon) 11.40am Asr (afternoon) 3.06pm Maghreb () 6.25pm Isha (night) 7.55pm

USEFUL NUMBERS

Emergency 999 Worldwide Emergency Number 112 The Kid from his villainous uncle (Chris Pratt). game of Billy the Kid’s fi nal year of life Kahramaa – Electricity and Water 991 DIRECTION: Vincent DOnofrio Along the way, he encounters Sheriff Pat plays out. Local Directory 180 CAST: Chris Pratt, Leila George, Garrett (Ethan Hawke), on the hunt for Ultimately Rio is forced to choose International Calls Enquires 150 Ethan Hawke, Dane DeHaan, Jake Schur the infamous outlaw Billy the Kid (Dane which type of man he is going to become, Hamad International Airport 40106666 SYNOPSIS: A boy, Rio (Jake DeHaan). the outlaw or the man of valour, and will Labor Department 44508111, 44406537 Schur), is forced to go on the run across Rio fi nds himself increasingly use this self-realisation in a fi nal act to Mowasalat Taxi 44588888 the American Southwest in a desperate entwined in the lives of these two save his family. Qatar Airways 44496000 attempt to save his sister (Leila George) legendary fi gures as the cat and mouse THEATRE: Royal Plaza Hamad Medical Corporation 44392222, 44393333 Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation 44845555, 44845464 Kadaram Kondan Primary Health Care Corporation 44593333 DIRECTION: Rajesh M. Selva 44593363 CAST: Yogi Babu, Vikram, Qatar Assistive Technology Akshara Haasan Centre 44594050 SYNOPSIS: Vasu, a young Qatar News Agency 44450205 medical practitioner has just 44450333 moved to Malaysia with his Q-Post – General Postal pregnant wife. An unidentifi ed Corporation 44464444 man gets admitted in his hospital after an accident who later Humanitarian Services Offi ce identifi ed as KK, one of the most (Single window facility for the repatriation of bodies) wanted by the Malaysian police Ministry of Interior 40253371, 40253372, on a murder case. Vasu’s wife 40253369 is kidnapped by a gang with a Ministry of Health 40253370, 40253364 demand to get KK out of the Hamad Medical Corporation 40253368, 40253365 hospital. Whether Vasu and KK Qatar Airways 40253374 were able to evade the cops and the gang or not is the rest of the movie. THEATRES: The Mall, Landmark ote Unquo Qu te Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.

-Confucius

Community Editor Kamran Rehmat For movie timings and e-mail: [email protected] further details please scan Telephone: 44466405 the QR code above with your mobile phone camera or Fax: 44350474 visit qatarcinemas.com Monday, July 22, 2019 GULF TIMES 3 ROUND & ABOUT COMMUNITY

teachers will be working together, running holistic performing arts institution and a one individual, peer and group sessions within stop solution for adults as well as children classes. The children will continue learning looking to explore their talents in various age-appropriate concepts, work on social art forms. We off er classes in contemporary, skills, life skills training, arts and crafts, Bollywood, hip hop, indian classical dance, music, and fun activities such as water play. music (Hindustani and Carnatic), arts and craft, karate, yoga, percussion (Chenda, Thimila, Career Guidance Elathalam and Madhalam), violin, harmonium, WHERE: Right Track Consultants, Al public speaking. Sadd Additional services include dance education, WHEN: Sunday – Thursday choreograph music videos and dance cover TIME: 6pm – 8pm albums, choreograph dance musical projects, Career guidance for course, country, corporate workshops and events, choreograph college and entrance for students of Grade events for schools, colleges, alumni meets and IX-XII, of all curriculum. Career assessments corporate and choreography events. For details, administered for stream preference, career call 33897609. test, branch preference, personality, multiple intelligence and learning styles and productivity. For more information, 55448835.

Artistic Gymnastic Classes WHERE: Qatar Academy Msheireb WHEN: Ongoing TIME: 3:15pm – 4:15pm The olympic sport using horizontal bar, rings and fl oor exercises on mats for the children from age 4 till 16.

EVENTS Ballet Lessons WHERE: Music and Arts Atelier The Comedy of Tango WHEN: Ongoing WHERE: Katara Cultural Village TIME: 4pm – 8pm Arabic Calligraphy Workshop WHEN: August 28 For more info e-mail at registration@ WHEN: Saturday – Wednesday TIME: 8pm-9pm atelierqatar.com or call on 33003839. TIME: 6pm With the support of Katara Cultural Village Arabic Calligraphy workshop is back. and Embassy of Argentina in Doha Tango Come and learn the artistic practice of Arabic Pasión Doha presents Los Guardiola – “The handwriting and calligraphy at Music and Comedy of Tango” on August 28. A show Arts Atelier. consisting of seven scenes is inspired by The lessons will take place every Saturday, famous tangos. Dancers, mimes and actors, Monday and Wednesday at 6pm. For Marcelo Guardiola and Giorgia Marchiori, more information, contact registration@ known artistically as Los Guardiola, will After School Activities atelierqatar.com project the audience into the fantastic world WHERE: Atelier of their danced pantomime where comedy WHEN: Ongoing and tragedy merge into the rhythm of tango. Music and arts activities for students taking place after they fi nish their day in Yoga Class school includes Group Music lessons, Hip- WHERE: Lululemon, Mall Of Qatar hop, Ballet, Drawing and Painting, Drama WHEN: Every Saturday Theatre & Taekwondo. Ages between 5 and 10 TIME: 8:30am-9:30am years old after school hours. Join the complimentary in-store yoga classes. No registration or mat is required. The class runs on fi rst come fi rst served basis.

Dance and Instrument Classes WHERE: TCA Campus, Behind Gulf Times Building WHEN: Wednesday – Monday Summer Camp for Special Needs Learn the movements of dance styles in WHERE: Step by Step Centre for Special Hobby Classes Bollywood, Hip Hop and also the musical Needs WHERE: Mamangam Performing Art instruments such as Piano, Guitar, Keyboard WHEN: Ongoing till August 1 Centre for adults as well kids and move in the world TIME: 8:00am – 12:30pm WHEN:Saturday – Friday of music. For details, contact 66523871/ During this time, all therapists and Mamangam Performing Art Centre, is a 31326749.

Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: [email protected], Events and timings subject to change 4 GULF TIMES Monday, July 22, 2019 COMMUNITY COVER STORY Guilty until proven innocent Chester Hollman III, now 49, spent 28 years in prison for a murder he did not commit. Michaelle Bond and Emilie Lounsberry draw on the moving story of a man wronged by the criminal justice system where key witnesses lied and years later recanted

hester Hollman III sat at a prosecutors’ concession he was “likely picnic table in a park down the innocent,” and ordered him freed. street from the house where he Through the decades behind bars, grew up. Hollman had thought about what it would I feel like I’m crushed inside. I He took in the tennis and be like if he were ever released: How would Cbasketball courts and the overgrown fi eld he feel? Where would he go? don’t feel like I’m really me. It where, as a kid decades earlier, he’d spent Now given the chance, he struggled for days and nights playing ball. Now 49, answers. took every ounce of strength he watched a shorts-clad mailman walk “I feel like I’m crushed inside,” he said. from door to door Tuesday afternoon and “I don’t feel like I’m really me. It took every to make it to this point wondered whether any of the neighbours ounce of strength to make it to this point.” he once knew still live in those brick and The Hollman case is the latest example stone houses. of old murder prosecutions being examined — Chester Hollman III, victim It had been 28 years since Hollman by Philadelphia District Attorney Larry could even sit in a park, since his arrest, Krasner and his Conviction Integrity Unit conviction, and a life prison term for a — especially prosecutions from roughly the Philadelphia murder he always swore he mid-1980s to the mid-1990s — at a time didn’t commit. And barely one day since when the city was battling a high rate of ‘ ’ a judge fi nally took his side, accepted homicides. In his case, the unit concluded Monday, July 22, 2019 GULF TIMES 5 COVER STORY COMMUNITY

Chester Hollman’s family never stopped fighting. “Don’t let them defeat you. Stay strong,” his mother would tell him. In 1999, she died of kidney failure. He wasn’t allowed to leave prison for the funeral that prosecutors and police had hidden evidence that pointed to more viable suspects. These reviews come amid a national reckoning of sorts for the criminal justice system. It was unleashed by DNA testing advances that have helped prove guilt and innocence but also fuelled by a growing recognition that eyewitness identification is fallible; that suspects sometimes give false confessions; and that some cases are plagued by outright ignorance, incompetence, and even corruption by police and prosecutors. “We’re seeing this all over the country,” said Marissa Boyers Bluestine, the former head of the Pennsylvania Innocence Project who worked with Hollman’s BLISS IT WAS TO BE YOUNG: Chester Hollman III poses for a high school graduation picture in 1988. longtime appeals lawyer, Alan Tauber, on the case. second-degree murder, which in including his sister’s son, who died the testimony, the judge sided the day after the shooting in 1991. Hollman’s case is the eighth Pennsylvania carries a mandatory of cancer at age 8 while Hollman with Baker’s version of events and The caller said that two unnamed murder conviction that the life term. The state prison in was inside — and the family rejected Hollman’s bid to reopen participants in the killing were at a Conviction Integrity Unit has Luzerne County became his new members of fellow inmates. He the case. home on North Natrona Street in helped to reverse since Krasner took home. taught himself to play the keyboard. For Tauber, the appeals lawyer, Strawberry Mansion. offi ce last year. More are expected. Hollman’s family never stopped He mentored others; staff ers called the setbacks were “incredibly “It was like I was hit with a clap Hollman was accused of being fi ghting. “Don’t let them defeat him a model inmate. frustrating.” of lightning,” Tauber said. one of two men in the botched you. Stay strong,” his mother would But Hollman also thought about Six years passed. Then, in At that address had lived a robbery-turned-murder of tell him. In 1999, she died of kidney the news accounts that portrayed January 2018 — nine months after woman named Denise Combs, Tae-Jung Ho, a University of failure. He wasn’t allowed to leave him as a killer, and about the Hollman’s case was the subject of who on the night of Ho’s murder, Pennsylvania student, a few blocks prison for the funeral. family of the 24-year-old Penn an extensive Inquirer story on lying records showed, also had a rented from Rittenhouse Square in the “She said, ‘Someday, you’re student who must’ve seen him by witnesses and police in the court white SUV with a licence plate that early morning hours of August 20, going to be free,’” Hollman’s that way. And he kept losing his system — Krasner became district — like the one Hollman was driving 1991. 76-year-old father, Chester appeals. attorney. The former defence — began with the letters YZA. Prosecutors contended Hollman Hollman Jr., recalled. “And we all “You wake up every day thinking, lawyer had pledged to bring an Combs returned her rental around struggled with Ho while an thought that.” ‘I’m gonna die in here,’” Hollman entirely diff erent culture to an offi ce 5am the day after Ho was killed. unknown accomplice fatally shot But in the beginning, “nobody would later say. “It kills you slowly.” that had been especially aggressive Hollman’s lawyer during the the 24-year-old exchange student would hear us,” said his sister In 2012, the other key trial in prosecuting murder cases and trial knew about the coincidental from South Korea. Deanna, 45. witness, Deirdre Jones, also recalcitrant in ceding any ground SUV rental by Combs but didn’t Hollman, who had a job and In 2004, a decade after Hollman’s recanted. In tearful testimony in on appeals. That included new know police had been tipped off no criminal record, was arrested conviction, Tauber agreed to join a Center City courtroom, she told looks at past convictions. about her, a piece of potentially blocks from the scene driving his appeal eff ort. The deeper he Philadelphia Judge Gwendolyn N. Tauber formally asked for a exculpatory evidence that a white SUV that matched the probed, the more convinced he Bright that she also had lied about review of Hollman’s case. Patricia prosecutors were required to share description of the killer’s getaway grew that Hollman was innocent. Hollman in the hours after the Cummings, whom Krasner had with the defence. vehicle, down to the fi rst three But the odds looked bleak. shooting because of pressure from recruited from Texas to head his In court papers fi led last month, letters of the licence plate, YZA. At In 2001, one of the trial witnesses police to implicate him. Jones told Conviction Integrity Unit, began Cummings also noted that Combs the trial, two witnesses implicated who implicated him — Andre the judge that lie had haunted her her investigation in April 2018. had rented a vehicle used by him: A homeless man who said he Dawkins, the homeless man — had for two decades. Among her fi rst steps was to get the her brother in a fatal shooting saw Hollman at the scene, and a recanted, saying that he had been But the detective on the case, police fi le on Ho’s killing, which the year before Ho’s killing. neighbour of Hollman’s who said addicted to drugs at the time and David Baker, denied that Jones Tauber had never been able to Court documents also disclosed she had been riding in the SUV with that police had pressured him to had been coerced into signing a access and which he thought might that Combs told Pennsylvania him and others when Hollman and identify Hollman as one of Ho’s statement and testifying. “I don’t have a trove of information to help Innocence Project investigators in another man got out and she heard assailants. But it wasn’t enough to think she really thought she was clear his client. 2018 that she had once gotten rid of a gunshot. overturn the verdict. involved until she thought about it,” Within minutes, he found a 38-calibre gun — the same kind of On the advice of his lawyer, In prison, Hollman tried to the now retired detective testifi ed. something tantalising: a weapon used to kill Ho — because it Hollman didn’t testify at the 1993 keep busy. He learned to draw and Bright didn’t take long to handwritten note of an anonymous “might have had a body on it.” trial. The jury found him guilty of sketched portraits of his family — decide. Within hours of hearing tip that had been called into police Continued to Page 6 6 GULF TIMES Monday, July 22, 2019 COMMUNITY

