Meera Shankar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Meera Shankar
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Meera Shankar at the U.S.-India People to People Conference in 2010
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| Born |
Meera Yadav
9 October 1950 |
| Ambassador of India to the United States | |
| In office 2009–2011 |
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| Preceded by | Ronen Sen |
| Succeeded by | Nirupama Rao |
Meera Shankar was an important diplomat from India. She served as India's Ambassador to the United States of America from 2009 to 2011. An ambassador is a country's main representative in another country. Meera Shankar was the second woman from India to hold this important job in the United States. She followed Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, who was the first. After her, Nirupama Rao became the ambassador in 2011.
Early Life and Career
Meera Shankar went to school at St. Mary's Convent High School, Nainital in Nainital. She then studied at St. Bede's College, Shimla. In 1973, she joined the Indian Foreign Service. This is a group of people who work for India's government in other countries.
Shankar worked in the Prime Minister’s Office from 1985 to 1991. She also worked for the Ministry of Commerce and Industry from 1991 to 1995. Later, at the Ministry of External Affairs, she led teams that worked with countries in the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation. She also handled India's relationships with Nepal and Bhutan.
Before becoming the Ambassador to the U.S. in 2009, she was India's Ambassador in Berlin, Germany. In 2003, she became an Additional Secretary. In this role, she was in charge of India's work with the United Nations and international safety.
Other Activities
Meera Shankar is part of the Board of Trustees for the Alfred Herrhausen Gesellschaft. This is a group linked to Deutsche Bank. In 2012, she made history by becoming the first woman on the board of directors for the big Indian company ITC.
Personal Life
Meera Shankar is married to Ajay Shankar. He is also a government officer. They have a daughter named Priya.
See also
- List of ambassadors to the United States
- Embassy of India in Washington, D.C.
