World through my prism

KEEPING IT (EDUCATION) RELEVANT

2009-12-14T18:33:00.000-08:00

CARL LAURIE
Principal, Christ Church School

Very often have I told my students, “Forgive us our trespasses”, as we are the generation that have failed you. The generation before us gave us the Mahatma, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela & Mother Teresa, it’s the generation that gave us the great Sir Donald Bradman, the ‘black pearl’, Pele, the humble Corporal, but a wizard on the hockey field, Dhyan Chand.

All or any of them would be the perfect role model for any youngster. But what are we as the present generation of teachers and parents offering the young to emulate? A degenerate political class, a flawed genius in Maradona, steroid-tainted athletes like Marion Jones and Ben Johnson, or the now infamous match-fixing scandal that rocked the cricketing world.

But I am optimistic that in spite of this the young today seem to be more mature and wiser to avoid the pitfalls of the previous generation, and to fearlessly express their opinion, and make their voices heard.

But for this to happen, school systems will have to change, not because they see the light at the end of the tunnel, but because they will feel the heat, from a generation that wants education to be relevant.

In the 20th Century it was education of the mind, but in the 21st Century it will be education of the heart, the salient features being, motivation, empathy, decision-making, inter-personal awareness and self-esteem. Besides these, some other 21st Century skills include technology and media literacy, effective communication, critical thinking, problem solving and collaboration.

Our schools today are not just about giving out mark-sheets, but helping the young fulfill their dreams and aspirations. Knowledge is the new currency in today’s global economy. Our schools today have to focus on developing the intellect, not just the mind, as the mindset of the learners is changing. They are not satisfied with only theoretical learning.

Their thinking and perception takes them beyond the curriculum. That’s why it’s important for teachers and parents to be life-long learners. Belinda Charles of the Academy of Principals, Singapore talks of ‘Many peaks of excellence’ for schools of the future, vis-à-vis, the earlier belief of efficient schools that spoke of a ‘single peak of excellence’.

For schools to be relevant the emphasis has to be on learning, not teaching. The efficiency model of the 20th century has given way to the ability model, and to keep pace with that there has to be a paradigm shift in the mindset of adults, as parents and teachers belong to the industrial age, while students are in the knowledge-age. The paradigm shift has to be from the analytical mode to the synthesizing mode, from scriptural to pictorial, from critical to empathic, from ego-centric to eco-centric. We have to step out of our comfort zone.

We are guilty of using only five percent of our brain for creative and constructive purposes, while 95% is blocked by our mindset.

Schools need to create an enabling environment that encourages innovation and enterprise to make learning enjoyable. A child spends more than half of his or her waking hours in school, and that too at the most impressionable stage of their life.

Since our actions as educationists affect the wider community, it is our moral and societal obligation to create this enabling environment, even if it entails ‘un-learning the old, and learning the new’.

Intel’s programme on Information and Computer Technology emphasizes the importance of ‘e-learning’. Most progressive schools in the country have a ratio of 25:1 with the use of computers, some with better resources have reached a stage of 5:1, but the aim should be 1:1.

Governments and Corporates should work to facilitate such aims, after all it’s for the training of future citizens and workforce of nations, and as the old saying goes “It takes a village to raise a child”.

We are moving gradually to project-based learning, but the aim must be student-centred learning. This will provide access to a world of information and encourage learning anywhere, anytime. This is turn improves analytical, collaboration and writing skills.

It reduces drop-outs and absenteeism. The off-shoot of knowledge creation is greater awareness, appreciation of other cultures, social responsibility and self-esteem. It’s a win-win situation for all stake-holders.

We need to change, and in a hurry, the world is advancing at the rate of knots. We need to give teaching a holiday and learning a priority. If our students don’t learn the way we teach, then we must teach the way they learn. As Bertrand Russell says; “You may have millions of reasons, but no excuses”.

To remain relevant we have to reinvent our schools, not because they are broken, but because they were designed for another era. It’s very easy for our students to move into the ‘default mode’, it’s so boring.

Children have unbelievable potential and energy. All that we need to provide as facilitators is guidance for the positive use of this energy and a canvas (enabling environment) for them to paint their own master-piece.

