Gopalkrishna Gandhi
Encyclopedia
Gopalkrishna Gandhi was the Governor of West Bengal
serving from 2004 to 2009. He is the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi
, and son of Devadas Gandhi
and Lakshmi Gandhi. His maternal grandfather was C. Rajagopalachari
(Rajaji). Gopalkrishna Gandhi is the younger brother of Rajmohan Gandhi
, and the late Ramchandra Gandhi
, and Smt. Tara Bhattacharjee (Gandhi), all of whom are distinguished in their own right.
As a former member of the Indian Administrative Service
, he served as Secretary to the President of India
and as High Commissioner
to South Africa
and Sri Lanka
, among other administrative and diplomatic posts.
Gandhi graduated with a master's degree in Literature from St. Stephen's College
of Delhi University. He has authored one novel (Saranam - "Refuge" in English) and a play in verse (Dara Shukoh).His other books are - "Gandhi and South Africa", "Koi Acchha Sa Ladka" (translation into Hindustani of Vikram Seth
's novel 'A Suitable Boy'), "Gandhi and Sri Lanka", "Nehru and Sri Lanka", "India House, Colombo - Portrait of a Residence", "Gandhi Is Gone. Who Will Guide Us Now?" (edited), "A Frank Friendship/ Gandhi and Bengal: A Descriptive Chronology" (compiled and edited).
President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam appointed him Governor of West Bengal on 14 December, 2004 following the expiry of the term of office of incumbent Viren J. Shah
. He was succeeded by Devanand Konwar
(the serving governor of Bihar
), who was given additional charge of West Bengal
.
Gopalkrishna Gandhi and his wife Tara have two daughters, who are both married.
Governor of West Bengal
The Governor of West Bengal is a nominal head and representative of the President of India in the state of West Bengal. The Governor is appointed by the President for a term of five years. H.E. Mayankote Kelath Narayanan is the current governor...
serving from 2004 to 2009. He is the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
, and son of Devadas Gandhi
Devdas Gandhi
Devdas Gandhi was the fourth and youngest son of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. He was born in South Africa and returned to India with his parents as a young man. He became active in his father's movement, spending many terms in jail.He spent a lot of time with his father...
and Lakshmi Gandhi. His maternal grandfather was C. Rajagopalachari
C. Rajagopalachari
Chakravarti Rajagopalachari , informally called Rajaji or C.R., was an Indian lawyer, independence activist, politician, writer and statesman. Rajagopalachari was the last Governor-General of India...
(Rajaji). Gopalkrishna Gandhi is the younger brother of Rajmohan Gandhi
Rajmohan Gandhi
Rajmohan Gandhi is a biographer and grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, and a research professor at the Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA.Gandhi's maternal grandfather was C...
, and the late Ramchandra Gandhi
Ramchandra Gandhi
Ramchandra Gandhi was an Indian philosopher student of Peter Strawson and grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and Rajaji, the last Governor General of India...
, and Smt. Tara Bhattacharjee (Gandhi), all of whom are distinguished in their own right.
As a former member of the Indian Administrative Service
Indian Administrative Service
The Indian Administrative Service is the administrative civil service of the Government of India. It is one of the three All India Services....
, he served as Secretary to the President of India
President of India
The President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. President of India is also the formal head of all the three branches of Indian Democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary...
and as High Commissioner
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
to 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...
and 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...
, among other administrative and diplomatic posts.
Gandhi graduated with a master's degree in Literature from St. Stephen's College
St. Stephen's College, Delhi
St. Stephen's College is a constituent college of the University of Delhi located in Delhi, India. The college admits both undergraduates and post-graduates, and awards degrees under the purview of the University. Famous for its rich history and many traditions, St...
of Delhi University. He has authored one novel (Saranam - "Refuge" in English) and a play in verse (Dara Shukoh).His other books are - "Gandhi and South Africa", "Koi Acchha Sa Ladka" (translation into Hindustani of Vikram Seth
Vikram Seth
Vikram Seth is an Indian poet, novelist, travel writer, librettist, children's writer, biographer and memoirist.-Early life:Vikram Seth was born on 20 June 1952 to Leila and Prem Seth in Calcutta...
's novel 'A Suitable Boy'), "Gandhi and Sri Lanka", "Nehru and Sri Lanka", "India House, Colombo - Portrait of a Residence", "Gandhi Is Gone. Who Will Guide Us Now?" (edited), "A Frank Friendship/ Gandhi and Bengal: A Descriptive Chronology" (compiled and edited).
President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam appointed him Governor of West Bengal on 14 December, 2004 following the expiry of the term of office of incumbent Viren J. Shah
Viren J. Shah
Viren J. Shah is a former Governor of the Indian State of West Bengal. Mr. Shah is a Former Treasurer of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He was a member of Lok Sabha from 1967 to 1970 and of Rajya Sabha during 1975 -1981 and 1990-1996. Mr. Shah is Chairman Emeritus of Mukand Steel, a steel and...
. He was succeeded by Devanand Konwar
Devanand Konwar
Devanand Konwar is a senior congressman from Assam and presently the Governor of Indian state Bihar. -Career:He started his career as a Lecturer in the English Department in Cotton College, Guwahati. Later he has given his services to American Standard Vacuum Oil Co. in Mumbai in 1961 as...
(the serving governor of Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
), who was given additional charge of West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
.
Gopalkrishna Gandhi and his wife Tara have two daughters, who are both married.
Career
- 1968 - 1985 Joined as an IASIAS- Accounting, Auditing :*International Accounting Standards*Internal Audit Service - Science :*Institute for Advanced Study**IAS computer, built at the Institute for Advanced Study*Indian Academy of Sciences...
Officer and served in Tamil NaduTamil NaduTamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh... - 1985 - 1987 Secretary to Vice-President of IndiaVice-President of IndiaThe Vice-President of India is the second-highest ranking government official in the executive branch of the Government of India, after the President...
- 1987 - 1992 Joint Secretary to President of IndiaPresident of IndiaThe President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. President of India is also the formal head of all the three branches of Indian Democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary...
- 1992 Retired from IAS
- 1992 Minister (Culture) in High Commission of India, UKIndia House, LondonIndia House is the seat of the Indian High Commission in London. Located at Aldwych, the is situated between Bush House and what was Marconi House . It faces both the London School of Economics and King's College London. Proposed in 1925 by the Indian High Commissioner Sir Atul Chatterjee, the...
and Director, The Nehru Centre, London, UK. - 1996 High Commissioner of India, South AfricaSouth AfricaThe 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...
and LesothoLesothoLesotho , 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... - 1997-2000 Secretary to President of India
- 2000 High Commissioner of India in Sri LankaIndia House (Colombo)India House is the official residence in Colombo for the Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka. It was built in 1926-27 for the Imperial Bank of India and taken over by the Government of India in 1956. It is a colonial style bungalow, with large gardens. It is guarded by personnel from the Border...
- 2002 Ambassador of India to NorwayNorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, and IcelandIcelandIceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population... - 2004 Governor of West BengalGovernor of West BengalThe Governor of West Bengal is a nominal head and representative of the President of India in the state of West Bengal. The Governor is appointed by the President for a term of five years. H.E. Mayankote Kelath Narayanan is the current governor...
- 2006 Governor of Bihar (Additional Charge)
External links
- Profile of the Governor of Bihar website.