Emma is a very very good friend, we met when working for Business in the Community.
Emma and I explored Kerala together after she visited Mysore
On first impressions you might think she’s very posh. Quickly you’ll realise as I did that she is one of the most down-to-earth, warm hearted and compassionate, caring people you can meet.
Reading an article and it’s photographs are flashing me back to work in the 1970s while still at school and later, the gap year before attending university.
I worked in a different location to the one featured in the article but similar situations in the steel city of Sheffield.
One crazy job, from age 17, was when the electric arc furnaces — creating steel — were switched off for the weekend. We’d climb on top of cranes that tipped scrap into the furnace then carried molten steel to be poured into giant moulds.
We’d clip our safety harness on to the structure, then walk along narrow gantries to brush the dust that had accumulated during the week, shovel it into bags to be carried down.
Here’s a photo of a similar crane in the Turbine Hall of the Tate Art gallery in London, formerly a power station.
It was still really hot, even though the furnace was shut-down and always dusty. By the end of the shift, the dust had worked it’s way through two layers of protective clothing and ingrained into our skin. With sooty faces and light patches (Hanuman style) around our mouth and nose showing the masks did have some protective effect.
Footnote.
It provided insights into how others live that I value to this day. Men and women often working twelve hours, sometimes seven days a week.
It was my first opportunity to supervise a small team.
Sally in Bristol.
Sally first visited us at Mysore Bed and Breakfast, years ago. She now leads textile tours of India.
Exploring the city, finding magic, public arts and engineering innovations.
Ruth visited us at Mysore Bed and Breakfast over the years.
I’m visiting her again in Bath in England. Ruth is a poet and the last time she came to Mysore to collect material for her latest book
Last night I attended a reading of her poetry.
Jony visited us, years ago in Mysore, and I’ve now returned to him a few times at his home in SW England in Hilpertin village, near Bath.
He’s become a good friend and a place of stimulating political, insightful and personally intimate (family, relationships, grief) conversations.
Amongst his many activities and interests, he’s about to publish a second book of great photos from his travels. Profits from his first were donated a few years ago to Kaliyuvamane school where Kaveri now attends.
I’ll not bore you with full details. But I have to apply for another business visa and my status in India is not secure as MAnjula died.
Next day visa issued. Now relax!
Travel again, to SW England, to visit Jony, Ruth and Sally
One for Kaveri. The pavement (sidewalk) is smooth enough for skating unlike in Mysore.
Later that day, outside Poppy’s flat
The three police cars with flashing lights have circled a woman pedestrian who’s lying on the road, injured after an accident with a two wheeler. Three police are directing the traffic, one is interviewing the two wheeler rider and two more are giving First Aid to the injured woman.
It’s all calm.
Everyone did as asked and all went smoothly.
I didn’t take photos of the immediate situation or hang around, out of respect.
For friends in India.
Occasional photos to show what it’s like in England.
Step one London.
Ben, Alice and Poppy live in north London
The roads are busy
First impressions on arriving on Thursday. Manjula realised how diverse London is on her first visit. The local shop near our friend Gina and Angus’s house was run by Punjabs
Here on Haringay Green lanes it’s residents include people from Poland, Turkey and Asia, including India.
Next: Shopping locally.
Forty young visually impaired women took to the streets of Mysore in celebration of the life of Manjula on her 49th birth anniversary.
On Manjula’s Fun Day, sighted guides acted as ‘pilots’ steering and pedalling a tandem (cycle made for two) with the visually impaired young women acting as ‘stokers’ pedalling behind, enjoying the wind in their faces, the passing sounds and the sense of movement, like flying.
It was the highlight of the day of activities, that included games, music, storytelling, singing, food, drinks, cakes and cookies.
Tushar of MyCycle Tours said: “We could tell from their oohs and aahs that the young women, without sight, were having great fun. It reminded me of when I first rode a bicycle – they felt a great sense of freedom.”
Yamunavva said: “I was scared in the beginning, but the fear left. I felt very happy.” Gowri added: “The cycling experience was so good and I felt so happy that I asked for another ride.”
It wasn’t just the young women who benefited from the fun-filled day. “I began to understand the strength and courage that these young women need to be able to face life’s challenges,” said Meghana from Manjula’s Mysore “They taught us the value of a positive can-do attitude.”
Stephen, Manjula’s husband added: “That was just like Manjula. Together we remembered and celebrated Manjula’s life, her strength and kindness. With her radiant presence and infectious smile, like the sun, she magically brought life and warmth to all she met.”
Check out our video of the day.
“What a day. We all left feeling that warmth,” said Sarvesh who organised the day on behalf of Manjula’s Mysore.
The day demonstrated how organisations can come together to make a difference. Businesses such as SAPA, Aroma and Mysore Bed and Breakfast providing the cookies, cakes and meals as responsible businesses. Local community and art organisations of Mysore Storyteller’s Network, Vishnu Sharma Company, Divya Jyothi Charitable Trust, Faizan Baksh and MyCycle Tours gave their services.
Manjula and Stephen were partners for nine years after setting up their business, fell in love and got married. Unlike these young women, Manjula could see but she had difficult times throughout her life. She had to believe in herself and seize opportunities to create the life she wanted. She shared her home and is now known throughout the world for welcoming international tourists to Mysore until her untimely death three years ago.
What shall we do next to do good in Manjula’s Memory, in the year she would have been fifty?
Next in August 2023 will be artists providing a day of creativity for 100 school children.
Guests are helping fund and making suggestions making contributions for future activities, for Manjula’s Mysore.
What do you think we should do?
Me and MYCycle 