Shubhra Saxena Launches ‘It Matters A Lot’ at India Habitat Centre

Author and bureaucrat Shubhra Saxena unveiled her latest book, ‘It Matters A Lot’, published by Rupa Publications, at an event held at the India Habitat Centre on October 16, 2026.

The book launch brought together several distinguished personalities from the fields of literature, public service, diplomacy, healthcare and personal development. The event was attended by Gurcharan Das, author and former CEO of Procter & Gamble India; Pavan K. Verma, author, former diplomat and former Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha; Prof. Kusum Lata Kedia, author and former Director of Gandhi Vidya Sansthan, Varanasi; Abha Sharma, author and life coach; and Dr. Shweta Mathur Lall, author and senior consultant at Apollo Hospitals.

‘It Matters A Lot’ Explores Life, Relationships and Personal Choices

Featuring a foreword by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, It Matters A Lot looks at the experiences and decisions that influence people throughout different phases of their lives.

The book moves through various stages, from childhood and adolescence to adulthood, midlife and old age, examining the role played by family, upbringing, societal expectations, ambition, achievement, failure, love and loss in shaping an individual’s understanding of life.

Rather than presenting life through a single perspective, Saxena encourages readers to revisit the beliefs and assumptions they may have accepted over time.

Questioning Conventional Ideas About Success and Fulfilment

A central theme of the book is the need to examine what people consider meaningful in life. It raises questions around whether conventional definitions of success necessarily lead to fulfilment and whether the goals people pursue are truly their own.

The book also explores how individuals can respond when their lives take an unexpected direction and encourages readers to consider what living well means in the face of uncertainty and change.

At the end of each chapter, readers are presented with reflective questions that connect the themes of the book with their own experiences, choices and beliefs.

Instead of prescribing a fixed approach to happiness or achievement, It Matters A Lot invites readers to develop a deeper understanding of themselves and determine what matters most in their own lives.

From Self-Awareness to Conscious Living

At the core of Shubhra Saxena’s book is the relationship between self-awareness and conscious living.

The book encourages readers to observe the thoughts, emotions and behavioural patterns that influence their decisions. Developing this awareness, it suggests, can help individuals make more thoughtful choices and approach everyday situations with greater clarity.

Saxena also connects self-understanding with qualities such as empathy, compassion and responsibility towards others. Understanding oneself, the book suggests, can influence not only personal choices but also the way individuals interact with their families, communities and the wider world.

A Reflection on What Truly Matters

In an age characterised by constant information, stimulation and distraction, It Matters A Lot creates an opportunity for readers to slow down and examine the values and experiences that give their lives meaning.

The book presents conscious living not as a destination but as an ongoing process. This journey begins with greater awareness of oneself and extends into one’s relationships with other people and the world around them.

Shubhra Saxena on the Book’s Message

Speaking about the book, Shubhra Saxena said, “Through ‘It Matters A Lot’, I hope to encourage readers to pause and reflect on the lives they are living. Greater self-understanding can help us make more conscious choices, approach others with empathy and discover what truly matters to us.”

Through its focus on reflection, personal awareness and meaningful choices, the book seeks to encourage readers to look beyond conventional measures of success and consider the values that shape a fulfilling life.

About ‘It Matters A Lot’

It Matters A Lot is authored by Shubhra Saxena, features a foreword by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and is published by Rupa Publications.

The book explores themes including self-awareness, conscious living, relationships, personal choices, fulfilment, empathy, resilience and the search for meaning across different stages of life.