An Unacknowledged Diaspora

The annals of world history do clearly record
The aftermath of Partition and the bloody discord
The violence, the horror, the grime and the gore
On trains that plied from Amritsar to Lahore

But not even a footnote in history’s dusty archives
Makes mention of the hundreds of thousands of lives
That were left to ponder their future and fate
Upon the creation of a new Indian state

For what would now the Anglo-Indian do
Under the rule of leaders, alien, hostile and new
Would he be allowed to continue, to play his part
As into an independent age, did this new nation start?

Or would he become an alien in his motherland
A stranger who did not to know where he could stand
In the hopes, aspirations and dreams of this new nation
Would he be allowed his colony and his railway station?

Or would he have to leave it all behind
And in a new nation, fame and fortune find
Could he continue to teach, dance and drive
Or, in the land of his birth, would he no longer thrive?

These questions must have accompanied every family meal
For apprehension, fear and doubt, he did surely feel
And, on the day, a nation was set free
He was fettered in the chains of uncertainty

And thus began a diaspora of which very few know
An event in our history that no archives show
The migration of “half-castes” to England and Australia,
With only pennies in their pockets and a lot to fear

Many, of course, chose to continue and stay
While they prayed for the ones who went away
To corners of the world, far and wide
From the railway colony that was once their joy, their pride

Of this exodus, no historian makes mention
Its impact on history seems to deserve no attention
But to a now fast dwindling community
It’s part of their history, their very identity.

AN ANGLO-INDIAN ICON

This poem is inspired by a recent photograph of the railway institute in Arkonam. I do not know if such is the state of railway institutes elsewhere in India. However, I am sure many in AJJ will relate to this poem.

I stand here now, lonely, lost and decrepit
For I no longer seem good enough and fit
To be the host of any joyful celebration
Such is my fate, such is my station.

Weddings I have hosted, many dances too
Under my eye, many lads and lasses grew
And at Chrismas time, I was so full of cheer
For it was the best time of the year

Alone and with heavy heart, I now recall
Crowning the May Queen, hosting the June ball
Watching parading lads and lasses in fancy dress
Smiling, when a priest, would another wedding cake bless

I was the heart and soul of any festive season
And to many people I was the reason
They could shout “Housie” or dance the night away
Or with fun and frolic, Wheel of Fortune, play

Yes, my red brick walls and my creaky wooden floor
Saw a wonderful, enterprising community grow
One that filled me with their music, cheer and dance
But, alas, now I am no longer given the chance

Which is why I can only stand here and simply cry
While the grass that does, around me, wither and dry
And wonder where all those people have now gone
As I gaze out at the railway tracks, with a memory forlorn

Yes, as the trains whizz past, taking people here and there
I can only silently stand, gaze and stare
At a period in time, when I could proudly boast
That, of the entire town, I was the toast

So, my friend, if anything, let this my verse pay tribute
To an Anglo-Indian icon – the good, old, railway institute.

Christmas Cheer

It’s a December evening, we’re back from school
The house feels nippy, as a breeze nice and cool
Wafts through the trellis, while Papa gives a rendition
Of carols that herald an annual family tradition

Mummy’s come back with bread, eggs and flour
We little children, get ready for many an interesting hour
Of digging our fingers into a tub full of batter
As the house vibrates with loud, cheerful chatter

It’s that time again, that time of the year
For, cul-culs and cake and Christmas’ cheer
To roll out on forks, an Anglo-Indian delight
And to grease the cake tins with all our might

As "Mum-mum" calls out for us to ‘take care
Or we might fall into the oil that’s boiling there’
Which is ready, of course, to crackle and splutter
As we dip in forked creations of eggs, flour and butter

The whole family sits at the dining room table
Each one doing what he or she is able
And stories are told of Christmases past
While ros-a-cookies are, into the boiling oil, cast

When the whipping and blending has been done
And the cake’s in the oven, it is time for more fun
So we lick our fingers with many a hearty smack
At left-over batter, a tasty pre-cooked snack

That comes for us, only once every year
A time that is filled with memories dear
As carols croon in the chill evening air
And family stories, Papa, does joyfully share

It’s been years now, since I have had such fun
And I hope, I can, one day relive it with my son
Those hours spent in a house on a railway colony
Hours that I now recall, with a smile and much glee.

