Dr.
Satish Desai: Indian Born British Luminary - NRI World
Satish
Desai is perhaps one of the best examples of an Indian-born immigrant
who has risen to occupy a very prominent position in his adopted land.
A Chartered Structural Engineer and Manager, Desai has forty years of
experience with private and public sectors in civil engineering projects
(design, construction and project management), Building Regulations, Codes
of Practice, Guidance Documents, Research and Research Management. Based
in Croydon U.K., Desai holds BE PhD and FIStructE qualifications and works
as a Private consultant and well as a Visiting Professor at the University
of Surrey.
His many contribution to the field of structural engineering resulted
in Desai’s being awarded the prestigious (“Officer of the Order
of the British Empire”) in December 1997. This is one of Britain’s
highest civilian honours, which acknowledges distinguished service to
the arts and sciences, public services outside the Civil Service and work
with charitable and welfare organisations of all kinds.
A prolific writer of articles in both Marathi and English, Desai’s
first book 'Footsteps in the West' was launched on 28 February 2000. It
explores his transition from life in India to Britain. The book also contains
narrative sketches of characters based on observation and author's experience
in India and the West. The author emphasises the importance of Asians
integrating into British society without losing their identity or culture
and concludes that a progressive religion is essential to counterbalance
the influence of materialism and to avoid conflicts resulting from religious
intolerance. The text is presented in an anecdotal and witty style, complemented
by illustrations by renowned Maharashtrian artist, Yeshwant Mali.
Desai continues to play a very active role in the community and is the
Chairman of the local forum for Marathi people in Croydon.
----------------------------------------------------------------------Satish
Desai is a Chartered Structural Engineer and Manager, with forty years
experience with private and public sectors in civil engineering projects
(design, construction and project management), Building Regulations, Codes
of Practice, Guidance Documents, Research and Research Management.
He is working as Private consultant and a Visiting Professor at the University
of Surrey. He wrote many articles in marathi and English. His book ''
Footsteps in the West'' is a great success.
On December
1997 he was honored by OBE (“Officer of the Order of the British
Empire” ).The Order of the British Empire was created during
the First World War in 1917 by George V. The King recognize the necessity
for a new award of honour which could be more widely awarded, in recognition
of the large numbers of people in the British Isles and other parts of
the Empire who were helping the war effort both as combatants and as civilians
on the home front. From 1918 onwards there were Military and Civil Divisions,
as George V also intended that after the war the Order should be used
to reward services to the State, defined in a much wider sense to acknowledge
distinguished service to the arts and sciences, public services outside
the Civil Service and work with charitable and welfare organisations of
all kinds. The Order of the British Empire is the order of chivalry of
the British democracy. Valuable service is the only criterion for the
award, and the Order is now used to reward service in a wide range of
useful activities.
FOOTSTEPS
IN THE WEST
Monday, 28 February 2000 marks the launch of the first book by Satish
Desai OBE – which explores his transition from life in India to Britain,
and has been supported by a Croydon Council Heritage Grant.
The book "Footsteps in the West" contains narrative sketches
of characters based on observation and author's experience in India and
the West. Various real-life characters are used to form imaginary persons,
including the first person. The text is presented in an anecdotal and
witty style, complemented by illustrations by a renowned Maharashtrian
artist, Yeshwant Mali. The earlier chapters give an account of the author's
life in India. Then, at the age of 28 he came to the UK in search of work
as a civil engineer and the reader follows the process of his gradual
integration into modern British society. In the end, he emphasises the
importance of Asians integrating into British society without losing their
identity or culture and concludes that a progressive religion is essential
to counterbalance the influence of materialism and to avoid conflicts
resulting from religious intolerance. This is a thoughtful book with much
to enjoy and contemplate.
Footsteps in the West employs an anecdotal and witty style, together with
sketches by artist Yeshwant Mali, to absorb the reader in the author’s
experiences. Early chapters give an account of his life as a member of
an orthodox Hindu family and an old-fashioned community in Mumbai (Bombay),
before he came to the UK at the age of 28 in 1968 in search of work as
a civil engineer. In the later parts of the book the reader follows his
gradual integration into modern British society.
The author describes how he came to terms with changes in his professional
and social life with his basic belief in work and faith in the universal
God, "rather than belonging to a closed group, shackled by traditions,
taboos and prescriptive religious rules." In the end he emphasises
the importance of Asians integrating into British society without losing
their identity or culture and concludes that a progressive religion is
essential to counterbalance the influence of materialism and to avoid
conflicts resulting from religious intolerance.
Copies of the book will be available from most bookshops.
They can also be obtained from author Satish
Desai ( email: sdesai@blueyonder.co.uk )
at 109 Mitchley Avenue, Sanderstead, South Croydon, CR2 9HP,
and can be ordered from
Scottish Book Source, 137, Dundee Street,
Edinburgh, EH11 1BG
The book is published by Whittles Publishing Services. |
