Kamalesh Sharma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kamalesh Sharma
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Sharma in 2015
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| 5th Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations | |
| In office 1 April 2008 – 31 March 2016 |
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| Head | Elizabeth II |
| Chair |
See list
Yoweri Museveni
(Uganda) Patrick Manning (Trinidad & Tobago) Kamla Persad-Bissessar (Trinidad & Tobago) Julia Gillard (Australia) Kevin Rudd (Australia) Tony Abbott (Australia) Mahinda Rajapaksa (Sri Lanka) Maithripala Sirisena (Sri Lanka) Joseph Muscat (Malta) |
| Preceded by | Don McKinnon |
| Succeeded by | The Baroness Scotland of Asthal |
| 9th Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast | |
| In office 10 December 2009 – 25 April 2015 |
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| Preceded by | George J. Mitchell |
| Succeeded by | Thomas J. Moran |
| Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations | |
| In office 7 August 1997 – 27 May 2002 |
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| Secretary General | Kofi Annan |
| President | Kocheril Raman Narayanan |
| Preceded by | Prakash Shah |
| Succeeded by | Vijay K. Nambiar |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 September 1941 Benares, Benares State, British India (present-day Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | St. Stephen's College, Delhi King's College, Cambridge |
| Profession | Diplomat |
Kamalesh Sharma (born 30 September 1941) is an Indian diplomat. He is well-known for being the fifth Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations. He held this important role from 2008 to 2016. Before that, he was the High Commissioner for India in London. He has also served as the Chancellor Emeritus of Queen's University Belfast.
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Early Life and Education
Kamalesh Sharma was born in Benares, British India, which is now Varanasi, India. He attended the Modern School in New Delhi. Later, he studied at St. Stephen's College in Delhi. He also went to King's College, Cambridge in the United Kingdom.
His Diplomatic Career
Kamalesh Sharma was part of the Indian Foreign Service from 1965 to 2001. This means he worked as a diplomat for India for many years.
Representing India at the UN
From August 1997 to May 2002, he was India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations. This role meant he spoke for India at the UN.
Other Important Roles
After retiring from the Indian Foreign Service, he continued his international work. From 2002 to 2004, he was a special representative for the UN Secretary-General in East Timor. In 2004, he became the High Commissioner of India to Britain. This role is like being an ambassador.
He is also a Vice-President of the Royal Commonwealth Society. Since July 2009, he has been the Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast.
Leading the Commonwealth
The Commonwealth is a group of countries that were once part of the British Empire. They work together on shared goals like democracy and development.
Becoming Secretary-General
Kamalesh Sharma was chosen as the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth in November 2007. He was elected during a meeting in Kampala, Uganda. He officially took over the role on April 1, 2008, from Sir Don McKinnon of New Zealand.
His Terms in Office
He was re-elected for a second term on October 30, 2011. His second term started on April 1, 2012, and ended on March 30, 2016.
During his eight years as Secretary-General, Sharma focused on several key areas. He worked to empower young people and advance women's political and economic rights. He also raised awareness about challenges faced by smaller countries.
Positive Impact
Many people praised Kamalesh Sharma's work. Arif Zaman, from the Commonwealth Businesswomen's Network, called him a "passionate, active and dedicated champion for women."
Hugo Swire, a UK Minister, said Sharma "helped to guide the Commonwealth through a period of significant challenges." He noted important changes like the introduction of the Commonwealth Charter.
In 2015, Joseph Muscat, the Prime Minister of Malta, thanked Sharma for his "unflinching commitment to the Commonwealth." He added that Sharma's "legacy will undoubtedly be a positive one."
Chancellor of Queen's University, Belfast
On July 9, 2009, Kamalesh Sharma was appointed Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast. This happened after Senator George J. Mitchell retired from the role.
Queen's University stated that Sharma helped strengthen ties between Northern Ireland and India. This led to India investing in businesses in Northern Ireland. The Chancellor role is mostly an honorary title. Sharma said he was very proud to be given the position at Queen's.
