Although of Indian family background, I was born and grew up in Malaysia. My education was interrupted during World War II when Malaysia was invaded, occupied and ruled by the Japanese Army, for 5 years. I obtained by MBBS in 1959 from The University of Malaya, Singapore. In the first year of medical school, I was recognized as a University Fellow. I obtained the MRACP in 1964 and the FRACP in 1974. I undertook nephrology training at Royal Melbourne Hospital between 1965 and 1970 under Prof Priscilla Kincaid-Smith. My research was mainly in the field of analgesic nephropathy and urinary tract infections. In 1971, I was appointed as renal physician at Royal Newcastle Hospital to establish a renal department and renal service. This was successfully achieved. The Department moved to John Hunter Hospital in 1991. Now the Department of Nephrology is 10 renal physicians, and provides complete renal care including dialysis and transplantation.

My field of research continued in analgesic nephropathy and in the field of difficult hypertension. After the establishment of the University of Newcastle School of Medicine and Public Health in 1978, I was actively involved in medical education. I was initially appointed as clinical associate professor and now as conjoint professor.

A highlight in my career was when a 17-year-old ballet dancer presented with acute kidney injury, malignant hypertension, haemolytic-uraemic syndrome, thrombophilia and thrombotic microangiopathy. These significant abnormalities were controlled with haemodialysis, plasma exchange, IVIg replacement and BP control. Her kidney function gradually improved from 15% up to 40%. From time of admission, her ANA was positive, dsDNA antibody was negative and she had fluctuating low levels of complement C3 and C4, suspicious of systemic lupus erythematosus. Her first 2 renal biopsies did not show lupus nephritis. A third renal biopsy was done 9 months after her initial admission. This showed active lupus nephritis, class III to class IV. She had evolving lupus nephritis, which was correctly diagnosed early and correctly treated early with prednisone, mycophenolate and plaquenil. This resulted with complete control of her lupus nephritis and good BP control. She was supposed to have primary amenorrhoea, but now started normal periods. Her kidney function is up to 80% of normal. She is now leading a normal life and active with her ballet dancing.

I attended the first postgraduate course in medicine run by the RACP in Singapore in 1963, where I met Professor Bryan Hudson, Inaugural Professor of Medicine, Monash University. I passed the written paper for MRACP and had to come to Australia for the oral examination. Professor Bryan Hudson appointed me as a medical registrar at Prince Henry Hospital, Melbourne in 1964. I passed the MRACP viva examination. After returning to Malaysia, I was interested in further post-graduate education and contacted Professor Bryan Hudson for advice. He arranged a position for me in renal medicine with Professor Priscilla Kincaid-Smith at Royal Melbourne Hospital from 1966 to 1970. Again help from Professor Bryan Hudson was much appreciated.

My appointment at Royal Newcastle Hospital in 1971 was with support from Professor Priscilla Kincaid-Smith. After she had passed away, by chance I met with the retired medical superintendent from Royal Newcastle Hospital, Dr Tom Woollard, who told me an incredible story. Before my interview for the appointment at Royal Newcastle Hospital, Professor Priscilla Kincaid-Smith took the train from Melbourne to Newcastle and met with the Royal Newcastle Hospital Administration to support my appointment at Royal Newcastle Hospital. This was incredible assistance.

I have published more than 100 papers including book chapters. In 2015, the organisation called Best Doctors, sent me an award as best doctor in Australia and New Zealand in years 2015 and 2016. I have now retired from clinical practice on 1 January 2019.