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Always A Foreigner: A Memoir
The journey was like the voyage of Sinbad, full of adventure.
Running up a Himalayan hillside pulling leeches off her legs, covering drug busts in a gritty US suburb to uncovering racism under the pure Alpine snow, Ashwini Devare’s fascinating memoir is about growing up as an Indian Foreign Service child in the 70s and 80s. From the Soviet Union’s Iron Curtain to Burma’s Bamboo Curtain, Ashwini Devare lived in six countries by the time she was fifteen.
In each country, she had a front-row seat to tumultuous global events that redefined the twentieth century, from the death of Lal Bahadur Shastri to the integration of Sikkim into India, the assassination of Indira Gandhi to student-led democracy in South Korea.
Ashwini Devare’s journey from diplomat’s daughter to broadcast journalist was marked by constant changes and upheaval. ‘Fitting in’ was the mantra for survival.
This is a remarkable story of an Indian family that faces the challenges of love, loss and separation with resilience, optimism and courage. A family that would continually be flung from their comfort zones into alien, unfamiliar lands, always holding hands to soften the landings. In the background was the constant comfort of the Indian flag—providing reassurance as the family navigated their way in foreign lands.
Running up a Himalayan hillside pulling leeches off her legs, covering drug busts in a gritty US suburb to uncovering racism under the pure Alpine snow, Ashwini Devare’s fascinating memoir is about growing up as an Indian Foreign Service child in the 70s and 80s. From the Soviet Union’s Iron Curtain to Burma’s Bamboo Curtain, Ashwini Devare lived in six countries by the time she was fifteen.
In each country, she had a front-row seat to tumultuous global events that redefined the twentieth century, from the death of Lal Bahadur Shastri to the integration of Sikkim into India, the assassination of Indira Gandhi to student-led democracy in South Korea.
Ashwini Devare’s journey from diplomat’s daughter to broadcast journalist was marked by constant changes and upheaval. ‘Fitting in’ was the mantra for survival.
This is a remarkable story of an Indian family that faces the challenges of love, loss and separation with resilience, optimism and courage. A family that would continually be flung from their comfort zones into alien, unfamiliar lands, always holding hands to soften the landings. In the background was the constant comfort of the Indian flag—providing reassurance as the family navigated their way in foreign lands.
- GenresNonfiction
264 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2018
About the author
Ashwini Devare
5 books4 followersAshwini Devare is the award-winning author of Lost at 15, Found at 50, a coming of age memoir that chronicles her journey through various countries, against the backdrop of historic political events.
It was SHORTLISTED for the prestigious Singapore Literature Prize 2020 Creative Nonfiction category and was the WINNER in the Singapore Literature Prize 2020 Readers' Favourite for English.
Lost at 15 Found at 50 was published in India by Rupa Publishers, titled Always A Foreigner.
It was SHORTLISTED for the prestigious Singapore Literature Prize 2020 Creative Nonfiction category and was the WINNER in the Singapore Literature Prize 2020 Readers' Favourite for English.
Lost at 15 Found at 50 was published in India by Rupa Publishers, titled Always A Foreigner.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 31, 2022
A very smartly written book this. Written by the author in her 50s the book starts even before she was born - hearsay like of her IFS father and homemaker mother who get uprooted every 3-4 years to a new country. The memoirs touch upon the major developments that changed history which happened during those years and the impact it had on their family.
If memory was an edited version of the actual event, the first hand reporting comes in handy to smoothen edges and gaps. I was more interested in the history trivia and cultural nuances she has mentioned - like I did not know Sikkim was a separate country nor did I know about the crime patrol behind the scenes. From Cold war to Lehman brother's collapse - the book does a mini history tour.
Her parents upbringing of the author and her sister contrasts with her own upbringing of her two kids. I think the changing times also comes across in this book.
Much later in the book, when the author reminisces her newsroom experience, you come across the term "Packaging" - that is making the news more eye catching and on time. That is what the entire book is - it is a neatly packaged reminiscences from the past.
I liked the way it made me go to wiki from time to time. Only, somebody explain the title since till 50% of the book she isn't even 15 years old. A good read.
