Stories about my S Asia working experiences
Renewal Felicity Rani stretched in her wicker chair and got to her feet. She headed for the kitchen to enquire about progress in food preparation. She was strict about timing and everyone knew it. Chief cook recited the menu for the evening with choices where necessary and indicated each pot where those menu items lay in readiness for the return of guests from their evening … Continue reading Transitions – Chapter 6
Partition Felicity Rani sighed and turned to look at guest children playing in hotel gardens. Their parents sat in broad armed chairs reading books and drinking limbu pani and other beverages enjoying final sunlight hours. Soon it would begin getting cold and they’d return to their rooms to dress up for evening walks around viewing areas on the mountain where they could see winking lights … Continue reading Transitions – Chapter 5
The Rift It was at Sahib Humphrey’s funeral a final rift took place between the Gopal Das family and Felicity Rani Reed Smith. Felicity Rani was granddaughter to the Gopal Das family and they came to the funeral expecting to manage funeral arrangements as they’d done for their daughter Geeta. They came with good intentions. But Felicity Rani had other ideas. While she’d deferred … Continue reading Transitions – Chapter 4
Changing Times It was the turn of the century and times were changing. When the Reed ancestor had left London he had entered a country in which seeds of independence were beginning to germinate. The 1857 Indian rebellion had resulted in British Government takeover of administration from the East India Company. A managed but gradual parliamentary system was formed which supported landed gentry and the … Continue reading Transitions – Chapter 3
Shadi Gopal Das suddenly found himself elevated in the eyes of surrounding communities, at least at his level in the rigid caste system. People he didn’t know joined in with the known crowds flocking to his house to bring their congratulations and gifts. Gopal Das accepted each gift carefully and thoughtfully. The acceptance of gifts brought with it obligations at some chosen point of time … Continue reading Transitions – Chapter 2
East West Merger Felicity Rani cast languid eyes over the street below. An assortment of people materialized and disappeared as she watched. The phool wallah paused to look in her direction, then made a vain attempt to enter the compound to be turned away with sharp rebuke by the Chokidar Ghurkha at the gate. He turned in … Continue reading Transitions – Chapter 1
“My husband would like to take you golfing.” I was examining requisition requests with Suzanne our Chinese Purchasing Officer at the Singapore office when she dropped that one on me. I smiled, and her face clouded over with uncertainty. “Did I say something wrong?” “No, I was just remembering the last time I attempted to play golf fifteen years ago. It was at Kodaikanal in … Continue reading Golfing in Asia
People who work for charitable organizations in Asia never have the experience of being overpaid. They’re usually entrusted with vast territories, multitudes of people to serve, and a limited pool of funds to apply to the task. Tales could be told of poverty and hunger among older generations of charitable organization employees in the early days of their employment. It takes courage and dedication to … Continue reading Rescued from an Ant Heap
Yesudas was born in one of the poorest communities to be encountered in Southern Asia. His village was situated among towering rock formations, and stone covered fields. Over centuries patient farmers had collected rocks in piles at the borders of ancestral lands, trying vainly to find soil enough in which to plant their rice crop during monsoons. For most of the year the climate was … Continue reading RAGS TO RICHES
We’d been in India for 6 years before venturing to drive. A vehicle is a potential guided missile so you have to learn evasive tactics before venturing out in your own missile in that country. There are two important things to master if you’re to make a successful driver, and these are the horn and accelerator. If you can master these two vital objects you’re … Continue reading My Indian Chariots
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