Author Kartikeya Vajpai discusses his book 'The Unbecoming in city'
Mohan Gulrajani
Author Kartikeya Vajpai discusses his book The Unbecoming in city
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 28: Author and lawyer Kartikeya Vajpai on Thursday discussed his book, The Unbecoming, at the Shillong Press Club, sparking a conversation on identity, purpose, and emotional well-being.
The event featured Vajpai in conversation with Padma Shri awardee and Editor of The Shillong Times, Patricia Mukhim, drawing participation from writers, journalists, academicians, and students.
Published by Penguin Random House India, The Unbecoming examines self-awareness and the pressures of modern life.
The book, which includes forewords by the Dalai Lama and Swami Sarvapriyananda, follows a celebrated cricketer, Siddharth, and his mentor, Ajay, as they navigate questions of identity and transformation.
Addressing the session, Vajpai reflected on the emotional exhaustion and uncertainty common among younger generations in a competitive world.
“We are living in an age where people are trying to constantly prove themselves, often without first understanding who they truly are.
The real tragedy is not failure, but living
a life disconnected from one’s inner voice,” he said.
Vajpai also praised Meghalaya’s cultural environment, describing it as a place
uniquely suited for reflection. “Places like Meghalaya remind us that silence
and depth still matter. There is an emotional honesty here that makes such
conversations especially significant,” he remarked.
The discussion also touched upon mental health and the importance of creating
space for meaningful public dialogue.
Sharing her reflections, Patricia Mukhim
said the book’s themes are particularly relevant given current psychological
challenges. “We live in a disruptive world and are confronted by mental health
concerns. A book like this, which encourages people to move beyond themselves
and explore their inner world, is perhaps the need of the hour,” she said.
The event concluded with an interactive session and a book-signing, where
readers engaged with Vajpai on topics of resilience, relationships, and the
search for meaning in modern life.
The Unbecoming: Let Life Reveal its Purpose | A Spiritual and Emotional Exploration of Ego, Renewal & Rediscovering Purpose Beyond Success
by Kartikeya Vajpai (Author)
The Unbecoming will help you to:
- See how identity, ego, and expectations can blur our experience of the present moment.
- Understand what real detachment looks like - free from fear and greed.
- Realize that creativity is born from stillness, not struggle.
- Embrace honest, authentic self-expression in every area of life.
- Invite inner spontaneity through deeper awareness.
Who is The Unbecoming for?
- Anyone seeking purpose, clarity, or direction.
- Those wrestling with self-worth and trying to hear their inner calling.
- Those who want to build inner value instead of chasing external validation.
- Anyone longing to rediscover everyday creativity.
- Those overwhelmed by constant digital noise and fading attention spans.
- People exhausted by the pressure of “being the doer,” who want to move through life as a calm, clear channel for meaningful work.
- Anyone craving ease, effortlessness, and flow.
What’s inside The Unbecoming?
- A transformative philosophy delivered through fiction.
- One character who pursues perfection through a spiritual lens while another searches for purpose after success collapses - and rediscovery begins.
- A story that unfolds through unexpected turns as both characters uncover deeper truths about identity, attention, and freedom.
- A narrative that moves between the high-stakes world of an international cricketer and the quiet depth of a monk devoted to inner silence.
- A reveal of how material ambition can be transformed through a spiritual lens.
- A reminder that purpose isn’t something we catch by chasing - it’s something that finds us when we become open and available to life, allowing it to fulfil its purpose through us.
Professor (Dr.) M. L. Gulrajani F.S.D.C. (UK)
Former Professor and Dean (I.R&D), IIT Delhi
601 - B, Hamilton Court, DLF City Phase - IV,
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