Gopalkrishna Gandhi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gopalkrishna Gandhi
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| 18th Governor of West Bengal | |
| In office 14 December 2004 – 14 December 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Viren J. Shah |
| Succeeded by | Devanand Konwar (additional charge) |
| Governor of Bihar (additional charge) |
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| In office 31 January 2006 – 21 June 2006 |
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| Preceded by | Buta Singh |
| Succeeded by | R. S. Gavai |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Gopalkrishna Devadas Gandhi
22 April 1945 Delhi, British India |
| Political party | Independent |
| Other political affiliations |
NIL |
| Spouse | Tara Gandhi |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent |
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| Relatives | Ramchandra Gandhi (brother) Rajmohan Gandhi (brother) Mahatma Gandhi (paternal grandfather) Kasturba Gandhi (paternal grandmother) C. Rajagopalachari (maternal grandfather) |
| Alma mater | University of Delhi |
| Occupation | Professor of History and Politics at Ashoka University |
Gopalkrishna Devadas Gandhi was born on April 22, 1945. He is a well-known former administrator and diplomat from India. He served as the 22nd Governor of West Bengal from 2004 to 2009. He is also the grandson of two very important figures in Indian history: Mahatma Gandhi and C. Rajagopalachari.
Before becoming a Governor, Gopalkrishna Gandhi was an IAS officer. This means he worked in the Indian government's civil service. He held many important jobs, including Secretary to the President of India. He also worked as a High Commissioner (a top diplomat) for India in countries like South Africa and Sri Lanka. In 2017, he was a candidate for the Vice President of India position.
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Early Life and Education
Gopalkrishna Devadas Gandhi was born in Delhi, India. His father, Devdas Gandhi, was a journalist. His mother was Lakshmi Gandhi.
He went to St. Stephen's College, Delhi, which is part of Delhi University. There, he earned a master's degree in English literature.
A Career in Public Service
Gopalkrishna Gandhi began his career in 1968. He joined the IAS, which is a group of top government officials. He worked in the state of Tamil Nadu until 1985.
After that, he served as Secretary to the Vice President of India from 1985 to 1987. Then, he became a joint secretary to the President of India from 1987 to 1992. These roles involved helping the Vice President and President with their daily duties.
Diplomatic Roles
In 1992, Gopalkrishna Gandhi decided to leave the IAS. He then took on new roles in diplomacy. He worked as a minister for culture at the Indian High Commission in the United Kingdom. He also directed The Nehru Centre, London.
He continued to serve India in various diplomatic positions. He was the High Commissioner of India to South Africa and Lesotho in 1996. A High Commissioner is like an ambassador, representing their country in another Commonwealth nation.
From 1997 to 2000, he was again the secretary to the President of India. Later, he became the High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka in 2000. He also served as India's ambassador to Norway and Iceland in 2002.
Governor of West Bengal
On December 14, 2004, Gopalkrishna Gandhi was appointed the Governor of West Bengal. A Governor is the head of a state in India, representing the President. He served in this important role until December 14, 2009.
For a few months in 2006, he also took on extra duties. He served as the Governor of Bihar at the same time.
Other Contributions
Beyond his government roles, Gopalkrishna Gandhi has contributed to other fields. From 2011 to 2014, he was the chairman of Kalakshetra Foundation in Chennai. This foundation is famous for promoting Indian art and culture.
In 2015, he translated the ancient Tamil classic, the Tirukkural, into English. This helped more people around the world read this important work. He also served as the chairman of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study from 2012 to 2014.
Today, Gopalkrishna Gandhi teaches at Ashoka University. He is a professor of history and politics there.
Family Life
Gopalkrishna Gandhi comes from a very famous family. His paternal grandfather was Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of India's independence movement. His maternal grandfather was C. Rajagopalachari, who was also a key figure in Indian politics.
He is the son of Devdas Gandhi and Lakshmi Gandhi. He has two older brothers, Rajmohan Gandhi and Ramchandra Gandhi. Gopalkrishna Gandhi is married to Tara Gandhi, and they have two daughters.
See also
- List of translators into English
