A. P. Venkateswaran
A. P. Venkateswaran | |
---|---|
Born | 2 June 1930 A. S. Panchapakesa Ayyar Vedanayaki Ammal |
Awards | Fellowship – Harvard University |
Ayilam Panchapakesha Venkateswaran (2 August 1930 – 2 September 2014) was an Indian diplomat, former Foreign Secretary of India[2] and former Chairman of Asia Centre, Bangalore,[3] rated by many as one of the most efficient foreign secretaries of India.[4] The circumstances in which he resigned from the Indian Foreign Service made news at that time[5] and drew widespread comments in the media.[6][7][8][9][10]
Life sketch
The summary removal of the Foreign Secretary, A. P. Venkateswaran, in the shabbiest manner imaginable, has...., wrote Inder Malhotra in The Times of India, sent shock waves through the entire edifice of the government, shattered the morale of the bureaucracy and aroused the gravest misgivings about the future patterns of the government in New Delhi[6][11]
A. P. Venkateswaran comes from a Tamil Brahmin family with roots in a small
Venkateswaran was married to Usha and the couple had a daughter, Kalpana, who is settled in the US. He died on 2 September 2014, at Bangalore, succumbing to a cardiac arrest.[2][15] His mortal remains were cremated at Wilson Garden Crematorium in the city.[1]
Venkateswaran was a Fellow of the Center for Industrial Affairs at Harvard University from 1974 to 1975.[14] He has also written several articles on international politics in journals and magazines.[16]
Controversy
One year after he assumed office as the Foreign Secretary of India, Venkateswaran made a public statement that the
Soon, you will be talking to a new foreign secretary
The declaration generated much publicity and had no precedence where the termination of service of a Class I civil services officer being announced at a press conference.[6] Venkateswaran, present at the press conference,[4] sent the letter of his resignation to the Prime Minister's office immediately.[1] The incident attracted worldwide media interest.[5][7][17][18] Years later, Venkateswaran commented that the decision to send IPKF to Sri Lanka was a mistake which finally led to the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi.[19]
Positions
Venkateswaran has served in the Indian foreign offices across the globe, except in South American continent,
Office | Position | Tenure |
---|---|---|
Embassy in Prague | Officer | 1955–1957 |
New York Consulate | Consul | 1957–1959 |
Embassy – Addis Ababa | Secretary of Legation – First Class | 1959–1962 |
Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi | Deputy Secretary | 1962–1964 |
Embassy – Moscow | Secretary of Legation – First Class | 1964–1967 |
Consulate – Bonn | Consul | 1967–1969 |
Indian High Commission – Fiji | High Commissioner | 1969–1971 |
Center for Industrial Affairs – Harvard University | Fellow | 1974–1975 |
Embassy – Washington DC | Ambassador (correction: Venkateshwaran was only chargé d'affaires (acting ambassador) in Washington) | 1975–1977 |
Embassy – Damascus | Ambassador | 1977–1980 |
United Nations | Representative | 1980–1982 |
Embassy – Beijing | Ambassador | 1982–1986 |
Government of India | Foreign Secretary | 1986–1987 |
Venkateswaran resigned from Indian Government service in 1987 after which he founded [https://asiacentrebangalore.org/ Asia Centre Bangalore, a think tank of diplomats and intellectuals, based in Bangalore.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Manorama Online". Manorama Online. 4 September 2014. Archived from the original (web article) on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Former Foreign Secretary A P Venkateswaran passes away". United News of India. 4 September 2014. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
- ^ "Asia Centre". website. Asia Centre. 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Former foreign secretary Venkateswaran cremated in Bangalore". The New Indian Express. 4 September 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
- ^ a b c Express News Service (29 September 2013). "History repeats itself, says former foreign secy". Retrieved 4 September 2014.
- ^ ISBN 978-8125019886.
- ^ a b Steven R Weisman (8 February 1987). "Gandhi Actions Stir Strong Criticism". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
- ^ Archis Mohan (26 May 2010). "Manmohan waltzes where many predecessors slipped". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 28 May 2010. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
- ^ "Foreign Seretary Quits aAfter Gandhi Embarrasses Him in Public [sic]". Associated Press. 20 January 1987. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
- ISBN 9788177644029.
- ^ Inder Malhotra (22 January 1987). "Political Commentary: Bashing the Bureaucracy". The Times of India.
- ^ "Madras Christian College – Some Outstanding Alumni of the College". website. Madras Christian College. 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
- ^ a b "Profile". Jagaranrosh.com. 3 September 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
- ^ a b c A. P. Venkateswaran, Retrieved 4 September 2014[circular reference]
- ^ "Former Foreign Secretary A P Venkateswaran's body cremated". The Economic Times. 3 September 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
- ^ Raju G. C. Thomas (7 May 1999). "NATO and International Law". Sarantakos.com. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
- ^ "Associated Press". Associated Press. 20 January 1987. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
- ^ "An avoidable blunder". India Today. 15 February 1987. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
- ^ P. C. Vinoj Kumar (4 November 2006). "I am not sure if Prabhakaran ordered Rajiv's assassination". Tehelka. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
External links
- "List of Articles on India – Sri Lanka relationship". Sangam.org. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
- ISBN 9788177644029.