K. D. Sethna facts for kids

Kaikhosru Dhunjibhoy Sethna (born November 26, 1904 – died June 29, 2011) was a talented Indian writer. He was a poet, a thinker, and a critic who wrote about culture. He published over 50 books! His friends called him Kekoo, but he used the pen name Amal Kiran for his poems.

Early Life and Education

K.D. Sethna was born in Bombay (now Mumbai), India, on November 25, 1904. He belonged to the Parsi community. His father was an eye doctor who loved to read and write. He greatly encouraged young K.D. Sethna to develop his own talents.

When he was two and a half years old, Sethna got polio. This made his left foot weak. He later had an operation in London that helped him walk straight again, though he had a slight limp.

Sethna went to school at St. Xavier’s College. This was a Roman Catholic school run by Jesuit priests. He grew up speaking English and was not as fluent in Parsi Gujarati, which was also spoken at home.

He started his writing career very early. He wrote book reviews for newspapers and magazines. His first book, called Parnassians, came out in 1924. It was a collection of essays about famous writers like H. G. Wells. When a friend sent a copy to H. G. Wells, the famous author said, "the young man will go far."

A Spiritual Journey

As a college student, Sethna began reading books about Yoga. He was especially interested in the writings of Swami Vivekananda. He also met a saint and a yogi in India, which inspired him.

Later, Sethna learned about Sri Aurobindo, a famous Indian philosopher and yogi. He read an article about the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, a spiritual community. After marrying his girlfriend, Daulat, they decided to visit Sri Aurobindo in Pondicherry.

Life at the Ashram

Sethna and his wife arrived at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in December 1927. After meeting Sri Aurobindo and the Mother (Mirra Alfassa), they decided to join the Ashram. His wife was given the new name "Lalita." Sri Aurobindo gave Sethna the new name "Amal Kiran," which means "Pure Ray."

Sethna's first job at the Ashram was to manage the stores. He made sure everyone had what they needed. In his free time, he focused on writing poetry. He often sent his poems to Sri Aurobindo for his thoughts and corrections.

In 1936, Sri Aurobindo began sending Sethna parts of his main work, Savitri: A Legend and a Symbol, to be typed. This led to many discussions between them about Sri Aurobindo's spiritual poetry. Sethna later married Sehra, a friend from his youth, and she stayed with him until her death in 1980.

Editor of Mother India

In 1949, the Ashram started a journal called Mother India. This magazine discussed important topics, both in India and around the world. It shared ideas that were in line with Sri Aurobindo's thoughts. Sethna was chosen to be its editor.

He sent all his articles about politics to Sri Aurobindo for approval. After Sri Aurobindo passed away in 1950, the Mother advised Sethna to avoid writing directly about politics. The articles in Mother India covered many subjects. These included Sri Aurobindo's yoga, literature, culture, and art. Writers included Sethna, other Ashram members, and sometimes people from outside the Ashram.

His Many Books

Besides his work for Mother India, Sethna also wrote more than fifty books. These books were about Sri Aurobindo, the Mother, yoga, poetry, science, philosophy, and ancient Indian history. He even wrote a book called Light and Laughter, which showed his great sense of humor.

K.D. Sethna was born into the Parsi-Zoroastrian faith. However, he stopped practicing it after becoming a follower of Sri Aurobindo. He celebrated his 100th birthday in 2004. When he passed away on June 29, 2011, at the age of 106, he was one of the oldest living authors in the world.

His sister, Minnie Canteenwalla, was also a poet. She was known within the Sri Aurobindo community.