‘Always a foreigner’ was the words uttered to me by Nargis and her sister Nazlee yesterday. Both of them are now residents in London UK and may be British citizens for all intent & purposes. Yet, much like nomads they seem to belong to no land. Both sisters were born in Lamu near Mombassa Kenya of parents who themselves children of migrants from Kutch, Gujarat, India. Their family names were “Panju” which indicated their origin. Their forefathers were probably moved to Kenya under economic and social compulsion earlier in the last century. Even from Kutch where they were supposed to have come from they cannot find any trace of origin nor of identity. No parents, relatives and ties were to be found in Kutch. For the memories of the family, they only knew that they originated from there, which is confirmed by the language they spoke. Are they condemned to be without family identity source and to be foreigner where ever they go?

In India, even now they feel themselves to be a foreigner. Having lived in the United Kingdom for over 30 years they are definitely not in their homeland: the habits, accents and language are so much different.

Even in London were they live they are foreigners. Pakis or Indians they would be called.

Forced migration got them to move from their country of birth and where they grew up. Foreigners again they were in East Africa.

They just do not belong!

Funnily enough, “Always a foreigner” could answer some aspects to the discussions of Eddy Young’s blog set aflame with much passion since the start of the year under the title: What does it mean to be a Mauritian. “Where do we belong?” would be a more appropriate question. I believe that it is not the document or citizenship document that makes you a Mauritian: at heart where do you belong?

Would a Chinese, African, French or Indian at heart living in Mauritius be a Mauritian? No, they will always be a foreigner! Only those who “belong”, those who accept, cherish and espouse our beloved country and continue to work for its future are worthy to be called Mauritians.

Mind you, I am not in favor of the melting pot analogy to describe the Mauritian society. I prefer the Fruit Salad analogy where each fruit whilst being still distinct enhances the flavors the salad which by the way, may well contain in its self some of the jam made up of the combination of the different fruits.

I like to think that in Mauritius I am no foreigner! Because I belong.

Jean Michel Billaut blogger par excellence who I had the chance to meet last year at a conference is visiting Mauritius on the 14 February 2007. A retired banker ,now turn into a champion of making access to the internet at high speed to the world as a right is worth listening to. He does not go about his quest as a radical with  a single minded ideology, to the contrary, he proposes creative and practical solutions to provide internet connectivity at lowest cost possible if not free to the public. Just as air is free, right access to drinking water, freedom of speech, freedom of movement, access to education are fundamentals that must be provided to any citizen of the world, J M Billaut wages that internet access comes just after these rights once the economy of a country reaches a level.

His dream is to make the region of Pau in France a premier location which will become world accessible through the internet connections at very high speed for free or at a very low cost. His region could then with its infrastructure, bloom in activities, today unimaginable for its development and the welfare of the population living there. He travels all over the world to push his ideas and I feel that we should rally a wide audience to pick on his ideas and use it for Mauritius, ourDream  cyber island.Do read his blog for more details.
I intend to organize a meeting of the  Mauritian bloggers and all those who are interested to listen to J M Billaut’s idea of shunting the distances between territories,which geographically are today termed as far, to be electronically near. He would also talk about his views of the technology of the future and how to be prepared as a country or nation not to miss the boat.

Likewise, I feel so near to you dear Mauritian bloggers though seated presently,in my room in Mysore India. Thanks to my wireless  internet 24 hours internet connection.
Would those interested drop in a commentary to enable me to arrange for the meeting.

Namaste from Mysore

Who is Ulrike Haage? A sound Artist, a German pianist and a composer. Over the net I had the chance of sampling her music which I found smooth and soothing to my ears and very relaxing. Selavy wrongly or rightly read :c’est la vie… Ulrike is spending some time in Mysore. Her first few days of Panchakarma must have been uneasy as she had to confine herself to her room.She is much better now as she now has her meals at the dinning hall.Her website www.u-version.com is worth a visit. Poetry in music or Poetry in motion music, would well be another title of her site. Her capacity to transport her audience to a well being dreamland in a repetitive music when one is recalled of the mantra of the main theme without being tired of it is what I enjoyed. Her composition from the piano and keyboard bring in new sounds which confirms her as a true sound artist made in Germany.

Her music reminds me of the emotions aroused in me when listening to M. Boulton, the BBC film music composer in his lesson on psycho-acoustics in his studio in Baath, way back in 1996.

Thank you Ulrike for stretching our potential of sounds to bring through your music therapy a haven of peace. Bravo to the avant-garde music that you are creating and Yes! the Afghans as well as Talibans have also right to peace. Music could be a means to bring them solace.

