She’s sort of confined for a couple of weeks. Seemed in high spirits even though she’s only had the four walls for a week and there’s another ten days to go.
It’s a one in a lifetime experience but I use the term confined as it can refer to a jail/gaol or period after a birth. Only yesterday I was referring to how the invention of the printing press had helped release us from the diktats of the priests, at least in Europe.
More later.
On ‘coming of age’
Many know that I’ve been looking to be a student or volunteer to pursue my interests, make a contribution and to continue to live in my adopted country.
I’ve made innumerable contacts with education institutes but options were few as I couldn’t do the PhD I wanted to (due to my masters) and the idea of another and full time masters felt too much.
My first interest was to pursue an art course. We’ve also organised wonderful creativity days at Kaliyuvamane and the NGO for visually impaired young women.
It’s one of those things I’d failed to do and always held an interest.
Currently Kaveri and I dabble a bit
But look what I found.
Hidden away —
—just up the road from a Stupa here in Mysore
I’m due on a holiday to the U.K.
I’ll revisit when I get back home and see if it’s feasible to do a course there and get a student visa.
As madam would say: ‘let’s see’
More later on the volunteering possibilities.
Fact is, she’s a member of many families.
Manjula and I first met her when she was helping Hecheung, Justin and their two boys.
This week she had visitors from the US
Rebecca in green lived here as a young girl with her parents with SB helping out. She’s finished high school in the states and has now returned to Mysore for a few weeks to revisit people and places.
Sowbaghya welcomed them with lunch at her home.
She’s an incredible help in so many ways.
Now she’s joined our family and we try to ensure it’s not too boring.
It’s the last few days before the summer school holiday ends.
There’s time to fit in one more activity
Our new good friend Pravalika introduced Kaveri to the art of stone carving
We’re at one of the most famous stone-carvers in India and it’s in Mysore.
It’s surprisingly delicate and quite fast.
Pravalika is a patient teacher and patient carver, she wonderfully manages the double pressure.
Kaveri is, of course, also a star.
The elder, yes that’s me, managed an inch of carving before the women gave up in despair.
New spots? Maybe not.
The chief stone carver and therefore the workshop famously created the statue for the new Ayodya Temple last year.
Kaveri’s first stone carving is dedicated to MAnjula and will be installed at Mysore Bed and Breakfast.
Do I want to stay in India?
I visited the office of our local MP today who also happens to be …
His Highness Shri Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, Maharaja of Mysore
I met one of his team to ask for help to continue to live in India. He seemed a little flummoxed.
Why did I want to live here?
Why did he ask?
Maybe he expected me to live with my blood family. That is the tradition among some families in India, it’s not mine.
Mainly it’s because Mysore is my home
I fell in love with the people of India and its places initially from a distance in the 70s and full on when I arrived twenty years ago.
Here is the family I have chosen. I’m close to my blood family but I choose this family where I have made my home built on trust, to live. If I can.
There’s too many family members to list but I mention some …
My beautiful wife MAnjula who remains in our hearts with her presence that’s felt in our home, in the memorial garden we created and the good we do.
I got back home to the two who are most dominant in my life Kaveri and Sowbaghya.
And show the others
They also include
— our team and the young people I’ve got to know through Manjula’s Mysore events. Here’s one. for forty young women and our reflective space
— our wonderful network in Mysore
— Plus our online community with many around the world and here in India
BUT why do I need help?
As a foreigner married to an Indian I was eligible (it’s mandatory) for Overseas Citizen of India which gives residency. As she’s died whether I get one or not is discretionary. In Bangalore at the Foreigners Regional Registration Office and in London at the High Commission they wouldn’t accept my application for OCI. As I understand it they can accept if we owned our house (we and I still rent) or had children, which we didn’t. Beyond this the powers of discretion are held at the centre in Delhi to which I don’t have access.
Which is why I asking for the MPs help.
— He might have contacts in central government that could help me through their discretionary powers
— I’ve lived here for fifteen years on business visas which I’ll not be able to get another after this year.
— he will recognise the value I’ve brought to our community through bringing businesses here on the Prince’s Seeing is Believing Events, helping young people and developing tourism in Mysore.
I hope the MP can help.
My friends in the UK would laugh at this and declare ‘it’s about time too’.
I’m from the north you know and traditionally we are considered to have the wrong accent, miss letters out of our words and generally not be ‘up to scratch.’
Times have moved on now. We even have regional accents on the BBC .
But there might be some truth in that humour (as usual)
I’ve been helping Kaveri with her English while at the same time discovering it for myself.
🤭
I’m learning about grammar, the names and function of key words.
No not really, although I’d like that too.
I’m just back from the annual art show at CAVA
As expected, there was a fab show of amazing art from engravings through sculpture to paintings
I also was pleased to meet some of the students (some of them again) who introduced me to concepts, stories and completed works.
My only regret is, I didn’t realise yesterday that it was on and take Kaveri.
I led an unusual cycle tour today on Srirangapatnam.
Four teenagers, ok one isn’t yet but no one would know. Were invited to join me for a cycle tour ostensibly to better understand how to be a guide.
My objective which alines with my latest thinking on how we might better prepare young people to be more rounded and better active citizens as they mature.
I’d hoped that the day’s adventure would help improve their confidence, communication and assertiveness.
Big ask but a tiny step.
Coincidentally Kaveri asked me why a horse had blinkers. I lost no opportunity to use the analogy in how it’s important for them to get a wider view.
I delivered the standard tour with more emphasis on how they should manage it, rather than the content.
SB the ever present aid and family member was her usual great support.
After the tour we visited the recently opened car museum
The museum included a similar Mercedes to one I owned in the 90s, my wonderful inactive Ambassador and a candlestick telephone like one at home.
…
I’ve invited them to continue with this journey, if they wish, so that within a year ( much less!) they should be able to lead a tour.
Who knows where it might lead —- greater personal competencies at least.
If it happens— I’m open to them leading tours and maybe taking over and expanding. I have absolutely no expectations.
They’re all very different characters but of course, all have potential.
I was happy with the day.
… or who’s the boss? Well nobody really.
I refer to how kaveri (age 11) who in a little over three years has matured mentally, physically and socially. It is, of course, a very significant stage in life.
As you can see she now almost as tall as her mum (age 29?).
I’m proud of her and the little help I’ve been able to be.
On reflection, she’s always been quite ‘together’ for her age.
She’s just about to start her third school since I’ve known her. I’ve promised that Manjula’s Mysore will continue to support her education up to university and maybe beyond.
…
Kaveri, Lucie and I
I’m — as Kaveri puts it — one of her nine mums.
Me and MYCycle 