Culture Minister Shekhawat receives IAS officer's debut novel
Synopsis
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat publicly acknowledged IAS officer Rakesh Kumar Prajapati's debut novel 'Lighter Than Yesterday', written with the Dalai Lama's blessings, praising its insights on success, relationships and inner peace.
Key Takeaways
Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat received a copy of debut novel 'Lighter Than Yesterday' on October 27, 2026 .
The novel is authored by IAS officer Rakesh Kumar Prajapati (@Prajapati_IAS), marking his literary debut.
The book carries the blessings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama .
Themes of the novel include the true meaning of success, cherished relationships, and the journey towards inner peace.
Shekhawat's acknowledgment reflects the Culture Ministry's broader engagement with arts and letters within public institutions.
A debut novel blessed by the Dalai Lama landed on the desk of a Union minister — and earned a public salute. Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, acknowledged receiving a copy of Lighter Than Yesterday, the first novel by IAS officer Rakesh Kumar Prajapati, calling it a work of 'thoughtful insights into the true meaning of success, the importance of cherished relationships and the journey towards inner peace.'
An IAS officer turns novelist, with the Dalai Lama's blessing
Writing a debut novel is a leap for anyone. For a serving Indian Administrative Service officer, it is a rarer step still. Prajapati, who goes by @Prajapati_IAS on X, has drawn on the spiritual sanction of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the work — a detail Shekhawat chose to foreground in his acknowledgment, signalling the book's grounding in contemplative traditions that resonate strongly within India's cultural and philosophical heritage.
The novel's themes — redefining success, valuing relationships, seeking inner peace — sit at an intersection that has found a steady readership in contemporary India, where the genre of introspective, purpose-driven fiction has grown steadily alongside self-help literature. That a bureaucrat rather than a career author has entered this space adds a layer of curiosity to the book's reception.
Culture Ministry's quiet embrace of civil-servant writers
Shekhawat's public acknowledgment is not incidental to his portfolio. Union ministers periodically extend recognition to literary works by serving officials, and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism has a natural remit in encouraging arts and letters across institutions. By receiving the book and posting about it, the minister effectively places the novel within a broader civic conversation about creativity in public service.
The gesture also reflects a long-standing, if informal, tradition: India's civil services have produced a notable line of authors, poets, and scholars who have balanced administrative careers with literary ambition. Prajapati's debut adds a fresh name to that tradition.
Shekhawat closed his message with warm wishes for Prajapati's 'continued success and the very best in his future endeavours' — a kicker that leaves room for more from a writer who has, by any measure, only just begun.
Point of View
Consistent with the Culture Ministry's wider mandate to foster arts across sectors. The Dalai Lama connection lends the novel a spiritual-cultural currency that carries weight in India's contemplative publishing market. For the BJP-led government, visibly celebrating a bureaucrat-author also underscores a softer, civilisational dimension of its cultural messaging. The gesture is routine in form but potentially meaningful in signalling to the civil services that literary ambition is welcome alongside administrative duty.
NationPress
27 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the book 'Lighter Than Yesterday' about?
'Lighter Than Yesterday' is the debut novel by IAS officer Rakesh Kumar Prajapati, exploring themes of success, cherished relationships, and the journey towards inner peace. It was written with the blessings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Who is Rakesh Kumar Prajapati?
Rakesh Kumar Prajapati is a serving Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer and the author of the debut novel 'Lighter Than Yesterday'. He is active on X as @Prajapati_IAS.
Why did Culture Minister Shekhawat acknowledge this book?
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat received a copy of the novel and publicly congratulated the author, reflecting the ministry's engagement with literary works by civil servants and its broader cultural mandate.
What is the significance of the Dalai Lama's blessings on the book?
The Dalai Lama's blessings lend spiritual and cultural weight to the novel, connecting it to India's contemplative traditions. The Dalai Lama is a prominent spiritual figure resident in India, and his association gives the book wider cultural resonance.
Has an IAS officer written a novel before?
India's civil services have a tradition of officers pursuing literary careers alongside their administrative duties, producing authors, poets, and scholars over the decades. Prajapati's debut adds a fresh name to this lineage.