Continued from Page 5 The court fi lings stated that police seemed to have suspected Combs in the Ho murder at the time, because they included her photo in an array they showed witnesses after the killing. And Dawkins, the homeless man police called as an eyewitness, actually identifi ed Combs as the possible getaway driver. But she has never been charged in the case, and Krasner this week declined to say if his offi ce would consider prosecuting anyone else for Ho’s death. In an interview with The Inquirer at her apartment last Thursday, Combs denied involvement in the killing. She also said she rented a lot of vehicles back in the early 1990s. Tauber said he had always wondered how Combs’ photo came to be part of the photo array shown to witnesses. The anonymous tip was “a big revelation,” he KEY WITNESSES WHO LIED: Deirdre Jones, left, and Andre Dawkins. said, proof that police had once considered her a suspect. In sum, she wrote, Hollman’s savour every moment.” heavy. I thought, ‘Why do I still feel up its re-investigation and Hollman In the court fi lings, Cummings lawyers had proven “numerous As he prepared to leave, Hollman heavy?’” allowed himself to hope, he asked said police had quickly stopped constitutional violations” during said, he felt almost a “weird” sense Some of the weight, he realised, his sister to apply for him to adopt their investigation of Combs “after his prosecution and appeal. of loss after leaving the prison that was people’s expectations. the puppy. discovering there was no link to Bright made no reference to had been his home for a quarter “Not wanting to fail the people “I wanted to bring a life out with Hollman and Jones.” Had they any of that last Monday, when, century. who got me out and the people I left me,” he said. pursued the alternate suspects, she after a hearing that lasted just a In the hours after his sister, in there,” he said. Hollman’s release occurred so said, Hollman may never have been few minutes, she accepted the father, and uncle drove him home, Whatever he chooses to do, he unexpectedly quickly that he had brought to trial. prosecutor’s motion and ruled that Hollman began to realise what said, he is determined to make to leave the 7-month-old puppy Cummings also told Bright in Hollman should immediately be being out means: Going to sleep everyone proud and to make his behind in Luzerne County. The her motion that prosecutors at freed. in silence in his own room. A time in prison mean something. next day, his sister drove up from the time failed to alert the defence Tauber thought it might take a soft mattress. Calls from people And as he shapes his future, he Delaware to get her. Now he’s before the 2012 appeals hearing day to arrange his release. In the he hadn’t seen or heard from in has another fan in his corner. looking forward to taking the puppy that Baker, the detective who took end, it took only hours. decades. Making plans to mow his Working in the prison gym, to the park where he spent his Jones’ statement after the murder, Amid the hugs and handshakes dad’s too-long grass. Sitting out Hollman had watched guys training childhood. was found to have once denied from guards and corrections in the open without fences or time rescued dogs for adoption as part At the prison, they called the dog a suspect his right to a lawyer. offi cers on his way out of prison restraints. of a programme for inmates. He fell Buttons, but he’s renaming her. That information could have been Monday evening, an offi cer told Still, he’s struck by what release for a cute little French Bulldog-pug He’s thinking he’ll call her used to challenge the detective’s Hollman: “What you lost, you’re hasn’t brought him. The morning mix. About a month ago, as the Freedom. — The Philadelphia credibility on the witness stand. never going to get that back. So after he got out, he said: “I still felt Conviction Integrity Unit wrapped Inquirer/TNS

REUNITED: Chester Hollman III, centre, poses with his dad, Chester Hollman, Jr; sister, Deanna Hollman; lawyer, Alan Tauber; and uncle, Joseph Hollman. Monday, July 22, 2019 GULF TIMES 7 COMMUNITY Doha College hosts Learning Festival

Doha College, one of the most long-standing international attainment, music lessons as planning platforms and many The agency of teachers in the field of research, constantly trying schools in Qatar, is a pioneer in many educational fields. Their more. to improve their teaching techniques to inspire the students, latest venture pushing the industry standards was hosting a The findings of their research were shared with an audience to improve their learning, to engage them proactively in their ‘Learning Festival,’ in which teams of primary teachers presented that comprised the teaching staff of Doha College – primary and learning in order to enhance memorisation techniques and the results of their action research projects carried out during secondary – as well as guests from the Ministry of Education, collaboration, as well as the eff ective use of research material, the year. Doha English Speaking School, Swiss International School in has been phenomenal. This will be taken another step forward Every staff member in Doha College Primary became a teacher- Qatar, Newton British School, English Modern School and Doha when we announce the “Education Innovation Forum” in researcher this year, as a means of professional development. Academy. September. Working collaboratively in year groups or departments, they Doha College Principal Dr Steff en Sommer explained the Going forward, action research will be an integral part of undertook an action research investigation into an area of significance of this professional event: “The first ever ‘Learning this forum, and we will invite teachers from other schools practice which they felt had scope for growth, or was a ‘stone in Festival,’ celebrating the successes of action research, could to contribute in order to enrich this growing area of teacher a shoe’. not have come at a better time – just ahead of the unveiling of agency, not only at Doha College but across British schools and The topics of the teachers’ action research listed exposure the Doha College CPD academy “Education Innovation Forum”, Qatari schools in Doha.” to open-ended resources, impact of child-initiated learning, which will be launched in September 2019. The ‘Learning The “Learning Festival” was the initiative of DC primary whole-class feedback strategies, use of concrete materials in Festival’ was an amazing indication of the practice-orientated teacher Kirsten Burnett, who recently presented at the COBIS mathematics, pupil conferencing, parent engagement with research that had been undertaken by primary teachers to “Innovation in Education Conference” that had joined forces with flashcards in languages, impact of physical activity on academic improve their practice. the first ever ResearchED event in the Middle East.

