The Road East to India: Diary of a Journey of a Lifetime

“Dedicated to all those of an adventurous spirit who are ready to risk everything to go into the unknown.”

The Road East To India is the memoir of Devika A. Rosamund, written at the time of her travels to India alone in 1976, aged just 22. In her diary she records her adventures and reflects on her personal experiences, emotions and the relationships she formed with fellow travellers and indigenous people.

Devika’s journey begins in Amsterdam where she saves money for her exciting trip. Once she has earned enough money by working relentlessly, she travels by bus as far as Iran, and then continues by local transport through Afghanistan and Pakistan to India, braving many dangers on the way. The journey to India takes six weeks, and once there she goes on to travel around the country, visiting many famous places she has only ever dreamt about before, including the Himalayas and Sri Lanka. Devika takes many risks and experiences some frightening situations on her journey which are recorded in this diary. On one occasion a hotel worker breaks into her room in the middle of the night.

Finally, after travelling up the west coast of India, Devika discovers an ashram and finds herself sat at the feet of a spiritual master, where she learns about meditation. Her spiritual journey takes a turn for the worst when the monsoon season arrives. The house where she is staying is completely flooded and consequently she becomes very sick, with doctors worried for her life. She very fortunately recovers, and is able to return to England to complete the final year of her studies. Devika concludes her memoir by saying that great adventures inevitably always include risk and danger and this is what makes it a journey of a lifetime.