Shilendra Kumar Singh
Encyclopedia
Shilendra Kumar Singh or S.K. Singh (Hindi
: शीलेंद्र कुमार सिंह),
24 January 1932 – 1 December 2009) was an India
n politician. He was Governor of Arunachal Pradesh from December 2004 to September 2007 and Governor of Rajasthan from September 2007 until he died in office in December 2009.
Singh was Indian Foreign Secretary
from 1989 to 1990. Prior to becoming Governor of Arunachal Pradesh
, he was secretary-general of a think tank
in Delhi, the University of Pennsylvania Institute for the Advanced Study of India. He was appointed as Governor of Rajasthan
on August 19, 2007, left his position as Governor of Arunachal Pradesh on September 4, 2007, and was sworn in as Governor of Rajasthan on 6 September.
which is affiliated to Agra University where he received a Bachelor's Degree in History, Sanskrit and Hindi. He attended the Agra University and received a Master's Degree in History and an LLB Degree. Thereafter he read Persian and International Law at Trinity College, Cambridge
.
, Singh was an extremely vocal advocate articulating that Arunachal Pradesh is a non-negotiable part of sovereign India. He also crusaded for the inner line permit and restricted area permit required for travel to Arunachal Pradesh to be abolished. In addition, he worked hard for ensuring connectivity of Arunachal Pradesh with the rest of India by building an airport in the state, constructing a railway line and improving the road network.
. Prior to becoming Foreign Secretary, he was India's longest serving Ambassador to Pakistan
from 1985 until 1989. He also served as Ambassador to Austria
from 1982–1985, Additional Foreign Secretary from 1979–1982, Ambassador to Afghanistan
from 1977–1979 and Ambassador concurrently to Jordan
, Lebanon
and Cyprus
from 1974-1977. He was the longest-serving Official Spokesman of the Government of India from 1969-74. In 1968-69 he served in the Ministry of Commerce as Director Foreign Trade.
Singh began his career in the Indian Foreign Service in 1954. From 1956 to 1959, he was Third Secretary in Iran
and concurrently attended the Tehran University to study the Persian language. From 1959-62 he was assigned to various desks in the Foreign Office in Delhi. From 1962-68 he was a member of the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations
in New York.
Singh was President of the Group of 77
and also served as India's Governor on the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency
in Vienna. Singh has been a member of 19 Indian delegations to the UN General Assembly and the United Nations Commission on Human Rights
. Singh has monitored for the Commonwealth
and the United Nations
, general elections in South Africa
, Kenya
, Algeria
, Lesotho
, Malawi
and Sierra Leone
and the presidential election in Sri Lanka
. Singh is rated among the most distinguished in his generation of Indian diplomats.
Singh has taught History at Agra University. He was a Visiting Professor and Member of the Academic Council of Jawaharlal Nehru University
, Delhi.
is a political aide to Rahul Gandhi
and his elder son, Shashank Singh, has an MBA from Harvard University, and currently works as a investment banker in Mumbai.
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
: शीलेंद्र कुमार सिंह),
24 January 1932 – 1 December 2009) was an India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n politician. He was Governor of Arunachal Pradesh from December 2004 to September 2007 and Governor of Rajasthan from September 2007 until he died in office in December 2009.
Singh was Indian Foreign Secretary
Indian Foreign Secretary
An Indian Foreign Secretary is the top diplomat for Indian Foreign Relations, who is appointed in the Ministry of External Affairs Office. Foreign Secretaries are experienced IFS officers, who are ambassadors to foreign nations....
from 1989 to 1990. Prior to becoming Governor of Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh is a state of India, located in the far northeast. It borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south, and shares international borders with Burma in the east, Bhutan in the west, and the People's Republic of China in the north. The majority of the territory is claimed by...
, he was secretary-general of a think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
in Delhi, the University of Pennsylvania Institute for the Advanced Study of India. He was appointed as Governor of Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
on August 19, 2007, left his position as Governor of Arunachal Pradesh on September 4, 2007, and was sworn in as Governor of Rajasthan on 6 September.
