India, Nov. 6 -- Memoirs written by policymakers, economists, diplomats and politicians are usually not my cup of tea, but here is one with a difference.

First, NK Singh is all of these rolled into one. What is exceptional about this book is that it is not about any of these roles. Instead, we see NK as a photographer, music connoisseur, garden- and rose-lover, and aficionado of Japan. One is left to wonder, how many NKs are there?

Endeavours: An Ensemble of My Life is a fascinating read.

As a Bharatanatyam artiste, what stands out for me is his devotion to Hindustani classical music. Chapter 4, Om: The Eternal Sound, captures his journey from being an inquisitive listener to a connoisseur and patron of this art form.

Being exposed in...