BPS off ers robotics at summer camp

Qatar Social Women organises Festival

Qatar Social Women (QSW) in association with One India Association (OIA) recently organised Mango Festival at Regency Hall of Doha. QSW is a voluntary group of women helping for the uplift of expatriate women in diff erent fields. Many vendors from diff erent Asian countries exhibited items like clothing, The fun-filled summer camp activities in Birla Public and collaboration during the process. jewellery, and food etc. The main attraction of the event, however, was School (BPS) began on June 30. The camp off ers The course follows a set of challenges from a mangoes sponsored by Integrated Enterprises. The mango varieties namely, robotics which is a great learning experience for the beginner to intermediate level. Weeks 1 and 2 focuses , anwar ratol, and badami were displayed at the festival. The tech-savvy students. on components of the robot, programming blocks other sponsors included Radio Urdu 107 FM, Henkel Polybit, SpotOn, Shaheen Robotics introduces students to engineering and and their features. Week 3 and 4 consists of applying Services, Today’s Fashion, Shine Events, RK Closets, Pistachios Restaurant, computing through Lego Wedo 2.0 and EV3 Kits. them to modify given models and program them to Deccan Diwan Restaurant, Karachi Hut and Punjab Restaurant. Students work together in teams to solve challenges solve given challenges. Local singer Mohamed Maqsood entertained the audience with his melodious that integrate science, technology, engineering, and The summer camp will end on August 8, 2019 with performance. RJ Farzana Safdar of Radio 107 FM was the compere of the mathematics. They not only attain critical thinking display of the talents that the students acquired event. Sheeba Zameer, Samreen Zafar and Nazia Ziauddin, off ice-bearers and creative skills but also soft skills like teamwork during the camp. of QSW, thanked all the sponsors and participants for making the event a success. According to organisers, around 8,000 people attended the festival. 8 GULF TIMES Monday, July 22, 2019 COMMUNITY THE D Wall built to separate whites, blacks

STORY-TELLER: Teresa Moon, president of the 8 Mile Community Organisation, at the Birwood Wall, located at the Alfonso Wells Memorial Park in Detroit, Michigan.

in Detroit where they claimed all the rural south to the urban north, Dusen wrote. ... barriers they had been dealing By Kim Kozlowski the blacks migrated to. But I never and its impact on developing the To get a federally backed loan, with all of their lives.” heard anything about the Garden neighbourhood at Eight Mile and the developer approached the Janese Chapman, deputy Homes area. It’s like this place Wyoming. FHA a second time and proposed director of Detroit’s Historic wight Smith never never existed.” City officials will conduct building a six-feet high, one- Designation Advisory Board, said thought much about The wall – known by many an intensive survey of the foot thick wall, perpendicular to the Birwood Wall is an important the six-foot-high wall names, including the Birwood Wall neighbourhood to document the Eight Mile, with blacks living on story to tell. that snakes a half-mile and the Eight Mile Wall – has been history of the area where the wall the east side and the new “white” “This wall still stands, and it through his northwest getting a lot of attention recently, was built. Many African Americans neighbourhood to live on the tells a story,” said Chapman.. Dneighbourhood near Eight Mile. more than 75 years after it was settled there and built homes when west side. The FHA agreed to the “It is probably one of the stories He became aware of it as a built. other Detroit neighbourhoods compromise, Van Dusen wrote. It that is not told enough in the middle schooler in the 1950s, when A Democratic presidential became too crowded. was built just south of Eight Mile city of Detroit or nationwide. classmates talked about which candidate, US Sen. Elizabeth At the time, the neighbourhood to Pembroke Avenue, between ... The neighbourhood really side they lived on. Later, he visited Warren, recently unveiled a was primarily black, but a Birwood and Mendota streets. addresses the struggles and the with neighbours whose homes campaign proposal with the wall developer wanted to build a In an interview, Van Dusen said commitments and the movements included a stretch of the wall in behind her. A Wayne County community nearby exclusively for it surprised him and others that of African Americans in the city of their backyards. Community College District white residents, Van Dusen wrote the community in the shadow Detroit.” But it wasn’t until seven years professor, Gerald Van Dusen, wrote in his book. But banks were not of the wall included residents in Fred White Jr. grew up in the ago – when Smith, 70, started a book, Detroit’s Birwood Wall: issuing loans in majority-black what is known today as Royal Oak neighbourhood on Roselawn Street exploring the history of his Hatred and Healing in the West neighbourhoods, a practice known Township as well as Detroit. It was and remembers his parents taking neighbourhood, known as Garden Eight Mile Community, published as redlining. one square mile of individuals and him, his brother and his sister to Homes – that he learned why last month. The Federal Housing families who were related by blood watch as trucks poured the cement the wall was built in 1941: To The Michigan State Historic Administration rejected the and by other relationships and to create the wall. separate black families living in the Preservation Office is working developer’s plans because the traversed both sides of Eight Mile. At the time, White was 9 years community from white residents to get the wall on the National neighbourhood was defined as “The Birwood Wall really old, and he remembers when the expected to move in. Register of Historic Places and put “hazardous,” according to the attempted to block the Detroit east area was wooded. His dad hunted “I never knew this,” said Smith, a state historical marker at the site. book. side of the wall and, as a symbol, there for pheasants, squirrels and president of the 8 Mile Road Old Meanwhile, the National Park “The FHA was reluctant Royal Oak Township,” he said. rabbits. Timers Club. “And you got people Service last month awarded a to insure bank loans on such “The community was bigger than His parents explained to him today who live more than a block $40,000 federal grant to the City properties because racially mixed just a few blocks east of the wall. and his siblings why the wall was away from the wall, and they don’t of Detroit Historical Designation areas, the agency reasoned, were But (it) was resilient in the face of built, but he didn’t understand the ever know why it’s there. ... I Advisory Board to document the likely to stir confrontation, lead to the obstacles that were thrown up. magnitude. kept hearing so much about Black Great Migration, when millions of violence and jeopardise the fiscal The physical wall was just another ‘We didn’t know anything Bottom and Hastings, the areas African Americans migrated from soundness of the investment,” Van insult. But it symbolised for them about segregation at that time,” Monday, July 22, 2019 GULF TIMES 9 DIVIDE COMMUNITY s in Detroit an important story to tell

SEGREGATION: Children standing in front of half mile concrete wall, left, in Detroit, Michigan in an old photo. This wall was built in August 1941 to separate black families living in the community from white residents expected to move in.

