Karan Vaidya is the honorary consul of the Republic of Latvia in Nepal and has served as the vice president of Vaidya Group since 2017. A bibliophile since childhood, he finds inspiration in reading and plans to write books in the future.

In this conversation with the Post’s Sanskriti Pokharel, Vaidya discusses the role of reading in his personal and professional life and the genres he gravitates towards.

How have your studies and experiences abroad influenced your duties as the Honorary Consul for the Republic of Latvia in Nepal?

My education has taken me to various parts of the world, including the US, India, the UK, and China. This exposure has shaped my personality and character, moulding how I process information, think critically, and make decisions.

My engineering degree at Purdue University, US, not only taught me engineering but also altered how I perceive systems and problems. It honed my ability to identify issues, deconstruct them, and devise effective solutions.

How has reading influenced your professional, personal, and diplomatic professional growth?

I have been an avid book reader since childhood.

Reading is a habit that has influenced every aspect of my life. Books like ‘Power of Habit’ by Charles Duhigg and books on Stoicism by Ryan Holiday and Stoic philosophers have helped me create a disciplined routine.

Professionally, I read depending on what skills I need to improve. Currently, I'm reading ‘Contagious’ by Jonah Berger. It's about the influence and effectiveness of word-of-mouth marketing in today’s digital era. Last month, I finished ‘Never Split the Difference’, a brilliant book by Chris Voss about negotiation skills.

Staying informed about current affairs is crucial to diplomacy. That's why I always look for good geopolitics and international relations books.

How do you pursue your interests in literature, culinary arts, and music alongside your busy work schedule?

I love immersing myself in the arts and creativity, but my work often limits my time for creative pursuits. To stimulate my brain's logical and creative sides, I follow a routine. I set aside time daily to read a few pages from three books. Two of them, ‘The Daily Stoic’ and ‘The Daily Laws’, are short and straightforward, featuring a daily quote and its explanation. When I have more time in the evening, I try to read 20 to 50 pages of another book.

Reading is a habit that enhances personal growth, so I always strive to gain wisdom from the words I read. Saturdays are my dedicated cooking days, which I enjoy. Unfortunately, I’ve had to put music on hold for a while. My guitar has been waiting for me to play it.

What genres do you prefer, and in what ways do they align with your personal and professional goals?

In fiction, I’m drawn to books featuring powerful yet realistic characters and those with a solid foundation of ethics and morality. These characters inspire me and help me remain steadfast in my ethical principles.

I am focused on becoming a good executive in my profession. To support this goal, I delve into many nonfiction topics, such as management theory, emotional intelligence, and leadership.

I also connect with Stoic philosophy. Its focus on emotional resilience, acceptance of impermanence, and understanding what we can and cannot control aligns well with my approach to handling life's challenges. During tough times, Stoicism guides me.

What advice would you give young professionals and entrepreneurs about the value of reading?

I encourage them to read consistently. It’s not just about gaining knowledge but also about sparking creative ideas. Start with a simple goal, like reading two pages daily, then gradually increase to four, eight, or ten pages. This small commitment can turn into a lasting habit.

Over time, reading ten pages a day means you can finish a 300-page book in a month. This consistency will broaden your perspective and help you advance in your career.

Karan Vaidya’s book recommendations

Atlas Shrugged

Author: Ayn Rand

Publisher: Penguin Random House

Year: 1957

This novel presents Rand’s philosophy of objectivism in fictional form. I deeply resonated with one of the characters in the book, Hank Reardan, a diligent industrialist.

Meditations

Author: Marcus Aurelius

Publisher: Penguin Classics

Year: 2006 (revised edition)

Written by a Roman emperor who reigned from 161 to 180 AD, this book offers reflections on Stoic philosophy. You can say 'Meditations' introduced me to Stoicism.

Power of Habit

Author: Charles Duhigg

Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks

Year: 2012

It thoughtfully examines how habits influence our lives and how we can leverage them to improve ourselves. This book can help readers establish a disciplined routine.

Power of Now

Author: Eckhart Tolle

Publisher: New World Library

Year: 2004

This book is a transformative guide to living in the present, transcending the ego, and finding inner peace. I'm thankful I read it while still in school, as it awakened my spiritual side.

Man’s Search for Meaning

Author: Victor E. Frankl

Publisher: Beacon Press

Year: 2006

This one is about the author’s Holocaust experiences. A memorable quote from the book is, "The man, whose self-esteem depended on others' respect, is emotionally destroyed."