Author presents the first copy of Lighter Than Yesterday to His Holiness the Dalai Lama at McLeodganj
TNR News Network
McLeodganj
Lighter Than Yesterday, the debut novel by IAS officer Rakesh Kumar Prajapati, was released today by Rupa Publications India Pvt. Ltd. The author presented the first copy to His Holiness the Dalai Lama at McLeodganj. His Holiness has contributed the foreword to the book.
The novel centres on the emotional bond between a grandfather and his grandson. Through their relationship, it explores love, ambition and the search for inner peace. It asks a simple question that connects these themes. What makes a life truly meaningful?
For many Indians, childhood memories are closely tied to their grandparents. There are stories heard at bedtime, lessons learnt through conversation and moments of unconditional love. These experiences quietly shape the people children grow up to become.
But this closeness is becoming harder to preserve. Families live in different cities. Work fills much of the day. Screens claim the time once spent together. As the distance between generations grows, affection may remain, but opportunities to express it become fewer.
The novel brings this change into focus through its central relationship. It explores what younger generations may lose when they have little time for their elders. Along with companionship, they may miss the wisdom, patience and sense of belonging that such relationships offer.
From this intimate world of family, the story moves towards the larger pressures of adult life. The grandson’s journey raises questions about the ambitions people pursue and the sacrifices they make along the way.
In India, success is often measured through marks, examinations, jobs and designations. Young people work for years to reach these goals. Families share their struggles and celebrate their achievements. Yet reaching a goal does not always bring the happiness that was expected.
The novel examines this dilemma through the world of the civil services. Clearing the examination and entering the IAS or IPS is a cherished dream for countless young Indians. It brings social respect and an opportunity to serve the country. Why, then, do some young officers choose to leave?
Through fiction, the book explores the human questions behind such decisions. Can professional achievement fulfil every personal need? What happens when a dream no longer feels right? How does someone find the courage to reconsider a life built through years of effort?
These concerns extend beyond the civil services. Students, working professionals and parents may recognise their own struggles in them. The story connects their search for success with a deeper need for love, purpose and peace.
Prajapati is a 2012-batch IAS officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre. He has held several district and state government assignments. He is currently Director in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Government of India. His early years with his grandfather give the novel’s central relationship a personal resonance.
Presenting the first copy at McLeodganj also holds special meaning for him. Much of his public service and family life has been rooted in Himachal Pradesh.
Lighter Than Yesterday invites readers to reflect on what deserves their time and attention. It asks them to look beyond the next milestone and recognise the relationships that give life meaning.
Published by Rupa Publications India Pvt. Ltd., Lighter Than Yesterday is now available for purchase on Amazon.
