The Polymath

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I believe everything emanates from a single Source. So while it would be inapt to ‘thank’ God, I'd like to express being conscious of His blessings, which in this instance has manifested in my ability to write this book. It goes without saying that I thank my parents Aftab and Jamila for being the precious channels through which I was brought into existence and for their ongoing love and support. I also thank my siblings for being there for me since the beginning and their children, my wonderful nieces and nephews, for keeping the child in me alive.

I thank my beautiful wife, Varsha, who has been with me throughout this journey, both as a loving critic and a source of immense inspiration. I am also grateful for the warmth and longstanding support my parents-in-law have shown me.

A special thanks to Robin Jones, my literary agent, who persevered with me through the difficult times when most editors were shying away from publishing a book that they couldn't easily ‘place’. I thank the team at John Wiley & Sons for taking that leap of faith and for facilitating the publishing process so cooperatively. Thank you also to my long-time friend and fellow traveller Paul Gladstone-Reid for the bursts of energy and insight he brought to our conversations over many years.

As a first-time author, what I've learnt most from the process of writing this book is that if you reach out to complete strangers with sincerity and a humble persistence, they will generally respond. ...