This was my response to the message posted in our local Mysore community….
I’d love it, but I just can’t. To me .. It reflects different dimensions, feelings or moods. MAnjula my wife who sadly died seven years ago would reveal all
These layers.
Starting from the left Her smile, shining like the sun would infect everyone she met. The middle is her action, being there always helpful and determined. The third her calmness in whatever situation. The style reflects her embracing the tradional and the modern. Wrapping it all up would be her attention to being present and attentive.
I can’t take it as I’ve just moved and already have too much art
The full message …. posted to our local WhatsApp group in Mysore.
Dear Art Lovers,
This is not an easy message for me to write.
There is a piece of art that has been a meaningful part of my journey for a long time. It has quietly shared my space, witnessed many chapters of my life, and carried a presence that words often fail to describe.
However, life has brought me to a point where I can no longer hold on to it. While letting it go is difficult, I feel that this piece deserves to continue its journey with someone who truly connects with it and appreciates it from the heart.
I don’t want to place a price tag on this artwork. Some things cannot be measured by a fixed number. Instead, I would love to hear from those who feel genuinely drawn to it.
If this piece speaks to you, I invite you to send me a personal message sharing:
• Why you feel connected to this artwork.
• What story, feeling, or memory it awakens within you.
• And what amount you would be comfortable offering for it.
Over the next few days, I will read each message with gratitude and care. My intention is not simply to find a buyer, but to find the right home for this piece—someone who will cherish it as much as I have.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and for honoring the journey of this artwork.
Losing (of course— we don’t lose them and they’re with us always) a loved one opens our minds to all sorts of possibilities.
On my grief journey. I’ve had some surprises.
Manjula, as a Hindu, believed in reincarnation. I supported her and completed the rituals to help her spirit find its new body.
I’ve read many books and gained support in trying to understand what might happen after death. But …
After watching this Netflix documentary I complained to Manjula that I’d not seen or heard a sign. Maybe I’d missed it.
The very next day, I was standing, with a friend, on the rug in the centre of the downstairs lounge at our old house.
A dragonfly (acknowledged as a potential messenger from the ‘other side’) flew in.
It tightly circled the two of us — one — two — three times as we stood in the centre of the room. It then landed on the ‘M’ (on Manjula’s pennant) on the wall nearby.
The dragonflyThe pennants bought on a holiday in the U.K.
I opened the doors and windows and encouraged (arms flapping) the dragonfly to leave the house.
The next morning Sowbhagya found the dead dragonfly on the wooden cabinet, underneath the framed photo of MAnjula where we hang flowers and lights in her memory.
I’d failed to get it to leave.
…
This year we’ve moved to a new house. It’s extra challenging as the previous house is the one MAnjula and I had shared for nine years.
Most of the furniture had gone and so this was one of the last removal trips.
As I walked across the room there was a crunch underfoot.
It was the cow head that had been hanging between the two pennants. It had fallen on the floor and I’d broken it again as I stepped on it.
I looked up to the place it had fallen from. The two pennants were completely reversed and facing the wall.
How is that possible?
…
Seems like an acknowledgement, a message, a sign to me. Who knows?
…
I generally have an open attitude. A belief that anything is possible. Life is complex, much of which we don’t understand and there are layer upon layer to discover.
A teeny tiny kit came to sit on my lap on a visit to the local chai shop.
I guessed — she wanted to be adopted.
Blurred snatched photos
I wasn’t prepared to, so I gently shooed her away.
Later that evening, the first image you can see on this video appeared on my Facebook page. It was from exactly five years before when MAnjula and I had adopted a ginger cat.
We called him Billie, only to discover he wasn’t male so we changed it to Billi reflecting the Hindi word for cat.
He disappeared one day and never returned.
…
The next day after the photograph appeared I went out to find the new kitten.
It seemed like a message from MAnjula to adopt this new kitten in memory of ours, that we’d lost.
I announced this to my Facebook friends and called him ‘Billi too’ as a play on ‘two.’
…
Some of them were not impressed with the name as it clearly was a message from MAnjula and this should be acknowledged in the cat’s name.
So I callled her Billet-Doux which means sweet (or love) letter in French as it was a love letter from MAnjula.
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.
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.
We haven’t quite finished moving yet as there’s much moving to do within the house itself.
The moving that’s necessary is distributing things within the house, emptying the garage, getting rid of more excess (selling art and whatever remains being hung) and I suppose generally diminishing the chaos.
Here’s photographs of the main rooms and guest bedrooms.
Guest bedrooms (en suite)
First guests have been and given it the thumbs up.
…
Library and study
Photos to come later
Sit out and garden, Out front. Tibetan flags
Terrace (what could go here?) on the first floor
Halls (aka lounge or living rooms), there’s two and a dining area
It will, of course, continue to be sharing our home….. with other species too…
It’s been a challenge at times with over ten years grieving after Manjula’s diagnosis.
But first MAnjula and our team has continued to do good
Welcoming guests to our home, helping them to love India in their own sweet way
Supporting young people through …
Sponsoring Kaveri and Naveen’s education
Creating innovative events with NGOs and schools within our community for nearly 200 young people
Gifting bicycles, almost 50 since we got engaged
Regular reflective space meetings at mysore BnB for individuals and groups of young people
.
So what next?
We’re moving house and will relaunch (rooms will continue to be available later in the year). Do check http://www.manjulasmysore.in
We’ve committed to supporting Naveen through college and will offer work at the BnB
Our immediate priority will be to sell the art ( ( MAnjula was right, I collected too much) and the money will go towards our next goals in supporting young people (and maybe some more elders.)
Me and MYCycle 