VISITING THE PATELS (2)
When I was a child in India in the old British Raj, the British colonial rule of India, I was a white supremacist without being aware of it. All the rich people I knew were white. There were, certainly, rich Maharajahs and successful business people and I knew some of their children at Woodstock School, the missionary school in the Himalayas that I attended. But it was an narrow insular, American world that I lived in. Now many of the Indians that I know are much richer than I am, successful in school and business, sophisticated travelers. As we all know Indians are also very successful in American busines and politics as well with Kamala Harris, our Vice President an example.
But Hasmukh has dedicated his life to poor tribal people in Gujurat and has had a very deep and wide impact including through a school for tribal children at his ashram.
Hetvi, Mihir’s wife, is also a doctor. In addition to full time healing and being a mother she painted the photographs on this page.
So now I am very lucky to have Hasmukh and his extended family as friends. I have visited Hasmukh’s ashram with Susie and then Todd at least six times since I retired and now, an old man who wants only to sit on his balcony looking out through the neem trees, I want to visit him again for a month or more this coming January. Not only has he invited me but he, and Manda his wife, say they would like to visit Sri Lanka with me and visit the Sarvodaya Shramadana movement again as Manda, also a dedicated Gandhian, did for two weeks back in the 70’s. So if all goes well my next trip after Italy and Greece in October and November will be to India and Sri Lanka in January and February. Mihir, Hasmukh’s doctor son, is going to help me find an inexpensive ticket. I am a very lucky person.
BILLYBABA’S WANDERING 