Living in the immediate aftermath of India’s independence, the colonial rigours existed in full force across India. Growing up in a modest joint family home in New Delhi, surrounded by elders of all ages, Vivek Singhal was instilled with a deep sense of respect for silence, simplicity, and shared stories. Life had yet to be about materialism for many, but the gradually shifting socio-economic transformation of the subcontinent influenced Vivek Singhal’s perception and artistic sensibilities from a young age.
Abundance was not something Vivek was party to while growing up, but what he possessed in love, values, and community had massive impacts on his worldview going forward. The formative years of his life taught him the real wealth of life, which lies beyond materials, in meaning. Furthermore, accompanying his father, the first graduate in his family, to the Ramakrishna Mission Centre every day brought him closer to a spiritual school of thought preached by Swami Vivekananda, who played a crucial role in the man he would go on to become. Reciting lines from Swami Vivekananda’s teachings, Vivek became drawn to the confidence on Swamiji’s face and the radiance in his photo, soon coming to realise that it stirred something inside him. The impact was so far-reaching that he went on to choose the name ‘Vivek’ for himself at age 8, which he credits to perhaps sensing that it meant discernment. Years later, he took several books of Swamiji with him to the United States — extending his connection with spirituality while going places in NASA, the University of Michigan and elsewhere. To this day, Vivek reiterates that Swamiji’s speech at the World Parliament of Religions has remained a deep and enduring inspiration for him, helping him strive towards inner clarity and fearless expression.
Planting the first seed of curiosity
Spirituality has acted as a foundation in Vivek’s life, sparking the light of quiet awakenings. From a narrative grandfather who introduced stories from Ramayana and Panchatantra to Vivek, to his mother’s ritual worship under a Pipal tree where she would share sacred stories, the seeds of spiritual curiosity began early. Years later, while he cannot remember the exact words, he reminisces about the feeling that nourished his soul. Collecting wood for Holika Dahan and hearing the story of Prahlad and Holika each year led to a deep fascination with the eternal battle between truth and illusion, and writing became a way to revisit and process these early seeds of spiritual yearning. He felt a voice within himself asking him whether he was ready to share the experiences he had seen in life. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Spirituality shaped worldview
Years of associating with spirituality led to reverence, and for Vivek, questioning is a form of this only. Questioning the status quo reflects a commitment to deeper truth, as he has always felt compelled to understand what lies beyond the normal, irrespective of it being institutional dogma or cultural assumptions. He says the Bhagavad Gita has been the living guide in his quest for the truth, as he points out that its verses have been debated and discussed for millennia. He points at J. Robert Oppenheimer, the American theoretical physicist behind the Atomic Bomb, to highlight how invoking the Gita at a moment of profound consequence turned out to be. He indicates the crushing similarities between Star Wars and Ramayana as an intellectual brain drain, and how his writing highlights remembering and honouring these deeper streams of wisdom.
Vivek represents a unique convergence between Eastern and Western schools of thought in his approach to life, leadership and literature. The Eastern school of thought taught him to listen inward, while the West made him act outward. Living harmoniously at the intersection of both helped him to develop a uniquely integrated approach that is less about domination and more about alignment. His leadership philosophy values presence as much as performance, and literature as a bridge between hearts, not restricted to ideas.
Scientific rigour meets spiritual insights
Vivek is an avid advocate of creating a convergence of scientific rigour based on spiritual insight. He explains that they are not in opposition, since science looks for measurable patterns outside, whereas spirituality looks for silent truths within. His writing highlights the impact of this bridge, that is discipline. Both these aspects can be distorted, but used together, they provide tools not just to conquer the world but to understand oneself more deeply within it. Through his writing, Vivek hopes the future generations exploring the intersection of tradition, technology and transformation will remain rooted while reaching. His goal is to help them see tradition not as a chain, but as a compass where they can embrace technology without losing touch with tenderness, and remember that they are not mere inheritors of the world but the caretakers of its soul.