If memory was an edited version of the actual event, the first hand reporting comes in handy to smoothen edges and gaps. I was more interested in the history trivia and cultural nuances she has mentioned - like I did not know Sikkim was a separate country nor did I know about the crime patrol behind the scenes. From Cold war to Lehman brother's collapse - the book does a mini history tour.
Her parents upbringing of the author and her sister contrasts with her own upbringing of her two kids. I think the changing times also comes across in this book.
Much later in the book, when the author reminisces her newsroom experience, you come across the term "Packaging" - that is making the news more eye catching and on time. That is what the entire book is - it is a neatly packaged reminiscences from the past.
I liked the way it made me go to wiki from time to time. Only, somebody explain the title since till 50% of the book she isn't even 15 years old. A good read.
December 24, 2023
Very interesting memoir. Found it to be so earnest and relatable.
March 12, 2019
Ashwini’s book Lost at 15 and Found at 50 made for an interesting reading and I didn’t put it down till I finished it in one go! An insightful glance into how a little girl evolves and adapts while living the life of a global nomad. The narrative is personal and yet beautifully interwoven with geo-political events occurring in the backdrop! Some parts about vulnerability, loneliness and alienation were heart touching and relatable and leave you wanting to dive deeper into what can truly help us humans to integrate effectively and see the commonness that connects us far more than the differences that separate us. An awesome read and hugely recommend it!
February 12, 2019
I finished this book the same day I started reading it. Would highly recommend. Compelling prose and great storytelling.
July 10, 2021
Ashwini Devare’s memoir is a chronicle of her extraordinary life that involved growing up in multiple countries, languages and cultures as she tagged along on her father’s postings across the globe as a member of the Indian Foreign Service. During a time when only extremely wealthy Indians could afford a trip abroad, Ashwini’s story, beginning with her birth in Moscow seems like a fairytale. Yet the difficulties of this peripatetic lifestyle keep mounting as she changes schools, learns new ways of coping and grapples with issues of identity and belonging in exotic places during times of great significance in Indian and world history.
Long before the term ‘third culture kids’ was coined, Ashwini learnt to speak languages as diverse as Nepali and French while traversing the globe from pre-Cold War Russia to pre-Olympic South Korea, via USA, Burma, Switzerland and Sikkim.The family anticipates every move with a combination of excitement and dread not knowing if they will spend the next couple of years in a land of plenty or in a land of scarcity. Ashwini dispels the myth of their presumed glamorous jet-setting lifestyle conjured up by the names of all the exotic places that she has lived in by describing the practical difficulties that her family has to encounter. From lack of basic amenities like heating during winter (in Sikkim) to good quality schooling (in Burma), from finding fresh Indian groceries (in Moscow) to hiring a French tutor (in Switzerland).
Each new posting brings with it unique experiences, both joyful and miserable. Yet the experiences shape Ashwini and push her towards finding her place in the world while being true to herself. Ashwini’s coming of age adventures play out against exotic backdrops but honestly showcase the universal experience of fitting in, finding yourself and defining your identity in a changing world. Her story is a gentle reminder that while our journeys are unique, we are all heading towards the same goal of understanding ourselves in a world that doesn’t always make sense.
Lost at 15, Found at 50 is an interesting personal chronicle that is also a lesson in history and geography, not just the ones described in books and maps, but the experiences that define the contours of our heart and help define the meaning home.
Long before the term ‘third culture kids’ was coined, Ashwini learnt to speak languages as diverse as Nepali and French while traversing the globe from pre-Cold War Russia to pre-Olympic South Korea, via USA, Burma, Switzerland and Sikkim.The family anticipates every move with a combination of excitement and dread not knowing if they will spend the next couple of years in a land of plenty or in a land of scarcity. Ashwini dispels the myth of their presumed glamorous jet-setting lifestyle conjured up by the names of all the exotic places that she has lived in by describing the practical difficulties that her family has to encounter. From lack of basic amenities like heating during winter (in Sikkim) to good quality schooling (in Burma), from finding fresh Indian groceries (in Moscow) to hiring a French tutor (in Switzerland).
