Author of the acclaimed novels SCENT OF A GAME (pub: Rupa) and KALI’S DAUGHTER (pub: Pan Macmillan) and editor of THE ETERNAL WISDOM OF THE TRIBES (pub India Today for the NCST). Founder of expert connectivity App: CUNSULT. He is the Director of the Bhopal Literature and Art Festival that has conducted five successful editions with the participation of more than 200 authors so far. A frequent speaker at Literature events, he has interviewed top authors such as Ashwin Sanghi, Shobha De, Eliza Reid the first Lady of Iceland and several others.
Writer of op-eds on management and sustainability issues; his op-eds have been published in The Times of India, the Hindustan Times, the Economic Times, the Print and many others. He has been writing a monthly column for Businessworld magazine since 2019. His op-ed on Reparations for Wildlife has been published by Collins UK in a textbook for teachers and students on international perspectives. His articles on governance and the need to resolve the long pendency in Indian courts have led to significant corrective actions in the government. Alumnus of Harvard University, USA as an Edward S Mason Fellow – where he divided his time between the Kennedy School of Government and the Harvard Business School, and St Stephens College, Delhi University. Has travelled extensively across the world and attended top executive management courses and conferences covering both economic and social sectors.
Adjunct Faculty at the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs to conduct sessions on Public Private Partnerships.
As an IAS officer who retired as Secretary, Government of India after an eventful and fruitful career of 36 years in the government he has held important positions such as Chairman of the National Highways Authority of India, Principal Secretary Urban Development and Revenue in the State of Madhya Pradesh and Managing Director of the Industrial Development Corporation and Trade and Investment Facilitation Corporation etc. He has been a member of various Committees formed at the highest level on important policy issues – both on the economic policy side and on the social policy side.
He is fond of reading, writing, golf and swimming.