Former Head, Senior Professor Department of Psychiatry, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India, born on 12th August, 1954 at Srinagar (J & K) received degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) from Govt. Medical College, Jammu (J & K) in 1978 and Doctorate of Medicine (M.D.) in Psychiatry from PGIMER, Chandigarh in 1981. Life Fellow of Indian Psychiatric Society and Indian Association for Social Psychiatry, Member National Academy of Medical Sciences, Founding Member Indian Society of Biological Psychiatry, International Fellow American Psychiatric Association, Fellow International Society for Affective Disorders, Fellow Indian Association for Geriatric Mental Health. Winner of prestigious Marfatia Awards (1989, 2012) and PPA-I Awards (1990, 1999, 2005, 2008, 2015) of the Indian Psychiatric Society. Dr. B.B. Sethi Award (2012) ,Dr. G.C. Boral – I Award (2012,2017)and Dr. VK Varma Award (2017) of Indian Association for Social Psychiatry.

IAGMH – INTAS Award of Indian Association of Geriatric Mental Health (2012, 2014,2015,2016,2017,2018). Delivered many orations including the prestigious DLN Murthy Rao Oration of Indian Psychiatric Society and Venkoba Rao Oration of Indian Association of Social Psychiatry. Awarded JKT Lifetime Achievement Award Oration of Indian Psychiatric Society(2021). Also won ICMR Dr. Vidya Sagar Award for Outstanding contribution to the field of Mental Health (2014). Associate Editor of Indian Journal of Social Psychiatry (1988-94) and is on the Editorial Boards of many scientific journals published in India and abroad. He was the Regional Editor for South Asia of the Asian Journal of Psychiatry (2008-2014). Installed as President of Indian Psychiatric Society (2010) and is presently Chairperson of Indian Psychiatric Society Research, Education and Training Foundation (2011–2021) and was the Convener of Task Force set up by the Indian Psychiatric Society on formulating Clinical Practice Guidelines (2003-09). These guidelines have been brought out in 6 volumes and serve as standard practice guidelines for Psychiatrists in India. Co-Chairperson of the IPS Task Force on Revision of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Psychiatrists in India (2015- 18). President, Indian Association for Geriatric Mental Health (2017-19) Organizing Chair and Secretary of more than 50 national and international Conferences/CMEs/Workshops, including the Annual National Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society (ANCIPS- 1990, 2005) and GERON (2017). Delivered more than 200 Guest/Invited Lectures in meetings of the professional bodies, has read more than 250 papers in national and international conferences and Faculty of nearly 200 professional/educational development programmes. Conducted more than 50 funded research projects, has guided nearly 60 thesis for Ph.D, M.D, MS, M Sc, DM and MCh. Published over 400 original research papers in reputed journals. Has edited 14 books in the field of Psychiatry and has contributed more than 60 book chapters. Member, Institute Body of JIPMER, Puducherry(2019-23); Chairman of Academic Committee of Govt. Medical College, Amritsar (2012-2018) ; He was member Task Force Group and Project Review Committee of the Indian Council of Medical Research and was Expert Consultant to Govt. of Punjab for the State Institute of Mental Health, Amritsar and Member of Project Formulation Committees for setting up State Institutes of Mental Health in the State of Haryana and Union Territory of Chandigarh. He was the Member of Faculty of Medical Sciences of Panjab University (2005-2009) and Member Faculty of Medicine University of Jammu (2003-2009). Expert Consultant to Govt. of Punjab for improving Drug De-addiction Services in the State of Punjab (2012-2017); Member Task Force on Health and Medical Education under Punjab Governance Reforms Commission (2012-2017); Director Board of the Punjab Health Systems Corporation, Govt. of Punjab (2013 -17); Member Board of Management, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Punjab (2013-2023); was conferred Punjab State Award on Independence Day (2014).

After retirement from 32 years’ service with PGIMER Chandigarh, presently engaged in clinical care as Consultant Psychiatrist with TTVC Charitable Trust and CMC Hospital, Chandigarh and Fortis Hospital, Mohali.