MIDNIGHT MELODY

2009-11-21T08:17:00.000-08:00

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?

2009-10-19T20:47:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-10-09T08:14:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-06T04:20:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-10-02T11:42:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-17T23:18:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-14T18:38:00.000-07:00

-- 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.

A MASTER PLOY OR A HISTORIC BLUNDER

2009-07-30T08:11:00.000-07:00

Carlyle Laurie

What the ____ !!! Schumi’s back.

Pardon the language, or the lack of it but that was my reaction when I heard Michael Schumacher was being resurrected into the cockpit.

Undoubtedly his decision to fit into Felipe Massa’s shoes will breathe a few breaths into Formula 1, which has been making news for all the wrong reasons since the German called it quits more than two years ago.

But the pessimist in me says Schumi surely has more to lose than gain from his second innings in top flight.

His team is lagging behind Braun, McLaren and Red Bull – and that too with the better part of the season behind us.

The car, despite its top billing is huffing & puffing its way through the curves of circuits around the world.

Without a doubt it’s the Schumacher legacy which is on the line. It’s a gamble which could stain his sparkling career and the way generations read him forever.

Win a handful and he will hit the stratosphere, leaving millions wanting more. But lose a handful and the Schumi story could read something like this.

‘Michael Schmacher, the winner of 7 World Championships, BUT a man who gave it a second shot and missed the target’

It may not sound that bad, but critics would say why comeback and get the ‘BUT’ tag added to your life’s work.

Schumi doesn’t have to look far to gauge how history will read him.

Like him, Lance Armstrong has won seven championships on the trot (Tour de France).

BUT !! Lance returned for more and he fell short.

NBA star Michael Jordon touched the stratosphere of fame. BUT he returned for more after retirement BUT he wasn’t a patch of his former self.

But Schumi can take heart from his contemporary & F1 legend Nikki Lauda. Who emerged out of retirement in 1989 like a ‘Pheonix from the Ashes’ to win the drivers championship two years later.

Like a game of Poker, Black jack or Rummy. Schumacher’s held his cards close to his chest till the very end and now that he’s dusting his wellies for his second stint. He’ll hope this gamble wins him the jackpot.

SOCCER - REALITY SHOW

2009-07-18T23:18:00.000-07:00

-- Carlyle Laurie

Recession and football are two diametrically opposite words, it seems.

With clubs dishing out the moolah in their bid to rake in the ‘ideal’ combination in attack and defence.

The writing is on the wall. Let’s reflect.

Real Madrid’s slash this season so far is a whopping 212 million Euros. Manchester City 64 million and Juventus 49 million Euros.

Recession for the moment at least has been put on the back burner.

But does having the cream of soccer wearing the same colours, guarantee silverware.
Going by history, it guarantees nothing.

Take the star studded Real Madrid side at the turn of the century. Zidane, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Figo, Beckham and Raul.

Despite this lethal combination – success was hard to come by. It’s a feeling of deja vu, as Florentino Perez’s back to signing stars like he was adding pictures to his scrapbook.

Christiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema, Raul Albiol to join forces with the already existing star power, makes Madrid the ‘Real’ deal, it may seem.

What Real Madrid is doing in Spain, Manchester City is doing in England. Mark Hughes is making the most of the cash rich club.

Carlos Tevez, Roque Santa Cruz, Gareth Barry swapping their colours for the pale blue of Robinho and company.

Florentino Perez and Mark Hughes will be hoping that they get their moneys worth. Or the 2009-10 season will be their last at the helm.

Shortcuts: How to pass exams

2009-02-18T12:12:00.000-08:00

By Carlyle Laurie for CNN
November 2, 2006

CNN) -- "Exams" is the word that strikes fear into the heart of a student more than any other. But the chances are that even after you graduate you'll still need to pass an exam somewhere down the line to get on in your chosen career. So here's how...

Feign an injury: The best excuse to have in the run-up to an exam is, "I've broken my writing hand." This might be enough to get you off the hook altogether -- or at least earn some extra cramming time -- and at worse you should be allowed a "writer" to do the hard graft of getting your thoughts on paper. Maybe you can split the workload and get them to do some of the studying as well. The downside is you might have to spend a few weeks with your hand in plaster to make it convincing.

