MIDNIGHT MELODY

By Carlyle Laurie

One in the morning
Sleep is so far,
Darkness surrounds us,
Apart from the star

The star guides the shepherds,
Who move in the dark
It guides the old traveler
Gives light to the lark.

The noise is murmur
It’s a chorus of snores
Apart from sleep talk
And the old creaking doors

The wind sounds like music
as it hustles the trees
Making them sway
Like the good ‘ol trapeze

The world has no worries
As it dreams its own dreams
Some dreaming of princes,
Some dreaming of queens

The world is so silent
There’s so much of peace
But come early morning
And we’ll be screeching like geese

What if?

Carlyle Laurie

What if the world as you knew it, was just a mirage?
Would you lose faith?

What if your reality, was just fiction?
Would you still believe in yourself?

What if your every aspiration, was pushing reality?
Would you still aspire?

What if your every dream, turned into reality?
Would you daydream?

What if your every possession, was owned by another?
Would you still possess?

What if your every attribute, was attributed to your neighbor?
Would you lose self confidence?

What if your every belief was proved wrong?
Would you still believe?

What if your every hero, turned into a villain?
Would you still idolize?

What if your every idea was groundbreaking?
Would you win a Nobel?

What if your every act of kindness was ridiculed?
Would you be mean?

What if your religion was challenged?
Would you lose faith?

What if your act of charity was chastised?
Would you remain chaste?

All questions, whose answers are worth pondering

Just how noble is the Noble?

Carlyle Laurie

With U.S President Barack Obama winning the 2009 Noble Prize for Peace, questions ought to be raised about the ‘Noblest prize of them all’.

A statement by the Nobel Committee states, "Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future."

At the risk of sounding cynical, Obama is a man currently leading two wars, both in Iraq & Afghanistan. He’s been in the White House for less than a year and his rhetoric still hasn’t transcended into much action on the ground.

Among those who have won the coveted prize are names whose work has helped humanity for decades on end.

Mother Teresa (1979), Nelson Mandela (1993), Mikhail Gorbachev (1990), to me that’s what deserves a Nobel.

Not a leader who’s gone from absolute obscurity to the White House.

To be fare, the President from Chicago has made a sincere attempt to ‘right the wrongs’ done by his predecessor George W Bush.

For one ordering the closure of Guantanamo Bay, promising to end combat operations by 2011. Opening up communication channels with the Arab world and working to eliminate the risk of Nuclear weapons.

If he succeeds in achieving even half for what he has promised, his ‘nobility’ will not be questioned. But until then it’s debatable.

It’s like rewarding a child in school, even before his results are announced.
Obama isn’t the first U.S President to win the prize, Jimmy Carter won it in 2002 for his ‘decades’ of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts and advance democracy.

Again the defining term is ‘decades’. Carter worked for decades.

This year’s decision by the Nobel committee, could belittle the work done by previous winners.

One only hopes this award pushes the world’s most powerful man to come clean on his promises.

INDIA'S SPORTING HEROES, TREATED LIKE VILLAINS

Carlyle Laurie

PT Usha, India’s answer to Australia’s Cathy Freeman, India’s answer to America’s Maurice Greene, India’s answer to China’s Liu Xiang.

A legend in her own right, the queen of the Indian track in the 80’s.

Yet, with all her past exploits – the sprint queen was reduced to tears in Bhopal at the National Open Athletics Championship, after the organizers failed to give her decent accommodation for the stay.

“I have no clue where would I go. I was invited for the event but then I am not being provided with a room. The only problem is I have no clue where would we go,” she said.

The irony of Indian sport, ‘use and abuse’. It’s not surprising then, that Indian sport (barring a few) is still in its umbilical stage for decades on end.

Our cricketers treated like demigod’s, like they are the only sportsmen worthy, with earnings hitting the stratosphere.

The ‘buck of responsibility’ stops there, it seems.

Our heroes who give their all – forgotten in an instant, sometimes even before they hang up their boots.

Shushil & Vijender Kumar are the best examples. Both won medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, both did the nation proud.

Yet less than a year after their win, neither were honoured with the Padma Shri (an award to recognize distinguished contribution in various spheres).

The Govt opted for Actor Akshay Kumar instead. I ask, what’s Kumar done in the last year that eclipses even the contribution of our Olympic heroes – with all due respect, his contribution fades in comparison.

And we ask, why isn’t India producing a champion sprinter? A champion Hockey team. A champion Soccer team. The answer lies above.

A failure to even respect our sportsmen is reason enough for a youngster to opt for an MBA or a career in Medicine or even in the media.

The ‘why be used and abused’ stigma it seems is here to stay. Why practice for hours on end to master a sport – and be forgotten in an instant.

The sad, but very real story of Indian sport.

WHAT’S CHINA & BRAZIL HAVE THAT INDIA DOESN’T?

Carlyle Laurie

India, China and Brazil.

Three of the world’s fastest developing nations.

But China and Brazil have something India can’t realistically achieve in the near future -- The Olympic Games.

