Toronto hip-hop trio Starchild X is positioned to be among the galaxy of music stars(Published in Anokhi Magazine.Com)

Here is the link to this article -http://www.anokhimagazine.com/entertainment/x-factor-starchildx

They are young, energetic and full of attitude. Meet Starchild X, Toronto’s emerging music group that is all set to charm and sway the audience with their urban pop music. Their hit song “Superstar” is making waves and has earned them a loyal fan base. Starchild X consists of the trio: Sean Hakim (Starchild), Delon Omrow (D’Couture) and Jeni Walls (J-Wallz). The group’s style of music (a mix of hip-hop, new wave, rock and dance pop) has been heavily influenced by American hip-hop group Public Enemy, English electronic band Depeche Mode, rapper Timbaland, and modern producers such as David Guetta.

The history of the group dates back to 2006. After working for a few years in North America as an actor, Sean decided to seriously pursue a career in music. He started writing and producing his own hip-hop style of music under the name “Starchild.” With time, he improvised his style and introduced more “poppy” tunes. Jeni Walls, with whom Sean had worked on motivational speaking sessions, joined him to provide the female voice. Delon Omrow, Sean’s cousin, had heard about Starchild’s work. He was talented and could write and compose songs. So, the three of them teamed up, got the chemistry working and created their own style of music to form Starchild X.

The group tasted its first success in December 2011, when their song “Superstar” was aired five times a day on Toronto’s popular FM station, Virgin 99.9 Radio to a pretty amazing response from the listeners. Ultra Records recognized their talent and within two weeks of their radio debut, Starchild X was signed for a three-album deal.

The group is also gradually making its presence known in Canada. Their song “I Think I’m In Love” was submitted for the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Fashion Rocks fashion show that was held in Toronto last summer and was selected among the top six from 500 applicants. The group also recently performed at the benefit show for theKirabo Foundation.

I was curious to know why the group was called Starchild X. Sean notes that the name was inspired by a 900-year-old skull found in New Mexico. The skull had an elongated forehead that gave the feel of an “Alien Child.” Sean connected with that and considered himself as the child of the stars. He was obsessed to know more about the universe and addressed himself as the “Starchild.” The “X” is for the additional factor that Jeni and Delon add to the group’s music.

In the future, Starchild X wants to etch its name in the music industry. They know that the industry has several one-song wonders and they don’t intend to be another flash in the pan. They have ambitious plans and are working hard on the music for their upcoming albums. Their hit single “Superstar” has been released in May to all the major radio stations in Toronto. A music video for this song is also in the works. With a sparkle in his eye, Sean says that the group wants their music to be loved in Europe and Asia, as well as in North America. He adds “I see a dream where we have sold out stadiums in the next five years. I am certain that if we stay focused and continue to write from our hearts, we can do it.” Interesting! For a group that has the talent, passion and believes in itself, this possibility might just turn into a reality.

BY SMRUTI DAS / PUBLISHED IN THE HEALTH & WELLNESS ISSUE, SUMMER 2012

Tips on how to make your child's camp experience the best ever! (Published in Anokhi Magazine.Com)

Here is the link to this article of mine - http://www.anokhimagazine.com/online-exclusives/prepare-your-child-for-summer-camp

It's that time of the year again. The snow is long gone and the temps are rising. Children can be seen playing outdoors. I joined my friend Nitika at the nearby park where her ten year old daughter was having a great time. As Nitika and I chatted, she revealed to me that she was planning on sending her daughter Rhea to a summer camp for the first time. She was excited yet anxious. How could she prepare her for camp!

Rini Mishra is mom to two wonderful twins — Snehal and Dionee. The kids had their first summer camp when they were in their fourth grade and they loved it. As Rini puts it, "The kids made new friends, learned something new and developed a sense of responsibility. They are eager to start the next one". A summer camp is an important step for children and parents. It's a time that the children will remember in the years to come. So, in that spirit, we talked to a few experienced mothers and collected some some insightful pointers on how you can prepare your kid for summer camp.

Know more about the camp

It's a good idea to do a bit of summer camp research. As a parent, talk to the camp organizers about any fears and concerns that you may have. If your kid  is internet savvy, have them go online and check the camp website out so they too can be involved in the process and get excited about it. That way, your child will know what to expect and the transition from home to camp will be much easier. Here are a few key questions to ask while you are doing your camp research:

• What kind of activities and programs does the camp offer?
• How many counselors does the camp have? Are they qualified enough to conduct a summer camp?
• Will there be field trips for campers and if so where?

Develop a sense of responsibility

At camp, children will be expected to perform tasks on their own. A sense of responsibility has to be developed. It would help if the child is encouraged early on to participate in daily chores like making their own bed, keeping their room tidy and helping you in shopping. These habits are likely to continue at camp. If the child is scared to stay away from home, encourage the child to spend quality time at a relative or friend's place as a teaser to camp-life. This will most likely remove any fear and anxiety from your mind and of course help your child relax as well. 

Pack smart

It's important that you pack all the essential items that will be required at  camp, and include your child in the packing process. This way they will actually know what's in their bag as they head off to camp. A list of "must carry" items is usually provided by the camp organizers. Essential items that you should pack would be:

* sleeping bag
* pillows
* toiletries
* shampoo
* soap
* swimsuit 
* pyjamas
* sunblock
* insect repellant
* comfortable clothes for day and warm clothes for the evening
* towels
* first aid box
* rain gear
* sportswear
* sport shoes
* emergency contact info (always have them tagged to your child's luggage)

If your little one is on medication and needs special treatment, let the camp authorities know. As a parent, you might be tempted to give your child an iPod or a cell phone, but many camps don't encourage electronic gadgets (remember, it's CAMP!) So, to avoid your child being crushed by the last minute removal of these items right before they head off, do your research to make sure they are allowed in the first place. If the camp is for a longer duration (beyond a couple of weeks), include a family photo for the child in case they get homesick. 

Develop good hygiene habits

Have a chat with your child about hygiene issues at camp. Small but important practices like washing hands before eating, applying sunscreen to avoid sunburn, brushing teeth and changing clothes before sleeping at night will ensure that they stay healthy and relatively germ-free. And yes, just like before school, always give your child a quick lice check to make sure they are clean and good to go. Mothers should talk freely to their teenage daughters about periods and overall feminine hygience. Again, having that conversation with the counselor will also avoid uncomfortable situations.

Communicate with your child

It's important that the child is able to tell you, if they're experiencing any problems at camp. If this is a second trip around, and this time they aren't that enthusiastic about it, there could be a reason, so read the signals. Maybe they aren't crazy about the camp activities, not being able to perform them, or possibly, a case of being bullied. Initiate a conversation with your child so that they can open up to you or to the counselor if a problem occurs. Rini adds, "Children don't open up at this age. So, we need to be friends to them so that they open up". Encourage your child to record their thoughts in a journal about how they feel about the camp. You could even write a few positive reaffirming notes and drop it in their bag for them to discover during camp. Provide some sheets of paper and stamped envelopes so if they want to write home, they can.  

Sending kids to summer camp can be a wise decision as the result is experience, friends and a lifetime of memories. With a little homework and ensuring that your child will enjoy the overall experience, camp can be a great time for everyone!

BY SMRUTI DAS / POSTED MAY 17, 2012

Learning the Art of Competent Communication (Published in Anokhi Magazine.Com)

We all hear about Toastmasters and Public Speaking. So as the Vice President Public Relations of my club, I decided to write an article on Toastmasters for the Anokhi Magazine. This article is for all those who want to know how Toastmasters can help change your life!

Here is the link - http://www.anokhimagazine.com/online-exclusives/toastmasters

What do you think is the biggest fear for most people in the world? (Hint: The number two is death.) Based on several studies, the top ranking fear in this world is that of public speaking. Yes, majority of people would rather die instead of talking in front of a live audience.

The fear can have a negative impact on your career and can influence your success in life.

Sameer too was experiencing a similar situation. A business graduate with sharp analytical skills and a great personality, he was recently promoted to a Manager level position. His job now involved making effective presentations and leading teams. He thought he would be good at it. Yet, the transition to the new role was not going smooth. He struggled to keep the audience engaged during his presentations. He had trouble connecting with his team members. A few months ago, he expressed his frustration to his mentor who suggested that he try Toastmasters. It's been five months since he joined the club and the results are visible.

"Congratulations! Your presentation was awesome". Sameer is now a regular at receiving such praise.  His presentations are now structured — have a strong opening, keep the audience engaged and he gets his messages across quickly. Sameer can't stop thanking his Toastmasters Club for that.

With more than 270,000 members and 13, 000 clubs worldwide, Toastmasters International is a world leader in communication and leadership development. At Toastmasters, participants hone their speaking and leadership skills in a "learn-by-doing" environment. The best part -— there are no professors, instructors or classrooms. Corporate houses realize that most schools or universities don't offer this kind of training. So, they encourage their employees to sign up for the club. TD Bank has 4 such clubs in the Toronto area alone.  Ashok Raghupathy, a Project Manager at TD Bank, joined one of the clubs a year ago. "When I first participated as a guest in Toastmasters, I observed that one can not only improve public speaking and communications skills but also improve on other leadership skills — like facilitation, organization, coaching etc in a fun, proven and structured way".  He had no second thoughts about joining the club. He is now the VP (Public Relations) at the TD Supreme Toastmasters chapter, which has about 30 members.

There are clubs outside the corporate world too. Prasad, a Toastmaster member for 10 years is an active member of the Grosvenor Club, one of the oldest public clubs in Toronto. Back in 2002, he joined Toastmasters to network with people and get comfortable while speaking in front of a live audience. He adds, "we have about 25 members. Being an open club (and not a corporate one), we have a great mix of individuals by blend of gender, age range, speaking experience."  Members of this club included individuals from different walks of life — industry professionals, artists, free lancers, public sector employees, retired individuals, life coaches.

