13th January 2019

13th January Sunday 
Think Vicar of  Dibley Christmas Dinners... 

Today was a restful start, with a light breakfast of a few oats and some fruit, because we knew we had an eating/ hospitality challenge ahead of us. Lunch was at teacher Rani's house and we know from experience that all the culinary stops will be pulled out here. It was my first meeting with her daughter in law and the first grandchild, a little girl, Arseni, eighteen months old- both quite delightful. Daughter in law Deepa substituted for Rani when she was absent for her heart operation. She is actually a qualified nurse. They showed me their wedding photo album-of course!! We see these, proudly shown off in every home. They are huge books full of colourful pages of wedding photos, in which the bride and groom look like Bollywood stars. At Mohanraj and Deepa's wedding there were 3,000 guests and no, that's not my mistake with a zero!! Deepa's father was a Ruhsa electrician so all Ruhsa staff were invited, then all the staff of the work places of bride and groom, then most of the village- until you get to 3,000! As in every home so far visited where there are young children, much love and attention is being given by the whole family to that young child, and all of them seem to be doing so well developmentally. Little Arseni, aged 18 months, recited the alphabet in English! Lovely family, lovely grub, super visit. Back then by auto for a quick flake out beneath the ceiling fans in our rooms, then time to move to the next venue.

We had a bit of a dilemma here because we were going, for the first time, to visit the home of Ambaragan, one of the general gofers/ helpful chaps who fetch and carry in Ruhsa. We have known him for 30 years, during which he has made huge progress in his English. We knew he lived in Kavanur, across the railway line from us, but not his address. En route to ask for help from Christopher at Paul's hotel, I passed the home of the new HOD, Dr Santdani. She and her husband were saying goodbye to a group of friends. She spoke to me immediately to say Hello, I am Santi. Then we had a short chat and I said we were going to find Ambaragan's house. She offered immediately to telephone Christopher who she was sure would know how to contact him. Amazing! That she would stop to speak to me, then introduce me to her friend, then know her staff and nearby community well enough to be able to make these family connections. A change of regime indeed! 

And so to Ambaragan's house, where we met his wife Lakshmi and son Deepak, whose 21st birthday it is today. He is studying to be a radiographer at CMC, in Vellore. His sister is studying for a nursing degree and only comes home to visit fortnightly. Here is another example of a fairly poor village family where a huge emphasis has been placed on education, and where the children have done well and are elevating themselves out of poverty- and providing for their parents now too. Here too another big meal had been prepared for us. It really is astonishing what you can force into your already full stomach if you really try! Mind you upon our return home Pam revealed that she had a chappati in her hat... 

Ambaragan and family.

Rani's granddaughter in her cradle, sleeping. 

S

 Rani's feast on a banana leaf plate.

Rani's mum, the very devoted great granny.