Undercover in India (ePub)

Mr. Hosch's satirical memoir is much more than a typical disciple-seeks-guru quest. A unique blend of healthy cynicism, insight, and humor, this unfiltered account details his survival as an inexperienced American in pre-tech India, while at the same time, captures the yoga and meditation craze of the 1970s. A must read for serious yoga students and world travelers alike. For more info, see phosch.com

A mysterious Indian monk convinces a twenty-two year old former hippie to sell his beloved VW van and go to India. The young man, away from home for the first time, flies across the world in an old propeller plane, stopping over in London, Cairo, and South Yemen; finally touching down in sweltering Bombay. He spends the next year studying meditation and yoga in an Indian ashram with an authentic guru who is reputed to know past, present, and future. His blissful sojourn ends when the guru is suddenly arrested on questionable conspiracy charges in 1971.

The youthful traveler later spends months in a remote monastery with no electricity or running water, hangs out with wandering sadhus in the holy city of Varanasi, and takes a boat ride across the Ganges River. Later, he gets pickpocketed on an overcrowded bus in Calcutta, and goes on a Himalayan adventure in Nepal, seeking a reclusive one-armed "holy man." Eventually, he returns to the States with a whole new perspective fueled by his life-altering travels in India.

PRAISE FOR UNDERCOVER IN INDIA

"This book will make you feel as if you were part of every scene, whether living the idealistic hippie life in San Francisco or alongside the colorful characters of the ashram in India. It's agenda-less storytelling where you don't feel as though they're trying to manipulate. This is the hallmark of Hosch's writing, and it's this quality that makes you hang on every word as he leads you from scene to scene as you meet each new character. His internal dialog is honest and endearing. I yearn for this kind of storytelling and wish more people told stories this way. It's as if that person is watching a video and simply explaining with exquisite language what he is seeing."-RSF, Writer and Social Media Auteur

"Loved it! A sensitive exploration of the author's past. Vibrant characters come alive in colorful, real experiences. I found myself thinking about some of the scenarios when I should have been sleeping! These 'adventures' are prime examples of thinking outside of the box. WOW!" -MS, Business Owner

"A humorous tongue-in-cheek diary of a budding spiritual aspirant on a quest to discover his higher purpose in life. It is not your typical disciple-meets-guru story, yet its unfiltered account delivers insights that any seeker on the path can relate to. A must read for anyone interested in a lighthearted adventure in India perceived from a Westerner's eye!" -MF, Nutritionist

"The writing transported me right out of Miami and straight to Berkeley and Varanasi. Such an interesting mix of cynicism, hope, and humor. I look forward to reading more." -DT, Health Care Professional

"I felt like I was watching a movie, following along scene by scene. As the chapters progressed, I became more and more involved with the author's actions and thoughts. I liked the descriptions of the river, cows, incense, chanting, etc." -SD, Designer

"The illustrations were wonderful. An absolutely talented artist. The read was easy and exciting. Paul certainly lived a full and thrilling life back in the day."-AJA, designer