Kolkata : In a city where literature and spirituality have long shared a sacred dialogue, debut novelist Kartikeya Vajpai unveiled his book The Unbecoming in Kolkata, marking a significant moment in the city’s cultural and literary calendar. The launch brought together writers, scholars, and avid readers for an evening of reflection, philosophical enquiry, and literary exchange.
Published by Penguin Random House India, the book was unveiled at the iconic Oxford Bookstore, where the event unfolded as an intimate and contemplative conversation between Jimmy Tangree, Head – 91.9 Friends FM and the author. The evening was further enriched by the presence of veteran actor and author Mr Barun Chanda, whose participation added depth and gravitas to the dialogue.
Set against Kolkata’s enduring legacy as a meeting ground of thought, faith, and intellectual discourse, the conversation echoed the novel’s own philosophical underpinnings. The book carries forewords by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Swami Sarvapriyananda, whose reflections were referenced during the session as affirmations of the book’s spiritual and philosophical depth, situating it within a living tradition of compassion and inner enquiry.
Speaking at the launch, Kartikeya Vajpai said,
“The Unbecoming is rooted in the understanding that much of our suffering comes from clinging to identities shaped by fear and expectation. This is often what limits us as individuals. To be formless and thoughtless is to liberate oneself from self-created images and from the perceptions imposed by others. Unbecoming is a quiet return—an invitation to allow life to reveal its purpose rather than imposing one upon it. In modern life, inner enquiry is essential. It allows us to act with clarity while remaining grounded in presence and awareness.”
Reflecting on detachment, he added,
“Maya works through two forces—fear and greed. Both pull our attention away. Detachment is not withdrawal, but the return of attention to what is real.”
The conversation, which captivated the audience, explored the book’s central themes of identity, inner clarity, purpose, and the process of unbecoming, while reflecting on contemporary ambition, resilience, and the modern search for meaning. The engaged response from the audience underscored the relevance of introspection in navigating an increasingly restless world.
The Unbecoming is a contemplative novel that traces the evolving relationship between Siddharth, a celebrated cricketer, and Ajay, the seasoned coach who shaped his journey. As their long-standing guru–shishya bond is tested, both are compelled to confront the illusions of identity, the fear of the unknown, and the weight of expectation. Blending narrative storytelling with emotional depth and philosophical enquiry, the novel reflects on the art of relinquishing inherited selves and returning to one’s essential being.
