Aftab Seth, author, poet, and diplomat

Aftab Seth is a distinguished retired Indian diplomat, author, and academic who served as India’s Ambassador to Greece, Vietnam, and Japan. Born on September 17, 1943, he had an illustrious career in the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) spanning from 1968 to 2003. He is widely recognised for his deep expertise in Indo-Pacific affairs, his mastery of multiple international languages, and his contributions to global education and literature.

Literary Work & Books

Seth is an accomplished author and poet whose recent publications reflect his experiences and cross-cultural journeys:

• The Beautiful Archipelago (2026): A book dedicated to exploring the history, geography, and culture of Indonesia.
• I Do Not Know Why. (2025): A highly praised collection of 26 reflective poems mapping his thoughts on old age, global conflict, and memories from his travels.
• A Diplomat’s Garden (2023): A detailed personal memoir encapsulating his multi-decade journey across global diplomatic postings.

Indonesia: The Beautiful Archipelago is a 224-page exploration of Indonesia’s stunning island nation, published by Birch Books in 2026. The book appears to be a visual and informational guide showcasing Indonesia’s diverse landscapes, culture, and natural beauty across its thousands of islands. It’s designed for readers aged 20-50 who are interested in travel, geography, or Southeast Asian culture.

Would you like to know more about what specific aspects of Indonesia it covers?

Aftab Seth in conversation with Sneha Pundir

BOOKS OF THE WEEK

Just Being: A Memoir (The India List)

 by Romila Thapar 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Historian Romila Thapar reflects on a rich, path-breaking life―and the ideas, friendships, and journeys that shaped her. In Just Being, historian Romila Thapar invites us into her illustrious world―a rich, extensive memoir from a scholar who has profoundly shaped our understanding of India’s past and present. From her childhood growing up in British India, through her years of education in London, her extensive travels to archaeological sites across Asia and beyond, and her trailblazing role in shaping the Centre for Historical Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Thapar reflects on a life lived in the service of inquiry and education. Composed over the past few years, Just Being is a testimony to Thapar’s ability to view herself within the larger flow of history, and to illumine it with a scholar’s depth and a storyteller’s sensitivity. It reveals not only an extraordinary, boundary-defying life but a profound conviction that understanding our past in the light of irrefutable evidence is essential to an insight into the present and to shaping a more thoughtful future.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Romila Thapar is an emeritus professor of history at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and she was previously general president of the Indian History Congress. She is a fellow of the British Academy and holds honorary doctorates from the University of Calcutta, Oxford University, and the University of Chicago, among others. She is an Honorary Fellow of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, and SOAS, London. In 2008, she was awarded the prestigious Kluge Prize from the Library of Congress.

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The Light Way by Akane Hoshiba

Brewing Knowledge

We had the pleasure of Akane Hoshiba’s company at our Book Cafe, and she shared the book The Light Way and its core themes.

Key Takeaways

• Book’s Core Message: The Light Way is a guide to one’s “soul path,” reminding readers they are inherently shining and complete from birth.

• Inspiration: The book was inspired by two events: finding a notebook of his final thoughts after her father’s death, which showed words live on, and seeing her newborn son’s inherent radiance.

• Core Philosophy: True happiness comes from self-love, which eliminates the need to prove worth to others. Spirituality is the essential foundation for a fulfilling material life.

• Author’s Goal: To use words to help people remember their inherent light and take a step forward on their unique life path.

Author’s Background & Philosophy

• Name: Akane Hoshiba (Akane → “deep red,” like a sunset).

• Profession: Writer, speaker, and life coach.

• Core Mission: Guide people back to their true selves (“their own light”).

• Analogy: A sunset symbolises “home”—a place to shed roles and just be oneself.

Inspiration for The Light Way

• Father’s Notebook: After her father’s death, she found a notebook from his hospital bed.

  • Key Quote: “Being able to eat, being able to walk, being able to talk... everything is just happiness.”

  • Impact: This taught her that words live on and can provide strength.

• Newborn Son’s Radiance: Seeing her son’s inherent “divine gold” radiance led to a realisation:

  • We are all born complete, shining, and inherently loved.

  • We are “meant to forget” this truth so we can discover it, a journey that begins with “separation.”

Key Themes & Readings from The Light Way

• Theme: Finding Your Path

  • Page 14: “To become who you truly are, you must first feel the truth. Loneliness is not the end. It’s a sign that your path of light has just begun.”

• Theme: Self-Acceptance & Uniqueness

  • Page 92: “There is a seat that only you can sit in.”

  • Page 144: “Every piece of a puzzle has its own unique shape... Don’t strain or edit yourself to do it.”

• Theme: The Power of Connection

  • Page 83: Her career focus (teacher, artist) has always been on affirming others’ voices and opening hearts to let their “deeper radiance begin to shine.”

• Theme: Resilience & Rebirth

  • Page 107: After a period of feeling “empty” and “hollow,” a friend’s advice—“write again, Akane”—helped her “rise again.”

Q&A: Spirituality vs. Materialism

• Question: How to find happiness in a materialistic world?

• Answer: Don’t separate the material and spiritual. Spirituality is the essential foundation for a fulfilling material life; without it, something important is missing.

Q&A: Overcoming External Opinions

• Question: How to live authentically despite others’ opinions?

• Answer: Cultivate deep self-love. This satisfaction eliminates the need to prove worth, allowing one to respect others without seeking their validation.

• Akane Hoshiba: Continue her India journey, which she views as a spiritual platform to “come back to our centre.”
• Attendees: Purchase copies of The Light Way from the Book Cafe of The English Book Depot.
• Session summary courtesy FATHOM AI.