Category: Life in India

Behold beauty in so many ways.

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The latest wonderful creation has arrived from Aadirika aka —Mostly beautiful Maya— (check Instagram) has now created three fab memory portraits of MAnjula

Our first
Second

All to be found at Manjula’s Mysore.

Out third

Thank you Aadirika, for your intimate understanding of what MAnjula meant to me and representing our wonderful life here in Mysore.

Who can you spot in this latest portrait?

…

Manjula (obviously), Lucie our first dog of the family of over 15 years, Kaveri, walking Luca — our latest addition and in the tree. —- Billet-Doux my sweet (love) letter sent by Manjula, a few years ago. Plus the dragonfly and old man with his head in the clouds.

…

Did you find them ?

Sowbaghya — making changes

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Sugar … I’ve spelt it wrong again it’s Sowbhagya or SB …

who’s useless?

Those of you who have visited us since 2019 will have met SB and know her trademark humility. Don’t let that confuse you, she can be full on. 

SB with Lucie

Sowbhagya was first introduced to our community (family) through great friends Justin, Heejung and their boys

when they lived in Mysore. They have now moved to South Korea. 

Ina a guest who became great friend from Australia with SB

After MAnjula died Sowbhagya came to work at Mysore B and B so she’s been with us for seven years — but now things have moved on — a lot. 

SB’s birthday

She’s now a Director of the business, and fully looking after the house, recently she’s helped find our new base at 179, shifted over 17 years of accumulated clutter. In the new season, later this year, she’ll take a lead with the guests. 

If that’s not all she helps coordinate a chit fund, runs her own catering business and brought up her son Naveen (now 18) as a single parent. 

You’ll have met Naveen in previous postings. He’s turning out to be a thoughtful confident young man. 

One of our activities.

Another critical role has been helping with Kaveri who we sponsor in Manjula’s memory. 

In this way she’s blazed another trail which Kaveri is following. SB created for herself the opportunity to meet and work with a wide range of foreigners before she even came to Mysore B&B. This has helped broaden her experience and horizons.

Watch this space for how Kaveri is already following that path and growing through meeting the foreigners and guests from throughout India.

So as you can tell. She’s open to challenges, she’s decided it’s time to formalise her divorce (she’s been separated from her husband with little if any contact for over 15 years) and start a new chapter in her life. 

That might include trips abroad as Kaveri’s chaperone as she’s just obtained her very first passport. 

So there you are — an important member of our team, helping hold it all together. 

This best wishes for the continuing journey is ..

From Maïlis, Stephen, Kaveri, Billet-Doux, Luka and many guests. 

SF/2026

Permission to sit

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The elitism and prejudice knew no bounds.

The “Kursi Nashin” (chair-sitter) certificate was a discriminatory 19th-century British Indian permit allowing select Indians the privilege of sitting on a chair in the presence of British officials.

These official certificates maintained rigid, racialized, and social hierarchies, forcing most Indians to stand or sit on the floor, thus treating them as inferior.

Key Details of the Kursi Nashin System:

Definition: Kursi Nashin translates to “chair sitter”.

Purpose: It was an instrument of imperial control and social status granted by the British to favoured individuals, such as landholders, respectable citizens, or those who served the government, to distinguish them from the common populace.

Operation: Those not holding this certificate were generally prohibited from using chairs in British offices, reinforcing social subordination.

Time Period: While rooted in earlier colonial dynamics, the practice became formalized and widely used during the 19th century, particularly after the 1857 revolt, and remained active through the early 1900s.

Regional Variation: It was not issued everywhere in the country but was common in regions like the Delhi District.

These certificates were typically signed and stamped with official insignia, making them a tangible piece of “submissive” colonial history

Thanks for the insights from Mahesh of the speak history group in Mysore.

What do you get …

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when you add all this together?

A cycle ride from the new house, to one of my fave places.

I’m at …

“Paschimavahini, located near Srirangapatna in Karnataka, is a sacred stretch of the Kaveri River where the water flows westward. It is a major pilgrimage site, particularly for the Hindu ritual of Asthi Visarjan (immersion of ashes) to help departed souls attain moksha, as well as a popular spot for holy dips. “

(with Help from my AI buddy)

…

One of the places featured on my Srirangapatnam cycle tour. It just took one hour.

Now I’m with my great friend Satish in the village of Ganjam on the island.

This meeting together with one with Florian

two night ago has helped me make another ….

BIG decision.

This is turning over a new leaf … more active, less overthinking, focus on what matters, sorting out my residency in Mysore.

more later ..

Mango Mania

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At our new house, we’re now hearing the thud of mangoes landing (and not just cricket balls hitting the bat. )

I’m reliably informed by my good friend Ananth who grows them on his farm in Srirangapatnam … they’re …. Raspuri.

“Delish!
These don’t get sweeeeet
But are the best variety of mangoes in my opinion
Sweet with some tart and that characteristic aroma!

Taste best 1–2 days after they get soft, not towards the end when they start getting black dots, which is the optimal time for Alphonso’ “

“break the stems off if you want them to ripen faster —
Leave em on for a slow burn.”