Education
He is alumnus of St Johns College, AgraSt Johns College, Agra
St. John's College, India, is a college of Agra, Uttar Pradesh, established in 1850, now part of the Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar University, earlier known as Agra University. It is amongst the oldest and one of the most beautiful Christian colleges in India....
which is affiliated to Agra University where he received a Bachelor's Degree in History, Sanskrit and Hindi. He attended the Agra University and received a Master's Degree in History and an LLB Degree. Thereafter he read Persian and International Law at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
.
Gubernatorial tenure
While in Arunachal PradeshArunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh is a state of India, located in the far northeast. It borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south, and shares international borders with Burma in the east, Bhutan in the west, and the People's Republic of China in the north. The majority of the territory is claimed by...
, Singh was an extremely vocal advocate articulating that Arunachal Pradesh is a non-negotiable part of sovereign India. He also crusaded for the inner line permit and restricted area permit required for travel to Arunachal Pradesh to be abolished. In addition, he worked hard for ensuring connectivity of Arunachal Pradesh with the rest of India by building an airport in the state, constructing a railway line and improving the road network.
Career as a diplomat
In February 1989, Singh was appointed Foreign Secretary of India. He held the personal rank of Grade-I Ambassador, the highest in the Indian Foreign ServiceIndian Foreign Service
The Indian Foreign Service is the foreign service of India. It is the body of career diplomats of India.The Indian Foreign Service is part of the Central Civil Services of the Government of India...
. Prior to becoming Foreign Secretary, he was India's longest serving Ambassador to Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
from 1985 until 1989. He also served as Ambassador to Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
from 1982–1985, Additional Foreign Secretary from 1979–1982, Ambassador to Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
from 1977–1979 and Ambassador concurrently to Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
and Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
from 1974-1977. He was the longest-serving Official Spokesman of the Government of India from 1969-74. In 1968-69 he served in the Ministry of Commerce as Director Foreign Trade.
Singh began his career in the Indian Foreign Service in 1954. From 1956 to 1959, he was Third Secretary in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
and concurrently attended the Tehran University to study the Persian language. From 1959-62 he was assigned to various desks in the Foreign Office in Delhi. From 1962-68 he was a member of the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in New York.
Singh was President of the Group of 77
Group of 77
The Group of 77 at the United Nations is a loose coalition of developing nations, designed to promote its members' collective economic interests and create an enhanced joint negotiating capacity in the United Nations. There were 77 founding members of the organization, but the organization has...
and also served as India's Governor on the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency
International Atomic Energy Agency
The International Atomic Energy Agency is an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons. The IAEA was established as an autonomous organization on 29 July 1957...
in Vienna. Singh has been a member of 19 Indian delegations to the UN General Assembly and the United Nations Commission on Human Rights
United Nations Commission on Human Rights
The United Nations Commission on Human Rights was a functional commission within the overall framework of the United Nations from 1946 until it was replaced by the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2006...
. Singh has monitored for the Commonwealth
Commonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
and the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, general elections in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, Lesotho
Lesotho
Lesotho , officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country and enclave, surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. It is just over in size with a population of approximately 2,067,000. Its capital and largest city is Maseru. Lesotho is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The name...
, Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
and Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
and the presidential election in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. Singh is rated among the most distinguished in his generation of Indian diplomats.
Singh has taught History at Agra University. He was a Visiting Professor and Member of the Academic Council of Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University, also known as JNU, is located in New Delhi, the capital of India. It is mainly a research oriented postgraduate University with approximately 5,500 students and a faculty strength of around 550.-History:...
, Delhi.
Commentator
Singh is a frequent writer and commentator on international relations, geopolitics and current developments.Personal life
S. K. Singh was married to Manju Singh. His younger son Kanishka SinghKanishka Singh
Kanishka Singh is an Indian politician. He is a political aide to the Congress MP and General Secretary, Rahul Gandhi.-Early life:...
is a political aide to Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi is an Indian politician and member of the parliament of India, representing the Amethi constituency. His political party is the Indian National Congress.-Early life and career:...
and his elder son, Shashank Singh, has an MBA from Harvard University, and currently works as a investment banker in Mumbai.