Seek the Book of Answers

CHENNAI: A book that attempts to answer everyday questions with answers from everywhere, Searching For Me was released in the city on Monday. Published by Full Circle, the book has been written by economist, chartered accountant and lawyer Dr Ramesh Vaish.The book is a semi-fictional account of existential questions that plagueeverybody sometime during their lifetime, like who they are and what life is. It centres on the inner conflicts of protagonist Aparna, a gynaecologist who leads a successful family and professional life, but chooses to explore answers to questions about her life. During the course of the quest for these answers, a bouquet of answers from various perspectives including science and religion have been presented, said Dr Ramesh Vaish. As a lawyer, he said that he had observed that cases were solved in the court, but the cause for conflict remained unattended, be it social, political or economic issues. This book would provide real-life, practical solutions for our common conflicts, he added. He also referred to light as central to understanding to world, according to both religion and science. Aparna finds this light during the course of the book, he said. Releasing the book, Manoj Kumar Sonthalia, Chairman-Managing Director of The New Indian Express Group, noted that the book was not just the quest of the protagonist Aparna. “It is a story of all of us and who we all are. It is a journey of an inquiring mind- a journey that all must undertake,” he said.TS Ashwin, managing director, Odyssey India, said there was a surge inrelease and demand for books that dealt with mind, body and spirit. “More youngsters and professionals are showing interest in these books, and they are being priced and marketed better these days,” he observed. While the physical impact of the lives we lead today are offset by yoga, exercise and other such activities, these books categorised as ‘self-help’ can help deal with the mental and psychological effects,” he noted. Also present at the event were Aarti Agarwal and Anil Kumar Agarwal,directors of Express Newspapers, and Saroj Goenka, chairperson, Express Newspapers Private Limited. (The 216-page book, which was released at Express Avenue on Monday, is priced at `295.)