Philanthropist and entrepreneur Rajendra Khandelwal drew a diverse crowd of literature enthusiasts, entrepreneurs and artists at the launch of his second book, Karma The Winner, at The Park Hotel on August 31. Published by Virasat Art Publication, the book is an insightful exploration of how the forces of karma shape our lives.

It is an apt representation of the modern age through thought-provoking themes where the balance between fate and free will is often questioned. The number of chapters in the book is inspired by the Bhagavad Gita, which is 18 as the scripture also preaches about good and bad deeds. The book is not your typical religious read but rather it delves into the lessons that every religion preaches. Khandelwal has included real-life anecdotes which illustrate the impact of one’s actions and choices on their karma.

He has always been motivated by the philosophy of karma and, thus, opens the book with, “Do not worry for the decisions of God, but your karma, that shall not spare you, anyway.”

A lively discussion led by the editor of the book, Saheli Mitra, engaged with the author and the panelists. Everyone candidly discussed their take on karma. Reflecting on his initial thoughts before writing this book, Khandelwal stated: “I was a little sceptical at the beginning on how my friends and readers will accept such a spiritual subject. Since there are already plenty of books on karma in the market written by great men, it felt a bit intimidating. Therefore, I decided to take a different route for this book and have mentioned the punchline on the cover itself. It indicates that God might spare one as his child but karma doesn’t spare anyone. We need to rise above the decisions made by us and believe in the act of karma.”

Khandelwal is also a philanthropist who launched the Girl Child Education Programme Sukanya and other NGOs like Life Beyond Cancer, which will be receiving proceeds from the sale of the book.