About the Website
Founder
Dr. Permanand Mohan
Educator. Researcher. Technologist. Writer. Lifelong Student of Trinidad and Tobago.
Overview
LifeInTrinidad.org was founded by Dr. Permanand Mohan, a Trinidadian educator, researcher, technology professional, writer, and lifelong student of the society, culture, and history of Trinidad and Tobago.
Although professionally trained in Computer Science, Dr. Mohan’s interests have always extended beyond technology. Throughout his life, he has been fascinated by the stories that shape communities, the experiences that connect generations, and the cultural traditions that help define who we are as a people. These interests ultimately inspired the creation of LifeInTrinidad.org.
Born in Pepper Village, Gran Couva, Dr. Mohan grew up during a period of significant change in Trinidad and Tobago. The years following independence witnessed rapid social, economic, and cultural transformation, providing a unique backdrop to his childhood and early adult years. Like many Trinidadians of his generation, his experiences were influenced by the diversity of the nation, the importance of family and community, the popularity of Bollywood films and music, the cultural power of calypso, and an abiding passion for West Indies cricket, soccer, and other local sports.
These experiences continue to shape the stories and perspectives shared throughout this website.
At a Glance
Academic and Professional Career
Dr. Mohan has spent more than three decades in higher education, computing, and research.
He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from The University of the West Indies, an M.Sc. in Computational Science from the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, and a B.Sc. in Computer Studies (First Class Honours) from The University of the West Indies.
Since joining the academic staff of The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, he has served as a lecturer, researcher, supervisor of postgraduate students, administrator, and academic leader. He served as Head of the Department of Computing and Information Technology from 2013 to 2019.
Throughout his career, he has taught and mentored thousands of students from Trinidad and Tobago and across the wider Caribbean, helping to shape the next generation of computing professionals, educators, and researchers.
Research, Writing, and Public Service
As a researcher, Dr. Mohan has published extensively in the fields of computer science, artificial intelligence, education, mobile technologies, and human-computer interaction. He is the author and co-author of several books and more than one hundred scholarly publications.
His research has attracted support from organizations including Microsoft Research, IBM, and The University of the West Indies, and his work has been presented at conferences and institutions around the world.
Beyond academia, he has been committed to public service and regional development. One of his most significant contributions was serving as Chief Examiner for CXC CAPE Computer Science from 2001 to 2012, helping to guide standards of assessment and curriculum delivery across the English-speaking Caribbean.
He has also contributed to scientific and educational organizations, served on academic review and examination panels, and participated in a variety of initiatives aimed at strengthening education, science, and technology within the region.
The Origins of LifeInTrinidad.org
After many years of teaching, researching, writing, and helping others preserve and share knowledge, Dr. Mohan began to reflect on another question:
How do we ensure that the stories that shaped Trinidad and Tobago are not forgotten?
Many important stories about Trinidad and Tobago have already been documented by historians, researchers, journalists, writers, and ordinary citizens. They can be found in books, newspapers, archives, academic studies, photographs, recordings, and personal collections.
Yet these stories are often scattered across many sources, and some remain difficult to discover, especially for younger generations. Other stories continue to exist mainly in personal memories and family conversations, waiting to be recorded and shared.
LifeInTrinidad.org was created as one contribution to the ongoing effort to preserve, connect, and share these stories in an accessible and engaging way. The goal is not to replace the valuable work that has already been done, but rather to complement it by bringing together diverse perspectives on the people, places, events, achievements, traditions, and everyday experiences that have shaped Trinidad and Tobago.
What began as a project focused on the influence of Bollywood films and music in Trinidad gradually expanded into a broader exploration of national identity, culture, history, sport, politics, community life, and everyday experiences. Today, the website serves as a growing archive of articles, reflections, timelines, and cultural commentary that seek to capture different dimensions of life in Trinidad and Tobago.
Looking Ahead
Although LifeInTrinidad.org currently reflects the vision and efforts of its founder, it is intended to become much more than a personal project.
The long-term goal is to build a community of contributors, researchers, storytellers, photographers, historians, and volunteers who share a passion for preserving the collective memory of Trinidad and Tobago.
By documenting our stories today, we help future generations understand where they came from, how we lived, what we valued, and how our nation evolved over time.
