‘The Unbecoming’ in Dehradun: Examining the Stories we tell ourselves about Success

my uttarakhand news Bureau
Dehradun, 8 Jul: Conversations on identity, purpose, and the stories we tell ourselves about success took centre stage as readers, writers, and members of Dehradun’s literary community gathered for the book reading session of The Unbecoming: Let Life Reveal Its Purpose by author and lawyer Kartikeya Vajpai. Held in collaboration with the Valley of Words (VoW) International Literature & Arts Festival, the event featured an engaging conversation between the author and Dr Sanjeev Chopra, Festival Director of Valley of Words.

Featuring forewords by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Swami Sarvapriyananda, The Unbecoming explores identity, consciousness, and the pursuit of purpose through the story of a celebrated cricketer and the mentor who shaped his journey. As their relationship undergoes strain, both characters are compelled to confront questions of fear, ambition, and the burden of expectations.
Addressing the event, Kartikeya Vajpai said: “At its heart, The Unbecoming is about the search for meaning in a world that constantly asks us to achieve and become more. We live in an age of information, but not necessarily wisdom. We are told who to become—by algorithms, by society, by expectations. This book is about shedding those borrowed identities and allowing life to reveal its purpose on its own terms. It invites readers to ask: ‘Whose story am I living?’”

On detachment and identity, he added: “When we attach our identity to outcomes—a win, an achievement, someone else’s approval—we lose sight of the present moment. Detachment is not indifference; it is the courage to act without being enslaved by the result.”
Meanwhile on technology and wisdom, he reflected: “Intellect operates in the domain of the known—memory, recall, past patterns. But wisdom requires us to step into the unknown, to become seekers. Technology is a powerful tool, but it cannot access the ‘unknown’ where true human growth happens. The real challenge is to use it consciously, without letting it manufacture our identity.”
In conversation with Dr Sanjeev Chopra, he also remarked that The Unbecoming does not offer easy answers. It encourages readers to embrace uncertainty and sit with difficult questions about identity and purpose.
Dr Sanjeev Chopra said, “The most compelling books are those that encourage readers to ask difficult questions rather than offer easy answers. The Unbecoming does exactly that.”
The event brought together members of Dehradun’s literary community, the Valley of Words fraternity, readers, authors, and academicians. It concluded with an audience interaction and book-signing session.
The Unbecoming: Let Life Reveal Its Purpose is available through leading bookstores and online platforms across India.
Kartikeya Vajpai is a New Delhi–based lawyer and founder of his own law firm. A former state-level cricketer, he currently represents Team India Lawyers in the Lawyers Cricket World Cup. His spiritual exploration includes transcendental meditation, Sudarshan Kriya, Kriya Yoga, and study of Buddhist texts and Advaita Vedanta. He has been featured in the Times of India’s “Speaking Tree” column and The Week magazine.
Valley of Words (VoW) is a one-of-a-kind, not-for-profit and volunteer-driven initiative of The Valley of Words Foundation Trust, which has now become a pan-Indian celebration of Indian writing and artistry. Over the course of a decade, VoW is continuing to celebrate the brilliance of authors across genres, brought together artists, critics, thespians, craftspeople, readers, and listeners in its Literature and Arts Festival, which also encompasses the annual Book Awards. With each passing year the event reaffirms its mission to spotlight new talent, inspire creative and enrich India’s literary landscape.