Chaque personne vit sa propre histoire.Les unes plus intéressantes que les autres, peut être. Les rencontres on en fait, mais là à Mysore, c’est inouï pour moi. Connaissez vous la fondatrice d’une chaîne de télévision Haute définition ? Une chaîne que pour la promotion de l’art ?

Et bien, j’ai eu la chance de partager un repas ayurvédique avec Elizabeth Markevitch, une grande dame battante, éprise par une passion que je souhaite plein de succés dans son entreprise émergente.

Je cite un extrait du Monde sur ikono.tv :

Le renversement de la direction qui pourrait intervenir pour le marche de l’art plastique me semble très intéressant. Jusqu’a l’heure, nous pourrions parler de ‘pull stratégie’ pour l’art, car le marche était réservé qu’aux initiés selects et exclusifs qui étaient à la recherche de sensations dans la contemplation des œuvres. Avec la Télévision telle conçue par ikono.tv nous vivrons bientôt, ‘un push stratégie’ comme les chaînes de radiodiffusion avec un accès grand public jamais connu avant. Tant mieux pour l’art et tant mieux pour la masse de gens qui ont été privés à ce jour des sensations qui leur sont légitimes. Bravo Madame Elizabeth Markevitch !

I can only have wonderful souvenirs of the interesting conversations at the lunch & diners with the Lee Family, who bid me farewell at lunch time today.They are on the way back to Singapore and will be catching a flight from Bangalore late in the night. Mrs Penny Lee decided to have their last diner Indian meal this time at yet another Ayurveda center, SOUKYA near Bangalore.I had earlier understood that Mr. Lee after these ten days of strict vegetarian regime  he was looking forward to a good hearty non vegetarian meal once out of the center.In these circumstances, the stronger sex has always the last word!

The Lees are half retired. Mr. Lee was an accountant before, now converted to his wife passion and work: Pottery. They create artistic pottery and have every 2 years a sales exhibitions. The rest of the time they spend traveling overseas. Penny just loves India and visits very often.She is right now preparing another trip to trek in the Himalayas.Yes this kind of expedition requires prior training both in terms of physical fitness and mental strength.

Thank you Mr & Mrs Lee. You have lightened the burden of my confinement. Hope to see you some other time.

 

Today is  the last day of the year 2006. The last day of the year and the night of the birth of the new year has always has been  so special to me.For this day, this year it will be for the last 60 years, the first time that I would spend it without the physical presence of my family and dear ones.As far as my memories goes, these special dates have always been shared with my loved ones.

As a child, I was ever surrounded with my parents, grand parents, aunties, uncles, cousins for the occasion of welcoming the New Year. In my youth, the 31^st were also shared with friends in dancing parties and festive atmosphere, except only once I spent this very New Year’s Eve at Foyer de l’Unite Soulliac praying. But there again I was in great peace, but I was always in good company.

Fortunately, with modern technology, the internet and the mobile telephones, I shall be able to connect and be in communications with my love ones to night.The mind provides me also this magnificent sense of ubiquity. In mind or in spirit I am in relation with my family. No fear I do not feel lonely! I am in meta union with all of you, my dears.

I received last night a picture of my brother Sylvestre’s entire family who got together from through out Canada for the occasion of Christmas. There again the branch, Brothers, uncles, aunties , nieces and nephews in Quebec  shall be meeting for the occasion! As today is his birthday which was the reason he was given the name, this day is unique in our family. The 31^st is for me, the memories of the celebrations of brother Sylvestre’s birthday with a very special nougat special cake which year after year were offered by his godparents TonTon Ahlone & tante Lucienne.

This very day is so pregnant of wonderful memories of time spent together with numerous people that I am in awe.This year 2007 will also be the year of the Pig, my year, I would be promoted to a new category of citizen with special privileges.

Lastly, my thoughts this morning, goes to my parents, who 61 years ago in spite of the then difficulties they were living, stresses and pressures they were then enduring, decided to found a family and to take the challenge to travel to an unknown country.They were full of hope and were consciously in faith of the blessings of God. They kept ever since and there on praying and asking for His love.Today from Heaven, they are now praising Our Lord for His Blessing.

Good bye Sowmya & Bernd  and many thanks for the wonderful time spent together at the dinning hall of IVAC. To night was their last diner as they are leaving to morrow.