said White, now 88. “They told us to symbolise the reason the wall walk atop the wall as part of their neighbourhood is still home in the metropolitan area show up the wall was built to separate the was built: Because “they didn’t coming of age. mostly to African Americans. to learn about the wall as part of whites from the blacks. ... I didn’t want coloured people in the “The teachers never told us Even though some of Moon’s their curriculum. really have any thoughts about it. neighbourhood,” Miller said. anything about the wall,” Moon neighbours don’t know about the “It used to be kind of funny to There weren’t any demonstrations. “You want to tell the story,” said said. “They never spoke about wall and its significance, it is listed me that people came to see the wall They built the wall and that was Miller, founder of the Artist Village it ... I think they should have online as a travel destination, as a tourist attraction,” Moon said. it.” Detroit in the Old Redford District. said something so we could have attracting tourists from around “For a while, I didn’t understand it, White later came to have a “You don’t want the story to die.” understood it better.” the world. Moon often greets but I understand now. People want deeper understanding of the Teresa Moon, who lives across She had a faint understanding tourists wandering around the this conversation started. significance of the wall and the street from the wall, is another of segregation between whites wall so she can tell them about “This conversation is probably remembers there were other resident who didn’t understand the and blacks because she never saw the neighbourhood. She has met long overdue about the unjust, incidents when blacks were significance of the wall until she white people, except on television people from France, Australia, unfair way people are treated discriminated against in the became a young adult. Growing up, or when they were bused to her Germany and Italy and also because of the colour of their skin.” community. she remembers when kids would junior high school. Today, the watched as kids from high schools – The Detroit News/TN He specifically remembered seeing the Klu Klux Klan burn a cross on Greenlawn Street, one street beyond where he lived. “Some people don’t believe all of this happened on Eight Mile Road,” White said. “People don’t even know that Detroit was one of the racist cities.” The Birwood Wall is a product of policies of the Federal Housing Administration that included redlined maps and discrimination against people of colour, said Jeff Horner, a senior lecturer in the Urban Studies and Planning department at Wayne State University. “We don’t have too many physical manifestations of segregation or separation of races,” Horner said. “There is a lot of that down South. I’m sure civil rights museums have separate drinking fountains and all. But there is not a lot of that in the North. I’m sure that’s why the Birwood Wall captures a lot of people’s imaginations.” For most of its existence, the wall was gray. Then, about a decade ago, Detroit artist Chazz Miller – along with some volunteers in the neighbourhood painted murals along a stretch of the wall facing the Alfonso Wells Memorial Park. The wall includes images of civil rights icons, such as Rose Parks and Harriet Tubman. It also includes many colourful houses PAINTED: A view of the houses on Wells Park on Griggs Street in Northwest Detroit with the Birwood Wall is seen in the background. 10 GULF TIMES Monday, July 22, 2019 COMMUNITY INFOGRAPHIC

Heat oven 1 to 350° F MakingMaking (175° C) ‘bread’‘bread’ G There are many different BAKINE flour kinds of bread, and here Put 1/2 cup POWD is one of the things that 2 of flour in ! makes them so different. each cup YEAST

You’ll need Add 1/2 teaspoon of yeast to one cup, 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder to another and nothing to the third cup • Flour • Dry yeast • Baking powder 3 Put 2 tablespoons • Three cups of warm water in each cup; stir each • Flat baking pan until it becomes • Oven • Spoon sticky dough • Measuring cup and spoons Put the three dough balls on baking pan • Gloves or pads for Put pan in oven for 30 minutes; handling hot objects remove with gloves and let cool • Adult helper Source: The Joy of Cooking Graphic: Helen Lee McComas, Paul Trap What happened? Dough with Baking powder nothing added dough became a became hard little softer, and and dry yeast dough even more soft

These are ways of leavening bread – making it more full of air and better to eat Graphic: TNS Monday, July 22, 2019 GULF TIMES 11 LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE COMMUNITY Upgrade your gym wardrobe and flow with the trend o make workout sessions edgy with a streak of mesh down the interesting, experts suggest side. Layer your mesh tank top/crop an upgrade of gym wardrobe top or jacket over a sports bra to rock with certain essentials. your gym look. Garima Behl Sapra, AGM — Camouflaged joggers: You can T– Lotto, and Samresh Das, Design give a new look to yourself by pairing Manager, Numero Uno, have a few camo joggers with a plain basic suggestions for you. T-shirt. — Colour-blocked sweatpants: — Denim joggers: Designed as a Experiment with your gym leggings loungewear option, jean joggers have by playing with colours, and pair them now become a gym essential, owing to with bold and solid shades to stand out the comfort they offer. As they come and create a statement. Enhance your in a stretchable jean fabric that gives personal style and individuality with an easy flow of movement they can be the never-ending variety of designs of worn throughout the day, especially gym leggings. when you have plans with your friends — Neon sneakers: True beauty of right after hitting the gym. athleisure wear is that it’s practical — Head bands: Only a gym goer and stylish. Neon season is here would know how irritating hair to stay. Step out of your neutral becomes when they keep falling on comfort zone and embrace the bright your forehead, while you are doing colours, because being basic is boring. cardio. That’s why headbands are a Combine function and fashion, and must-have in the gym wardrobe. It not treat yourself with some funky and only keeps your hair in place, but also bold stylish sneakers to grab the absorbs sweat. This functional gear eyeballs. comes in varied patterns and colours — Mesh panel tank tops & crop tops: that look chic and trendy at the same Your basic black leggings can become time. —IANS

ARIES TAURUS GEMINI March 21 — April 19 April 20 — May 20 May 21 — June 20

Something or someone may prod you to take action today, Aries. You might experience a great deal of emotional confusion, Taurus. It will be a challenge to keep your emotions on an even keel today, It may be best if you beat them to it and motivate yourself. Break There’s a debate brewing inside you, and you’re having a hard time Gemini. Conflict may be brewing and you might fear it could get out away from the herd and go wherever you want to go. It’s likely that deciding whether to be practical or more fanciful. Looking to others of hand. Everything will work out. Don’t add to the pressure. The you will run into conflict regarding an issue you feel strongly about. for help may only add to the problem, so take other people’s advice best solution is to escape into reverie and come back to Earth when People may be stubborn, so prepare for a stalemate rather than any with a grain of salt. If nothing seems clear, wait out the storm and the storm has passed. Don’t try to untangle the knots if they won’t sort of resolution. proceed when you have a better handle on the weather. give. CANCER LEO VIRGO June 21 — July 22 July 23 — August 22 August 23 — September 22

Tension may arise today, Cancer. It’s possible that you’re either Yesterday’s trajectory may run into trouble today, Leo. Your Try to align your mind with your emotions today, Virgo. It’s possible too dreamy or too practical to deal eff ectively with the issue. It’s intrinsically dreamy nature is dragging down the action you initiated. that a powerful yet subtle force is slowly pulling you off track. If so, important to strike a balance. The toughest part will be finding This conflict could create tension that will be diff icult to resolve. Your you should think about taking a break and doing some fast-paced others who agree with you. The people you’re in conflict with aren’t emotions may deceive you, so try not to get pulled off course by a physical activity to get your heart rate up and blood pumping. likely to budge from their position. You may have to be flexible in passing whim. Try to keep your feelings grounded. Jogging will help clear your head and enable you to think more order to reach a compromise. rationally about decisions you need to make. LIBRA SCORPIO SAGITTARIUS September 23 — October 22 October 23 — November 21 November 22 — December 21

An emotional issue could be rubbing you the wrong way, Libra. Your artistic side wants to take to the airwaves in some way, Scorpio. It may be apparent that what was so light and active yesterday is Your impulse is to escape. Try to do so in a healthy manner. Go see a Perhaps you should consider building a website or becoming a running into a few roadblocks today, Sagittarius. You’re suddenly movie or read a book. Don’t fall prey to the temptation to indulge in commentator on a local radio show. Your dreams need a vehicle in heading into a brick wall with some of the projects you’ve been food. This will only push the problems away temporarily. When they order to reach their audience. Find the means. You have the ability working on. Suddenly there’s a more reserved tone to things and resurface again, they may be even harder to handle. to inspire a many people. Take this ability seriously and make use of you may lose precious momentum. Use this time to back off and your creative talents. reassess the wisdom of your direction. CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES December 22 — January 19 January 20 — February 18 February 19 — March 20

