As William H McNeill puts it, "The rise of Islam offers perhaps the most impressive example in world history of the power of words to alter human behaviour in sudden, surprising ways." True to the quote, but there is much more when it comes to how individualistic perception is developed. Correspondent Nidhi Jain spoke to Khalid Sayeed, head of programming, IMG Media, about his beliefs and faith.

By Birth-
Born on 5th of September, this family man has been very religious and balanced; his then family consisted of five siblings i.e. Four sisters and one brother. In the process of learning, taking knowledge from saner voices and observing, he became a great believer in power but not to the level of going berserk.

Religion-
Is without a doubt Shahrukh Khan. And a good ambassador can be Azim Premji. Khalid thinks that it's very difficult to propagate religion. "How George bush can't teach Christianity. Since in our religion the villains keep changing, few bad elements always manage to retain themselves and ultimately it seems sad that we didn't end up becoming communist."

Values-
Khalid's greatest influence has been his grandmother Amina, who taught him that one can't be a good human being if one is not religious. "The strain of caring for one's parents in this most difficult time of their lives is considered an honor and a blessing and an opportunity for great spiritual growth. In Islam, it is not enough that we only pray for our parents, but we should act with limitless compassion, remembering that when we were helpless children, they preferred us to themselves."
He also has an enormous understanding of different religions since he was brought up among Christians and Hindus.

Belief-
If we have to talk about Khalid's belief, his extreme faith is in Supernatural power and fasting through which six senses are controlled, makes one calmer; one can't lie, to respect women and more importantly feeding the poor. He also believes in Guru Nanak, Mahavir, Gautam Buddha and Sufi Saints. Khalid also believes that as long as the world exists there will be presence of good and bad, but we should never lie low in front of FATE.

Khalid's beliefs do not extend to wife Aditi, however, who is an atheist, while son Sohail and daughter Raisa celebrate every existing festival with enthusiasm.

Rituals-
Khalid believes in praying for a minimum of 5 minutes a day, but not bowing down. Also, he specifically doesn't follow rituals.

Divine visit-
It's his wish to visit five pillars, termed as "Zakat", all practicing Muslims accept belief in the 'Six Articles of Faith' and are obliged to follow the 'Five Pillars.' They are:
Muslim profession of faith or shahada; Ritual Prayer or salah; Obligatory Charity or zakah; Fasting or sawm; Pilgrimage or hajj.

Spiritual guidance-
Khalid used to read "haddis", a collection of incidents in Prophet Mohammed's life, but he is very disheartened that today in madrasas kids read without understanding and today it seems irrelevant as his fellow members of his religion read scriptures without understanding.

Positive thinking-
Comes from real life. Also, his pillar of strength is mother Zubeida, who survived riots and a disabled father. As he recalls his grandmother, Amina and father Muniruddin were mocked during the 1992 communal riots that hit Mumbai. To make matters worse, their's were among those families that were targeted to be looted. As a result it made them rebellious and angry with the whole scenario but in those testing times they were taught not to behave like those butchers/killers. "Sometimes, when I am cornered, then I become superstitious," says Khalid.

Karmology-
His religion decrees it is compulsory to offer 2 per cent of income as charity to be donated to poor people. Since Khalid is not of scared of failure, negative thoughts don't affect him. To him, it's all about the learning curve and his own Karma. He quotes from the Quran, "You are the best of my creation, and I have given you the option to think. If you do wrong and repent I'll still forgive, if you turn a good person you change your Karma."

Relaxing spiritually-
Sleeping! A lot under any given circumstances, if in dire need he asks for divine help and feels it deeply. "It was wonderful to have time to reflect on my own spiritual life and those reflections have resulted in some changes in our family's life," says Khalid.

Are you Destiny's child?
"I am absolutely destiny's child. Very few people have influence on me, I don't take diplomacy as my fate and that makes my life simple," says Khalid.

We take a peek into the mind of a self proclaimed "restless" man, workaholic, and knowledge seeker who learnt early on to handle ego. Ravi Kiran, CEO, South Asia, Starcom Mediavest Group, took some time out of his hectic schedule to talk to Correspondent Nidhi Jain.