Avoid being stressed out: It goes without saying that breaking up with your girl/boyfriend or arguing with your parents about why you want to be a drama student rather than a doctor on the eve of the exam won't do you any good. Sticking to the three C's (cool, calm and composed) is probably the wiser option. Sleeping, exercising and eating healthily are proven ways to de-stress the mind and ensure you enter the exam room sharp and alert -- so make sure you get plenty of those in the run-up the big day.

Planning: For some students plotting a pre-exam revision timetable, perhaps elaborately decorated in colorful felt-tip pens, is an effort worthy of congratulation in itself. But the harder job is sticking to it. Once you structure your revision and manage your time properly, things won't seem so daunting anymore. Identify your strengths and weaknesses and allocate more time to the latter -- you can tackle the stuff you're good at when you need a break from the brain ache.

Be prepared: The next best thing to taking a peek at the exam paper before you take it is to check out a few from earlier years. The same questions may not come up in exactly the same form, but they'll give you a very good idea of what to expect. Come the dreaded day, make sure you have everything you need -- pens (lots of them), pencils, calculators, lucky gonk etc.

Forget the last minute cramming: It is part of the pre-exam ritual to claim to all and sundry that you only started revising the night before -- but the only people for whom this is true are those foolhardy few heading for re-takes, ignominy and failure. If you've done the work (you have, haven't you?) and learnt it properly you shouldn't have anything to worry about. Going into the exam with lots of hastily-absorbed information floating around your brain is only going to confuse your thought processes and make you more prone to the sort of errors -- failing to write your name on the paper, failing to notice a vital appended table -- that could do some real damage to your chances.

Staying awake: If remaining conscious in the exam itself is a problem then maybe you need to be a little bit more stressed about it all -- and maybe you're suffering from narcolepsy. In the short term though caffeine is a pretty useful way of sharpening the brain and improving performance -- so long as you don't overdo it and end up scrawling pages of coffee-fueled nonsense after OD'ing on double shot espressos. Positivelycoffee.org (admittedly a Web site with an interest in the therapeutic benefits of the coffee bean) says, "Doing exams is an energy and attention demanding activity; coffee may help to sharpen your mind, assuming that you are a regular coffee drinker. Since, coffee is used as a mood optimizer, it may help to find the most appropriate state of mind to make a success of the exam."

How to write the perfect CV

2009-02-18T12:09:00.000-08:00

Carlyle Laurie for CNN
October 25, 2006

-- You've seen an advertisement for your dream job. Now you need to convince the company you're the right person for it. Before you even begin thinking about interview techniques, you have to sell yourself on paper and get your foot in the door. Here's a few tips to get you started:

What are the rules? Just as there's no cure for the common cold or dandruff, there are no hard and fast rules about writing and presenting a curriculum vitae -- also called 'resume' in some countries. Requirements and styles may differ from culture and region so do some research and ask others if you can see how they have written theirs. There are also myriad Web sites, which may give you some good advice and ideas. Make sure what you submit is grammatically correct, informative and easy on the eye.

Keep it brief: Curriculum vitae roughly translates as "life story" in Latin, but that doesn't mean your potential future boss wants to read about every detail of yours. Keep your achievements short and sweet. No more than three pages is generally advised but the shorter, the better. Remember, the employee will often have a huge pile of CVs to get through.

What to include: Just because it's brief, doesn't mean you should exclude key information. The secret is finding the balance between making an impact with what skills you can offer and keeping it short enough so that whoever is reading it won't get bored. Basic information, such as your name contact phone number, postal and e-mail address, should go near the top. Follow this up with your work experience and qualifications. Add any additional skills can go in a separate section. Don't be afraid to blow your own horn -- you won't be able to speak for yourself, so let your CV speak for you.

