 Manu Raval is a life-long student of the Sanskrit language and its scriptural and secular literature, the yogic traditions, and comparative religion, literature, and philosophy. He received Bachelor degrees in English Literature and Law from the University of Bombay (now called Mumbai University). He also did Master’s work in Economics and Sociology (University of Bombay), International Trade (Graduate School of International Trade and Business Administration, Glendale, AZ), and Public Administration (University of Colorado, Denver).
Manu served in public administration positions at the local, state, and federal levels in India for much of his career. In the State of Saurashtra from 1948 to 1954, Manu was Secretary to Chief Minister U. N. Dhebar, Deputy Collector of Land Revenue and Subdivisional Magistrate, Project Executive Officer of the Community Development Program, and Assistant Development Commissioner. During this period, Manu began his lifelong tenure in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
From 1954 to 1955, Manu was Principal of the Nilokheri Training School in Haryana and Under-secretary to the Indian Government. From 1955 to 1956, he was Secretary to the Government and Development Commissioner, and Collector of Land Revenue and District Magistrate, in Saurashtra. From 1956 to 1958, he held the positions of Collector of Land Revenue and District Magistrate in several districts, Deputy Secretary in several departments, and Deputy Development Commissioner in the Bombay Government. From 1958 to 1960, Manu served as Deputy Municipal Commissioner (City Manager) of Bombay.
In the private sector, he served as president and CEO of several major corporations in India from 1960 to 1978, and in the USA, as president and vice president of several mid-sized companies from 1978 until his retirement in 1990.
As an activist during India's struggle for independence, Manu was President of the Student Union at the University of Bombay and a proponent of Mahatma Gandhi's teachings. He has authored many articles, organized and participated in seminars and symposia on industry, commerce and trade, political matters and debates, social issues and topics, and has published letters and articles in the Times of India, Indian Express, the Denver Post, and many other newspapers and periodicals. He has lectured widely on the Vedas, Vedanta, Bhagavad-Gita, Pantanjal Yoga Sutram, Gandhi's life and work, ancient Indian and world civilizations, and history and religions, and has participated in numerous interfaith councils, conferences, and discussions.
He has appeared on TV and radio in India and the USA, and was an invited speaker at the International Peace Conference in India in 2008. His 1993 official political biography of U. N. Dhebar received the Gujurat State Literary Excellence Award in 1995.
Manu Raval is currently writing a commentary on Patanjali's Yoga Sutram and coauthoring a biography of Bhakti Laxmi, a princess who suffered repeated imprisonments for her support of Mahatma Gandhi's Indian Independence Movement.
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