India – Ben East Books

New Year Cornerstone

Jan 2, 2026

—

by

in Calendar, Health, Holidays, India, Mumbai, Time

“Happy New Year.” A simple admonition, a statement of hope and promise, but also of purpose. A happy year won’t just occur. You must make it occur.

Christmas Sanctuary

Dec 26, 2025

—

by

Ben East

in Blogs, Christmas, Family, Health, Holidays, India, Inspiration, Nature, Peace, Seasons, Time, Travel, Writing

A boating excursion on India’s Kavery River brought unexpected sightings and peaceful reflection as we move from the holidays to preparing for the new year

Backstory: Hope and Tragedy

Nov 11, 2025

—

by

Ben East

in Blogs, Books, Diplomacy, Foreign Affairs, India, Movies, Mumbai, Music, Nonfiction, Podcast, Profiles in Service, Storytelling

Former diplomat Ben East tries his hand at podcasting when his nonfiction fails to take hold. Will fellow public servant Rob Batchelder bail him out? Can the Great Indian Bustard help?

Navratri: Celebrating Good over Evil

Sep 22, 2025

—

by

Ben East

in Holidays, India, War

Navratri celebrates the victory of good over evil. The Hindu goddess Durga defeats the demon Mahishasura during nine nights of epic war. Diwali begins 20 days later.

Vibrations

Jan 5, 2025

—

by

Ben East

in India, Inspiration, Mumbai, Music

“Be obsessed. Obsession is a very good thing.”

The End

Dec 31, 2024

—

by

Ben East

in About, Blogs, Calendar, Cooking, Family, Foreign Affairs, India, Nature, Non-Fiction, Recipes, Travel, Weather, Winter, Writing

Go Big, Write Big, said nobody ever.

Of Thee I Sing

Nov 23, 2024

—

by

Ben East

in Family, Holidays, Home, India, Music

The song stirred an intuition in me, nothing I could articulate but no less fixed and definite. Pride. My country was special. I felt blessed to be part of a country that inspired hope in people from all over.

The Extra Hour

Nov 3, 2024

—

by

Ben East

in Calendar, Cooking, Eating, Family, Holidays, India, Nature, News, Politics, Recipes, Seasons, Sleep, Time, Weather

The extra hour fed the hungry, organized life, deepened my gloom over the state of our democracy, and gave our feathered friends an edge over squirrels ahead of winter.

Mumbai (Slight Return)

Jul 31, 2024

—

by

Ben East

in Family, India, Mumbai, Non-Fiction, Travel

This week I spent a few days in an old haunt. Strange, wonderful, electric Maximum City, arriving here six years ago I boarded a train with my wife and sons destined for Mumbai’s iconic Victoria Terminus and, from there, the Gateway of India. Strange city then, you hustled us into the railcar, we all full…

The Great Leap

Feb 29, 2024

—

by

Ben East

in Calendar, Family, Foreign Affairs, Holidays, Home, India, Mumbai, Seasons, Time, Washington, Winter

I’ll try to feel light and springy

Category: India