Me, Pradnya Atre, a certified life coach and founder of HappyQuest, chose a train ride instead of flying to visit the New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in Pragati Maidan. As the author of 60 Tiny Shifts, One New You, One Micro-Change at a Time, this trip went beyond my book launch and buying books. It turned into a journey full of real people, life lessons, and new ideas for my Mumbai workshops on mindfulness, goal-setting, and personal growth. Every shake of the train felt like the small changes I teach my clients.
Train Ride to Delhi: Meeting School Kids and Their Teacher
My trip started on a cool January morning at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. I boarded the 3A AC coach of the Mumbai Rajdhani Express train for a 20-hour trip to Hazrat Nizamuddin station in Delhi. No airport lines – just the steady sound of train wheels, great for breathing exercises and writing in my journal. As we passed the stations, I sat by the window with my 60 Tiny Shifts book, and a fun group of school kids from a Mumbai convent school were getting themselves settled in the same coach.
There were 10 lively 14-year-olds accompanied by Drawing and Maths teachers. They were heading to a national sports event in Noida. Their talk filled the air with big dreams and arguments. The teacher, Mrs. Sangeeta, who has taught for many years, saw my HappyQuest book and started chatting. “Books change lives,” she said, which matched what I teach in coaching. We shared our thoughts on today’s generation and how bright a future they hold, but too much exposure has also become challenging for parents and teachers to handle kids at times. The rebellious nature of kids these days was an area of concern.
There were twin girls, Riddhi Siddhi in this group and Riddhi, quietly said she felt stressed about exams, but as her mom is a maths teacher, she likes maths and scores well too, and happily scored 95% marks. All girls were chit-chatting constantly and making jokes, and I too joined them in their laughter attacks. Enjoyed playing UNO with the girls and sharing my views about naughty school kids and their pranks. Mrs. Sangeeta told us her real-life story that moved our hearts beyond measure. Her story gave a message to all on how life throws challenges and how it also gives opportunities to survive and sustain. She also asked me to run a session at her school – a great start for HappyQuest with students.
The views changed from green hills to sandy plains, like moving from easy times to harder ones inside yourself. In the evening, we shared food and had a nice dinner together. And then, before sleeping, I started a gratitude round: everyone said one small change they made that day. Their excitement showed me – helping kids with mindfulness is real and happens with ease.
From Delayed Tracks to Delicious Detours
I reached Nizamuddin station the next day by afternoon as the train was late by 3 hours, and I took a quick Uber to my friend’s place at Dwarka (₹500, 45 minutes). By the time I reached my friend’s place, I was starving. I quickly freshened up and had the most soul-satisfying meal of the day (Kashmiri food – Rajma and Paneer). Later, it was all catching up on each other’s lives and personal events, and my mobile buzzed with a message from another friend and former colleague, Sid. I immediately called him up, and we decided to meet for Coffee and a gupshup. Super amazing time of sharing life experiences and some talks about the corporate job space. By the time I was back at my friend’s place, I was super tired, so I fell asleep quickly.
At the Book Fair: A World of Ideas
On the day of 10th January, as me and my friend reached the Bharat Mandapam in Pragati Maidan we were thrilled to see the large crowd pouring inside and as we manoeuvred to stall number 5 where my Publisher had his stall we were amazed to see that Halls 2 to 6 were packed with over 1,000 sellers from more than 35 countries and multiple events with writers.
At the fair, excitement peaked. The Bookholics team – a lively group of book lovers and promoters – unveiled and launched 60 Tiny Shifts at their vibrant stall in Hall 5. They set up a cozy corner with my book stacks, fresh flowers, and a sign saying “Meet the Author.” Around 20 visitors had gathered for the 10-minute event. The lead organizer, Shreya, shared how my journal’s micro-change approach fit their mission to spread practical self-help. I spoke briefly about my coaching journey, did a live interview, and enjoyed the experience. Bookaholics handled everything brilliantly, promising to feature it as part of further promotions.
Meeting other authors was the highlight. I chatted and had an instant connection with another budding author, Deepshika, whose book – The Book I Needed: Awaken to Clarity, Heal Old Patterns, and Create a Life Aligned with Freedom. A children’s book writer shared tips on engaging kids, sparking plans for my student sessions. Another self-help author from Bangalore talked about business growth; we bonded over LinkedIn strategies. These quick connects left me with 10 new contacts and fresh content ideas.
The kids’ area gave me ideas for workshop games. Qatar served as the Guest of Honour country, featuring pavilions with literature, culture, history, and thoughtful genres that could reasonably include mindfulness or calm thinking themes, given their focus on thoughtful symposia and cultural exchange. Spain was the official Focus Country, highlighting Spanish literature like poetry, which fits inspiration for vision-boarding or creative activities.
The New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 featured a major Theme Pavilion on “Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom @75,” spanning 1,000 square meters at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, to honor 75 years of India’s independence and the Armed Forces’ contributions. Key items included scale models of the Arjun Tank, INS Vikrant aircraft carrier, and LCA Tejas fighter jet, alongside immersive exhibits like posters, documentaries, archival records, and interactive installations. These highlighted military history, valour, and contributions without functional machinery. Military personnel were explaining how weapons are used on the ground, and it served as inspiration for many.
I left with a few books and 20 new contacts to plan for early 2026.
Train Back Home: Lessons from a Mom and Her Son
Coming back on the train from New Delhi station was just as special. This time again in 3A AC for the 16-hour trip to Mumbai Central. I was tired from the fair, but then I met Priya, a 50-year-old mom from Delhi, with her 21-year-old son Om. They were going to see family in Mumbai for a function to attend. Priya’s son had a ligament injury while playing football, so one leg was in a bandage. Priya had a quiet strength and was lovingly attending to his Son. It was nice to know that Om was aspiring to join the Indian Army.
Over dinner, Priya opened up even more. She shared her big dreams: starting a saree painting business, drawing from her textile design studies. She also loves cooking and takes orders for theplas and vada pav right from Delhi. Priya worried about today’s youth – their mental health struggles from chasing “cool” trends pushed by friends, like harmful habits. Anxiety and depression hit even kids now, she said, and they desperately need direction and clarity. “A good self-help book is what everyone needs,” she told me.
Right there, she bought a copy of 60 Tiny Shifts and promised to share her honest review. Her enthusiasm felt like another tiny win for HappyQuest!
Priya’s words – “Raising kids means coaching yourself first” – will start my next video series.
What I Learned: From Train Tracks to Real Change
Back in Mumbai, unpacking, the train stories beat the books. Riddhi Siddhi’s lively talks, Mrs. Sangeeta’s striking and heart-melting story, Priya’s soon-to-be comeback, Om’s energy – these will update 60 Tiny Shifts with a new question: “How does a stranger’s story change your own?”
Trains cut out extras, letting you focus – just like HappyQuest teaches.
Books give ideas, but people you meet light the fire.