The pace of things is likely to slow compared to what it was There may be dreaminess about your emotions today, Aquarius, Little voices whisper in your ear and ask you to take flight and join yesterday, Capricorn. This is probably best. Take this time to plan which could keep you from focusing on the task at hand. The them in the clouds, Pisces. There’s tension between what your heart and stabilise. You’ve ploughed, sown, and reaped the fields. Now aspects dictate that people may be stubborn and confused – and and mind tell you. They’re pulling you in very diff erent directions. stop and assess what you’ve produced and decide what to do with you’re likely to be one of them. Your mind may seem to be going in Don’t be surprised if today’s energy leaves you confused by sunset. it. Take things one step at a time and don’t get ahead of yourself. Be two diff erent directions and you aren’t sure which way to proceed. Don’t stress about making hard decisions or commitments. patient and things will naturally come your way. Try to incorporate more of your dreams into your waking reality. 12 GULF TIMES Monday, July 22, 2019 COMMUNITY CARTOONS/PUZZLES

Wordsearch Adam

Pooch Cafe

Accord Splice Dovetail Coalesce Bind Unite Harmonize Concur Cleave Adhere Stick Fuse Cohere Blend Wed Join Conform Marry Agree Twine Coincide Cement

Codeword Every letter of the alphabet is used at least once. Squares with the same number in have the same letter in. Work out which number represents which letter.

Garfield

Sudoku

Bound And Gagged

Sudoku is a puzzle based on a 9x9 grid. The grid is also divided into nine (3x3) boxes. You are given a selection of values and to complete the puzzle, you must fill the grid so that every column, every anone is repeated. Monday, July 22, 2019 GULF TIMES 13 PUZZLES COMMUNITY

Super Cryptic Clues Colouring

Across Down 1 Veg giving little brother dreadful 2 Greek wine - some clarets in colic (8) Athens? (7) 6 Commanding off icer’s lettuce (3) 3 Popular holiday destination 9 Say it’s complete (5) caught four out (5) 10 Storm caused by trial involving 4 Not in place for commencement English politician (7) (6) 11 Gourmet putting dog in eastern 5 Some slimmers eat duck (7) dish (7) 6 A hundred take it easy on the 12 Trade turnover assessed (5) ridge (5) 13 Make youngster’s first drink (6) 7 Saturday edition fully filled (5) 15 Faulty service by prince can be 8 Splendid, splendid bishop (6) deadly (6) 14 Powerful family, extremely dirty 19 Material needed by witness at and disgusting (7) inquest (5) 16 Old poet, French one, hit in 21 Without weapons, like Venus de baseball stadium (4,3) Milo? (7) 17 Book shelf’s right underneath (6) 23 A lassie turned out to have other 18 One with no time to spare, we names (7) may hear, in the country (6) 24 Remote control easily starts 19 Loose bit of lettuce put in bag (5) funny show (5) 20 Unforeseen development for 25 Christopher’s equipment (3) Oliver? (5) 26 Nigel and Ray trained a young 22 Allowed to ignore starter? That’s racehorse (8) terrible! (5) Answers

Wordsearch Codeword Today’s Solutions 14 GULF TIMES Monday, July 22, 2019 COMMUNITY HOLLYWOOD A favreau-able verdict With The Lion King and The Mandalorian, director Jon Favreau cements status as a Disney MVP, writes Josh Rottenberg

eading into this week’s opening of his photorealistic CGI remake of The Lion King, you might Hassume that director Jon Favreau would be coasting on a wave of pure “hakuna matata.” After all, if you’re following in the footsteps of one of the most successful and beloved fi lms of the past quarter century, animated or otherwise, what could there really be to worry about? The morning after the fi lm’s world premiere in Los Angeles this month, Favreau admitted that, to some degree, he felt like he was stepping into the pop culture lion’s den. “Everybody has an opinion about The Lion King,” he said. “They grew up with it. They could like The Lion King and not like our Lion King. There’s a lot of potential outcomes here.” With projections of a domestic opening weekend haul of upward of $170 million, it’s a safe bet that, despite mixed reviews, The Lion King will easily dominate the box offi ce competition much as the original fi lm did 25 years ago. Still, when you’re working with one of the most valuable crown jewels of the Disney empire, the stakes are dizzyingly high. No-one knows that better than the 52-year-old Favreau, who, over the past decade, has become an integral player in nearly every arm of Disney’s fi lm empire, an empire SPOTLIGHT: Director actor Jon Favreau touring with his remake of The Lion King, in Hills last week. whose dominance over the studio landscape The Lion King is expected to extend. For Favreau, becoming a creative force within Disney has been one As the director of 2008’s smash Iron Man ( released by Paramount), unexpected twist among many in an unlikely career that has taken him Favreau helped set the table for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, from shambling indie-comedy stalwart to blockbuster director going on to direct 2010’s Iron Man 2, executive produce the Avengers of the fi rst people I approached, Writing Swingers circle of life.” what became The Force Awakens. fi lms and act in seven Marvel because Jon likes to have fun For Favreau, becoming a creative Favreau came into the studio While that job ultimately went superhero fi lms as Harold “Happy” attempting the impossible.” force within Disney has been one somewhat through the side door. to JJ Abrams, he maintained his Hogan, including the Sony/ The Lion King star Donald Glover, unexpected twist among many in When Iron Man was released in relationship with Lucasfi lm and a Marvel collaboration Spider-Man: who voices Simba — the young lion an unlikely career that has taken 2008, Disney was still more than few years later came to Kennedy Far From Home. Having directed who must challenge his villainous him from shambling indie-comedy a year away from its $4-billion with the idea of a TV series set with 2016’s critical and commercial hit uncle, Scar (Chiwetel Ejiofor), for stalwart to blockbuster director. purchase of Marvel Entertainment. shades of a Western that would The Jungle Book, he is bringing that the throne after the death of his When the original Lion King Though he hasn’t directed a be set after the events of Return fi lm’s Oscar-winning visual eff ects father, Mufasa (a returning James came out in 1994, the Queens, Marvel fi lm since Iron Man 2, of the Jedi and centred on a lone to The Lion King. And he has created Earl Jones) — says that is precisely NY, native was living in a modest he has continued to be a trusted gunfi ghter in the outer reaches of an original Star Wars TV series, what Favreau has done in marrying LA apartment with no TV and creative voice within the cinematic the Star Wars galaxy. The Mandalorian, that will debut cutting-edge digital tools to the trying to capture his life as a universe he helped establish. “My “Jon’s idea to do The in November with the launch of fi lm’s timeless mythic story. struggling young actor on the connection is to the Marvel family, Mandalorian was fully formed Disney’s streaming service, Disney+. “Jon did something kind of fringes of Hollywood in the just trying to be of service, off ering the minute we sat down to begin “I don’t think it’s a surprise to incredible that I feel is good for our semi-autobiographical script advice when asked but often not our conversation,” Kennedy said. fi nd Jon at the helm of many of the cultural environment,” Glover said. for Swingers. In one scene knowing exactly what is unfolding,” “What I loved about that fi rst most important stories being told “He was able to bring some of the Favreau wrote, a fellow wannabe he said. meeting was that we didn’t spend inside Disney,” Lucasfi lm President best parts of the past forward, which actor, eventually played by Ron “It’s like being a grandparent. any time discussing possibilities. Kathleen Kennedy, who has known is what The Lion King is about at the Livingston, laments that the only They’re the ones who have the We dove right into talking about Favreau since he broke out as the very end. It’s about learning from audition he can get is to wear a sleepless nights and you’re the one how we were going to make it, what writer and star of the 1996 indie hit your elders and, when they leave, Goofy suit at Disneyland. “Hey, who gets to show up on the holidays new technology we could develop Swingers, told The Times via e-mail. taking the good parts and refi ning at least it’s Disney,” Favreau’s with the presents and just be there around his ideas and what new “Walt Disney was quoted them and making them even better character tells him by way of proudly if needed.” talent we could bring with us to try as saying, ‘It’s kind of fun to do and sharper so that your family can encouragement. After Disney’s 2012 acquisition and achieve something fresh, new the impossible,’ and I think that do the same. … I think in the future “And look at me now!” Favreau of Lucasfi lm, Favreau was one and unique. I loved his enthusiasm perfectly describes Jon. … When people will look back and be like, ‘Oh, said with a laugh. “Maybe I knew of a handful of directors whose and his fearlessness.” I took over Lucasfi lm, he was one that was really important.’” something. I was plugged in to the names were in the mix to helm — Los Angeles Times/TNS Monday, July 22, 2019 GULF TIMES 15 BOLLYWOOD COMMUNITY ‘Asthmatic’ Priyanka enjoys a smoke on yacht AKSHAY vs JOHN Bharat Kumar vs Mr Bharat