Who me?
Highly principled and disciplined, Ravi has high BMR. He just sleeps for 4-5 hours on an average as he thinks that in the time he is sleeping, the best will pass away.

As a person, he has always been attracted to the underdog, he has been loyal to people and experimentative to things. He doesn't like to use brands but sometimes brands become people. His decisions have often worked against his growth. Can't stand one thing after a certain period. What changed him were a few books by author Robin Cook "Coma", "Fever" as well as Harold Robbins' "the Betsy", to name a few.

Initial days---
Books have always carved a way for Ravi for the kind of success he has had. He meant to be a doctor but studied engineering. A management book he picked up was 'Great Ideas in Management' by Northcote, Rustomji and Sapre made him join FMS, Delhi.Joined Lintas? After six years, got thoroughly bored so he chose to pursue media initiative.

As a person, he thinks he was pretty rough initially, rude and a just do his own work person or was simply called 'ectomorphic'. But now it's more about relating to people.

Strongly feels about---
The compound pet dog "Kaalu", who is also a family member.

Crazy about---
Books, movies, technology, music and gadgets (he thinks Palm is better engineered than Nokia, and I-river is better than Apple i-pod), he even writes his own blogs.

Rejuvenates---
Cycling, rock climbing, river rafting and walking for relaxation. Also, he follows tennis, F1. Given a choice he would like to go to the forest.

Love---
His wife Shalini with whom he shares the interest of watching movies on their home theatre system.

Food---
Eats vegetarian, can tolerate continental, cooks South Indian and likes north Indian food, which his wife prepares.

Movies---
Thrillers, court room dramas and mafia movies.

You would think a loner child is a negative sign in the growing years but in the case of Ravi Kiran, CEO, South Asia, Starcom Mediavest Group, it helped him come close to books and develop an immense love for them. Kiran managed to take some time out of his busy schedule to talk to Correspondent Nidhi Jain about books, books and more books?

Can John Grisham make you so pensive?

Who introduced you to reading?
I guess my dad. Or perhaps my elder brother. Don't really remember. Our home was full of books and you just couldn't have avoided them, unless you had a strong ability of pretension.

Kind of book collection you have
I started buying my own books when I was in junior school. Some of the early ones were Marxist theories sold on the street really cheap, published by Mir Publications in Moscow. I later learnt that most of them were subsidized by the USSR government to propagate Soviet beliefs. I also bought a lot of books when I went to engineering college in Kashmir. I spent almost 80 per cent of my pocket money on books then - classic literature by Aldous Huxley, Charlotte Bronte, books on behavioral sciences, philosophy, and satire. Since it took me a couple of years to get a room with a book rack, my room used to have books everywhere, and some of my room mates used to make a mockery of that.

Taste in books
I like most kinds. My choice at a point depends on my mood. I like philosophy, psychology, psychiatry, marketing, organizational behaviour, human relations, technology, thrillers, war stories, human history. I haven't developed a taste for stuff like culture, geography etc. I have read a few books on science fiction, but not of late. In general, I do not like 'how to' books.

Browsing in the FMS Library - Delhi

On favourite authors and well written books
Dr Eric Berne, Jiddu Krishnamurthy, Jean-Paul Sartre, Aldous Huxley, Antoine de Saint Exup?ry, Seth Godin, Alvin Toffler, Malcom Gladwell, Harry Beckwith, Tom Friedman, Amartya Sen, Sumantra Ghosal, Edward de Bono, John Grisham, Jeffery Archer, Alistair McLean, Robert Ludlum. I have been lucky to have read very few poorly written books. I like The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exup?ry, Being and Nothingness by Sartre and The Mirror Makers by Stephen Fox, Heart at Work by Jack Canfield and Jacqueline Miller, Purple Cow by Seth Godin, First Break All Rules by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman, What do you say after you say Hello by Dr. Eric Berne, The Mechanism of Mind by de Bono, The Mind's I by Douglas Hoffstader, The Textures of Silence by Gordon Vorster, Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis, Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. These are some of the books that have had a life and behaviour changing effect on me.

