Engineering a Life

Krishan Bedi was born and raised in India. His homeland was besieged on all sides by the virulent hatred between Muslims and Hindus. Krishan’s father was a local merchant who was fair but tough. His mother was loving and supportive. Krishan wanted to become a Sub Divisional Officer (SDO) in the civil service. He worked hard in his studies at home but heard about furthering his education abroad, more specifically in the United States. Despite some initial bad luck, he emigrated to the United States in late 1961. Krishan’s first year in Tennessee was up and down; he would have hard times at the University of Tennessee, with marginal grades, a nomadic homelife, and scattered employment. Krishan’s determination to succeed and his faith would keep him grounded and willing to work as hard as he could. Knoxville College would be where Krishan excelled in his classes, increased his GPA, made friends, and found a niche for his career. He would succeed in hospital administrative work, earning a second shot at the University of Tennessee. Despite Krishan’s success, he missed his family. He had corresponded with them via mail and the occasional long, long distance phone call. He would contact them after almost a decade in the US, letting them know he was ready to find a wife. His trip back home was emotional–times had clearly changed. He was viewed with respect and awe for his accomplishments. His parents were very keen on arranging his marriage, but Krishan wanted the choice to be the right one. He would find it with Raj. They would be married, and Krishan would whisk her back to the states so that he could continue his hospital work. Raj would meet Krishan’s American friends, while Krishan would continue to try to make his hospital more cost efficient and effective. As time went on, Raj would give birth to three boys. Krishan’s success at one hospital led to his name getting bigger in the medical field. The young student with high aspirations from India had done good.

Engineering A Life is a feel-good autobiography about working hard to realize your dream. Krishan Bedi’s life was not without misfortune and failure, but he would take each bump in the road in stride. His “can do” attitude and drive make the story enjoyable and heart warming. This is a family story, from Krishan’s family in India to the one he makes in the US. This is an excellent read for anyone to enjoy.