During my engineering studies, I was determined to enter the air conditioning industry and had plans to pursue my Master’s in the USA. However, in 1983, my visa application was rejected, which led me to pursue a Master’s in Thermal Engineering from Delhi College of Engineering, India, in 1984. Looking back, I consider myself fortunate to have continued my journey in my home country.
My father, who was in service, encouraged me to work in a company rather than become an entrepreneur. Following his advice, I joined several prominent companies in 1984, including Voltas, Blue Star, and Utility, where I gained invaluable experience in manufacturing, projects, and marketing within the HVAC industry.
After a few years, in 1988, I became a partner at Roots Air Systems, a company specializing in the manufacturing of air washers. I worked as a partner until 1994, but due to a split among partners, I chose to remain with the original company until 2012. Unfortunately, further disagreements forced me to leave the business. This period was financially challenging as I lost all my savings, but I maintained the trust and relationships I had built with clients over the years.
In 2012, I embarked on a new chapter as an independent consultant in design, engineering consultancy, and third-party commissioning within the HVAC industry. My strong client relationships, developed over 25 years, proved invaluable, as I was warmly welcomed by my previous customers. This marked a turning point in my career, and since then, I have worked on numerous projects across India, with a focus on delivering honest and sincere service in the HVAC sector.
I joined ASHRAE in 1995 while working in my manufacturing company and have been actively involved ever since. I had the privilege of serving as President of the ASHRAE India Chapter in 2005-06. My involvement deepened at the regional level when I became the Regional Vice Chair of Membership Promotion from 2008 to 2011, followed by my role as RMCR for the Region at Large (RAL) from 2018 to 2022. I then served as Director and Regional Chair (DRC) of RAL from 2022 to 2024.
I am honored to now lead a new region, Region XV, as DRC, starting July 1, 2024. My journey with ASHRAE over the past 30 years has been incredibly rewarding, both professionally and personally, as I have learned a great deal and formed lasting friendships within the ASHRAE community