Do you find interesting things in every book, how do you choose books you read?
Before the internet, I used to decide by reading back-of-the-book. I am also sure many of my friends have had an influence on my choice of books. Now I browse for books online and often spend time in bookstores browsing. I am not a speed reader; my reading speed is really low. I go through every word, every page, and some times I read the same page or section many times over. There are books I have been reading for years. There are books I have read several times. Every time I read a book, I get new meanings. I guess the meaning has something to do with what I am doing at that point in time or what I am going through in my life.

The early student collection - Kashmir

What do you think of self help books?
I don't particularly fancy them now, although when I was in college, I liked a few of them. I guess it all depends on how sure you are of yourself and who has written a self help book. Most of them are too preachy.

Money and time you spend on books
The time I spend on books has come down a lot in recent times, since life's so hectic. But of late, I have been listening to audio books or reading them off my Palm Treo handheld, when I am traveling. It's not as enjoyable as a book in your hand, but it's convenient.

Your reading pace
As I said before, very slow. I take three times as much time to read a book as my wife does. One reason behind that is my mind's temptation to drift away on a tangential thought chain. I have never felt the pressure to finish a book.

Your first book
Not sure, but I think it must have been a story from the Panch Tantra.

Browsing and e-reading
A lot of late. On my PC screen, on my hand held and through the audible software. I also browse the net at least 2-3 hours every day and love reading stuff on my feed reader.

Currently you are reading
I think about eight books simultaneously. Here are the ones I remember: Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared M. Diamond, The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly, The World is Flat by Tom Friedman, A Prison Diary by Jeffrey Archer, The Argumentative Indian by Dr Amartya Sen.

Books that do not hold you
Cannot remember.

One look at Shaju Ignatius, executive producer, Perspectrum, Percept Holdings, and you realize that being happy is something we have to learn. You see him and say 'this is it, he's happy, he's got a home, career, wife, adorable kid, and is at peace with himself, and if there's something else to happiness, this Piscean will yearn for that too.' Correspondent Nidhi Jain really digs the pace of his life on the Fast Track.

Work - my big great canvas -
I have never planned my moves. I wished to be a pilot or atleast get to fly as cabin crew but then my exploring mind led me to Eureka Forbes,after which i moved on to Damania Airways.Looking further I got into advertising,and did a small stint in Advertising Forecast in which I happened to do the promotion for the film 'Speed'. From that experience I started liking the concept. In the summer of '95, when event management was not a regular word/career, an ad by 'Wizcraft' caught my attention - "Join us and work will be a party".As part of India's premier Event management firm, created & managed many prestigious projects : The Michael Jackson India Tour, concerts by Shaggy, Deep Purple, UB40, Lou Bega among many others, first ever Television concerts by Lata Mangeshkar & Asha Bhosle, multiple international events across London, New York, Mauritius, South Africa, Dubai.Got tagged as the 'Awards specialist' in the industry, as I managed almost all the film & music awards held in the country, viz, Filmfare Awards, Zee Cine, Zee Sangeet, Bollywood Awards, IIFA Awards, Screen Awards, Hero Sports Awards, Sangeet Awards, Economic Times Awards, Filmfare South Awards, Mata Sanman Awards, Ceat Cricket Rating Awards, Castrol Cricket Awards, etc. Closest to my heart being the Annual Filmfare Awards, which I have been associated with for atleast 8 years of my career.

It was great to be associated with fresh ideas and events. What attracted me towards it was that it was not regular mundane work. Then, it was time move again and learn new things. Along with my close buddies based across the metros, we set up the event management business for the Times of India, called 360 Degrees.

In 2004, Percept D'Mark became my focus for the next 2 and half years. This was a great wide platform, and we truly created some memorable projects & campaigns. Now my next step to learning has led me to join Perspectrum, the IMC (integrated marketing communication) consultancy arm of Percept Holdings. My work mantra is to always have a backup plan to any element or idea.

Discovery Networks India,Associate Director/Marketing and Communications-Rajiv Bakshi takes us along on some of his memorable holidays across international and national shores. Apart from the fact that Rajiv's job takes him around the world, he personally loves to globe trek. Rather, what really gets him going is driving around new places.

I do not like being driven around. The wheel has to be in my hand for me to enjoy the drive to the hilt. Germany and France have been his favourite destinations and I have traversed most parts by road with like minded friends.

