The cycle of life - Ahmed Choonara OBE

Detailing the entirety of Ahmed Choonara's life, The Cycle of Life takes the reader on anextraordinary journey, from his childhood spent under the yoke of Apartheid inSouth Africa, to becoming the first Principal of a Further Education College tobe appointed in the UK from an Asian Heritage background.

The author writes with both sensitivity and hard facts as hedetails the impact of apartheid on his childhood, e.g. lack of facilities forsecondary and higher education and segregation, and recalls the moment in 1957when a flying brick hit his head, leaving him paralysed down his right side andparticularly his right hand. Four years later his father died, a turning point,propelling Ahmed and his brother into the UK to further Ahmed's education.

The latter half of the book deals with both his educationalexperiences at college and university with some humour and his lengthy teachingcareer. He also details his three year secondment to Zambia on an OverseasDevelopment programme with a voluntary post with the World Bank EducationalRenewal programme. He explains the death of his close friend, whilst in thecustody of Apartheid's security apparatus, and the impact of this on others.

In 2013, Ahmed was awarded an OBE for services to FurtherEducation. This book chronicles his exceptional rise in the hope that readerswill feel inspired and push against the glass ceiling to reach any goals theychoose.