From his childhood in Bombay to a career spanning India and West Asia, the writer’s forthcoming book, What More Could a Man Ask For?, reflects on life, relationships, music and the unexpected turns that shape us.
At 72, Richard DeCosta has plenty of stories to tell. Some belong to his childhood in Bombay, others to the years he spent working across India and West Asia, and many to the people, relationships and experiences that left their mark along the way. Now, with his forthcoming memoir, What More Could a Man Ask For?, he is bringing those memories together in a book that looks back on life without pretending to have all the answers.
Born and brought up in Bombay, now Mumbai, DeCosta grew up surrounded by the familiar influences of family, friendships, schooldays, books, comics and music. His years at St. Anthony’s High School formed part of those early memories, as did the city itself, with its distinctive character and the many experiences that gradually introduced him to the wider world.
His memoir does not follow the conventional format of a chronological autobiography. Instead, it brings together stories from different stages of his life, allowing memories to unfold through people, places, relationships, adventures, mistakes and unexpected changes.
A Career That Took Him Beyond Bombay
DeCosta’s professional journey extended far beyond his early surroundings. With nearly three decades of experience in sales and marketing, he worked in different environments across India and West Asia, meeting people from varied backgrounds and experiencing cultures beyond his own.
His career included working with Changi Lighting Pvt. Ltd. from 2017 to January 2023. He later contributed as a writer to Salon Shark Software Services between February 2023 and November 2024. Since 2025, he has increasingly focused on independent writing, articles and personal narratives.
These experiences have given him plenty to reflect upon. Work, travel, relationships and changing circumstances brought opportunities, challenges and lessons that often became clearer with time. His memoir revisits these years alongside more personal chapters involving family, friendships, marriage, love, disappointment and new beginnings.
Rather than presenting his life as a series of achievements, DeCosta explores the experiences that made it what it is. Some memories carry humour, others invite reflection, while a few bring back decisions that might look different today.
Music, Memories and the Stories Behind Them
Music has remained a constant presence in DeCosta’s life. A lifelong enthusiast of blues and rock from the 1960s to the 1980s, he draws inspiration from artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan and Mark Knopfler.
His interest goes beyond listening to familiar songs. He is fascinated by the musicians, their journeys and the stories behind the music. This passion also finds expression in Grooves of the Golden Era, where he writes about classic songs, artists and the cultural moments surrounding them.
For many people, music becomes a personal record of time. A particular song can bring back a friendship, a journey or a moment that seemed ordinary when it happened. That connection between memory and experience sits naturally alongside DeCosta’s interest in personal storytelling.
A New Chapter at 72
The forthcoming memoir brings together the different worlds he has experienced, from Bombay and other Indian cities to his years in West Asia and his more recent life in Goa.
What distinguishes What More Could a Man Ask For? is its refusal to turn personal experience into a set of instructions for others. DeCosta is not presenting himself as someone who has figured life out. Instead, he offers his recollections honestly, leaving readers free to draw their own conclusions.
The title itself raises a question that becomes more interesting with age. What does a person really ask of life after decades of change, relationships, professional commitments, happiness and disappointment? The answer may differ for everyone, and the book does not attempt to prescribe one.
For DeCosta, writing offers a way to revisit the past, understand the present and continue exploring new interests. His journey into independent writing is a reminder that creativity does not necessarily belong to one particular age or stage of life.
With What More Could a Man Ask For?, Richard DeCosta is preparing to share more than a personal history. He is opening a window into the experiences that have shaped him, with all their imperfections, surprises and second chances.
After more than seven decades, the stories continue. And perhaps that is what makes this next chapter worth telling.
