About
I am an author and a professional engineer.
I live in Perth, Western Australia. My interests include humans, philosophy, spirituality, nature, music, cricket and long distance running.
I have authored nine books so far. All my books are about humans and their issues – wellness and environmental – and to promote humanism, reconciliation and peace in the world. I also write regular articles on a range of topics pertaining to humans – philosophy of life, politics, environment, ethics, human equality, Kashmir, etc.
My last book, ‘Authoritative Democracies – need or capitalistic greed?’ (published in 2022, by Springer Nature – Palgrave Macmillan) provides a critical commentary on the current state of democracy in some major democracies, and how and why they fall short of expectations and the needs of common people. This book contains a number of my poems, as separators between the chapters. This significant book followed soon after a significant degree of uncertainty, fear, frustration and disappointment that most of humans suffered globally during the Covid-19 pandemic, as vented in my earlier book, ‘We Humans – Our initial 100 days during the COVID-19 pandemic’ (published in 2020, by Perth-based Vivid Publishing), which was written in real time during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown. This book also contains a number of my poems as separators between the chapters.
One of my books, ‘The Exiled Pandits of Kashmir – Will they ever return home?’ (published in 2020, by Springer Nature – Palgrave Macmillan) is a significant piece of work for Kashmir as a whole and its future, especially, of the Kashmir Pandits who are spread globally after their unexpected exodus from Kashmir in January 1990 and thereafter. This book provides a snapshot of Kashmir’s history and the role of Pakistan, since 1947, in the politics of South Asia.
Another significant book, ‘The Charmed Triangle – Religion, Science & Spirituality’, (published in August 2020, by Vivid Publishing) , which I co-authored with a noted Indian author and poet, Vijay Narain Shankar, touches upon some very sensitive issues born out of general human ignorance, which tend to become a recipe for common human suffering, discord and attrition across the human world, especially in India and elsewhere in South Asia.
My fifth book, ‘A Bouquet of Random Thoughts – Conversations with Myself’ (published in 2019, by Delhi-based Vitasta Publishing), is one of my favourite books. It provides some useful philosophical commentaries, reflections on life in general and poems, with beautiful illustrations (drawn by Shadi Shahgaldi, a talented artist and architect from Iran).
My fourth book, ‘Does India need a dictator – to rescue a sinking nation? (published in 2018, by Vitasta Publishing), touches upon numerous relevant issues that common Indians face everyday, and their seemingly grim future. This book can be considered as a sequel to my second book, ‘Issues White-anting India’ (2016, published by Vitasta Publishing).
In August 2017, my first three books, all published by Vitasta Publishing – (a) ‘22 Years – A Kashmir Story’; (b) ‘My life does not have to be unhappy’; and (c) ‘Issues White-anting India’ – were launched together in Perth, Western Australia. Subsequently, all three books were launched across India, in seven different cities – Aurangabad, Bhopal, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, New Delhi and Jammu Tawi – between September and December 2017.
I have also edited a number of books for Vitasta Publishing Pvt Ltd, which include ‘The School on the Hill’, ‘Khushwant Singh in Wisdom and in Jest’, a book on Martin Luther King and a book written by the Vivekananda International Foundation.
In Perth, Western Australia, I work as practicing Professional Engineer. Currently, I am the Director and Principal Geotechnical Engineer with Koul Associates Pty Ltd. I also work as a Principal Consultant with 4DGeotechnics Pty Ltd, a geotechnical engineering consulting firm. I have undertaken numerous geotechnical and foundation designs studies, across many countries in the world, associated with roads, bridges, railways, power plants, civil infrastructure, slope stability assessments, high rise structures, forensic engineering, ground improvement and construction monitoring works related to earthworks.
I am a current Fellow and Chartered Professional Engineer (Engineers Australia), with APEC Engineer’s accreditation, and over 35 years of international experience in civil / geotechnical engineering consulting industry. I have worked on numerous projects in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, PNG, China, Mongolia, South and South-East Asia, West Africa and South America.