Almost thirteen years ago — shortly after I’d moved to Mysore — a group of us cycled to visit local community projects.
I wrote about it in the local paper ‘The Star of Mysore’
Organised by Sham Sunder from the National institute of Engineering here in Mysore we met activists to learn about their strong social and environmental conscience and the active projects they’d created.
One of the places we visited was Kaliyuva Mane — a school FOR children. A free residential alternative to traditional schools.
This was going to come back into my life in a very satisfying way.
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
In the past week Kaveri has attended a market with children selling their artistic creations, meeting the rich mix of Mysore Bed and Breakfast guests, attended a classical (grand) piano concert, and today visited three child focused alternative schools we’re considering for next year.
She left people impressed with her articulate English, and friendly confidence.
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.
Me and MYCycle 