That’s my favourite saying about India that I share with guests.

I say it with respect and fondness for my adopted country — obviously.

But — Nothing is ever as it seems.

This article in the Star of Mysore seems to be about ‘guest lecturers’ in colleges and universities.

I thought it was about employees, who weren’t ’on establishment’ ie permanent employees or didn’t have tenure. They do an equivalent job but don’t share the same conditions of service, security or remuneration.

Hence their campaign.

I’d seen this in other government institutions, for example in a museum where there were two classes of employees, namely permanent and ‘contract’ workers.

But here it seems to relate to ‘qualification’ ie whether their qualification was approved by the UGC- the university grants committee. Yet they are teaching.

Got it so far?

I’d realised something of this fifteen years ago. I’d helped out by temporarily lecturing on an innovative MBA designed for managers in NGOs. Set up by an amazing grassroots organisation the Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement at its leadership unit.

I’d have loved to continue as a lecturer (facilitator in my terms) but was put off it, as it would involve a complex bureaucratic process at the university. In any case as a foreigner it would have been extra complicated. That’s not taking into account my Yorkshire accent!? Or awful humour. Or way of teaching.

Fine no issue. I set up our business and did the occasional presentations elsewhere.

But I hadn’t thought until now that my degrees might have also been a problem.

Worse was to come ….

…

So here’s my latest experience of one small part of this inconsistent world.

In my stressed out attempts to remain in my adopted country I had a fab idea to do a PhD. I’ve recently researched ‘education’ picking up an interest I’d initiated in my first degree and rekindled after deciding to sponsor Kaveri.

The open university showed interest in me doing a PhD with them. I wanted to look into how we could better prepare children for adulthood. Globally, I feel that our schools do a poor job.

That subject links with the ‘golden thread’ that’s found through all my careers, about enabling people to be active participants in the decisions which affect them.

But I stumbled.

The university decided I hadn’t got a masters. I have and it’s an MPhil. Which the UGC in its wisdom recently decided to ban Indian institutions from awarding . I got mine in the 90s after over three years of research. It’s a ‘stand alone’ that radically cuts across disciplines. They’re not even worried about the subject —- that’s Critical Management, which I thought, might be a problem.

I’ve been differently advised that the UGC decision is not backdated and doesn’t relate to international MPhil’s so mine should be accepted but try telling that to the university staff who don’t want to fall foul of the central instructions or diktats.

If you’re really bothered there’s more information here.

Footnote

As you can see, I keep bouncing off brick walls in trying to stay here.

I would have been eligible for residency but not after MAnjula died.

After twenty years of being on a business visa, policies change, and the turnover in the business is not high enough.

So what are my options?

Being a student (see above problems) plus getting the facts about courses is not straightforward.

Another option is volunteering my next idea was to do the education research and experimentation —without the PhD — but with no success so far. I’m too old .. we’re reorganising … our main trustee has died… or so they inform me … but I just want a way to carry on this useful work. Whatever. .

Buying a house, really?

Getting married again, that hurts.

..

Maybe there’s a not-so-hidden-message here.

Maybe I’ve overstayed my welcome and should leave or my principles are getting in the way But that’s another story.