Mahlia S. Lon
I often wondered why Sufi poets retold the tragic tales of Muslim lovers who rebelled against their families, met in stealth, eloped and were punished, given that goes against our society’s strictures and constraints. During my research, I discovered that one of the main reasons is because the heroines from our part of the world have historically not been passive, whimpering Misses like the quintessential western “damsel in distress,” but played a dynamic, central role in the story. They bravely spoke up and acted against their forced marriages, and reclaimed their Islamic right to have a say in their choice of husband. Some girls are still denied that here, as are some women denied their right of divorce, but self-determination is culturally and religiously ingrained in us as opposed to what certain segments of society would have you believe. Read the Memorable Romance of Mirza Sahiban for further elucidation.
This issue of GT is chock-a-block with fashion features ranging from Summer Trends to Resort Wear to Fall/Winter Wedding Wear. In addition, Islamabad based artist, Raja Changez Sultan believes that we most easily express our emotions through Art. He should know he started his career working in a psychiatric hospital in the U.S. and went on to make a name for himself producing atmospheric paintings accompanied by corresponding poems, the process known as Ekphrasis.
Telling you stories no one else is telling, we bring you this issue of GT.
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