Memoirs of Coming to the Spotlight

By Haripada Dhar

After working for fifteen years at a number of places in the US, following my PhD education, I cofounded my own business in a high-tech area starting from the scratch. The business, BCS Fuel Cells Inc., was in the innovative area of making a clean energy power generator. This was a simplified procedure of making PEM (proton exchange membrane) fuel cells.

I attracted the attention of scientific professionals in the fuel cell area around the world. We sold fuel cell products, made presentations, published papers, and got patents. I received praise and admirations of many in my field of expertise and from customers using our products. This was the spotlight I received as innovator, entrepreneur, and scientist.

My business continued for twenty-two years. The business had to be stopped because of my health problems. Bad health was responsible for not allowing me to continue my corporation for a longer time.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jan 17, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796010312

Haripada Dhar

Haripada Dhar received his Ph.D. degree in Chemistry in 1973 specializing in Electrochemistry from the University of Ottawa, Canada. Dr. Dhar is the President of BCS Fuel Cells, Inc. He has established himself as a leader in the PEM (proton exchange membrane) fuel cell industry offering simplified and easy-to-operate fuel cells and systems. He is one of the early leaders in the development of self-humidified fuel cells, including designing and building PEM fuel cell stacks and systems. The work in the PEM fuel cell area has led to the issuance of 4 US patents. Dr. Dhar has introduced about 15 models of stacks and systems for sale and has sold about 500 fuel cell stacks and systems. He has about 45 publications. He has authored three books.

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Copyright © 2019 by Haripada Dhar.

ISBN:                    Softcover                    978-1-7960-1032-9

                             eBook                           978-1-7960-1031-2

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Rev. date: 02/05/2019

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Contents

Dedication

Preface

Birth and Temporary Migration

Violence against Minorities

My Education

Higher Education Abroad

Employment as Post-Doctoral Fellow

Corporate Position in USA

Growth of Urgency for a Business Venture

Start of Own High-Tech Business

Help From One of My Mentors Was Essential

Work Praised by Others

Passing Away of Our Son

Experiences with Baba Hariharananda

Experiences with a Swami who Met Babaji

Liberation War of Bangladesh

My Trip to India after 16 Years

Unusual but Effective Treatment of Headache

Treatment of Hallucinations

Foods for Lowering Blood Pressure

Life is Ever Lasting

Health Problems that Cut Short My Usefulness

Biography of Haripada Dhar

References

Dedication

I desired to write down my thinking of my memoirs of the events and circumstances that led me to become noticeable. May be it would help others and the younger generation to understand the trials and tribulations I have gone through. The readers would make efforts to make them better to the point of becoming noticeable that is coming to the spotlight. It requires proper guidance and help from a mentor. God Bless You All!

January 2019

Preface

Coming from a third-world country (Bangladesh) and modest family background, I made it to America through my dedicated efforts as a scientist and an entrepreneur. I established myself in the top 10% of the US population. In this book I describe my efforts how I achieved my status to be noticeable.

Early childhood was in a period of turmoil and instability of the country. India achieved independence in 1947 from the British; the country was divided in two parts based on religious majority. East Pakistan that subsequently became Bangladesh has about 90% of Muslim population. Being a Hindu minority prompted my family members to migrate to the Tripura state of India. I was probably 4-5 years old at the time of migration. As a refugee we stayed there about six months and returned back to my birth place.

After receiving elementary and high school education, I got college and university education in our country. I was able to come to Canada for further studies. I received masters and Ph.D. degrees. After a short period of employment in Canada as a Scientist, I came to the USA to work as a Post-Doctoral Fellow with an eminent professor Dr. John Bockris who became my mentor and helped me to achieve my goals in my life. I received help and encouragement from Dr. Bockris.

I got a job with a US Corporation as a Research Scientist and worked there for four years. I had to lose my job as I was laid off. Losing my job made me determined to start my own business in a high technology area.

After working 15 years at a number of places in the US since my Ph.D. education, I cofounded my own business in a high-tech area starting from the scratch. The business, BCS Fuel Cells, Inc., was in the innovative area of making a clean energy power generator, PEM (proton exchange membrane) fuel cells those operated self-humidified. This was a simplified procedure of making PEM fuel cells.

I attracted the attention of scientific professionals in the fuel cell area around the world. We sold fuel cell products, made presentations, published papers and got patents. I received praise and admirations of many in my field of expertise and from customers using our products. This was the spotlight I received as innovator, entrepreneur, and scientist.

After the death of our son at age 20, I realized the need for a change in my life style. I concentrated on spirituality and self-development. I received initiations from a spiritual master (guru). I learned a new technique of meditation, Kriya yoga, visited the hermitage of the yoga master. I attended yoga retreats. The original master of Kriya yoga is Baba Nagaraj, who is known to have attained immortality practicing meditation. I personally met a Swami who met Babaji and attended a seminar organized by the Swami.

When I was a student at the University of Ottawa studying for my Ph.D. degree, there was a civil war in my country in 1971. At that time, my family members migrated to India in the state of West Bengal. I helped them financially to establish themselves in India. I visited them every few years. When I was busy with my corporation and not in good health I could not go to India and visit them for 16 years.

My business continued for 22 years. The business had to be stopped because of my health problems. Bad health was responsible for not allowing me to continue my corporation for a longer period of time.

One problem I suffered from was headache. There is no good treatment for headache. I found out from my experience that headache is relieved by taking a psychiatric medicine, Zyprexa