Naresh Chandra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Naresh Chandra
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| Indian Ambassador to the United States | |
| In office 1996–2001 |
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| President | Shankar Dayal Sharma K. R. Narayanan |
| Preceded by | Siddhartha Shankar Ray |
| Succeeded by | Lalit Mansingh |
| 13th Governor of Gujarat | |
| In office 1 July 1995 – 1 March 1996 |
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| President | Shankar Dayal Sharma |
| Preceded by | Sarup Singh |
| Succeeded by | Krishna Pal Singh |
| 20th Cabinet Secretary of India | |
| In office 11 December 1990 – 31 July 1992 |
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| President | Ramaswamy Venkataraman |
| Preceded by | V. C. Pande |
| Succeeded by | S. Rajagopal |
| Home Secretary of India | |
| In office 21 March 1990 – 11 December 1990 |
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| 22nd Defence Secretary of India | |
| In office 22 February 1989 – 21 March 1990 |
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| Preceded by | T.N. Sheshan |
| Succeeded by | N.N. Vohra |
| Water Resources Secretary of India | |
| In office 1 February 1987 – 1 February 1989 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 August 1934 Allahabad, United Provinces, British India |
| Died | 9 July 2017 (aged 82) Panaji, Goa, India |
| Cause of death | Multiple organ failure |
| Alma mater | Allahabad University |
| Occupation | Retired IAS officer |
| Awards | Padma Vibhushan (2007) |
Naresh Chandra (born August 1, 1934 – died July 9, 2017) was an important Indian government official. He was part of the IAS, which is a group of top civil servants in India. He held many big jobs, like being the Cabinet Secretary of India, which is the highest position for a civil servant. He also served as the Indian Ambassador to the United States. For his great work, he received the Padma Vibhushan in 2007, which is India's second-highest civilian award.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Naresh Chandra grew up in Allahabad, India. He studied at Allahabad University and earned a master's degree in Mathematics. Before joining the IAS, he even taught as a lecturer at the same university.
Career in Public Service
Becoming an IAS Officer
The IAS is a very respected job in India. People who join the IAS help run the country's government. Naresh Chandra became an IAS officer in 1956. This meant he would work for the government, helping to make important decisions and manage different departments.
Key Roles in Government
Naresh Chandra held many important positions for both the state government of Rajasthan and the central government of India.
- Chief Secretary of Rajasthan: He was the top administrative officer for the state of Rajasthan from 1985 to 1986.
- Union Water Resources Secretary: From 1987 to 1989, he helped manage India's water resources.
- Union Defence Secretary: He was in charge of defense matters for India from 1989 to 1990.
- Union Home Secretary: From March to December 1990, he managed internal security and home affairs for the country.
- Union Cabinet Secretary: This was his highest role. He became the Cabinet Secretary in December 1990. In this job, he helped coordinate all the different government ministries. He was also deeply involved in India's nuclear program.
He also worked as an advisor to the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir and for the Commonwealth Secretariat in Sri Lanka. After retiring from the IAS, he continued to serve the government as a Senior Adviser in the Prime Minister's Office.
After Retirement from IAS
Governor of Gujarat
After his time in the Prime Minister's Office, Naresh Chandra was appointed as the Governor of Gujarat. He served in this role from July 1995 to March 1996. A Governor is like the head of a state in India, representing the President.
Ambassador to the United States
In 1996, Naresh Chandra became India's Ambassador to the United States. An ambassador represents their country in another country. He stayed in this important diplomatic role until 2001. He had a long history of working with the U.S., helping to improve relations between the two countries. He even led a team in 1992 to encourage American businesses to invest in India.
Important Committees
After his time as Ambassador, Naresh Chandra continued to contribute. He chaired a committee that recommended setting up the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) in 2003. This office helps investigate serious financial crimes. He also led a task force on how companies should be managed, called Corporate Governance.
His Experiences as Ambassador
Naresh Chandra often spoke about his time as Ambassador to the U.S. He described it as "living in interesting times" because many important events happened.
- Nuclear Tests: In May 1998, India conducted nuclear tests. This was a very challenging time for him as Ambassador. He had to explain India's actions to the U.S. government and media. He worked hard to ease tensions between the two countries.
- Improving Relations: He saw the relationship between India and the U.S. grow stronger. He was present during important meetings between Indian and U.S. leaders. He believed that India and the U.S. could be "natural allies."
- Gandhi Memorial: One special memory for him was helping to set up the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Washington D.C. This statue was placed in front of the Indian Embassy building. It was a proud moment for both Indians and Americans, showing the shared values of peace.
Death
Naresh Chandra passed away on July 9, 2017, in Panaji, Goa, India. He was 82 years old and died due to multiple organ failure.
Awards and Recognition
In 2007, Naresh Chandra was honored with the Padma Vibhushan. This is one of India's highest civilian awards, given for exceptional and distinguished service to the nation.
