A very good friend — who will remain nameless, until I get his permission — is responsible for this.
We met during the initial lockdown. We were still allowed to cycle, as I did most mornings. We had great conversations as we cycled together.
I joked that he was receiving a degree in critical thinking, in return I was losing years by the day, sharing insights and learning from someone over forty years younger.
At first he didn’t admit to his parents that he was cycling with a Firangi, a foreigner.
There were some sensitivities in the community as they were confused about where the virus might be caught. Obviously, Foreigners might have brought it into the country.
When he did tell his parents, I became known as Tata or grandfather.
Some weeks later we cycled on my favourite place srirangapatnam and met up with his extended family for breakfast. Great!
His mum declared later that I wasn’t a Tata, more an uncle.
Thanks Amma, I appreciate that, for me it is acceptance and that I’m younger than expected.
Later nameless reflected and decided that godfather was more appropriate. I like that too.
As I’ve now turned 65 — he says with a wobbly voice, while leaning on his stick — and finding new things to do in the community that commemorate MAnjula, it seems to fit.
Over the past few months you might have noticed a little girl. I’m trying to get her mum to let me to finance her education. Now that really is being a Godfather.
So I’ve used one of Kaveri’s paintings of me and created a card.
Nameless and Kaveri will be the first to get one of my super new jokey-serious cards to remind them I’m here for you.
On the back are details of how to make contact whenever you wish for whatever reason.
Yes I’ve obliterated some of the details. It’s not for everyone 🤭
Footnote: the term Godfather is not intended to reflect any diety or relate to any Christian rituals nor resemble anyone living, dead or in the afterlife.
Confident with all sorts of people and good at building relationships?
Experience of social media?
Can bring the woman’s perspective?
Able to challenge and change?
Willing to learn?
This role is open to women, of any age residing in or near Mysore. The successful candidate will be familiar with computers, using social media, writing content and confident with people from different backgrounds with an open attitude and interest in meeting new challenges.
..
Based in Mysore this is an opportunity to work with and assist Stephen. He’s a YIndian, Yorkshire (it’s in England) by birth and Indian by marriage. Together with Manjula, he set up Mysore Bed and Breakfast and MYCycle tours.
Over the next year, he needs help in researching for a book to share their story, publishing and promoting it (mailing list, mailouts, online presence) and other things that will arise depending upon the interests and ability of the person.
This might include: interviewing people and transcribing, researching a locality, writing for the internet, creating an online community linked with Mysore Bed and Breakfast, assisting with other aspects of the business such as the Homestay and cycle tours.
What do you gain?
Recognition of your abilities and experience, learn new things.
It depends on you.
Stephen has a range of experiences and his approach is to learn from each other.
Expenses are covered.
Further details to be negotiated and agreed.
Please note: Manjula is unfortunately no longer physically with us but is, in spirit. The business will continue in her memory but is likely to be closed for most of this year due to the pandemic. If you’re interested to discuss and find out more:
there’s also presence on Instagram, twitter (meandmycycle) and Trip Advisor (mysore bed and breakfast and mycycle).
Manjula and Stephen
Spot the mistakes in this posting and you’ll begin to see how and why he needs help.
If you re interested, here’s more detailed information.
For this to be successful, we share equal responsibility to determine if you have the skills and aptitude, that it’s an appropriate and suitable placement and determine whether we can work together. It’s essential to be absolutely honest and realistic.
Here’s a few ideas of what is required to help you decide if it’s a suitable opportunity for you. Some of it will require you to be present in Mysore
Create an action plan.
A simple initial project: interview a local maid in Kannada, write up the interview, create post in English, link to other postings about maids in India.
Visit our two web sites, Instagram and Twitter, provide a report analysing them, what works, what doesn’t and what you would do to improve their impact and following.
