For many years I had promised myself the pleasure of exploring the beautiful Danube river. It was a river I had known since a tiny child because of my parents’ love for the immortal waltz by Johann Strauss – The Blue Danube, along with all the other wonderful romantic waltzes for which he is justly famous. So when a significant birthday was to arrive we decided that this is what we would give ourselves!
The Scottish diaspora throughout the world was significant but in India it was huge with every two out of three families having family members working and living in India, Burma and Ceylon.
This year is 250 years after the vision of the New Town of Edinburgh that coincided with the Age of Enlightenment when Scots Philosophers, Writers, Scientists, Engineers, Artists and Architects shone their light and talent and wisdom out over Great Britain and Europe. That time of enlightened thinking that coincided with the activity and success of the East India Company led to young Scots of all walks of life seeking to assuage their aspirations and find serious occupations for themselves. The subcontinent of India proved their great opportunity.
