https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Kewal_Singh_ChoudharyKewal Singh Choudhary - Revision history2026-07-30T16:13:43ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Kewal_Singh_Choudhary&diff=509414&oldid=prevMaricelaHamilton at 00:13, 3 January 20262026-01-03T00:13:52Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Indian diplomat (1915–1991)}}<br />
{{ Infobox officeholder| name = Kewal Singh<br />
| office = [[Foreign Secretary of India]]<br />
| term = 4 December 1972 - 31 March 1976<br />
| predecessor = [[Triloki Nath Kaul]]<br />
| successor = [[Jagat Singh Mehta]] }}<br />
'''Kewal Singh Choudhary''' (1915–1991) was an Indian [[diplomat]], [[Foreign Secretary (India)|Foreign Secretary]] and India's [[List of Ambassadors of India to Russia|ambassador to the USSR]], [[Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan]] and [[Indian Ambassador to the United States|USA]]. He was a 1955 recipient of the Indian civilian honour of [[Padma Shri]].<ref name="Padma Shri">{{cite web|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Shri |publisher=Padma Shri |date=2015 |accessdate=November 11, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archivedate=October 15, 2015 }}</ref><br />
<br />
== Early life and education ==<br />
Kewal Singh was born into a Sikh family in the [[Lyallpur District]] of [[West Punjab]] on June 1, 1915.<ref name="whoswho1960">{{cite book|title=Asia Who's Who|year=1960|publisher=Pan-Asia Newspapers Alliance|location=Hong Kong|pages=224 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pJpAAQAAIAAJ}}</ref> He was educated at the [[Forman Christian College]], [[Lahore]], the Law College, Lahore and at the [[Balliol College, Oxford|Balliol College]] of [[Oxford University]]. He joined the [[Indian Civil Service]] in 1939 and served in [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]] in administrative positions until [[Independence of India|Independence]] after which he opted for the [[Indian Foreign Service]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Kewal|title=Partition and Aftermath : Memoirs of an Ambassador|year=1991|publisher=Vikas Publishing House|location=New Delhi|pages=6 |url=http://www.apnaorg.com/books/english/partition-aftermath/book.php?fldr=book}}</ref> Between 1944 and 1946 he served as Colonization Officer, [[Neeli Bar|Nilibar]]. Then he served as [[district magistrate]] at [[Shahpur District|Shahpur]] and [[Shimla district|Simla]] for the years 1946-47 and 1947-48 respectively.<ref name="whoswho1960"/><br />
<br />
== Diplomatic career ==<br />
Kewal Singh served as First secretary of Indian Embassy in Turkey between 1948 and 1949. Then served in Indian military mission, Berlin during 1949–51.<ref name="whoswho1960"/> Later, he was appointed Indian Consul-General to [[French India|French Indian enclaves]]{{refn|group=note|In French India, the Indian consulate was located in the 7 rue de Capucins (now renamed as Rue Romain Rolland), Pondicherry.}} in October 1953 succeeding R. K. Tandon<ref>{{cite book|last=Banerjea|first=D|title=Criminal Justice India Series: Pondicherry|year=2002|publisher=Allied Publishers, National University of Juridical Sciences|pages=21|isbn=9788177648713|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Axfuc5A8mxMC}}</ref>{{refn|group=note|R.K. Tandon himself succeeded S. K. Banerjee as the Consul General of India in French India on June 10, 1950.<ref>{{cite book |author=Ajit K Neogy|title=Decolonization of French India: Liberation movement and Indo-French relations 1947-1954|year=2021|publisher=Institut français de Pondichéry|location=Pondicherry|pages=163 |isbn=9791036566608|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UndJEAAAQBAJ}}</ref> The inaugural Consul-General for India in the French Establishments in India at Pondicherry was Mirza Rashid Ali Baig who held the post between 1947 and 1949.}} and stayed in that position until the French ceded them to India in 1954. He also played prominent role in their integration into the Indian union. In the same year he became the Chief Commissioner of the State of [[Puducherry (city)|Pondicherry]] and served until November 1956.