ONE OF A KIND

Quite recently to a spring dance I went
Where many a happy hour was spent
With my wife who is a Malayalee
And diverse friends who danced with glee

On this night, “tradition” was the theme
But, to many, it did quite rightly seem
That I wasn’t in the proper attire
For someone who comes from India

The veshti from the South, the sherwani from the north
With intricate colours and textures wrought
Would have, with chappals, added to the “desi” touch
As would the kurta, pajama and such

To clearly explain why I was in coat and tie
I had to point out where my origins lie
And, hence, began a tale about the “dingo”
A culture and community of which very few know.

For, despite being the bastards of colonial rule
We pioneered the Indian railway, telegraph and school
And created our own mix of culture and community
A brand with a unique Anglo and Indian identity

We are English by name and Indian by birth
A community that loves laughter and mirth
A culture unique to both, India and the world
Forged from a spirit, daring, adventurous and bold

Our culture is as diverse as it is unique
For there is a common touch to our food and music
As there is to the language we speak, write and sing
Though from wide corners of India we spring

We might be the leftovers of a British empire
But our food has its own flavour and fire
For, if you’ve tasted coconut rice and ball curry
You would not leave the table in a “hurry-burry”

And when the heavens pour down and cry
Be sure there’s pepper water and beef fry
Or if “Santa Claus is coming to town”
There’s ginger wine to knock him down

With cul-culs, rosacookies and Christmas cake
That the entire family did, joyfully, make
Or he could even try our dawl, rice and vindaloo
For these are, our favourites too.

The most interesting trait of any ‘dingo”
Is the unique touch he adds to his lingo
For, down south, he’d say “Enna da maacha”
While waving to a friend at a corner quite far

When my wife speaks to her father, she calls him “Papa”
A term we use for grandpa, and for, grandma it’s “Nana”
Who can give you a “kottu” if you are bad
And tickle you with “bully ants” if you are sad.

Or they might have even given you the “fijacks”
If you, “little bugger” had done something behind their backs
Or while eating cutlets on the way to Velankanni
You say the rosary and sing “Serangani”

We love our music, song and dance
And at festivals you can see us prance
With the chacha, foxtrot and the jive
To the tunes of a band, that is vibrant and live

At your wedding, the “Grand March” is played
And with confetti, you are loudly sprayed
While the band plays Engelbert Humperdink
A toast is raised and glasses clink

Charley Pride and Jim Reeves may quietly croon
On nights when the family sits under the stars and the moon
Or you might play the guitar under the trees
And enjoy your booze in the afternoon breeze

In different corners of the world, we now reside
But in our heritage we take great pride
For even though our “fathers” once left us behind
We blended in and created a community, one of a kind

So, if my English name with my Indianness, one cannot relate
This poem I will recite, or this tale I will narrate
To give them a picture of the good, old Anglo-Indian
A community that was once conceived in sin.

In Humanity

While following NDTV coverage of the Mumbai attacks, I came across this phrase used by Prannoy Roy and his anchors: "the faces of tragedy". As a consequence, I wrote the following lines, a reflection not just of Mumbai, but of the world we presently live in.

Orphaned by hate
Widowed by spite
Battered by brutality
Scarred for life
We are
The faces of tragedy
Sculpted by the tools of terror.

Stammering with sorrow
Uttering rage
Expressing uncertainty
Manifesting helplessness
We are
The voices of a city
Tempered by the trauma of terror.

Listening in anguish
Watching with disbelief
Waiting in fear
Susceptible to rumour
We are
The conscience of a country
Stricken by the torture of terror.

And, in our voices, on our faces,
In the depths of a conscience
We are
A breed of people
That can only wonder
At the inhumanity of humanity.

Freedom

I can go anywhere I want
And do whatever I feel
Answerable to none
With no bonds to keep.

I can be what I want
Gain all I wish
Liable for nothing
With no accounts to render.

Yes, such is my freedom
That I go where I want...
Do what I feel...
Be what I want...
Gain all I wish...

Within the bounds of
A solitary confinement.

SONNET

SONNET

A colleague of mine asked me, this morning, for a ditty on death. I responded with this sonnet as I feel death – in all its dignity and indignity – can never be dealt with in a ditty.

