A Diplomat's Garden - Seth, Aftab

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Résumé :
The author's ancestry and upbringing are a blend of the plural strands of India's races, religions and culture . His education in three countries, reinforced this liberal ,cosmopolitan and trusting heritage, which is the backdrop for the unfolding of a diplomat's life in eight different countries. The book recounts the history of dramatic, exciting, and dangerous events , which the author and his family witnessed and in which they were often active participants. Vivid portraits of Presidents, Prime Ministers , Emperors ,Princes , musicians , dancers , poets, actors , business tycoons give this book a uniquely rare texture. This kaleidoscope of eminent leaders and humbler folk ,is enriched and enlivened by a variety of stories and anecdotes which are amusing, poignant and at times inspirational . The author has tried to portray a life which has had the character of a luxuriant garden, with flowers of a myriad hues, stately trees and the scent of freshly mown grass. The pages of the book illuminate the wonder, the beauty ,the joys and the grace of a magnificent garden. He celebrates his garden by counting the flowers that grow rather than by the leaves that fall....

Biographie:
A career diplomat who served in nine countries across the world,the author is also a published poet and a scholar who wrote a celebrated book about Japan while he served there as ambassador.As a student over 50 years ago, at Japan's oldest university, Keio,the author acquired a knowledge of the Japanese Language, history and culture which remained a focus of his studies at St.Stephen's College from where he graduated in History (Honours) with a First Class degree standing first in Delhi University. Japan and its history continued to be the object of his study at Oxford university where he was a Rhodes Scholar from India and where he did his Master's degree in History and Politics. As a young diplomat in the early seventies and then as ambassador to Japan in the early 21st Century, the author was able to hone hisskills in the language, the history and economy of Japan. After completing his work as a diplomat, the author was invited by his Japanese university to be the first Director of the Global Security Research Institute and a full professor. During the six years that he spent at Keio University, the author was requested tohead a number of NGOs, cultural organizations and educational institutions; these responsibilities continue till today, requiringthe author to travel to Japan from his home in Delhi several times a year. The author is a person who knows Japan and itspeople better than many other Indians. This is clear from the author's perceptive description of his half a century connected with Japan. This is the theme of his book Half a Century:My Connection with Japan published in 2015.

Sommaire:
The author's ancestry and upbringing are a blend of the plural strands of India's races, religions and culture . His education in three countries, reinforced this liberal ,cosmopolitan and trusting heritage, which is the backdrop for the unfolding of a diplomat's life in eight different countries. The book recounts the history of dramatic, exciting, and dangerous events , which the author and his family witnessed and in which they were often active participants. Vivid portraits of Presidents, Prime Ministers , Emperors ,Princes , musicians , dancers , poets, actors , business tycoons give this book a uniquely rare texture. This kaleidoscope of eminent leaders and humbler folk ,is enriched and enlivened by a variety of stories and anecdotes which are amusing, poignant and at times inspirational . The author has tried to portray a life which has had the character of a luxuriant garden, with flowers of a myriad hues, stately trees and the scent of freshly mown grass. The pages of the book illuminate the wonder, the beauty ,the joys and the grace of a magnificent garden. He celebrates his garden by counting the flowers that grow rather than by the leaves that fall....