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Ever since I remember I was always concerned about my reputation. I didn't have a bad character, so why was I so worried about my reputation? I believe it may have been due to the fact that my character may have been good, but it was weak. I always looked for outside approval because I didn't think my own approval mattered. Too many women believe that. Especially women from our culture. Some women figure out that this belief is wrong on their own, others (such as I) need to go through turmoil before they realize it, and unfortunately, many never do.

Family. I never realized the importance of a KHANdan until I arrived in college. Sure, there is a lot of freedom, and – don’t get me wrong – I LOVE it. But, there are times when I just want to go home. I just want to smell the biryani that my mom is cooking, hear my dad shout for joy as the Pakistani team surprisingly wins a cricket match, watch my sister turn pages of The Hunger Games, or give my little brother a hug for saying he missed me.

Noted journalist and Dawn editor Shagufta Naaz recounts how it was growing up in Karachi in the 70s & 80s. “It was a dreary place, with no concept of Internet, cell phones, malls or fast food franchises.” We all remember “crabbing, the beach, Funland, videogame arcades, Tit Bits book stall...and the VCR!” Until “2006, that became the year of the revival of cinema; the year when Shoaib Mansoor delivered his superb debut, Khuda Ke Liye. Suddenly going to the cinema was the in thing to do.”

Salman Ahmad of Junoon collaborates with Peter Gabriel to Open Your Eyes

I recently caught up with Salman Ahmad of Junoon. It so happened he was about to release his brand new single for Pakistan, Open Your Eyes – a cause close to heart. Not only that, this song was a collaboration with none other than Peter Gabriel, who was the frontman and founder of one of my favorite British pop-rock bands of the 80s, Genesis! Before he knew what had hit him (and considering we go way back), I had roped him in to do a candid one-on-one exclusive for Our Desi World.

Here is our little tête à tête about Open Your Eyes and other things that are keeping Salman up… and going.

Travails and Triumphs of Two Pakistani Women

Meet Nausheen Dadahboy, a Pakistani-American film-maker whose first instinct after hearing about the catastrophic earthquake in Pakistan was to get there!

She had not imagined undertaking such a project when she was studying Film and Video Production at the California State University at Long Beach, nor did she know that she would be shooting a film in the remote areas of Pakistan even before starting on the MFA degree program in Cinematography from the American Film Institute that she later completed.

California Foodie Interview

Recently Our Desi World spotted Zareen Khan on Facebook in a photo album where she was giving step by step cooking lessons to local enthusiasts and foodies in California. After a little research we were impressed with her business model. Our Desi World went on to interview entrepreneur Zareen Khan of Curry Village Foods and asked her how she balances home life and business with such success.

We also asked her to share one of her favorite recipes and Zareen happily obliged with this mouth watering dessert recipe for Flan or Caramel Custard with Orange Zest.

Here is Zareen chatting with ODW.

Desis in the USA are a peculiar species. They are rampant and they flock together. They are also easy to spot – if you know what we mean ;)  Enjoy these crowd-sourced tips on how to recognize that not-so-rare breed of honest-to-goodness, down-to-earth, true-blue Desi in Amreeka!

It was just another day in November 1999 when Shabina Mustafa’s maid convinced her to convert her garage into a school for the children of the basti. “I told her, well, you clean out the garage – it was full of junk – and then we’ll see.” Thus began the one of the most inspiring stories to come out of Karachi.

Say Karachi and breakfast in the same breath and the first words that come to mind are halwa puri (ok, anda paratha works too.) Anyone who remembers the Karachi of 10 years ago probably cherishes memories of a feast of piping puris, spicy chick pea curry and the extremely orange suji ka halwa topped off with a cup of doodh patti which could all be packed and taken home or eaten right there, off tin plates, at a rickety table at your neighbourhood dhaba.

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