Author and public policy professional Hrudananda Prusty unveiled his book Back to Village at a literary ceremony held at Gulmohar Hall, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, on Saturday.
The event brought together distinguished personalities from public life, governance, academia and literature. It celebrated the connection between individuals and their roots while encouraging discussions on rural India, youth aspirations and community development.
Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Member of Parliament and former Union Minister of Education, formally released the book in the presence of Prof KG Suresh, Director of India Habitat Centre and former Director General of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, and Dr Ishita Ganguly Tripathi, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Defence.
Addressing the gathering, Dharmendra Pradhan said, “You have to be rooted, and you have to be futuristic.”
“His book is not going to be a nostalgic book only but a call for action,” he further observed.
Lt Gen Chandi Prasad Mohanty (Retd), former Vice Chief of Army Staff, shared his connection with village life, saying, “My village is something I’ve grown with. It remains in the heart of my soul.”
Prof KG Suresh appreciated the author’s creativity and youthful perspective in capturing village memories and experiences.
Carrying the tagline, ‘You may leave your village, but your village never leaves you’, the book reflects on childhood, family, traditions and the values shaping individual identity.
Beyond nostalgia, the book highlights the need to strengthen rural India through education, healthcare, infrastructure, digital connectivity, employment and entrepreneurship. It encourages young people living away from their hometowns to contribute to grassroots development.
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