Vinod Krishtacharya Kadakol is a philosopher-writer and an independent researcher in theoretical physics, working on questions at the foundations of reality, including ideas related to superstring theory. Trained in physics, he also walked the path of public service, qualifying in the Civil Services Preliminary and Main examinations and appearing for the Personality Test.

Deeply influenced by the inquiries of Jiddu Krishnamurthy and U. G. Krishnamurthy, he worked as a mentor in physics and mathematics at Jiddu Krishnamurthy’s Valley School and later founded and edited a monthly Kannada magazine for competitive examinations. In addition to his English works, he has authored several books in Kannada, including the widely used Genius IAS Handbook, and has written short stories and poems.

He is also known to readers by the pen-identity “IAS Monk,” and continues to write at the meeting ground of science, philosophy, literature, and ethical life.