Radhika Lee - Rainbows in my Clouds

Rainbows

in my

Clouds

RADHIKA LEE

Copyright 2015 Radhika Lee

First Published 2015 by

Notion Press

Old No. 38, New No. 6

McNichols Road, Chetpet

Chennai - 600 031

ISBN 978-93-5206-401-4

All Rights Reserved.

This book has been published in good faith that the work of the author is original. All efforts have been taken to make the material error-free. Please note that the author and the publisher disclaim the responsibility for the occurence of any errors.

No part of this book may be used, reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

The events, incidents and the journey itself have been put together from the authors memory and to the best of her recollection. However, out of respect for privacy some names mentioned in this book have been changed.

It has been a stormy, stormy life, but I have had

many, many rainbows in my clouds

Dedicated to my son, who has been my

most beautiful rainbow through all the clouds

Acknowledgements

There are so many people I want to thank for helping this book see the light of the day

The two most beautiful people who gave me life and with it, the strength of character to endure, persevere and always do right by my conscience and the Almighty Mom and Dad, thank you for giving me a deep understanding of life and people and teaching me to appreciate every situation that comes my way without losing belief.

My niece Amritha, who never wavered in her faith in me and her husband Yashwanth who has been a pillar of strength

My editor and friend Reena Abraham for the relentless tenacity and encouragement throughout this last one year; you made me a better writer.

Brian, Jonathan and Simon for always being there to pick up the pieces and letting me go away for days without having to worry about Ashwin. This is my chance to say it forever; I am grateful for the last ten years of your unwavering love and support.

Aarti Gunnupuri who came into the scene pretty late but whose professionalism and eye for detail made my book a better piece of work. A superb editor and connoisseur of good writing, I thank Aarti for taking the trouble to make sure the book is as good as it can possibly be.

All my cousins back in Kerala for your unconditional love and support, these past few years especially

Jeff for reminding me aboard a flight home that I could write too

David, you are experienced in this business and I am grateful for your advice and time. Thank you for teaching me to keep things simple.

The book happened because Anoop, you made me believe in me and got me to dream once again. Thank you.

The team at Notion Press who made the last leg of this journey quite an experience.

All my students these past 30 yearsfor the laughter in and out of the classrooms that kept my sanity

Most of all, Ashwin my son who gave me motivation to live and cheered me on every step of the way Vaave, without you I could not have embarked on this journey. Thank you for all the love, the unending support and wise advice, despite your age!

Contents

Title

Copyright

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Foreword I

Foreword II

Prelude

Prologue

Book 1

Rain

Divinity Personified

The Tragic Hero

Changes

The Silent Sufferer

New Beginnings

Somewhere My Love

I Am an Eagle That Rides On the Breeze

Book 2

First Glimpse

Alone

Home, Sweet Home

Hush My Baby

Taste of Deceit

India Beckons Once Again

Can Anyone Tell Me Why?

Everything I Do I Do It for You

Home Is Where Your Heart Is

Revival

Silver Lining

At The Peak

Separated

The Last Straw

Book 3

A New Dawn

Not Again!

The Turning Point

Divine Intervention

Trying Times

The Last Rites

Glorious Cape Town

Where Tomorrow Begins

Be the change

Dancing in the Rain

A Promise Fulfilled

Hope by my Wings

If Music Be the Food of Love, Play On

Epilogue

Author Profile

Foreword I

Ifirst met Radhika at an International Schools conference hosted by Apple in Vienna in the year 2007. It was at the conference that she realized what technology could do for her students. Returning to Kenya, she under took the mission of setting up the first E-School in East Africa, only to realize that her superiors were unwilling to change. So she embarked on an even more challenging task of starting her own, E-school. This proved to be quite a herculean task for an Indian lady, with no one and nothing to support her, especially, in an unknown land!

Now years later, despite the overwhelming obstacles, she owns three schools that educate children from around the globe.

I call her Radical Lee because her journey is a radical departure from traditional education, just as her personal life has also been. Despite all the challenges, Radhika has remained focused, committed, positive and above all innovative as you will realize when you walk alongside her on this journey in her autobiography.

You will meet the unwavering spirit of Radhika in her book, Rainbows in my Clouds and fall in love with this remarkable woman as I did.

JOHN COUCH

VICE PRESIDENT (education) - APPLE INC.

Foreword II

One can only measure how they are doing in life when confronted with challenges. The tell-tale of Radhikas life could not be measured until she faced her challengesthe first challenge was to break away from decades of abuse and being defined by others. Radhikas break from her partner puts her on a path that gave her meaning but took much time to discover her amazing self, which was there all the time.

Radhikas story is inspirational for all of us and teaches us to have faith in ourselves and know there is a powerful you . It takes time as nothing beautiful and positive is ever easy to achieve in life without struggles. I encourage you to read Radhikas story as she narrates it in her autobiography Rainbows in my Clouds . It will help you become stronger and even persuade you to have Radhikas guts to want a better place for yourself in this world!

NANCY SILBERKLEIT

CEO ARCHIE COMICS

Prelude

Relentless struggles make a successful person. Radhika Lee is no exception. Her memoir Rainbows in my Clouds is the ballade of her rise as a young girl from her displaced dreams to the successful educationist and entrepreneur that she is today in Kenya.

I find the spirit of Radhikas painful migration from her picturesque tiny village Cherai in Kerala to Kenya in Africa, in these lines of the African-American poet Gwendoly Brooks, from To the Diaspora:

Heres some sun. Some.

Now off into the places rough to reach.

Radhika set out for Africa charting rough paths and reached there. There, her dreams are reborn, though after very many struggles, both professional and personal.

Her memoir is candid. Its narrative is reminiscent of the backwaters of Kerala placid and mirroring the verdure of nature and the blueness of the sky. Keralas peculiar customs and rituals, such as the celebration of a girls menarche, are touched upon vividly. It is an inspiring oeuvre, replete with nostalgia for her lost home.

The present-day women, empowered with education, are making their presence felt in almost all domains of life, particularly in creative domain. Radhika Lee represents this new woman. As I went on reading her memoir, it soothed me like Keralas summer rains.