Narayanan Raghavan Pillai or Sir N R Pillai was the first Secretary of External Affairs, post and office he held from February 6, 1950 until May 13, 1953. He was later the first Secretary General or Cabinet Secretary of the Republic of India. He was also India's Ambassador to China during a very crucial time of Indo-China relations.

He was born in Trinvandrum in the ancient Nair family of Elankath and later settled in France where he died.

Elannkom Gardens in Trivandrum was where the family tharavad existed.

He was awarded Padma Vibhushan by Government Of India.
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References

• Cabinet Secretariat in India
• Reference to the "late N.R.Pillai"
• http://www.claudearpi.net/maintenance/uploaded_pics/ZhouonMcMahon.pdf