The very beginning
I’m often reminded of the quote by E P Thompson about India ….
“India is perhaps the most important country for the future of the world. All the convergent influences of the world run through this society… There is not a thought that is being thought in the West or East that is not active in some Indian mind.”
In my view that speaks about its diversity of ideas, its openness and inclusivity. (Plus Nehru’s palmist but that’s for another day)
But of course it’s not straightforward or necessarily predictable.
I first fell in love with India in the 1970s through books and listening to its music.
Eventually arriving here almost thirty years ago first visiting Bangalore, I realised I’d somehow come home.
It’s never been an easy relationship.
I always look for patterns. In those first few days I was amazed by the driver’s behaviour. How were the cars not crashing into each other? Were there rules? Did anyone know or follow them?
In time I began to recognise something of the patterns. First I noticed the number plates. The first two letters K and A stand for the state- Karnataka. The next two figures, the Regional Transport Office (RTO) office where the vehicle is registered. In Mysore’s two RTO offices, that’s 09 and 55. In Bangalore a main office is number 05. So flashing before my eyes as I fought through the traffic and sought understanding was KA0S …
I jest but it helped me realise what a very different world I was now in.
I was impressed by Bangalore but it was nothing by comparison with Mysore, my next stop.
….
The adventure really begins.
Me and MYCycle 