Khamma Ghani! Greetings! My name is Mrinalini Watson. Mrinalini is an Indian (from the country of India) name for a stage of the lotus flower—the one before it rises above the surface of the water where we see it. Before I got married my last name was Dhadha. In India, most people’s caste (social class) and religion can be identified by their last name. My last name indicates that my birth family were Hindu traders and businessfolk from the state of Rajasthan.
I am 60 years old and have done many things in my life. I have visited many countries and seen a lot of interesting places such as Machu Pichu and the Galapagos Islands. I have earned five college degrees in different subjects. The most recent one was a MFA in Literary Translation. I love to go on all-day walks in the mountains. But, the thing I love to do most is to learn about the language and culture of the places I visit by speaking to the people who live there. This is especially helpful when I am translating stories about these cultures.
I am currently in Rajasthan on a Fulbright Fellowship to learn about the language and culture of Rajasthan as it is shown in the Rajasthani folktales that I will be translating. I am so happy you will be sharing my journey and look forward to hearing about your adventures, too!