Role, together with Stephen, might include some or all of the following, subject to negotiation and agreement:
create summary pages highlighting current ‘top’ blog posts, these might in due course become newsletters to mail out: Manjula, life in India, Tips for Tourists: first timers, old hands, Maid in India, Why India is like is it like this
target audience
create e-mailing list from gmail account
set up form for site visitors to join the mailing list
grow the followers: twitter, facebook, instagram, web sites
suggest ways to promote offline
e mail : target audience 3/4 times over the year
interviews: friends, family
promote book
investigate how to self publish: Ebook, POD
What questions do you have? What do you need to know to help you decide if its something you will enjoy, suits your skills and you will learn from?
How will you be able to bring the woman perspective in you’re not a woman?
Can you base yourself in Mysore if you don’t already live here?
What do you want to get out of an internship?
Feel free to contact me with any of your questions.
This morning I waved and gave a free smile to every cyclist. It’s a happy thing to do and helps connect us at this distant time.
I follow her and try spread her smile
and obviously need to do better.
……
At times I’ve slipped and realise I’ve adopted a local approach of: ‘It’s good enough’ and ‘it’ll do’, but it wasn’t and it didn’t do. That’s when the dark cloud engulfs me with sadness instead of just following me around. But this morning I was in the positive happy frame of mind.
…
What we give out is returned we just don’t know when, where and how.
My guru expects me to see and be the positive. I’m slowly learning.
Ripple effect
Sowbhagya (SB) has had a lot to deal with because of the situation at our house and been in quarantine with a big fat sticker on her door announcing to the world. Her neighbours have been ugly and unsupportive. She challenged her neighbours when they were claiming she was positive and announcing it on a Facebook page. A policeman was a great help.. The bright side is that she now feels strengthened and some of it comes from working here. Manjula’s kind, positive and continues to give.
Unfortunately it has also affected her father whose roadside food business has suffered.
It brings it home to me, how much we need to be aware of how our actions affect others, try on their ‘coat’ to better understand things from their point of view. Unfortunately, too often we don’t try or care.
Look on the bright side of life is a wonderful song from this film.
I’m reading a very interesting book recommended by a recent guest: ‘Reinventing Organisations, a guide to creating organisations inspired by the next stage of human consciousness.’ So there! Exactly the sort of thing that’s ‘up my street.’
I’ve just come across a reference to herausforderung a German word that means “being called to grow from the inside out” I like that and I immediately make a connection.
As Manjula shared her story with me (as I plan to with you through this portal/blog thing/website) I became aware of the incredible challenges she had faced as a child and through adulthood. She had shown strength and resilience through thick and thin to be herself and survive.
When we met after our initial stumbling communication with the help of a Vasanth. I provided a pictorial job description to at least get a basic understanding of what I needed, it was also important to me to share something of my approach to life.
I’m not impressed with the deference we find here and she’d been on the receiving end of the extremes of hierarchy and patriarchy as a woman from a poor background with limited education.
I wanted Manjula to understand that I saw everyone as equals, yes we’re different with varied life experiences, different skills and aptitude’s but to me we’re all equal. In a word egalitarian, not a word I could use in this situation but which explains it well.
So it was important we set out on the right footing. She seemed to understood and responded to that.
I firmly believe that the opportunity we were able to jointly create was an example of where she was able to ‘grow from the inside out’ to be herself, fulfil her potential and she did exactly that. She blossomed!
She started with what she knew. Building on years of serving people and their houses. She’d make sure it was clean, the house was spick and span, laundry was done, kitchen was established, amazing meals were prepared. She’d always strive to improve by watching cookery programmes and always trying new things. Then she made it into a home. In some ways a typical Indian place: open, accessible, a hive of activity with a rich mix of people. She’d grown into her role, created the shared open space that is mysore BnB and made it her own with her strength of character and confidence, on the way, learning English, showing astonishing wit and insights, and of course, managed and taught me…. (more later) blossomed, bloomed, and shared her petals around the world.
Me and MYCycle 