I came to India to study homeopathy in 1990 and met Amita who was also studying there. We met each other three or four times before we decided to get married. This was in 1992.

I stayed back because of what we were doing. I translated a homeopathy book into French. We started working on the idea of Tridha [an alternative school in Mumbai] in 1996. But Amrita was the main reason behind my decision.

I feel there is a difference in the way of thinking here. You are not supposed to show your emotions. Sometimes, what you say can be taken personally.

What I like about India is the liveliness. South Asia is moving very fast. India may not be as fast as those countries but, once you adopt an idea, people work on it quickly. Take Tridha, for example. We began just with 20 children in 2001. Now, there are 160.

Everyone has a different idea of romance. It's about how you express yourself. Valentine's Day is more like a day when young people have an opportunity to express or show their interest in another person.

For me, every day is Valentine's Day.

Photograph: Jewella C Miranda

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