Getting personal: It's up to you whether you want to include personal details like your date of birth and your marital status. Most employees will be judging you on your skills and experience, not your home life or your age, but in some cultures you may be expected to include this information. Do your homework. It's also up to you whether you include hobbies, which can paint a picture about your personality and out-of-work interests. It's also a good idea to include your visa status if the job you're applying is in a foreign country.

What if I really have a wacky idea? There's always room for thinking out of the box, but be careful not to take attention away from the main purpose of a CV, which is to show a company that you can do the job. There's a thin line between genius and ignorance. Take Aleksey Vayner, who sent an 11-page CV accompanied by a video of himself discussing his philosophy of success, showing off his physical prowess and dancing with a scantily-clad woman, making him the laughing stock of blogs all over the world.

How do I stamp my personality on it? You can flaunt your creativity by using different colors, fonts and layouts, but overdoing the creative touches bit can be counterproductive. Use colors and design fonts in moderation so you don't frighten the employer into binning your creative masterpiece. We've said it before but we'll say it again: double and triple check for spelling mistakes. Any errors won't help you get that job.

Biggest democracy, smallest mindset

2009-02-16T12:46:00.000-08:00

Carlyle Laurie

If Ghettos exist in the west, then India is no different. The so called ‘moral police’ – the Ram Sena, Shiv Sena and Bajrang Dal are ‘ghettoizing’ the world’s largest democracy.

India’s women are being targeted.

Slapped, assaulted, tortured by saffron party ‘hooligans’, the self proclaimed protectors of culture – who, in their narrow and uneducated perspective feel women are damning India’s culture.

If bra burning took place in America in the 1960, then it’s fare to say the ‘pink panty agitation’ is a civilized attempt by India’s women to pass on the message to the chauvinists who are blurring the line of decency for the sake of what many feel is a bid to garner political brownie points.

Be it Shiv Sena taking the love out of Valentines Day, or Ram Sena taking the fizz out of pubs in Mangalore & Bangalore.

Some images of women being assaulted in Mangalore are at par with visuals from Afghanistan, where the Taliban don’t fear the law, because they are the law.

Ironically the worlds youngest Democracy ‘Afghanistan’ and the world’s largest Democracy ‘India’ are now being painted by the same brush when it comes to the way women are treated.

If Taliban are ‘moral policing’ the Afghans, then in some part of India the Ram Sena, Shiv Sena, Maharashtra Nav Nirman Sena and Shiv Sena are ‘moral policing’ Indians.

They are making the concept of freedom of speech and expression sound like a mere farce. Leaving ‘free citizens’ feeling like strangers in their own backyard.

Though the voices of dissent are growing louder for this so called moral brigade to be put on a leash – the end seems far off, the future seems bleak, women beware.

INDIA'S KING OF ROCK & ROLL

2009-02-09T10:21:00.000-08:00

Carlyle Laurie

BANDRA in Mumbai is no Memphis. Nigel Kingsley is no Presley. But when he belts out Jailhouse Rock, you’d want to believe the King is still in the building.

Rags to riches. Dirty log cabin to the White House. Forty-year-old Kingsley is all too familiar with these cliches. And for an orphan who left home for Europe in 1984 with just his six-string and toothbrush after selling his bike and music system, he hasn’t done too badly. Kingsley was recently named Europe’s No. 1 Elvis impersonator and is tenth in the global rankings.

‘‘Initially, life in Europe wasn’t easy. People used to treat me as a refugee, but gradually I blended in,’’ says Kingsley, whose palatial house in Switzerland has, among other tributes to Elvis, a jukebox and furniture akin to Cadillac rear seats. His garage, he says, houses three huge Cadillacs, one of them pink, and a shiny Harley Davidson.

His rugged looks helped Kingsley land some modelling assignments early on in England, where he also got around to earning degrees in hotel management, psychology and business management. But Kingsley’s destiny took concrete shape in Switzerland, where he was a major hit at Elvis Presley conventions.

Kingsley also formed a 14-member band soon after. “We’ve even had Joe Fontanner, Elvis Presley’s drummer, playing for us for a couple of months,” he says.

Today the Anglo-Indian, who was inspired to be an Elvis impersonator after getting second place in a competition at his Mumbai college, has his name engraved in the Las Vegas Hall of Fame and has performed in 33 countries across the world.