Proud am I, the owner of a brand new bed
Customized to suit my most unique want
Its plush satin, below me, so elegantly spread
Evokes memories that momentarily haunt
The people who have with tender love and care
Given me the luxury of such glitter and gleam
That my finest gown, I now do fashionably wear
And smile with the warmth of a most pleasant dream.
So, it is that I, in such profound sleep
Lie in the folds of the world’s greatest power
As, with destiny, my appointment I keep
And laze in the idyll that is Death’s calm bower

Thus I am comfortably cuddled in this loving cot
As my soul wanders and my body does rot.

Adding Value - Lessons from the English Premier League

Adding Value – Lessons from the English Premier League

It is not uncommon for me, especially on a Monday morning, to walk past students who are furiously engaged in a conversation on Arsenal’s chances in the Premiership, Ferguson’s substitutions or Liverpool’s dependence on Gerrard. As a consequence, I tend to use the English Premier League as a way of engaging my students during lesson time.

Of course, I do enjoy my sport – on the field and on the couch – which makes it much easier for me to relate to the entertainment that English Club football offers its now global audience, and consequently use football games, transfers and managerial discussions as a springboard for classroom discussion.

Quite a few might disagree with me and say that sport is a distraction in the first place and is too flippant a topic to warrant serious classroom discussion. This article might make them reconsider their viewpoints, but I hope that it serves as a guide to those teachers who might consider it a rather useful platform on which to base sports-oriented lesson plans.

Harry Redknapp’s rejuvenation of Tottenham Hotspur this season makes an excellent case study for the Business Studies teacher and the student. It can be used to discuss – in great detail – the effectives of management change on the dynamics of any team. It can be used to discuss motivation, morale and the need to understand the psychology of one’s charges. In fact, Redknapp’s role with what was a dispirited Hotspur team can be compared with the roles of Iaccocca at Chrysler and Gertsner at IBM, gentleman who turned around the fortunes of two struggling business giants. The advantage to using the Hotspurs as a starting point is that it engages students with something they are interested in, something that is happening in their lifetime!

Hull City and Stoke City have stormed the Premiership with some fascinating displays, showing that they have what it takes to stand up to the big guns. When the underdog performs the unexpected, everyone is amazed more so students who are fanatic about football. As a result, the teacher can use such detail as a stimulus towards discussion on how volatile any active environment is, which is why it is often difficult to consider the results of trend analysis. Past data might point you to one direction, but no matter how reliable or accurate it is, a volatile environment – which is the nature of any economic environment – is dangerously susceptible to change. Not only can one discuss time series analysis in context, one can effectively analyse its inherent weaknesses!

This year alone, on many occasions, I have asked the Liverpool faithful within the school about the influence that Steven Gerrard has on the side. The Carling Cup match against Tottenham (that man Redknapp again) makes pretty good point on the depth and breadth, (rather, the lack of the two) that the team has. This, eventually, can be used as a springboard for discussion on the need for a wide, diverse and strong “product portfolio” in the business world. Dependence on one strongly performing flagship product is too much of a risk in today’s business environment. Case in point: Apple’s dependence on its Macintosh line in the early nineties and its fall into the abyss until it was eventually revived by the modern world’s most fashionable product: the i-Pod!

This morning I had my Lower Sixth group of ten, half of whom are die-hard fans of “the beautiful game” discuss how they would tinker with their teams in different circumstances, ranging from a league final to a dead match. Not only did it engage them in active discussion and analysis, it also helped me use their answers as a platform for “tweaks” that are made to the marketing mix depending on the occasion or the circumstance. After all, that is what McDonald’s does with the Tsukimi Burger before and during the Mid-Autumn Festival in Japan: a classic case of a fast-food giant thinking global, but acting local!

Of course the flip side to using such an approach – and I do not use it always – is that there may be a segment that abhors football, especially the girls I teach. With them, I try to use an interest or pastime that they are familiar with to get the message across. In fact, I have been using football as an example only in the three years I have been in Zambia. Prior to that - during my time in Abu Dhabi - where most of my students where Pakistani or Bangladeshi, cricket was an ideal complement to my lessons.

