Four decades of public serviceA continuing life of inquiry
Professional profile
A life shaped by
responsibility and curiosity
I am a retired Indian Police Service officer of the 1984 batch. My professional career began at the State Bank of India in 1983, followed by service in policing, national security, intelligence, and vigilance administration.
Public-service experience
As Director of the Intelligence Bureau (2019–2022), I led the organisation through evolving security, technological, and geopolitical challenges. I subsequently served as Vigilance Commissioner at the Central Vigilance Commission, contributing to transparency, accountability, and systemic improvement across public institutions.
Education and perspective
My academic background includes an Honours course in Physics at Patna Science College and postgraduate study at the University of Delhi. This grounding in science informs my interest in evidence, trustworthy data, and the responsible use of technology in institutional decision-making.
Mediation and institutional engagement
Retirement is not
withdrawal
As an IICA-certified mediator, trained at the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs, I serve on ONGC's mediation panel and work with organisations towards constructive dispute resolution.
Mediation in practice
My approach rests on patience, impartiality, careful listening, and respect for differing perspectives. I seek to help parties clarify their concerns, explore common ground, and work towards balanced, practical outcomes.
An institutional perspective
Beyond mediation, I contribute to discussions on national security strategy, intelligence analysis, strategic risk, and crisis management. A continuing concern is how institutions exercise sound judgment, make decisions under uncertainty, and adopt technology while preserving accountability and public trust.
Selected writing
I write to record,
understand, and share
Here I share selected reflections on responsible technology, mediation, leadership, and institutional life.
When the Answer Turns Out to Be More Interesting Than the Question
Every so often, science gets excited about an idea, tests it rigorously, and finds it doesn't hold up — only to discover something more interesting on the way down. That is roughly what has happened with one of the more romantic notions in modern biology: the idea that living cells might secretly borrow tricks from the quantum world. The romance didn't survive scrutiny. But the questions it left behind have turned out to be worth asking anyway.
When Black Holes Forget: A Meditation on Memory, Entropy, and Time
A physicist's fascination with black holes, and a simple question about memory: why do these extreme cosmic objects forget almost everything about their violent pasts? Drawing on a recent essay by Cambridge researcher Richard Dyer, this piece explores the surprising link between black holes, entropy, and the quiet, irreversible way that both the universe and our own lives move forward by letting go of what came before.
The Freedom of Being Misunderstood
A short reflection on a habit many of us carry without noticing — the quiet, endless work of trying to correct how others see us. Written from years spent in rooms where perception carried real weight, this piece is about the difference between genuine accountability and simply managing an image, and why letting go of the latter is where real peace begins.
National-Security AI: Humans Must Remain in Command
Artificial intelligence can strengthen national security, but human oversight must be more than a formal approval. Drawing on the perspective of a former Intelligence Bureau chief, this article examines why people must retain the authority to question AI, set its limits and remain accountable for decisions.
Write to me
Thoughtful conversations
are always welcome
I welcome advisory, board, policy, speaking, teaching, and research opportunities where my experience in security, governance, and institutional leadership can help advance responsible AI and build resilient institutions.
For mediation enquiries or to explore a possible engagement, please leave a message using the form.
I read messages personally and will respond where a conversation may be useful.