‘‘One of the best compliments I’ve ever got came from singer Tom Jones (of Delilah fame) who told me that I even sounded like Presley,’’ says Kingsley, who apart from doing shows also performs at marriages and social functions abroad.

He might be more than well-to-do these days, but Kingsley hasn’t forgotten his beginnings. A couple of years back, he set up Social Service Limited in Switzerland, an organisation to help the underprivileged. ‘‘I love to help people in need, so that they can have a brighter future ahead of them,’’ says Kinglsey, who apart from crooning Elvis medleys is also into gospel music. So when is his India show? ‘‘If I get a good deal, I’ll play any time in Mumbai, which is like my second home,’’ says Kingsley.

I’m an allrounder: Federer

2009-01-27T06:45:00.000-08:00

Carlyle Laurie

London: Talk of tennis and the buzz word is Roger Federer. Yes, this 24-year-old, who has been touted by the likes of John McEnroe and Boris Becker as being the best player that ever took the court, exudes oodles of modesty. That so different from great champions who often tend to be ostentatious about their prowess.

Take Justin Gatlin for instance, who described himself as the ‘best of the best’ after clocking the fastest time over 100m at Qatar. But listening to Federer speak, one thing becomes clear, he wants his racquet to do most of the talking.

“Tennis comes naturally to me, it doesn’t take as much out of me physically as it takes out of other players,’’ he said. “I am an all-rounder; I believe that I have a complete game.’’

The three-time Wimbledon champion is currently training for the French Open, which begins on Monday and is confident that this time round he will succeed on the clay surface of Roland Garros.

“I am working hard with my coach, to get to the absolute top of my game before the French Open,’’ he said. “I am happy to play on clay. I have grown up playing on clay, so it comes naturally to me.’’

However, there are no prizes for guessing who Federer views as his greatest challenge. Yes, it’s none other than his nemesis, Rafael Nadal, who beat him in the semifinal of the French Open last year.

“From all the youngsters coming through, my biggest challenger remains Rafael Nadal,’’ he said.

And looking at Federer’s recent record against the Spaniard, it’s hardly a surprise that Nadal is a concern for the Swiss maestro. He has played the World No 2 on six occasions, and has come second best five times. Nadal’s most recent victory came in the final of the Italian Open on May 14, where he won 6-7 7-6 6-4 2-6 7-6. In this particular encounter, the much-feared Federer forehand seemed to have let him down, resulting in him losing crucial points.

Yet ironically, Federer feels that one of his biggest strengths is his forehand. “It is my favourite shot because I can do so much with it,’’ he feels.

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE IV - NADAL SAYS FEDERER IS UNBEATABLE ON GRASS

2009-01-27T06:42:00.000-08:00

Carlyle Laurie

Mumbai, 26 June, 2007, Times of India Exclusive - Spaniard Rafael Nadal is the king of clay. No doubting that. It was amply evident after he clinched his second consecutive French Open Grand Slam title defeating Roger Federer earlier this month. But what are his hopes on grass?

“It has always been my dream that I can wake up one day and win Wimbledon, however dreams don’t always come true,’’ he says. “I know it will be difficult.’’

The Spaniard knows that to realise his dream, he will have to beat Federer on the latter’s favourite surface. “On grass it will be almost impossible to beat him (Federer). He is a special player and one of the best ever,’’ he says. “Unless I put in 110% effort throughout the match against him, I have no chance.’’

Nadal believes that he has improved by leaps and bounds since losing to Gilles Muller in the second round of Wimbledon last year. “I have improved my serve in particular and have been serving better at key moments in a match,’’ he says.

He admits that there is still a work to be done in order to pose any threat. “I have to learn a lot about grass in order to start thinking about winning a tournament like Wimbledon,’’ he says. “I will have to make many adjustments in my game.’’

The stylish Spaniard is determined not to leave any stone unturned in his quest to win Wimbledon.“I have been doing things differently so that I can improve my game on grass,’’ he says.

Nadal also said that he has overcome the shoulder injury which forced him out of the Stella Artois Championships. “I played at Queen’s recently to improve my game on grass. Unfortunately, I had a problem with my shoulder that seems to be OK now,’’ he says.

