An education for ……. Kaveri?

Kaveri is a real star. You might have noticed — from my regular postings — that I’m impressed with her. She’s personable, a smart cookie and a wonderful help for me in the new challenging situation without Manjula by my side.

Manjula’s Mysore and I are committed to supporting Kaveri where we can and sponsoring her education. We hope some of our community of guests help out a bit too. But what options are the best?

So I had to do some research. I read up about it,

I have two adult sons and a granddaughter, my first career was as a social worker with children and families, then a manager of welfare services in government, worked on developing partnerships in the UK and India but you can never know too much, obviously. This is very challenging for all concerned.

So I’ve got a bit of experience at all sorts of different levels, communities and cultures.

But I know you can never have enough knowledge, insights, awareness, empathy and understanding. Even more challenging, I’m not part of the family and need to be completely in tune with their needs and wishes.

I’ve discussed the situation with a network I’ve created of educationalists, social workers, psychologists

But most importantly fully involved (including visits to schools) her mum, and madam herself.

so what’s to do?

There is a clear preference, from the family, for Kaliyuva Mane — A school FOR children and home for learning founded by M R Ananth Kumar.

It’s a free residential school for children in Kenchalagudu on the outskirts of Mysore.

I first visited the school on a cycle yatra over ten years ago. It was featured in my article

It’s child centred

It focuses on the needs of the child and so it is outside the mainstream system. It’s similar to the alternative schools found around the world.

But it’s residential.

I wonder if that’s best for an eight year old maybe in the circumstances its exactly what’s required.

You might be wondering, how did it get to this? who is Kaveri and why am I proposing that we support her?

What’s an education for?

I’m concerned that the school systems globally are not ‘fit for purpose’, in that they are more like sausage factories and don’t properly cater for the whole person and their diverse needs.

Not unlike this…..

I have also consulted books such as those by Ken Robinson, visited schools and discussed the situation with friends in Mysore and elsewhere.

In mysore we have a full range of options, not only Kalyuva Mane, and Arivu which offer something a little different, there’s also the full range of government, religious/trust and private schools covering the many curricular available in India.

There’s even agile Shala with its programme, online and education centres another valuable alternative.

What a super range of options.

I was seriously impressed and then bowled after meeting wonderfully articulate, well rounded children who’s parents provide ‘home’ schooling.

So, why the interest?

I have a particular young girl in mind. You’ve guessed it?

I’m trying to find out what would suit Kaveri

Most importantly I’ve discussed with Kaveri and her mum, it’s obviously their decision.

Back in time

I consciously live on the side of Mysore away from the mainstream yoga activity. There’s yoga everywhere in mysore including the class I attend at the local gym.

But I do like to visit Gokalum (the yoga concentrate) and when I do it feels like I’m stepping back in time or visiting another planet.

Sarvesh encouraged me to venture out.

Vishnu Sharma — who I met through open mic and his lovely family that I keep bumping into, most recently at the spinning (cotton not legs) class, — organised the concert.

It’s like we entered hippiedom, for a fab evening out at Chakra House

I think I’ll return.

Happy Sankranti!

It’s a crisp winters morning but with a nice bright Sun. Breakfast is prepared and ready to serve the guests in an hour, so I now fetch curd and walk Lucie.

What a lovely morning, I praise a young neighbour’s Rangoli designs for Sankranti, while noticing other houses are already decorated with banana leaves with yellow painted cows passing by.


Declaring “Chennai-ge-day” (phonetical ‘good’) tea and getting a smile from the Chaiiwala. I’m reminded that …


Life’s good.


I’m happily reflecting on last night’s interesting dinner with great guests— teachers from Germany— with Sarvesh and of course preciousness herself Kaveri, Cauvery….

I’m forever told I don’t pronounce her name properly.

Her new festival outfit from Fab India


It’s lovely to have Kaveri here.


Kaveri continued her star performance. Entertained us over breakfast, helped install more Tibetan prayer flags

and become tutor showing how to draw rangoli.

Even Billet-Doux comes to look


A happy day.

Farrell Factoid

Mary Christmas

Knock knock

Who’s there?

Mary?

Mary who?

Mary Christmas.

Ho Ho Ho it’s really Father Christmas the bringer of gifts.

Kaveri thought she knew Father Christmas after recognising his bangles SAPA video

Mysore Storytellers Network together with SAPA organised a Carol singing event.

give me strength

I apologise for ever complaining about Indian bureaucracy

In any case I usually blame the British Raj and maybe the current British Administration might value a lesson.

Sarcasm warning

I travelled to Bangalore last month, a five hour round trip, to submit my passport for renewal.

Yesterday I received an email from the passport office in Liverpool England, with a formal letter attached.

My photos have been rejected for a range of possible reasons. They haven’t indicated which one: it could be only one photo sent, head too small (in real life, opposite being the problem) or any number of other options. They’ve kept that secret.

Clearly my approach of carrying a selection of photos to Bangalore and asking their staff member which ones were suitable and they selecting them ( yes there were two) , didn’t do the trick.

I have twenty days to send to England otherwise my request might be rejected.

I have a new photo taken and place them in envelope ready to send. I avoid writing a sarcastic note about having asked their representative for guidance. I just plead to get it back asap so I can travel again.

At the central post office.

Take a ticket for your place in the queue. We all take one but then ignore the system.

Speed post Sir?

Yes please, how quick will it be?

Twenty days

I’ll send positive affirmation vibes against any delays and rejection of my application.

Please complete the declaration form and sign

Here it is

Three copies

There’s a xerox machine. Gets jammed but quickly sorted.

Copied and signed

ID please with address.

I have my Adhaar card.

Two copies please

Back to the xerox

I Zap the equivalent of £19 via QR Code (bet you can’t do that in Britland) It’s done.

Yes I can hear you saying. Why doesn’t he send the photographs digitally?

Because you can only do that if you’ve completed an online form and you can’t do it online when requesting a renewal from outside the U.K.

Just don’t ask, I’m now relaxing

Kat kits

Take over the asylum.

I love it

The yard has so many exciting opportunities.

Including crinkly plastic

New game bouncing around on plastic in empty water tank.

I’ve been careful not to get too attached to the Kits. If only life was so straightforward.

As with children we should recognise the need to continue to have playful fun. How else can we enjoy and keep learning?