It details the major events affecting his life chances, career prospects, and personal relationships, as well as his memories of significant social, cultural and political impacts.

The fact that these details are related against the backdrop of the recent history of three modern nations, Singapore, Malaysia and Australia makes for a unique memoir, with historical value.

Mr Ratnam's story is shaped by many cross-cultural, spiritual, psychic, and philosophical influences. His early years were in colonial Malaya, first controlled by the British and then occupied by the Japanese.

He later moved to Australia and stayed there, even though the marriage that took him there ended, leaving him isolated from a supportive extended family, and denying him the prosperity available amongst his own people.

Readers will be drawn to Mr Ratnam's work on several levels. First and foremost, The Dance of Destiny is a remarkable story of an unusual person: life experiences in colonial times and under a military occupation during World War II; the love life of a young Hindu Malaysian/Anglo-Australian couple in British Singapore; the settlement experiences of an Asian living in an often racially-charged Australia; and his substantial contribution to civil society (especially in education) despite denial of equal opportunity in the workplace.

Also appealing is Mr Ratnam's attempt to understand the role of Destiny and the spirit world in his life (because of some significant psychic experiences), and to make sense of the often surprising paths that revealed themselves on his journey.

Despite the disasters he describes as "wheels falling off" his life-chances cart, and his falling into holes "which were not there", Mr Ratnam learns to accept the best of each outcome. His well-written story is not only enlightening but also inspirational.

The Dance of Destiny is published by Trafford Publishing.

Raja Ratnam was born in British Malaya of Ceylon Tamil parents. Sixty of his 80 years were spent in Australia, where he was able to achieve both societal and professional success, despite the overt racism and tribal discrimination that he experienced.