The World Book Fair 2026 is underway at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, where the sixth season of the Bharat Literature Festival (BLF) has brought together writers, thinkers, and readers from across the country.
As part of the event, Bharat Express News Network CMD and Editor-in-Chief Upendrra Rai addressed young authors selected under the PM-YUVA scheme, sharing his reflections on the role of young writers in nation-building.
In his wide-ranging address, CMD Upendrra Rai spoke on themes such as childhood innocence, ego, the soul, freedom, and the challenges posed by modern life values. Drawing inspiration from figures like Buddha, Mahavira, and Kabir, he encouraged young writers to think deeply and independently.
Upendrra Rai began by reflecting on the natural qualities of children. According to him, every child in the world is born with two core traits: remaining busy without any specific task and being happy without any particular reason. A child does not need special arrangements to feel joy.
He observed that while modern parents often hand mobile phones to children out of habit, a child’s inherent nature remains simple and spontaneous. The CMD explained that until about the age of seven, children refer to themselves in the third person, saying things like they are hungry. As they grow older, particularly after crossing the age of ten, they begin to use “I,” marking the subtle arrival of ego.
Bharat Express Editor-in-Chief noted that while the child remains the same, the ego enters unnoticed. This happens because, over time, societal expectations, norms, and pressures place a heavy burden on the mind.
These influences, often absorbed unconsciously, prevent individuals from remaining natural and effortless. He emphasised that understanding how the ego alters human behavior is essential, especially for those engaged in creative pursuits like writing.
To explain the concept of individuality, CMD Rai cited the example of twins born at the same time from the same mother. Despite identical biological conditions, their personalities and abilities often differ vastly, with one becoming highly capable and the other struggling.
He pointed out that while science explains physiology and biology, it cannot explain who brings the soul into the body. Parents may create the conditions for birth, but the entry of the soul remains a mystery.
CMD Rai highlighted that no machine exists that can convert food directly into blood, underscoring the limits of scientific explanation. According to him, different souls with distinct impressions enter twins, shaping their contrasting natures.
Upendrra Rai explained that every action, whether good or bad, leaves an imprint on the soul. These impressions accumulate line by line, influencing a person’s direction in life. This, he said, explains why individuals raised in similar environments may follow entirely different paths.
He noted that extensive research has been conducted on this subject and that many psychologists around the world acknowledge this interplay between actions and inner disposition.
Referring to Buddha, Upendrra Rai recalled that at the time of his final breath, Buddha is believed to have said that he would return to Earth as Maitreya. Despite thousands of years having passed, no such figure has appeared.
The Editor-in-Chief attributed this to the absence of a womb capable of bearing such a great soul. Had such a birth occurred, he said, there would have been no reason to doubt Buddha’s words.
CMD Rai stressed that thinkers across the world consider freedom to be life’s greatest value. Freedom of expression, freedom to live life on one’s own terms, and freedom to create something new allow individuals to move toward modern values.
He urged young writers to journey beyond what their consciousness immediately allows them to see, as this search for greater understanding leads to success, particularly in creative fields.
Using the metaphor of a lion, He described how a lion, while chasing its prey, does not change its path despite thorny bushes injuring its body. Similarly, he said, a worthy individual does not deviate from purpose due to obstacles.
He contrasted this with the idea of inheritance, explaining that if a son lacks capability, accumulated wealth will eventually be wasted. However, if a son is capable, wealth will be created naturally. CMD Rai noted that blind adherence to rote traditions, rigid norms, and excessive moral burden can suffocate the soul, stripping life of its vitality.
Upendrra Rai described Buddha as a profoundly revolutionary thinker. Speaking about Mahavira, he noted that Mahavira felt inclined toward renunciation from childhood but was initially restrained by his elder brother.
After six years, permission was granted, and Mahavira left home. Despite being born into royalty with immense wealth, Mahavira chose the spiritual path, much like Buddha, abandoning royal comforts in pursuit of the higher truth.
Turning to Kabir, CMD Rai said that Kabir sustained himself by weaving cloth and did not accumulate wealth. Kabir understood that stored wealth does not lead to meaningful achievements. He observed that while the names of ten great spiritual figures can be recalled easily, the names of ten billionaires from fifty years ago cannot.
He illustrated this with a metaphorical balance: on one side stood Mahavira, Buddha, Kabir, and Meera, and on the other stood all the wealth of the world. According to him, true reverence belongs to such spiritual figures, as wealth is merely a by-product that anyone can acquire, whereas great souls appear only once in thousands of years.
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