Shillong, Nov 13: The growing influence of technology and the distinction between intellectual knowledge and wisdom came up for an in-depth deliberation during a conversation with author Kartikeya Vajpai at Shillong Literary Festival.
“Intellect operates in the domain of the known, memory, recall, past patterns. But wisdom requires us to step into the unknown, to become seekers,” Vajpai told veteran journalist Patricia Mukhim during the conversation.
“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,” he added.
On his book “The Unbecoming: Let Life Reveal Its Purpose”, he said the question “What if finding one’s purpose is less about becoming someone and more about letting go of who one thinks one is?” lies at the heart of the book.
Held at Ward’s Lake, the prestigious literary festival saw Vajpai discuss the book and the personal and intellectual journey that led him to write it.
The session explored identity, self-discovery, detachment and the search for meaning in contemporary life.
Speaking at the event, 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. 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.”
Published by Penguin Random House India, The Unbecoming draws on philosophical traditions including Advaita Vedanta and Buddhist thought. It encourages readers to question their assumptions, examine their sense of identity and approach life with greater awareness. The book features forewords by the 14th Dalai Lama and Swami Sarvapriyananda.
A lawyer, author and speaker, Vajpai’s engagement with philosophy extends beyond his writing. His interests in Advaita Vedanta, Buddhist philosophy, Transcendental Meditation and Kriya Yoga have shaped his exploration of questions surrounding human consciousness, identity and the search for meaning.
His appearance at the Shillong Literary Festival is part of a series of literary and academic engagements around the book, including interactions at IIM Shillong, IIT Kharagpur and SRM University.