UNDER FIRE: Priyanka Chopra.

Actress Priyanka Chopra, who had earlier opened up about suff ering from asthma, was seen enjoying a smoke on a yacht with her family. In a photograph doing the rounds on social media, Priyanka is seen smoking a cigarette, while her mother Madhu Chopra and her pop-singer husband Nick Jonas are seen enjoying a cigar on a yacht ride. Social media users took no time to troll Priyanka, who last year had shared an ad campaign where she was seen talking about how asthma did not stop her from achieving the highs in her career. The actress, who had supported an anti- pollution campaign during Diwali, was also called out for enjoying fi reworks during her wedding in December last year. One user tweeted: “So sweet - Priyanka Chopra trying to cure the asthma she developed on Diwali.” COMPETITORS: Akshay and John have emerged as the stars with a long-term plan to appropriate the image of the patriotic “Dear Indians please don’t burst crackers for Diwali since hero in modern-day Bollywood. Priyanka Chopra has Asthma,” another wrote. One person questioned on her being a role model. around this time, with a newfound love for one’s country The user wrote: “Thank you Priyanka Chopra for By Vinayak Chakravorty pervading across society. Backing projects that celebrated encouraging smoking. Present generation needs role models the Tricolour spirit could only spell a win-win situation like you.”— IANS for John. All four John’s releases over 2018 and 2019 have op goes the patriotism war at the Bollywood box- belonged to the patriotism genre. Parmanu: The Story Of offi ce on Independence Day, for the second year in Pokhran, Satyamev Jayate, and the SRK thanks co-stars for making a row. ’s is all set to upcoming Batla House are all fi lms that garnered lucrative him, son Aryan sound good go into a head-on clash with Batla House, starring returns casting John as the ultimate patriot. . The season of the Tricolour is set There is, however, a diff erence in the fl avour of on- Pto get a dash of the fi lmi hue once again on August 15, 2019, screen ‘deshbhakti’ that these two actors project. Akshay’s after Akshay’s Gold and Johns Satyamev Jayate fought for superstardom, since his Khiladi days, has mostly banked on box-offi ce spoils on the same date last year. projecting a good-natured do-gooder. He has successfully In an era when image logistics defi ne stardom more than rolled that quality into his patriotic roles as well. anything else, Independence Day has been the toast of So, if Akshay’s protagonist Ishar Singh in Kesari is not Bollywood biggies out to milk the ‘deskhbhakti’ genre for a afraid to lay down his life in the battle of Saragarhi, the while now. ’s Chak De! India opened in the aff able Tapan Das of Gold is ready to spend even the last I-Day weekend of 2007. The Ajay Devgan-starrer Singham paisa from his pocket for the betterment of the Indian Returns booked the date in 2014. ’s patriotic hockey team, which would go on to win the gold medal at spy thriller, Ek Tha Tiger, is widely remembered as an Eid the Olympics in 1948. He was the billionaire who selfl essly blockbuster. The fi lm’s release date was incidentally August rescued countless Indians from war-torn Kuwait of 1990 in 15, 2012. Airlift, and he was the Navy Commander who would put at THANKFUL: Shah Rukh Khan and son Aryan. Akshay and John, more than the others, have, however, stake even personal happiness to protect the nation’s offi cial emerged as the stars with a long-term plan to appropriate secrets. Superstar Shah Rukh Khan, overwhelmed by the response the image of the patriotic hero in modern-day Bollywood. In Pad Man and Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, he shifted focus he received for the Hindi version of Disney’s The Lion King, The face-off between the two actors is not just about to rural development, through issues of hygiene and has thanked his co-actors for making him and son Aryan Independence Day box-offi ce supremacy. The last man cleanliness, and in Baby, the actor was seen heading a near- sound good in the live action fi lm. standing also gets to keep the sobriquet of Bollywood’s new- impossible mission to bring a top terrorist to book. “Happy to hear that so many are enjoying The Lion King. age — “Mr Bharat” — which Manoj Kumar enjoyed back in All these roles comprise a seamless build-up to Mission A special thanks to my co-actors and friends for bringing the day for his steady stream of fi lms that crafted melodrama Mangal, where Akshay plays the mission director who fi ghts this fi lm to life in Hindi. Sanjai Mishra, Shreyas Talpade and out of heavy doses of patriotism and nationalism. against all odds to make ISRO’s Mars Orbit Mission happen. the amazing Ashish Vidyarthi and Asrani sahib. Thanks for Akshay was the smart fi rst mover, in this context. When Each of the actor’s roles has seen him address subjects making me and Aryan sound good,” Shah Rukh tweeted on Rustom raked in over Rs120 crores domestically upon release that redefi ne what the archetypal Bollywood messiah’s Sunday. The Lion King made Rs13.17 crore business on its in the Independence Day weekend of 2016, and went on responsibility towards society must be. Interestingly, opening day in India. It opened across 2,140 screens on July to win him a National Award as Best Actor, the superstar however, each of these roles have had a larger-than-life 19 in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. realised that the box-offi ce value of a film celebrating hangover. Akshay’s brand of patriotism is tailormade to let The fi lm is director Jon Favreau’s retelling of the 1994 ‘deshbhakti’ invariably multiplies if it is released on a date him retain his appeal as a mass superstar fi rst and foremost. Disney classic of the same name, with photo-realistic, that celebrates India itself. John Abraham, on the other hand, has looked at shades of computer-generated animation, and it brings back the Most of Akshay’s recent fi lms, soaked in the Tricolour grey, perhaps aware that he could never match Akshay’s sway adventures of Simba, set to succeed his father Mufasa as King hue, have therefore settled for either January 26 or August among the larger audience. of the Pride Lands. 15 as release dates. Having scored with hits such as Kesari, John’s fi lms toasting pop patriotism cater primarily to It narrates the tale of Simba rising to the occasion despite Gold, Pad Man, Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, Rustom, Airlift and the urban market. His heroes dwell in domains that are several attempts by his uncle Scar to bring him down. Baby, Akshay was well on his way to wresting the tag of more sleek than Akshay’s. It is the hush-hush world of spies The star-studded voice cast of the original Hollywood Bollywood’s resident master of pop patriotism. (Romeo Akbar Walter), and the classifi ed realm of nuclear version includes Donald Glover, Beyonce Knowles, Seth Except, John Abraham had other plans. testing (Parmanu: The Story Of Pokhran). It is a world where Rogen, Alfre Woodard, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Billy Eichner, John For John, it all perhaps started by chance, when his Bollywood’s eternal favourite theme of cop corruption gets Kani and John Oliver. Actor James Earl Jones is also reprising cerebral political thriller Madras Cafe, directed by Shoojit a new-age twist in violence and character development his role of Mufasa from the original. Sircar, became a multiplex upon releasing a week (Satyamev Jayate and the upcoming Batla House). Back home, the Hindi dubbed version cashes in on Shah after the Independence Day of 2013. The actor who, at that It is a fascinating battle for Bollywood’s crown of Rukh Khan’s stardom. SRK has lent his voice to Mufasa in the point, was looking to shed the image of Bollywood beefcake, patriotism, between Akshay’s earthy Bharat Kumar and Hindi version, and his son to Simba. — IANS found relief in the patriotism genre. John’s dapper Mr Bharat. The desi box-offi ce, of course, The socio-cultural milieu of the nation was also changing looks big enough for both to survive and thrive. — IANS 16 GULF TIMES Monday, July 22, 2019 COMMUNITY Healing wheels: Thai couple turns to trolleys to help the less able For many disabled people in Thailand, even a basic necessity such as a wheelchair is out of their price range. Now, one couple has an idea to get them moving, and it’s catching on, writes Hathai Techakitteranun