As is often the case when asked “where I came from”, I would give the inquiring person 5 chances to guess the country and offer a prize of 50 rupees if he or she would successfully give the answer.Most of the time,it would be impossible to get the correct answer.This time Sowmya played the game in reverse to me. I had to guess: where they were living? Sowmya by her looks and for having observed her for a while was Indian from the area as I could make out that she could speak Kannada to the waiters.Her husband by the accent, & complexion would be German.I was not able to guess that they were residing in China Beijing in spite of the hint given to me that they lived in an Indian neighboring country.

I had great fun talking to the newly wed couple and got to know them a little bit better.We discussed quite lengthy on Sowmya’s views of the India’s society and its evolution.She was educated throughout her secondary education by Catholic sisters and  she had a balanced and qualified opinions on the motives of such apparent acts of generosity on the part of the sisters.She questioned the freedom of choice given, to the third world countries nuns in  India,Switzerland and else where in Europe in serving their “vows”.Are they forced by circumstances, like a way of getting a better living, or do they live up to their vows in total free will?

Bern & Sowmya met in Lausanne, where she was working in the IT department of an international Insurance Company after having worked for sometime in Bangolore. Bern is presently on an overseas posting  in China procuring for his company.

Wish them a prosperous & happy married life!

For the last 3 evenings, we were seated in the dinner lounge next to an elderly gentleman, American looking with a crew cut, with a slow demeanour, he looked to me to be quite old and yet, quite fit. This was my chance to get to know him better. Born in 1919, Jim Cox had a very successful career as a sea farer, he started life in the army to be trained as a marine cadet. During the war, he had 3 years of training, and fought in the 2^nd world war. One of his greatest joys of life was the moment he left the academy. He was then happy to be liberated from the army and yet, was lost as many of his then colleagues were, when they were relieved from their disciplined and strict life. Luckily for Jim, he immediately found employment as an officer in Delta Shipping formerly known as Mississipi Steamship co. After a few years of sailing for that company, he was promoted to captainship, and for the next 17 years he sailed as a sea captain on a passenger and cargo vessel from New Orleans to the South American ports. During that time he met his German wife who was then a passenger on the ship. He married her at age 37 while she was only 21. Their union gave them 2 sons, the elder one is presently an airline pilot instructor, whilst the second one is a Yoga teacher based in Bangkok. Jim talked about his second son with much emotion; in fact, when he divorced his wife, 20 years ago, when the lattter son was only 14, and that, in a way, caused a lot of trouble to the son’s upbringing. He had quite a bit of problem to educate his second son because of the broken family situation. He even thought, during one of his trip to Israel, to send his son to be trained in a kibboutz, to give him a more regimented life. This son chose to follow his friends in a Japanese homestay program where he enjoyed learning Japanese and even managed to find temporary work in Sapporo, Hokkaido. Later on, the blue eyed blond son travelled to India and more particularly to Bihar State, to learn yoga. Afterwards, he also obtained a diploma in yoga training from a New York institute. His studio in Bangkok now, not only dispenses yoga lessons, but is also a centre for yoga teachers’ training.

At his age, Jim lives on his own, sharing his time between his apartment in Pattaya and the one in Seattle. He prided himself to have worked until age 70 and was still very active when asked to retire, in spite of his will to stay on. Somewhat, out of obligation, he wanted to work further because his divorce got him into financial strains. But he admitted that, looking back today, he lives comfortably with his pension and savings. What he enjoys today is travelling and discovering new places and things. His immediate plan is to spend the next week in the hill station of Ooti which is 150 miles away from Mysore. From this encounter, I could sense a person of great self independence, with a positive mind and very much in touch with reality.

I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to meet such a character, and the lesson I draw from this encounter is that, in spite of any difficult situation, with a positive mind, self –reliance, and looking towards the future, you will always be able to triumph over the difficulties. THANK YOU Jim.

Last night we had dinner with two charming ladies who were spending a few days at IVAC. We came to meet them,when we heard them speaking French. I could boast myself for having been able to identify their origin. I managed to identify from the accent that they were from Switzerland. Yet, I am hopeful to improve my acuity to be able to identify the region of Switzerland from the accent. They were from Neuchatel.

They have been touring India for a few weeks. During this trip one of them caught Dengue Fever. She had to be hospitalised and was kept in confinement for a week.During that period she said that she felt very weak and could neither walk nor stand.She had to lie in bed and at that time had a partial loss of memory. She was last night much better and really enjoyed the meal as she had regained appetite.

Some parts of India are under a spell of Dengue Fever right now. Travellers to India should be careful and protect themselves from the bites of the Tiger mosquitoes.She still carries the toxins which will be eliminated from her body system slowly. Marie Anne suggested that she takes “Xango” drink to help eliminate the toxins.

May we wish Heidi better health and enjoy the rest of her Indian sojourn.