The atmosphere in German cities like Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, Heidelberg, Munich, Stuttgart and Frankfurt is unique: charged with historic importance, packed with architectural highlights and filled with restaurants to get stuffed in. We can stroll around streets with ancient buildings and marvel at times gone by.

I am a keen observer of people, culture, and of course restaurants and keep comparing it to conditions in India. Most of these cities are quite typical for German culture and lifestyle in general: beer gardens and pedestrian areas as zones of communication perfect for soaking in German vocabulary and collocations, an exceptionally well-preserved old town, idyllic streets, loads of hinterland to explore... and open-minded and friendly inhabitants.

Berlin is full of life and energy with all sorts of cultural activities, a thriving night life and dazzling new architectural triumphs. Elsewhere, Munich (with its domes, towers, chic shops, and beer festival) as are Hamburg (of lakes), Frankfurt (skyscrapers, books - and apple wine), and Cologne (fabulous Gothic cathedral, K?lsch beer - and wild carnival celebrations) are all wonderful cities to explore.

These are fun, relaxed and vibrant cities with fabulous shopping and pulsating night life. I am always checking out the shopping areas to buy gifts for friends and family. Frankfurt's international flair guarantees an inspiring stay. Here, one can explore a modern and dynamic city and enjoy its tolerant and open-minded spirit.

Language has never been a hindrance. People are open-minded and tolerant. One just has to be civil and polite and the directions and maps are all so self explanatory that one would really have to be dense to get lost.

All these cities have an atmosphere that is reverberating with historical importance. But I am not a museum kind of person, I prefer soaking in the real life visible around today.

Munich has plenty of cultural and sporting activities, fashion and lifestyle, and the people are friendly and approachable. Plus, Munich's surrounding and its close proximity to the Alps offer additional experiences. Munich has no shortage of wonderful green spaces.

The locals are easy-going and communicative. Throughout the year all sorts of festivals provide various amusements. You can spend your free time shopping, drinking coffee and tuning in on local talk and gossip - an easy way of picking up vocabulary and collocations.

Driving along the German Alpine Road is an amazing experience. It is an exhilarating route full of twists and turns. The 450 kilometre-long route is stunning and offers great variety - Alpine meadows, hills, mountain peaks, green forests, valleys and lakes follow one another in a steady rhythm. The other exhilarating speed-thrill is driving from Stuttgart to Zurich. I did it in less than two hours, after a 14-hour flight. For anyone planning this adventure, I offer no guarantees.

Traditional farming villages alternate with historical towns against the majestic panorama of the Bavarian Alps. There are almost 25 ancient castles and palaces to visit. Over 20 crystal-clear mountain lakes offer not only thrilling views but also a wide choice of sports and leisure activities. And I am the kind who prefers to play the sport rather than watch it.

All along this panoramic route there are opportunities to try delicious German specialties, both in the fresh air at a beer garden or at traditional inns - and, last but not least, the famous "Mass", a litre tankard of beer.

Along the German Wine Route, the climate is mild, the scenery like Tuscany's and the people warm and friendly too. The wooded hills are planted with vines, while figs, kiwis and lemons. Wine tasting with a winegrower is a chance to become a bit of a connoisseur. Wonderful wines from famous vineyards can be enjoyed everywhere, in tasting rooms and countless wine taverns or even at road side stalls.

I am attracted to lake side properties and have had the good fortune of staying at some of the most exclusive lakeside properties in India and abroad. Germany's lakes are as diverse as the countryside which surrounds them. Some are very well known; others are hidden gems that only reward people who take the trouble to seek them out. They offer fresh air and fantastic natural scenery - and the waters that are crystal clear.

German life is a new environment of tolerance and multiculturalism. Two of Cologne's biggest attractions are the carnival and art. The city celebrates carnival as a week-long street-festival with colorful parades, outlandish costumes and live music. I have spent a lot of time at a fair and enjoyed it thoroughly.

Paris is another enchanting city. Driving around it offers a wonderful insight into this multifaceted, magical, and at times secretive, city. The bustling Champs Elysees is one place I simply love. The shops and Parisian life in the area reveal the very symbol of sophistication, graceful living and celebration.