Each new posting brings with it unique experiences, both joyful and miserable. Yet the experiences shape Ashwini and push her towards finding her place in the world while being true to herself. Ashwini’s coming of age adventures play out against exotic backdrops but honestly showcase the universal experience of fitting in, finding yourself and defining your identity in a changing world. Her story is a gentle reminder that while our journeys are unique, we are all heading towards the same goal of understanding ourselves in a world that doesn’t always make sense.
Lost at 15, Found at 50 is an interesting personal chronicle that is also a lesson in history and geography, not just the ones described in books and maps, but the experiences that define the contours of our heart and help define the meaning home.
July 24, 2021
I love it when I go to a bookstore and pick up a book unheard of by an unknown author and then find myself absorbed by the book!
First released as Lost at 15, Found at 50, this memoir by Ashwini Devare takes us from her birth in Soviet Russia to her current living in Singapore via a dozen of countries in which she grew up and lived an enthralling life, thanks to her father's work in the Indian Foreign Service. I could relate to her *where next* uncertainty of changing cities every 2-3 years, part and parcel of the living for civil/foreign service families. Her family tales (especially with her sister Aparna) with the background of significant geopolitical moments captivated me. She is a witness to the contemporary history of the world.
Later in the book, she talks about college and career and love and relationships with honest observations and entertaining insights. Devare has lived a wonderful life, and I'm glad she decided to share her journey with the readers.
First released as Lost at 15, Found at 50, this memoir by Ashwini Devare takes us from her birth in Soviet Russia to her current living in Singapore via a dozen of countries in which she grew up and lived an enthralling life, thanks to her father's work in the Indian Foreign Service. I could relate to her *where next* uncertainty of changing cities every 2-3 years, part and parcel of the living for civil/foreign service families. Her family tales (especially with her sister Aparna) with the background of significant geopolitical moments captivated me. She is a witness to the contemporary history of the world.
Later in the book, she talks about college and career and love and relationships with honest observations and entertaining insights. Devare has lived a wonderful life, and I'm glad she decided to share her journey with the readers.
October 27, 2020
What an extraordinary memoir!!!
This is a beautiful written and vividly described story of a young girl who had lived in six continents by the time she was 15.
A fascinating, absorbing read, this is a sincere portrayal of the authors childhood, and family life story
interwoven with major historical events.
The writing style is uniquely descriptive and personal .
I loved this book.
A must read!!
This is a beautiful written and vividly described story of a young girl who had lived in six continents by the time she was 15.
A fascinating, absorbing read, this is a sincere portrayal of the authors childhood, and family life story
interwoven with major historical events.
The writing style is uniquely descriptive and personal .
I loved this book.
A must read!!
October 7, 2020
Ashwini’s exemplary narrating skills has made the book engaging throughout. Her real life experiences at various places are quite unique and interesting. Not many would have had such a wonderful and challenging experiences las she did. Excellent read. ( in fact I loved the author’s earlier book Batik rain as well)
November 18, 2020
Lost at 15, Found at 50 was a page-turner and had me at the edge of my seat till the very end. A diplomat child's life is not all about high living and plush surroundings as it may sometimes appear. I enjoyed being taken around the globe through the eyes of a young girl who struggles to find herself amid a changing political tapestry.
October 10, 2020
Lost at 15, Found at 50 resonates powerfully with all of us who’ve spent our working lives moving from one new country to the next...a tribute to the flexibility and curiosity of the human spirit. Ashwini's lucid writing style makes this a breezy read!
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October 30, 2020Ashwini takes us on an enthralling journey as she relives her nomadic life, entwined deeply with the changing political and historical backdrops. She gives us a powerful insight into the life of an Indian Diplomat, leaving us excited and wanting to know more.
November 12, 2020
Lost at 15 found at 50 a riveting book that takes you across the world whilst giving you a front row seat to the incredible events around the world through the eyes of a girl coming into her own. Once I started I just couldn’t put it down! Definitely recommend it!!
October 15, 2020
I really enjoyed the journey I had reading this book. Beautifully written
December 13, 2020
I picked this book up one day and just couldn't put it down! Beautifully and thoughtfully written, it is a terrific memoir of a very interesting life.
November 19, 2021
Not too heavy, not too light, a quick read that takes the reader around the world as a child of a foreign service officer from India. Enjoyed!
May 22, 2022
Recommended read if one is preparing for a nomadic life!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews