Music With a Mission
School Western Band leader, Mihir Misra reviews balladeer Charlie King’s performance in school

Wherever there is a voice that needs to be heard, wherever there is a cause that people need to be made aware of... that’s where Charlie King tries to be. A ‘singing soldier’, wielding his guitar with skill and passion, he marches- both literally and figuratively- in the ranks of those who care about this earth and all the creatures that inhabit it.
Introducing him to an audience of Doscos, masters and guests at the Music School auditorium n February 9, Mrs. Jo Chopra of Karuna Vihar said, “Charlie is American, he sings in English, but his heart and soul belong to the world.” Apt words, which reflected the mood of the concert that followed. Charlie King struck the right note with his very first song, the anthemic ‘If I had a hammer’ with its crusading spirit summed up in the conclusion of “It’s the hammer of justice, It’s the bell of freedom, It’s the song about the love between my brothers and my sisters, All over this land.” After that, it took him no time at all to get his audience involved. The comic, yet disturbing song about how we pollute our surroundings had as its chorus “Garbage-garbage-garbage”, rendered in a menacing growl by all of us. Charlie King’s lyrics covered a wide range of his concerns from endangered marine life to the disappearance of natural ways of living in our consumer society. There was plenty of ‘light’ entertainment too, especially in his recitation of Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’ in three and a half minutes flat- with hardly a breath taken in between lines!
I particularly liked his amazing sense of timing and the way he used his guitar to convey rhythm. His music was simple, with the emphasis, naturally, on his lyrics. Yet, the music provided accompaniment to just the right degree, without ever overpowering the lyrics.
This was a concert that was truly memorable for the way it reached out to us at different levels. There was pure entertainment, lots to laugh about and a great deal to think about long after it was over.

DSW: What are the changes you anticipate having to deal with during your tenure as DHM?
PBR: IB would be a major change that we will have to deal with. Doon would be the first public school to offer it. We will maintain the all-round character of the school as well as excelling academically. The clientele, i.e. the parents, would need to be satisfied with the high marks for their children. Dealing with boys who leave after class X is a major challenge that I foresee. Our society is changing and its new problems are a big challenge. Psychiatric, emotional problems will be on the rise. Dealing with a new generation of kids who are critical as much as they are intelligent need special skills other than teaching skills, and these will have to be inculcated and developed. Our school will have to make efforts to retain our best students, some of who leave after class X. The job of a school does not end after school. Placements into good colleges is also a must. These are a few things that I will be trying to deal with.

DSW: What are the implications of ‘reservations in private institutions’ for Doon?
PBR: Frankly, this move will not achieve what it hopes to. It will not make a dent in the education scenario that exists currently. This is the easy way out, but not the answer to India’s problem. I agree with certain reservations in schools for a particular state, but this proposal is preposterous and bound to fail. Good public schools are important institutions and reservations to this extent may sound the death knell for these schools.

DSW: You juggle four hats, i.e. Dean of Students’ Welfare, Geography teacher, ‘PubMan’ of the Doon School Weekly and the DHM. How do you divide and manage your time? What do you do to unwind?
PBR: I am not a great multi-tasker, and I am still learning the art, as it’s not natural to me. I am enjoying this experience and taking each day at a time. I am a teacher to the core and going to class is the most exciting thing to do and I look forward to it every day. Students’ welfare is prime on my agenda and the DHM’s post would help me further that cause. The Weekly, as I said earlier, is already in good hands. I try and give proportional time to all my jobs. I feel Housemasters should take on many of the tasks that the DHM is now doing, while the prefects should get back to their responsibilities.
As for unwinding, I am an avid rock music listener in my free time. I also love exercising a lot. Reading, yoga and meditation come next. I love interacting with the younger crowd and teachers in school. What I dislike about my current job is that it doesn’t give me enough time to play sports, which I love immensely. I am planning to bike to Leh this summer, so that is another way I will unwind.
DSW: Were you marooned on an island without company of any kind, what are the eight things you would wish for?
PBR: I would wish for jet-skis; something to light a fire with; a computer with internet connection; a deep-sea fishing rod; a Labrador; my iPod and Leatherman kit and finally, ten good books to read. If I could have all these things, I would probably stay on the island forever!
 

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