A new member of staff arrived in the newsroom of the Lincolnshire Echo – for one day only.

Maya Ranganathan is a senior reporter at the New Indian Express, Chennai, India. A national daily, it is published from 13 centres in South India.

Ms Ranganathan is in England as part of a month-long exchange programme organised by Rotary International.

Echo editor Mike Sassi was delighted to offer this experienced and talented writer a column in his paper, and Maya Ranganathan – A View from Abroad duly appeared in the next day’s editions.

The British weather featured in her column – which gave her first impressions of our country – but she said she was surprised to find her pre-conceived notions of the British stiff upper lip shattered.

“Will the ‘prim and proper’ Englishman put up his hands, please?” she asked.

After a brief comparison of the Indian and English cultures, Ms Ranganathan had news for working women journalists.

“Yet another surprise is the women of the West. Back home the grass is greener on the other side and the western woman has it all. But in the few days here it has been heartening to note that the western woman is labouring under much the same problems – juggling home and career.

“Since I joined the New Indian Express 12 years ago, it has had a woman Chief of News Bureau and a woman news editor. The day is not far off when a woman will be editor.”

To read her article in full click here

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