List of high commissioners of India to the United Kingdom facts for kids

Quick facts for kids High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom
Incumbent Vikram Doraiswami, IFS since 22 September 2022
Residence	India House, London
Nominator	Droupadi Murmu
Inaugural holder	V. K. Krishna Menon
Formation	1947
Website	High Commission of India, London., UK

The High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom is like India's top representative or ambassador in the UK. This important person leads the High Commission of India in the United Kingdom. Think of the High Commission as India's embassy in London.

The main office for the High Commission is called India House. It is located in the city of London, which is the capital of the UK. The High Commissioner works to keep a strong connection between India and the UK.

What is a High Commissioner?

A High Commissioner is a special type of ambassador. They represent their country in another country within the Commonwealth of Nations. The Commonwealth is a group of countries that used to be part of the British Empire. India and the UK are both members of this group.

The High Commissioner's job is to look after India's interests in the UK. This includes helping Indian citizens, promoting trade, and building good relationships. They also work on cultural exchange and cooperation between the two nations.

History of the High Commissioner Role

How the Role Began

The idea for a High Commissioner for India started a long time ago. In 1919, a special group looked at how the British government managed India's affairs in London. This group decided it would be better to have a separate representative for India. This person would handle India's business and administrative tasks.

People in India also wanted this change. They saw it as a step towards India becoming more independent. They hoped India would gain "Dominion status," which meant it would be a self-governing country within the British Empire.

The First High Commissioners

The British government agreed with these ideas. In 1919, a law was passed to create the position of High Commissioner for India. On August 13, 1920, King George V officially created the role.

The first person to hold this important job was Sir William Stevenson Meyer. He was an officer in the Indian Civil Service. The first High Commissioner of Indian background was Sir Dadiba Merwanji Dalal. These early High Commissioners had the same standing as representatives from other British Dominions.

India's Independence and the Role Today

When India became an independent country in 1947, the title of the role changed. It became the "High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom." This new title showed India's full independence.

Since then, many talented people have served in this role. They have worked to strengthen the ties between India and the UK. One notable person was Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, who was the first woman High Commissioner from India to the UK. The current High Commissioner is Vikram Doraiswami.

Images for kids

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  Sir Feroz Khan Noon, High Commissioner (1936–1941)

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  V. K. Krishna Menon, first High Commissioner after India's independence (1947–1952)

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  B. G. Kher, High Commissioner (1952–1954)

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  Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, first woman High Commissioner (1954–1961)

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  M. C. Chagla, High Commissioner (1962–1963)

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  Jivraj Narayan Mehta, High Commissioner (1963–1966)

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  Braj Kumar Nehru, High Commissioner (1973–1977)

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  N. G. Gore, High Commissioner (1977–1979)

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  Maharaja Krishna Rasgotra, High Commissioner (1988–1990)

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  Kuldip Nayar, High Commissioner (1990)

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  Laxmi Mall Singhvi, High Commissioner (1991–1997)

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  Lalit Mansingh, High Commissioner (1998–1999)

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  Ronen Sen, High Commissioner (2002–2004)

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  Kamalesh Sharma, High Commissioner (2004–2008)

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  Nalin Surie, High Commissioner (2009–2011)

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  Jaimini Bhagwati, High Commissioner (2012–2013)

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  Ranjan Mathai, High Commissioner (2013–2015)

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  Navtej Sarna, High Commissioner (2016)

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  Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha, High Commissioner (2016–2018)

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  Ruchi Ghanashyam, High Commissioner (2018–2020)

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  Vikram Doraiswami, current High Commissioner (2022–present)