The food is delectable. One can enjoy the fish dishes prepared with vivid seasonings. The diversity of French wines reflects the diversity of France itself. Tiramisu is to die for. Each region offers a unique landscape, climate, culture, and history that have combined to produce the most famous wines in the world.

The city has many of the world's most visited monuments, such as the Eiffel Tower, Louvre and Arc de Triomphe. I am one who cannot keep staring at the wonderful sight of the Eiffel Tower. I prefer walking the streets, absorbing the local way of life. There is something that aches in your sense of romance when you wander among the baroque Parisian architecture with the language lilting in the air around you.

Washington is another city that beckons. The walking trails are great for long walks or exercise. I am looking forward to exploring the city on my next visit.

I also seek out educational institutions wherever I go. I check out the campus, meet up with professors and generally soak in the thought process in each campus. It is enriching and one always feels more empowered after being to these institutions.

My wife Meenakshi also shares this travel bug. She has visited Vietnam, Sri Lanka, China, England and so many more unique countries on her own by charting out a map and discovering a new place each time. I have imbibed a lot of my fascination to travel from her. We have had wonderful vacations at Colombo and Goa. Colombo is one place I like as our currency is stronger there! The food is great and its nature's paradise.

As far as Goa is concerned, I always feel that it stands apart from the rest of India. The sense of freedom one feels there is awesome. The Leela Hotels property is by far the best beachside property I have stayed in, though I would give Taj's properties, all three, the next best rating. I visit Jaipur regularly and love shopping there. Bhopal, Lucknow, Kochi, Chandigarh, Agra, Udaipur, Jabalpur - each city attracts me for both its unique city life, special settings and food specialties.

We have a two-month old baby and we are just waiting for her to be a little more manageable to take her to our next dream destination - Scotland.

In Conversation with Upen Roop Rai:

I begin my day with

With some green tea and later I hit the gym. About thrice a week for about half an hour, I do cross-training and weights. Of course, I do it under proper guidance and have a personal trainer who sort of takes me through the routine.

I am a very sporty person
Not many people know but I used to play cricket and represented the State of Rajasthan during the early 80s in the Ranji Trophy tournament. I love the game, though now I don't really find the time to pursue it.

My diet mantra
I don't follow any strict diet regime but I make it a point to eat everything in moderation. I avoid oily food and freak out on Chinese and Continental food. In Mumbai, I prefer dining out at the Olive Bar and Salt Water Grill. I also love the food at Royal China.

Shopping
I love to shop and prefer shopping for myself instead of someone else buying stuff for me. I mostly pick up stuff while travelling abroad. One of my favourite shopping destinations internationally is Oxford Street in London.

My Stress Buster
My work keeps me shuffling between Delhi and Mumbai. Over weekends, I play golf with a group of friends at the DLF country club in Delhi. That's an amazing stress buster for me and so is spending time with my thirteen year old son. I am still an amateur at the game of golf and currently I am training under someone.

I have a fetish for
Movies and Music. I prefer thrillers and James Bond sort of movies. Recently, I quite enjoyed the animated film Madagascar. Though I am not really into the Bollywood bandwagon I recently quite enjoyed watching - Mangal Pandey:The Rising. As far as music goes, I listen to Eagles, Rod Stewart and Led Zeppelin

On Books
I love reading fiction. Also stuff which is racy and which gives me a whole lot of ideas. I am currently reading The Broker by John Grisham which is racy and pacy. It follows the story of Joel Backman, a newly pardoned man who tries to broker a deal to give the world's most powerful surveillance system to the highest bidder.

Travel Destination
Everyyear, I along with my family make it a point to travel to one destination. This year we travelled to South Africa and Egypt. Egypt was quite a disappointment because of the bureaucracy prevalent in the country. On the other hand, South Africa was out of this world really. I still carry memories of Captetown and Port Elizabeth.

Favourite Car Brands
I drive the Mitubushi Lancer which is spacious and functional.

Gadgets & Gizmos
I am really hooked on to my Cellphone -O2 XDA PDA. This gadget is really like a friend and a constant companion. It's also like a virtual office, which keeps me in touch with the world while shuttling between Delhi and Mumbai.ZING STRESS BUSTER FOR ME