Sport, as I have mentioned in an earlier blog, is fast becoming – if it already isn’t – a major commercial giant all over the world, with billions of dollars being spent within the industry on a global scale. As such, it is a marvelous opportunity for us to use it as an effective tool to get our students engaged with thinking about ideas and concepts that seem nebulous to them on first reading. After all, since they are at an age when they themselves are greatly involved with playing sport or watching their favourite team perform on a regular basis, it is only to our benefit – and theirs as well – to add value to the lessons we offer, lessons that we hope they will take with them long after they have finished their board examinations.

Of Memories and Dreams

Of Memories and Dreams
Of Memories and Dreams is a tribute to how influential the past and the future are to the lives we live in the present.

I ponder; and I see
Memories tinted with time
And
Dreams, a kaleidoscope of hope.

Yes, I look into my past
And
See my future beckoning me.

I ponder; and I remember
Dreams, nurtured with time
And
The memories they now offer.

Yes, I look into my past
And
See my future beckoning me.

I dream; and I wonder
Of all that can be
And
Of all that has already been.

Oh, I gaze into my future
And
Hear my past harking back at me.

I dream; and I think
Of what I can achieve
And
Of goals already attained.

Oh, I gaze into my future
And
Hear my past harking back at me.

I dream, I wonder, I ponder, I think
And
I see
Memories tinted with time
Dreams, a kaleidoscope of hope.

Education

It has been a long time indeed. A hectic work schedule, coupled with the anticipation of one's first child left very little room for any discursive or poetic output. The following reading, however, was borne out of necessity and read by two students at the Simba School Leaving Ceremony for the year 2008.

Education does not end when you are awarded a degree or you pass out of school or university. In fact, it just begins.

Education is not just the absorption of knowledge, it is putting the knowledge you gain into practice, for:

Education is gained in the holding of a conversation. It occurs when you observe the people around you. It occurs when you think for yourself, rather than when you read someone else's thoughts.

Education is garnered from experience; the experience of doing something by yourself for the first time, the experience of gratitude that you earn when you help someone else, the experience of a smile on the face of your child, the experience of pride in a parents' eyes.

Education is showing yourself the ropes as you continue learning lessons for life and rules for living. Education is creating and valuing your own personal history.

All the best, graduates of the Simba International School Classes of 2008 as you continue learning moment by moment, day by day, year by year - as you go on to gain the experience - and education of a lifetime.

Welcome to 2008

The passage of time records
The things we have achieved, the milestones we have crossed.

The time to come heralds
The things we can yet achieve, the milestones we have yet to cross.

The past is a collage
Of moments in a lifetime, of people and places that have been

The future is a canvas
On which we get to create moments, people and places that can be.

The year gone by
Is a storehouse of memories, a cellar full of nostalgia.

The year to come
Is a receptacle for effort, a playground of anticipation

So, while - on a day like this - you might look back at what has been
Take time, also, to look ahead at what has yet to be

...Of the person you CAN become
...Of the things you CAN do
...Of the places you CAN visit
Of a life that you CAN create.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

