‘Digital and Relationship Toxicity is the new poison’: author Padmashri Dr. Mukesh Batra

The book, Toxic: Stories, Science and Remedies for a Cleaner Mind, Body and Spirit was co-authored by Swami Shailendra Saraswati, published by Bloomsbury India

KOLKATA, Aug 21: The launch of Dr. Batra’s book ‘TOXIC’ co-authored with Swami Shailendra Saraswati, Osho’s younger brother, brought together a house full of Kolkata’s creative and literary community. It marked one of the city’s most talked-about literary evenings this season.

The launch was attended by actors Debolina Dutta, chief guest; Falaque Rashid Roy, moderator and Anuja Roy, guest of honour – among others.

In conversation with the panel, Padmashri Dr. Mukesh Batra mentioned two invisible toxins – Digital Addiction and Toxic Relationships – “Toxicity today isn’t just what enters our bloodstream, but what enters our bandwidth. India’s Economic Survey 2025-26 has flagged digital addiction as a public health threat. Digital toxicity is the compulsive, unrelenting relationship people now have with their screens, with an average 5 hours of screen time every day. The other toxicity is a toxic relationship that destroys you completely. The book helps you to deal with these and many other forms of toxicity in today’s world.”

Speaking on the occasion, Debolina Dutta said, “As actors and audiences, we are constantly participating in a culture that shapes how we see ourselves, our relationships and the world around us. We need to ask what we are consuming emotionally and mentally, not just physically. ‘TOXIC’ opens up that conversation in a very accessible way.”

The evening came to an end with a book signing session, where Dr. Batra interacted with readers and well-wishers.

Text drawn from article in Echo of Arunachal

Toxic: Stories, Science, and Remedies For a Cleaner Mind, Body and Spirit
by Dr Mukesh Batra (Swami Anand Sangeetam) and Swami Shailendra Saraswati
Bloomsbury India, 16 June 2026, 160 pages
ISBN-10 9369523693
ISBN-13 978-9369523696
ASIN B0H4VR92YR
Available as Kindle and paperback on amazon.in – amazon.co.uk

Padma Shri Dr. Mukesh Batra (aka Swami Anand Sangeetam) is the founder of Dr. Batra’s® Healthcare, the world’s largest homeopathy clinic chain with over 225 clinics across more than 10 countries. Over a 50-year career, he pioneered modern computerized homeopathy, treated over a million patients, and received India’s prestigious Padma Shri civilian honor in 2012. wikipedia.org

Swami Shailendra Saraswati is a prominent Indian spiritual teacher, author, and the younger brother of the mystic Osho. Known for integrating scientific logic with spiritual practice, he is a qualified medical doctor who dedicated his life to preserving, translating, and spreading Osho’s global vision of meditation and inner transformation. oshofragrance.org