Do I want to stay in India? 

I visited the office of our local MP today who also happens to be … 

His Highness Shri Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, Maharaja of Mysore

I met one of his team to ask for help to continue to live in India. He seemed a little flummoxed. 

Why did I want to live here? 

Why did he ask?

Maybe he expected me to live with my blood family. That is the tradition among some families in India, it’s not mine.

Mainly it’s because Mysore is my home

I fell in love with the people of India and its places initially from a distance in the 70s and full on when I arrived twenty years ago. 

Here is the family I have chosen. I’m close to my blood family but I choose this family where I have made my home built on trust, to live. If I can. 

There’s too many family members to list but I mention some … 

My beautiful wife MAnjula who remains in our hearts with her presence that’s felt in our home, in the memorial garden we created and the good we do. 

I got back home to the two who are most dominant in my life Kaveri and Sowbaghya. 

And show the others 

They also include 

— our team and the young people I’ve got to know through Manjula’s Mysore events. Here’s one. for forty young women and our reflective space

— our wonderful network in Mysore   

— Plus our online community with many around the world and here in India

BUT why do I need help?

As a foreigner married to an Indian I was eligible (it’s mandatory) for Overseas Citizen of India which gives residency. As she’s died whether I get one or not is discretionary. In Bangalore at  the Foreigners Regional Registration Office and in London at the High Commission they wouldn’t accept my application for OCI. As I understand it they can accept if we owned our house (we and I still rent) or had children, which we didn’t. Beyond this the powers of discretion are held at the centre in Delhi to which I don’t have access. 

Which is why I asking for the MPs help.

— He might have contacts in central government that could help me through their discretionary powers

— I’ve lived here for fifteen years on business visas which I’ll not be able to get another after this year. 

— he will recognise the value I’ve brought to our community through bringing businesses here on the Prince’s Seeing is Believing Events, helping young people and developing tourism in Mysore.

I hope the MP can help.