The Business of Sport

It is not uncommon, these days, to hear teenagers from all corners of the globe to discuss – especially after a weekend – the foibles and fortunes of their favourite football club. Such discussion can sometimes become heated argument as personal biases and preconceived prejudices take over rational debate. This is now a naturally occurring phenomena all over the world, and though nothing can compare with the beautiful game, snippets of conversations on international cricket matches, NBA basketball games, F1 Racing and even golf, can be heard as one walks down corridors in schools all over the world.
What has caused this global phenomenon? As a teacher of Business Studies and an avid follower of sport myself, I thought I might consider an analysis of sport in order to make sports-crazy teenagers use a lateral approach in understanding Business Studies – from the perspective of what is, in my opinion, one of the fastest growing commercial activities in the world.
Fastest-growing? Well, though the sports industry has not have the prodigious growth rate of the Internet, it is – along with tourism – a rapidly growing industry that is not only gaining popularity on the global scene, but one that is constantly evolving to adapt to changing personal attitudes, new-fangled technologies and modern lifestyles. Yes, sports is big business and the sport industry has contributed a greater margin to the global GDP than ever before. In other words, it is a global industry that fosters a range of economic activity, providing employment – and entertainment – across all social strata globally.
Consider some of these facts regarding the impact that the business of sport has had – and continues to have – on society:
 In tandem, the major leagues in the States – NFL, NBA and MLB – garner around $ 12 billion in annual revenue. That figure is miniscule in comparison with the total market worth of the sports industry in the United States: $ 425 billion, which means that the sports industry is just smaller than the food retailing industry in the USA.
 Ticket sales alone at the 2003 Cricket World Cup in South Africa totaled US $ 11.2 million. That figure is estimated to shoot up to US $ 40 million in next month’s World Cup in the West Indies.
 Sports media is a multi-billion dollar domain within the broader field of media and communications. Think ESPN and Fox Sports. Think Supersport here in Africa.
 Every match in the 2006 World Cup in Germany featured footballs from Pakistan, which exported around 56 million footballs for US $ 185 million. Not surprising when approximately 80% of the world’s footballs comes from Sialkot, a small town in Pakistan which is known for its cottage industry.
 Nike Inc – possibly, the most recognizable sports brand – earned revenues to the tune of US $ 15 billion for the fiscal year 2006.
The list is endless and, on careful thought and research, you are likely to come up further examples of the impact that sport has had – and continues to have – on society. Look around, for that matter, and you will notice that sport on become part of your wardrobe. You might not wear that Ronaldo football shirt that your mate wears; you might not style your hair the way Beckham does, you might not wear the national colours of your country when you hang out with your friends, but I am quite sure that you own a pair of sports shoes just because it looks good! Which brings me to my first reason for the phenomenal growth of the sports industry – fashion. Sport has become trendier by the day, and this has led to sports merchandising contributing a big part to the revenues earned by the global sports industry. Teenagers find it fashionable to sport the football shirt of their favourite star or don their country’s (club’s) colours on that casual day out. However, sport has been fashionable – and of great economic impact – because of two basic business concepts: interdependence and quality.
Let me deal with interdependence first. According to basic Business Studies, this is the mutual dependence on each other enjoyed by all members of society. In my opinion, both – sport and the media – are highly interdependent on each other, and that is why they have both grown prodigiously in recent times. Ted Turner and Rupert Murdoch are media moguls and there empires owe a great deal to the sport industry itself. Sport, in turn, has become a global industry thanks to the far-reaching tentacles of Mssrs Turner and Murdoch. Yes, if sport is a global industry, it is because people from different corners of the world are able to enjoy what was once a local happening: the Premier League, for instance. No wonder then that both industries are multi-billion dollar revenue earners! In fact, thanks to the media and sport, people in small cottage industries earn a living, maintenance staff at stadia in developing countries can take home a reasonable wage, a budding entrepreneur can open up his own sports shop, a journalist can eke out a living and an accountant at an Astroturf manufacturer can grin at this pay packet. Interdependence again! Sport provided employment and employment makes sport possible.
In fact, sport has created a wider range of jobs that youngsters today can look forward to: sports psychology, sport medicine, sport technology, sport statistics, sport advertising, sport management, sports event management, sport marketing, to name a few. No wonder then, that Dubai, once oil-rich, has diversified into tourism and, of late, into sport tourism. The government there knows that investment in sport is definitely going to bring in revenues in more ways than one.
Quality! What quality does sport possess? What is the unique selling point that has made its popularity soar. In my opinion, it is the sheer value of live entertainment. There are no retakes here; it is sheer drama that can literally take you to the edge of your seat more times than one. It is drama in real life. And, this I feel is sports’ unique selling point. It gives entertainment value; which is why a live sports event can take precedence over a Tom Cruise blockbuster or that mystery series Mother has been religiously following all month long. The fact that it provides sheer entertainment in live stadiums or sedate living rooms is the main reason sport has grown in popularity all over the world. And, in trying to maintain its entertainment value and enhance this USP, specific players in the sports industry have tried to help sport evolve with time and adapt with time. No wonder then, that sport has become more colourful, entertaining and exciting. It has managed to retain its entertainment value to adapting to an ever-changing global environment.
Yes, sport is big business. One that is growing at a steady pace, entertaining and employing people all over the world. One that is contributing to the economic activities of almost every single country the world. One that is benefiting as many industries as it benefits from them.