By winning the French Open, the Spanish sensation achieved two things. Firstly, it brought an end to Federer’s dream of winning the four different Grand Slam titles. Secondly, the victory in the final was the 20-year-old Majorcan’s 60th record-setting consecutive victory on clay and his 14th match unbeaten at Roland Garros. The teenage phenomenon toppled players like Lleyton Hewitt and Ivan Ljubicic en route to the final where he beat the Swiss ace 1-6 6-1 6-4 7-6.

The win helped him edge past Argentinean legend Guillermo Vilas’ record of 53 wins on clay. Nadal remains modest. “I never think about these kinds of things,’’ he says, when referring to the record. “I’ ve enjoyed always playing tennis and try to do so each day.’’

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE – BED OF ROSES OR THORNS?

2009-01-26T06:29:00.000-08:00

Carlyle Laurie

Mumbai 26 January - Most love it, some despise it – many, especially those in Mumbai are yet numb with disbelief of the city’s rough underbelly. A ‘crude’ and ‘unrelenting’ underbelly which the block-buster projects.

Reality or fiction, it leaves an insipid taste in the mouth of most Mumbaikar. Making the ‘India shining’ campaign look like a mere figment of imagination.

To many the film is an irony, which is essentially an insult conveyed in the form of a compliment

The irony is that despite Mumbai being the canvas on which Danny Boyle chose to paint his ‘masterpiece’. The film has failed to leave Mumbaikars - like Londoners, New Yorkers or Berliners, stunned.

One wonders if it’s because its Director, creator or painter if I may call Boyle, has chosen shades of grey and black to tell the Mumbai story. Or to put it simply shown Mumbaikars an image of the city which at some level we can identify with but it leaves us uncomfortable.

A discomfort which has led to theaters being vandalized in some parts of the country for screening the very film which the world loves – but India at some point hasn’t managed to digest.

The film has left us Indians in a catch-22 situation, if I may put it that way.

A feeling unlike any other, one of pride mixed with a hint of discomfort, happiness mixed with anger, awe mixed with ridicule.

Why?

Because ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ has put India on the Hollywood map, given the country it’s first Golden Globe – yet projected India’s ‘best’, ‘most developed’ ‘most commercialized’ city in a ‘not-so-developed’ manner.

And whether the film wins one Oscar, two Oscars or a handful of Oscars – Indians will be ‘smiling with a frown’

The world is watching Obama's party

2009-01-19T20:56:00.000-08:00

Carlyle Laurie

19th January, America’s President elect Barack Obama made a statement at Lincoln memorial saying he is as 'hopeful as ever'.

As America is hopeful of a ‘newer-brighter’ future, so is the rest of the world. As to sum it up in a statement, ‘When America sneezes, the world catches a cold’.

The Bush administrations eight years of blunders not only put the U.S in jeopardy, but left a world impact. Like a visually impaired man or woman, who suddenly loses his/her guide dog – the world is left helpless, searching for solutions which few, if any have managed to find.

Democracies with free markets, economies – have felt the worst impact, forcing Leaders to retreat into a huddle, turning to a more soviet like tactic to bail themselves out of the hole, becoming more Protectionist.

Obama knows that when the ‘When the world sneezes, America doesn’t catch a cold’, it works the other way round.

This fact and this fact alone, will put a mountain of pressure on his shoulders. His job profile will be not only to ‘mother’ America back to its feet, but also the rest of the world, which seems to be reeling under the ‘Bushism’ syndrome, for which until now neither Europe or Asia have found a solution to, Africa doesn’t stand a chance.

The mountain he has before him, will be a mountain indeed to cross – a fact that he himself knows all too well. Eight years of bad press, bad sentiment, bad policies will be hard to undo, but he’s given himself a fare chance of succeeding.

The world hopes, as much as America does that the Hillary Clinton-Obama combine will help bail us out of jail, ferry the ship out of troubled waters.

The ‘Change’ that has been promised to America has transcended more literally to the world, with others hoping that ‘Obama’s change’ will help ‘change’ their lives for the better.

