Lost and Found

Seeking the Past and Finding Myself

Sam Thiara

A search for the past. An identity reclaimed.

This moving memoir by speaker, educator, and entrepreneur Sam Thiara documents his seemingly impossible quest to find his grandfather’s village—armed with little more than a faded photograph.

Sam vividly recounts his adventures through India’s crowded roads—a journey filled with mishaps and surprising encounters, and a growing sense of purpose. Drinking in the beauty of the Taj Mahal and the Golden Temple, he finds himself connecting more deeply with his Sikh faith, while confronting the ugliness of the country’s poverty and injustice. Along the way, Sam also wrestles with his sense of self. A British-born Indian, living in Canada, whose parents came from Fiji, he questions: Am I Indian? Am I Canadian? Am I Sikh? Who am I?

As he begins to piece together the puzzle of his history, Sam realizes he is piecing himself together, too. Touching and inspiring, Lost and Found is a book for anyone who has felt adrift in the world, confirming that what was once lost can be found.

Reviews

“Sam Thiara elegantly shares his journey to India where he is determined to find his ancestral roots with only a faded photograph and sparse information. I was enshrouded in the quest along with him. We travel to the Taj Mahal, summer palaces of Rajasthan, experience the glory of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, and so much more. Through his writing, I feel the very pulse of India’s heartbeat through Sam’s heart. In his search for his lost village, he actually finds himself. In this unbelievable story, along the way, I found myself too.”

Bif Naked recording artist, author, and speaker

“I loved Sam Thiara’s story, as it touches on so many themes relevant to our modern world: immigration, family, building a life through hard work, and, of course, the search for meaning and home.”

John Wood founder of Room to Read and author of Leaving Microsoft to Change the World

Sam Thiara is a storyteller, writer, speaker, coach, workshop facilitator, educator, and entrepreneur. He appreciates the opportunity to share and learn from his adventures, whether it is traveling to a far-off place or somewhere local.

Sam is the founder and chief motivating officer at Ignite the Dream Coaching and Consulting, a platform that engages people to define their path. His goal is to engage individuals in their personal and professional development. For his work, he was recognized by the Governor General of Canada with the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. Over the years, he has mentored hundreds, engaged thousands, and worked with more than forty-five non-profits.

Sam is a lecturer at the Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University, where he blends academic and professional experiences into a rich environment that captivates his audience. His current area of expertise is engaging with post-secondary institutions, administrators, and educators so that the student’s experience is at the center point. He also provides personal development to young professionals who are trying to better appreciate their journey. Equally, he is also called upon to help with organizational alignment and improvements in companies.

ISBN 978-0-9937581-5-7
$21.95 CAD • $17.95 USD
Published November 27, 2019

5 × 8 • 300 Pages
Paperback, ebook