Again, they have the Olympic Games. We have the Commonwealth Games, sense the difference!

Being an Indian, do I have a complex about this? Damn well I do!!

If Beijing announced itself to the world by its ‘jaw-dropping’ spectacle in 2008, I bet my bottom dollar, come 2016, Brazil will use the very platform to catapult itself into the spotlight.

What then for India? Where do we stand? When will it be our turn to ‘eat the pie’?

Given the lackadaisical, egoistic, pompous way the Indian IOC and Govt is going about preparing for the Commonwealth Games. Indian’s Olympic dream will remain just that, a dream.

Be it Beijing ’08, London ’12 or now Rio ’16. All countries have put their ‘best foot forward’ doing their homework, making the world believe they deserved it.

In China’s case they out-did themselves. London and Rio’s attempts to woo the world have paid off thanks to their delegations efforts.

Call me an eternal pessimist, but I ask again. If India ‘ever’ bids. Will the world actually believe? My heart says yes, but my mind says no, due to the lack of will.

What will?

Though it’s a cliche, the answer is, ‘political will’.

For us our litmus test is now a year away. A year which will tell us if Suresh Kalmadi can change the promises, into reality. If all goes well, this small step could lead to bigger accolades. Hopefully, an Indian Olympics, in my lifetime.

Shortcuts: Become a Bollywood star

By Carlyle Laurie for CNN

If you think getting into Hollywood is "Mission Impossible" then why not try breaking into "Bollywood" -- the booming Indian film business -- instead. Here's how to get started.

BollyWhat?: Before you rush out to your nearest travel agent to book your ticket to India, celebrity and acclaim, spend some time learning a little more about it. In a nutshell, Bollywood is, as the name suggests, India's answer to Hollywood, famous for its all-singing, all dancing spectaculars. Based in Mumbai, formerly Bombay, it's actually the world's biggest film industry, churning out more than 200 films a year for hundreds of millions of fans worldwide.

Learn Hindi: Assuming you've set your heart on a leading role then you're going to have to put in the hours learning some Hindi dialogue. So it would be wise to learn a bit of the language before embarking on your mission to become a star. It's not impossible though, as English actress Rachel Shelley found while filming for the Oscar-nominated "Lagaan" in 2001. Shelly said "I gave up my millennium holiday to learn Hindi." Another British actress, Alice Patten, interviewed about her role "Rang De Basanti" said, "I made a huge effort to sound as good as it could be."

Master the moves: It's true -- no Bollywood film is complete without song and dance, with around six or seven musical sequences included in each film. Many Bollywood aficionados care more about the dance scenes than the plot. "The music is what gets people to the theatres," writes author R. Almeida. So if you're really interested in making it big -- you'd better be prepared to "shake your bon bon" and get "dirty dancing" to the tunes of India's favorite composers.

Be born into the business: Like any other job, you can't expect to become the boss when you start -- unless your father owns the company off course. Family connections never did anyone any harm in Bollywood so be prepared to compete with those whose relatives are already in the business, giving them a head start over you. This isn't only restricted to actors but also to careers in directing and producing. Even legendary director and producer Yash Chopra only broke into the industry as a young actor thanks to the patronage of his filmmaker brother, B.R. Chopra. "My brother gave me a chance in 1958," Chopra recalled to CNN. "I had two or three chances to become a hero or an actor but I had it completely fixed thing in my mind that I would become a director.

Start small: If you don't have a brother, sister, father or mother in the film industry already then one way through the door could be through extras work. With dozens of studios dotted around Mumbai's Juhu district there's usually someone on the look out for some backdrop filler. Scouts often seek out tourists and travelers around the Gateway of India early in the morning. It may not be the most glamorous or rewarding part of the industry but the experience will be something you're never likely to forget.

A tribute to young Steven Anderson

-- Carlyle Laurie

He ate, drank, slept and lived soccer and minutes after scoring the winning goal - he died.

That’s not a figment of my imagination, but reality.

A story of 18-year-old Steven Anderson, a boy, I wish I knew more about when he walked amongst us.

A life which ended abruptly, while he was doing what he loved the most, playing soccer.

Steven died of a cardiac attack on 12th August on the grounds of Christ Church School in Mumbai.

When I first saw him kick a football in 2004, I knew he had a gift. Being a journalist I had to maintain my objectivity, but now after his passing I say Steven’s skill, silent demeanor and talent far outshone even the most prodigious scorers in his age group.

Like David Gower & Mark Waugh he went about his business on the soccer field with finesse, elegance and deft touch.

Not ‘blasting’ and ‘bull dozing’ his way past his opponents but elegantly dancing past them.

An unsung hero who did his job without much pomp and show.

Those who played with him knew he was an asset and those who played against him knew he was a threat.

As an observer, I knew his skill was unmatched. Unfortunately given the dismal state of India’s soccer infrastructure, I knew after he finished school, his would be a talent lost like thousands of others.

Steven’s death has not only left his family shattered, but also scores of friends and those of us who knew him but only just.

He lived as a star on the soccer field, he died a star in the sky.

May his soul rest in peace.