GENEROUS: The non-profit charity of a young Thai couple is giving modified trolleys away for free to disabled people and others in need who cannot aff ord to buy a proper wheelchair.

ittle children are often happy to dollars) each and modifying them, which The online reaction to the prototype was from used shopping carts. At first, they be carted around in shopping mainly involved cutting and welding. The unexpectedly positive, with 3 million views bought them. Then, when the project trolleys together with their sides are bent and shaped into arm rests recorded in just a few days. became better known, they got the trolleys parents’ groceries. Some adults, with cushions and a brake attached. “Then requests from people in need for free from businesses and other people looking to lighten up a trip to the “I didn’t know what to do at first. It started to pour in, and I decided to join the wishing to contribute. supermarket,L might even enjoy coasting was trial and error. But in two weeks, we project,” said 35-year-old Atisanun. The help does not only come in the form along the aisles on them when no one is finished them and posted the photo on our For the past two years, the couple has of material donations. Many have also watching. company’s Facebook page,” said Apichai, received up to 30 requests per month from expressed an interest in helping the couple But few would see shopping trolleys as a who co-founded an advertising agency with the relatives of bedridden patients, sick to make the wheelchairs. About once every serious way of getting around. his girlfriend, which promoted the couple’s elderly people and children with special two months, a date is set with a group of Thai designer Apichai Inthutsingh and separate wheelchair project in a post on needs. volunteers to make a few dozen wheelchairs his girlfriend Atisanun Uengwiriyasakun Facebook. They have made almost 200 wheelchairs in Bangkok. “Whenever I go out delivering are different: They saw much more the wheelchairs, I am more motivated to potential in the everyday items, turning keep doing it. The look on their faces is them into basic wheelchairs. Their non- everything,” said Atisanun. profit charity gives modified trolleys away “They look like children who got new for free to disabled people and others in toys. For me, it is just a wheelchair. For need who cannot afford to buy a proper them, it’s like gold. I remember one time wheelchair. a man cried after getting our wheelchair “A few years ago, my company was because he no longer had to carry his father working with a supermarket. When I saw on foot for two kilometres to a hospital,”she the shopping carts, I got an idea about added. turning them into wheelchairs,” said But the charity project is not without 44-year-old Apichai. criticism. Some social media users have “At that time, I didn’t know yet what my pointed out that the couple lack the idea could do. But half a year later, I went sufficient medical knowledge to design on a meditation retreat. Then, it occurred something more suitable to patients’ needs to me that many disabled people are poor and the fact that the wheelchair cannot be and in need of wheelchairs,” he added. self-propelled. There are about 2 million people with “Our wheelchairs are aimed at those with disabilities in Thailand, according to the caretakers who can push them from behind. Thai Health Promotion Foundation. Over But of course, we welcome constructive 40 percent of them have no job to support criticism and are looking into ways to themselves. improve the wheelchairs,” said Atisanun, A basic wheelchair, like the ones provided adding that a collaboration has been set up in Thai hospitals, costs at least 2,000 baht with an engineering professor to come up (65 dollars), but better models range from with better designs. 12,000-55,000 baht. “As long as there are people in need, and Apichai started with his idea by buying THE BEGINNING: The project started with Thai designer Apichai buying two second-hand trolleys materials to make the wheelchairs, we’ll two second-hand trolleys for 1,200 baht (39 for 1,200 baht (39 dollars) each and modifying them, which mainly involved cutting and welding. keep making them,” said Apichai. – DPA