The staff is available to answer questions about themselves.
Raghvendra “Nandan” Upadhyay is the house manager. He keeps a blog at GroovyGanges.org. He is heavily involved in NGO work in Benares, including as an organizer for the National Ganga River Basin Authority to clean river pollution and as a member of the local union of NGOs, Sajha Sanskriti Manch. He is also has the uncommon recognition of being licensed by the central government as a North-Indian tour guide. He has worked for various media organizations as a journalist and production assistant as described in his portfolio.
Bunti is the household manager. She is the wife of Nandan. She teaches dance to children and also organizes sex education classes at girls’ schools. She manages the business accounts.
Kanhaa is Nandan and Bunti’s child. He is Babu, or the baby. He was born in 2005 and is a good student.
Rajan is Nandan’s brother. He is a student of astrology, yoga, and Ayurveda. He works as an assistant for a travel agency.
Papa is the father of the household. He is classically educated, well read on history, and is an excellent conversationalist about Indian society. Since he is a retired banker and union leader he has worked with all sorts of people. Papa meets new guests, checks and copies their identification, and has them sign the hotel register.
Mama is the matron of the household. She tends to Babu, helps manage the garden, and gives advice to other family members.
Raju is the house driver. He has an autorickshaw and knows all the usual places where guests like to go. He has worked with the household since 2007. His son is a member of the Chance India education program.
XXXX is the house gardener. For years he was a landscape designer at Banaras Hindu University and he has good knowledge of local plants and growing conditions. He visits every other day and tends to the garden.
Ravi is a friend of the family who visits often. He is the president of Sanjeevani Booti. He is a lawyer by profession and his website is Lawyer: Varanasi! where he offers legal services to foreign clients.
Amrit Sharma is a friend of the family who visits often. He manages the Chance India child sponsorship program and the weekly community meetup DRINK CHAI SEE GOD.
Mark Shahni is a friend of the family who visits often. He is a boatman and a barista and cook at Open Hand Cafe.
Binit is the home Hindi tutor. Since 2007 he has worked with Princeton University in the United States to teach their study abroad students Hindi, and he also either teaches in the home or nearby. His website is hinditeachervaranasi.com.
