Shilendra Kumar Singh
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S.K. Singh | |
|---|---|
| Governor of Rajasthan | |
| In office 6 September 2007 – 1 December 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Akhlaqur Rahman Kidwai |
| Governor of Arunachal Pradesh | |
| In office 16 December 2004 – 4 September 2007 | |
| Preceded by | V C Pande |
| Succeeded by | K. Sankaranarayanan |
| Indian Foreign Secretary | |
| In office 16 February 1989 – 19 April 1990 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 January 1932 |
| Died | 1 December 2009 (aged 77) |
| Spouse | Manju Singh |
| Children | Two sons |
| Residence(s) | Jaipur,Rajasthan |
Shilendra Kumar Singh or S.K. Singh (Hindi: शीलेंद्र कुमार सिंह), 24 January 1932 – 1 December 2009) was an Indian politician, who was the Governor of Rajasthan until he died in office on 1 December 2009. Previously he was Governor of Arunachal Pradesh from December 2004 to September 2007.
Singh is a former Indian Foreign Secretary (1989–1990). Prior to becoming Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, he was secretary-general of a think tank in Delhi, the University of Pennsylvania Institute for the Advanced Study of India. He was appointed as Governor of Rajasthan on August 19, 2007,[1] left his position as Governor of Arunachal Pradesh on September 4, 2007,[2] and was sworn in as Governor of Rajasthan on 6 September.[3]
Education
He is alumnus of St Johns College, Agra which is affiliated to Agra University where he received a Bachelor's Degree in History, Sanskrit and Hindi. He attended the Agra University and received a Master's Degree in History and an LLB Degree. Thereafter he read Persian and International Law at Trinity College, Cambridge.
Career
Gubernatorial Tenure
While in Arunachal Pradesh, Singh was an extremely vocal advocate articulating that Arunachal Pradesh is a non-negotiable part of sovereign India. [4] He also crusaded for the inner line permit and restricted area permit required for travel to Arunachal Pradesh to be abolished. [5] In addition, he worked hard for ensuring connectivity of Arunachal Pradesh with the rest of India by building an airport in the state, constructing a railway line and improving the road network. [6]
Career as a Diplomat
In February, 1989, Singh was appointed Foreign Secretary of India. He holds the personal rank of Grade-I Ambassador, the highest in the Indian Foreign Service. Prior to becoming Foreign Secretary, he was India's longest serving Ambassador to Pakistan from 1985 until 1989. He also served as Ambassador to Austria from 1982-1985, Additional Foreign Secretary from 1979-1982, Ambassador to Afghanistan from 1977-1979 and Ambassador concurrently to Jordan, Lebanon and Cyprus from 1974-1977. He was the longest-serving Official Spokesman of the Government of India from 1969-74. In 1968-69 he served in the Ministry of Commerce as Director Foreign Trade.
Singh began his career in the Indian Foreign Service in 1964. From 1956 to 1959, he was Third Secretary in Iran and concurrently attended the Tehran University to study the Persian language. From 1959-62 he was assigned to various desks in the Foreign Office in Delhi. From 1962-68 he was a member of the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York.
Singh was President of the Group of 77 and also served as India's Governor on the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna. Singh has been a member of 19 Indian delegations to the UN General Assembly and the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. Singh has monitored for the Commonwealth and the United Nations, general elections in South Africa, Kenya, Algeria, Lesotho, Malawi and Sierra Leone [7] and the presidential election in Sri Lanka. Singh is rated among the most distinguished in his generation of Indian diplomats.
Singh has taught History at Agra University. He was a Visiting Professor and Member of the Academic Council of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi.
Commentator
Singh is a frequent writer and commentator on international relations, geopolitics and current developments. [8]
Personal life
S. K. Singh is married to Manju and his son Kanishka Singh is a political aide to Rahul Gandhi and elder son, Shashank Singh, a Harvard MBA, works as a investment banker in Mumbai. [9]
Death
He died at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi on 1 December 2009, at the age of 77, after a brief illness.
References
- ^ "Tiwari appointed new Andhra governor", IST, TNN (The Times of India), August 20, 2007.
- ^ "Sankaranarayan takes additional charge as Arunachal Governor", PTI (The Hindu), September 4, 2007.
- ^ "S.K. Singh takes oath as Governor of Rajasthan", PTI (The Hindu), September 6, 2007.
- ^ "India rejects China's claim to its northeastern region ahead of Chinese president's visit", AP (The International Herald Tribune), November 14, 2006.
- ^ "Governor fuels debate on ILP", (The Telegraph), February 22, 2005.
- ^ "No cars please, we only know helicopters!", (India e News), July 25, 2006.
- ^ "Commonwealth to Observe Presidential and Parliamentary Elections in Sierra Leone", Commonwealth Secretariat, February 16, 1996.
- ^ "India, Pakistan edge towards deal", CNN, October 30, 2003.
- ^ http://www.thehindu.com/2009/02/20/stories/2009022057410500.htm