A typical Toastmaster meeting consists of three sections. The first section is the Prepared Speech session where participants come prepared to speak on a topic based on a Toastmaster manual. The manual has ten speech projects and each project is designed in a different way to develop speaking skills one step at a time. Sample projects include the importance of organization, usage of right words, speaking to inspire and using visual aids.

The second section in the meetings is called the Table Topics. It is designed to help individuals think on their feet. Members are expected to speak impromptu for about 2 minutes on a given topic.

The last part is the Evaluation session. This is very precious for members as they get pointed feedback from evaluators on areas where they can improve and speak better.

In today's world, corporations are looking for people who are persuasive and comfortable communicating with a wide range of people, from top executives to assembly-line workers. They are encouraging employees to join Toastmasters. At TD Bank, the membership fee is considered as training and education for employee development and reimbursed by the bank. Toastmasters also ensures that the effort put by an employee is recognized. On completion of ten speeches from the manual and becoming a "Competent Communicator", Toastmasters can send a letter to the supervisor about the accomplishment.

Every Toastmaster club also has a unique personality. Besides improving the communication skills, the members make new friends and connect to a wide range of people. The Grosvenor Club even has a pub social after their meetings. Prasad adds "This is something I like about our club. The camaraderie and the friendships remain even long after club members have moved on."

Thousands of members worldwide can vouch for how joining a Toastmasters club has boosted their confidence and helped them formulate and express their ideas with ease. Public speaking is an art and you'll notice some of the finest speakers being developed here. With a lot of excitement, Prasad adds "On a broader level, Toastmasters is not just about public speaking and leadership skills. It provides an opportunity for interaction that enables us to learn and apply life skills in all aspects of our journey in a relaxed and supportive environment while having fun."

You can register as a guest and attend a Toastmaster meeting in your area and check if it will make a difference to your life.

BY SMRUTI DAS / POSTED JULY 5TH, 2012

Rashmee Sharma's second edition of the coffee table book(Published in Anokhi Magazine.Com)

Read my article on Roshni - The Light of South Asia. A book presented to Hilary Clinton and Pratibha Patel

Here is the link - http://anokhimagazine.com/online-exclusives/roshni-light-south-asia-vol2

What is common to Deepa Mehta, Russell Peters, Bobby Jindal, Indra Nooyi and Vikram Pandit and our very own CEO and Founder of ANOKHI MEDIA, Raj Girn? They are all a part of the second edition ofRoshni: The Light of South Asia, a coffee table book that profiles 51 personalities in North America who have had stellar success and are an inspiration to South Asians across the world. After the remarkable success of the first edition of Roshni which came out in 2005 and featured 101 personalities, Rashmee Sharma is back this time as she profiles 51 South Asians across USA and Canada who have carved their own path to success.

The opinion of South Asians in North America has always been mixed. While a part of the world sees them as entrepreneurs and successful, the others have stereotyped them as convenience store owners and cabbies. Roshni, which means "light" in Hindi, illustrates profiles of South Asians who have battled myth, stereotype and many other obstacles to come out successful in the world. The underlying theme of Roshni is inspiration. The coffee table book is not just the professional resumés of these successful individuals but highlights the many ways these South Asians have been giving back, both to their country of origin and to the one they have adopted as home. These stars have discerned areas that they felt needed care and attention. As Rashmee talks about it, "If they couldn't find an existing organization to serve the need, they created one".
The idea to write the book struck Rashmee while she was teaching at the University of Washington in Seattle. During her classes, she was often asked stereotypical questions from students who perceived Indians as primitives. Rashmee did her research and shared with them about various accomplishments of Indians in all walks of life. She felt the need for a comprehensive platform that could feature inspirational individuals from diverse disciplines and thus Roshni: The Light of South Asia was born.

Rashmee herself could serve as an inspiration to many. Born in Delhi and raised in Jaipur, she was fascinated by the power of words and became an English department chair in Sikkim, India. After an untimely demise of her late husband who was in the military, she decided to move to the U.S to complete her PhD. It was a daunting task for a mother of two young children in an alien country without any support. She worked hard and became successful and there has been no looking back since then. Over the years, she has been an educator, journalist, published poet and author. She has raised her children well - her son is an attorney and her daughter, a physician. She thrives on taking challenging projects and enjoys every moment of her life.
When asked how she selects the personalities, Rashmee mentions that she has a research panel which based on nominations, research and decide on those who will make the final list. "Since we have many disciplines in which to feature individuals, it becomes a tough choice when we have to put a cap on certain areas. Roshni is not a definitive 'Best Of' list. Instead, it is a chronicle of the contributions South Asians have made over many decades", she adds. The first edition of Roshni received an overwhelming response not only from the South Asian community but also from schools and mainstream community. The second edition is set to be launched this week, and has already generated a lot of interest. It will be available for purchase on Amazon.com and on the Roshni Media website.


BY SMRUTI DAS / POSTED ON MAY 3, 2012
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF ROSHNI MEDIA