Books by Purnendu Ghosh

We live in the world where nothing is difficult, if there is market. There is therefore the dilemma of want and need. Technology wants, what life wants. Using technologies, it seems, it is possible to do anything and produce anything. The centre of gravity of engineering profession is shifting. The world wants confident engineers who can foresee and manage the unknown and unexpected problems. Engineers are expected to understand global issues, and the nuances of working in a culturally diverse space. They are expected to appreciate, more than before, the human dimensions of emerging technologies. There are many questions, such as - Do I take pride in designing a thing and manufacturing it, as I take pride in packaging it? Are we cultivating the right kind of engineering mindset? What a general engineering toolkit must contain? Are there enough challenging jobs in the manufacturing industry to attract good engineers? Is it right to allow the creation of future elites who have augmented themselves with artificial intelligence and genetic engineering, without inventing a way to manage their superhuman abilities? Can there be better engineering than life itself? Should we be optimistic about the future of technology? Are we working harder than we are required to work? Can technology improve work-life balance? Is the society ready to accept the exponential development challenges? These, and many such issues are the concerns of science, engineering, technology and society. This book is an attempt to deliberate upon these issues for the welfare of humankind.

Once known to be the most important industrial hubs, West Bengal has slipped from its higher position to a middling position in the national map. In spite of high intellect and virtues, the state has significantly dropped in educational ranking resulting in the youth moving elsewhere for their higher studies since the time of beginning of nineteen seventies. "Kal Aaj Kal" revolves around the story of Navendu, born in a poor family, meritorious in intellect, who left his native place at an early age for higher studies and how his progress stays unaffected by the hurdle of life.

In this collection of essays, the author traces trails of footprints from the edge of today to the precinct of yesterday. The essays are about the author's journey in the academic and professional world of engineering, as Professor, Researcher and S&T administrator. It is about SOUL, School of Upna Life, a school where knowledge is not a burden, learning is not dictation, and incoherence is heard. It is about a school where mirrors can turn into windows. It is about knowledge and ignorance. It is about happiness. It is about a dormant film-maker. It is about an antifragile city. It is about the engineering of a complete man. It is about a Renaissance Man. It is about idle conversations one has with himself.