The book Designing Sleep: A Modern Guide to Better Rest, authored by Joseph Zakher, was launched at a special event organised at the IIC Annexe on Saturday, October 31. The programme was organised under the guidance of The Indian School of Natural Spiritual Science, in association with BW Wellbeing World. 

Life mentor and spiritual Guru Dr Shashi Dubey, the moving spirit behind the book chanted Gayatri mantra and others prayers from Christianity, Islam and Sikh religious scriptures to invoke the energy and vibrance in the auditorium. 

The event brought together experts from the fields of healthcare, wellness, education, spirituality and holistic living to discuss the importance of quality sleep and its role in promoting physical, mental and emotional well-being.

The programme commenced with registration and refreshments, followed by a welcome address by Ms. Kritika Krishna. Dr. Anurag Batra, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of BW Businessworld Media Group and Founder of Exchange4Media Group, then introduced the book to the gathering, which included a significant international presence, with more than half the attendees travelling from Europe and the Americas.

A panel discussion titled “The Magic of Sleep – The Superpower to Conquer the World” formed the central attraction of the event. Moderated by Mr. Ruhail Amin, Senior Editor, BW Businessworld and Exchange4Media Group, the discussion featured Mrs. Bhuvana Ravi, Ms. Shikha Sharma, Dr. Malvika Sharma, Ms. Calodagh McCumiskey, Dr. Somesh Sharma, Mr. Jwalant Swaroop and Mr. Bharat Sachdeva. The panellists explored different dimensions of sleep, including its scientific, clinical, psychological and spiritual aspects, and highlighted its significance in maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

The programme also featured a series of special addresses by distinguished speakers. Ms. Christine McGuinness, CEO of Back to Nature, Ireland, spoke on natural remedies for a healing sleep. Dr. Ashwani Chopra, Consultant Physician and Gastroenterologist, discussed the biological and spiritual aspects of sleep, while Mr. Dilip Cherian, Image Guru, Crisis Counsellor and Litigation Landscaping expert, addressed the challenges of sleep in the digital age.

Mr Dinesh Dubey, Editor-in-Chief of The Emerging World daily and former Political Adviser to the US Embassy, spoke on the emerging dimensions of sleep in the 21st century. He highlighted how modern lifestyles and technological advancements are transforming people’s relationship with sleep and underscored the importance of cultivating healthy sleeping habits. He also made a unique appeal for an amendment to the UN Charter to incorporate designated time restrictions for armed combat and air strikes, arguing that warfare and aerial bombardments are among the most severe disruptions to human sleep and the fundamental right to peaceful rest.

The event’s chief guest, Mr. K. J. Alphons, former Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism, gave a fascinating overview of the book highlighting the significance of sleep in modern times. He emphasised that religion, culture, and tradition demand special discipline that involves a healthy life and proper sleep to rejuvenate our body and mind for the next day. 

Addressing the gathering, author Joseph Zakher spoke about the inspiration behind the book and its broader message. Designing Sleep: A Modern Guide to Better Rest seeks to encourage readers to understand sleep as an essential pillar of health and well-being and offers guidance towards developing healthier sleeping habits. While narrating about his personal journey which began with a deeply painful experience of his mother’s diagnosis with brain cancer, Joseph was seen emotionally choked up. It was quite emotive moment when he called his sister Caline on the stage and hugged her. 

A serious illness in the family can change the way we understand life. It can confront us with our vulnerability, make us question what we previously took for granted and lead us towards subjects that suddenly acquire an entirely new meaning.

For Zakher, this experience became the starting point of a seven-year investigation into sleep, the brain and human well-being.The book was formally unveiled in the presence of the distinguished guests and participants. Ms. Sanchli Aggarwal, representing the organising school, proposed the vote of thanks.

(The reviewer, a founding director of IDP3, is a Manager and Trustee of SKD Educational Foundation.)