The road ahead is hard, but he may take heart from a verse from the Bible.

‘The road to heaven is paved with thorns & the road to hell is paved with roses’. Nothing comes easy.

The world is watching ‘Obama’s party’ on January 20.

A Companion

2009-01-16T12:21:00.001-08:00

A companion is one who'll share your pain
Who'll walk with you without restrain
Who'll hold your hand when things go rye
And be with you until you die.

She'll guide you, when you go wrong
And hold your hand through hail and storm
She'll be your pillar; she'll be your roof
She'll be there when feel aloof

She'll teach you to care, she'll teach you to love
An angel sent by God above,
When illness comes she'll cure your wound,
Mothering and feeding you, with a spoon.

When you are sad she'll make you smile
She'll make your life feel worthwhile
When you go old, she'd be your strength
Holding your hand, to your hearts content.

The Beggar

2009-01-16T12:19:00.000-08:00

There was a man who had no place to go
He had no friends, he had no foe
He walked the streets, to get crumb
At times for money he'd play deaf and dumb

With his hand stretched out, he begged all day
Under a lamp post he would sleep and stay
At times he'd get plenty at times he'd get none
Whenever the cops came he'd have to run.

With nothing but tatters to call his own
In poverty he'd lived in poverty he'd grown.
His soles were scarred his lips were dry
With so much misery his tears had turned dry.

When nights were chill, he found no heat
Shivering like a leaf without a sheet
When sickness befell him, no one knew
As his living conditions was known to few.

He'd dream of money and of a better life
He'd dream of love, he'd dream of a wife
But destiny it seemed wasn't kind enough
His life was a misery, his life was tough.

A jigsaw of thoughts

2009-01-16T12:18:00.000-08:00

How can I try to explain?
Explain the intricacies of life
Those tunnels which lead into one another
And have no way out.

That's the path life goes,
With everything going right
It still seems its going awry
Life seems to be going to fast.

Days seem to be ending in a blink
Before I can comprehend my teens are gone
And memories have started to find a place within me
Memories, which will have to last me a lifetime,

Moments of happiness and sorrow, have been mine
I've withstood them, and have moved on
The strength to persevere is gods gift to man
And it's found a place within my soul

A garden called life

2009-01-16T12:16:00.000-08:00

As I loiter through the garden of youth
I see the flowers and the ripening fruit
I hear the bees buzz by my ear
I see a shy butterfly, retreat in fear

I feel the freshness, of the morning air
I sense the breeze blowing through my hair
I see the gardener with a sheer in his hand
Snipping and snapping, strand by strand

I hear the melody of the little birds sing
And feel the peace and joy that they bring.
As the day grows older, and the sun moves east
Birds go in and out come the beast.

The garden of youth, will age one day
The flowers, bees, and birds wouldn't stay
As time goes by, the leaves would fall
The flowers would stoup one and all
This tale of the garden, I tell you all
Is a story of life, how we, live and fall.

India reaps benefits of economic boom

2009-01-12T09:12:00.000-08:00

By Carlyle Laurie for CNN

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(CNN) -- If the world needed a wake-up call to India's growing economic might then the acquisition of the Anglo-Dutch steel firm Corus by Tata Steel ought to have done the job.

The audacious $7.6 billion deal was the largest-ever foreign takeover by an Indian company and propelled Tata, overnight, from being the world's 56th largest steel manufacturer to the fifth.

Hailing the deal as a "strategically compelling combination," Tata chairman Ratan Tata said it marked a "defining moment" in his company's history. But the deal was also symbolic of India's wider business boom.

With economic growth surging past eight percent and amid the growing international reputation of traditional business dynasties such as the Tata, Birla, Mahindra and Mittal families, some analysts have speculated that the 21st century could belong to India -- just as the past 100 years were hailed as the "American century."

One man to have already capitalized on India's new status as a rising economic superpower is London-based tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, one of the world's richest men with an estimated fortune of more than $27 billion.

In June this year, the Mittal Steel Company, which began life as a small family-run company in the north of India, successfully took over Luxembourg-based rival Arcelor to create the world's biggest steel manufacturer. Although, Mittal now has headquarters in the Netherlands, 80 percent of the company is still family-owned.

With newspapers abuzz with headlines about the country's upturn in economic fortunes, the Economic Times captured the national mood following the Mittal deal by saying, "For India, it is a harbinger of things to come -- economic superstardom."

Yet question marks remain over whether India's economic boom can last, or whether it is simply a thin sheen of prosperity in a country still stricken by extremes of poverty and wealth.

While software engineers in Hyderabad and Mumbai bankers live in luxury, almost a third of the population -- around 380 million people -- survive on less than $1 a day -- and 78 percent on less than $2.

Despite the trappings of Westernization in major cities, a literacy rate of just 61 percent and high infant mortality rates betray the reality of India's status as an emerging nation.

Though overall poverty levels are falling at the rate of around one percent per year, that figure is hardly keeping pace with the high levels of economic growth reported in the business pages of India's newspapers.

Nonetheless, Mervyn Davies, the CEO of banking and finance firm Standard Chartered told the Financial Times newspaper that recent oversees acquisition by Indian were only the "tip of the iceberg."

"Over the next 10 to 20 years, a big phenomenon in the world will be Chinese and Indian companies, once they have scale in their own markets, expanding oversees," he said.

There are signs that is happening already with Indian companies making more than 130 acquisitions exceeding $18 billion in value this year.

The money for these acquisitions has come substantially from global financiers, a key indicator that business experts and analysts now see India as a country meriting serious levels of investment.

"No longer do Indian companies cower behind protectionist walls," wrote Indian columnist Swaminathans Anklesaria Aiyar following the Mittal deal.

"Indeed, they are now taking over foreign giants. They have the confidence of global financiers, who now rate Reliance Industries and Tata Steel as more creditworthy than Ford or General Motors."

Such a comparison would have been inconceivable just a decade ago, but today it is a reality --- prompting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to set ever higher economic growth targets.

"We should be targeting 10 percent growth in two-three years," Singh said in November last year, claiming the country was on the verge of take-off. "If the private sector seizes the initiative, the sky is the limit."

Yet more recently others have sounded a more cautious note. On Tuesday Dr. Yaga Venugopal Reddy, the governor of the Reserve Bank of India, set the alarm bells ringing when he warned that present rates of development risked overheating the economy.

"We must avoid the danger of running faster than we can. At the moment there is no issue. We are only sounding an alert on the possibility of overheating," he said.

Whether that proves to be the case, or whether India continues to surge forward remains to be seen -- but either way the world's financial markets are likely to be watching.

The Wordsmith

2009-01-12T09:08:00.000-08:00

Shakespeare is called the wizard of words,
Unlike Wordsworth who wrote about birds,
Unlike Bacon whose writings were good
He lived and loved, and was misunderstood.

After his death, he rose to fame,
Writing plays, was like a game.
Romeo and Juliet were a product of his mind
The best love story known to mankind

People called him the mighty Bard
The greatest wordsmith, worked really hard.
Much of his time he spent in the Globe (theatre)
Helping young actors with script and robe.

Apart from plays, he wrote poems too
Venus and Adronis were one of the few
Centuries have passed since William died
Leaving his legacy by his side

A legend of legends he was for sure
Braving ridicule he learnt to endure
He is proof, to all mankind
Success comes by using your mind.

Mother of our hearts

2009-01-12T09:07:00.000-08:00

She walked the streets to help the meek
Picking up the leper and all the weak
With a heart of gold she gave the poor,
Food and kind and an open door

With nothing but a bucket to call her own
Her heart had place to cry and mourn
The death of a crippled or orphan she bore
Determined to fight and protect the poor

The Missionaries of Charity, was her dream
To help the downtrodden and restore their gleam
An angel of God she was for sure
Robed in blue and white she looked so pure

'Mother' oh 'Mother' they called all day
And mother was there to make them stay
Cleaning their wounds with a steady hand
She fought for them and took a stand.

Her work won her the Noble prize
The fruits she bore for heeding all cries
Millions came pouring into her door
Not a penny for her self all for the poor.