<ref name="ref2004">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DFqbAAAAMAAJ|title=Cabinet Responsibility to Legislature|work= G. C. Malhotra|page=977|publisher=Lok Sabha Secretariat|year=2004|isbn=9788120004009}}</ref> He later served at [[List of diplomatic missions of India|Indian missions]] in [[Stockholm]], [[High Commission of India, London|London]] and in Germany.<ref>{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Iqbal|title=Between Two Fires: Towards an Understanding of Jawaharlal Nehru's Foreign Policy|year=1998|publisher=Orient Longman|location=New Delhi|pages=272|isbn=9788125015857|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4HICit08CEkC&dq=ambassador+kewal+singh&pg=PA272}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Das|first=B S|title=Memoirs of an Indian Diplomat|year=2010|publisher=Tata McGraw Hill|location=New Delhi|pages=45|isbn=9780070680883|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GzXnhkpxgOsC}}</ref><br />
<br />
Kewal Singh was India's Ambassador to [[Portugal]] in 1962 when India's annexation of [[Goa]] led to diplomatic relations between [[Lisbon]] and [[New Delhi]] being severed, while as [[High Commissioner]] to [[Pakistan]] in 1965, he similarly had to leave that country after the breaking off of diplomatic relations following the [[India-Pakistan Wars|Indo-Pak War of 1965]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Budhwar|first=P K|title=A Diplomat Reveals|year=2007|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|location=New Delhi|pages=71 |isbn=9788177588880|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bfCXlBaCWawC}}</ref><br />
<br />
He served as India's ambassador to the [[USSR]] from 1966 to 1968, and as Ambassador to the United States from 1976 to 1977. He succeeded T. N. Kaul as foreign secretary, serving from November 1972 to October 1976.<ref>{{cite web|title=FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES, 1969–1976, VOLUME E–8, DOCUMENTS ON SOUTH ASIA, 1973–1976|url=https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76ve08/persons#p_SK2|accessdate=4 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Kux|first=Dennis|title=India & the U. S.: Estranged Democracies, 1941-1991|year=1992|publisher=NDU Press|location=Washington DC|pages=471|isbn=9780788102790|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zcylFXH9_z8C&dq=kewal+singh+foreign+secretary&pg=PA343}}</ref> India took over [[Sikkim]], its [[protectorate]], following prolonged internal disturbances there while Singh was foreign secretary.<ref>{{cite book|author1-link=Sankar Sen (police officer)|last=Sen|first=Sankar|title=Reflections And Reminiscences Of Police Officers|year=2006|publisher=Concept Publishers|location=New Delhi|pages=94|isbn=9788180692369|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YwZs02kZSxAC&dq=kewal+singh+foreign+secretary+sikkim&pg=PA94}}</ref> During his tenure, India signed an [[India–Sri Lanka maritime boundary agreements|agreement for demarcating the maritime boundary with Sri Lanka]] and led a series of talks with the then [[Pakistani Foreign Secretary]] [[Agha Shahi]] on normalising communications and travel between the two countries.<ref>{{cite book|last=Lyon|first=Peter|title=Conflict Between India and Pakistan: An Encyclopedia|year=2008|location=Santa Barbara|pages=195|isbn=9781576077122|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vLwOck15eboC&dq=kewal+singh+foreign+secretary&pg=PA195}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Bhasin|first=A S|title=India-Sri Lanka Relations and Sri Lanka's Ethnic Conflict Documents 1947 - 2000 Volume 1|year=2001|publisher=India Research Press|location=New Delhi|pages=190|isbn=9788187943105|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z0hF_7N96V8C&dq=kewal+singh+foreign+secretary&pg=PA190}}</ref><br />
<br />
== Death and legacy ==<br />
<br />
Following his retirement as the ambassador to USA, Kewal Singh taught at the [[UCLA]] and at [[Kentucky University|Kentucky University's]] [[Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce]] where he was distinguished world statesman in residence until his death in 1991.He is survived by two children Mohinder and Gita.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kewal Singh Memorial Fellowship |url=http://www.uky.edu/PattersonSchool/finaid.htm|accessdate=4 December 2012}}</ref> He authored a book, ''Partition and Aftermath: Memoirs of an Ambassador''.<ref>{{cite book|title=Partition and Aftermath : Memoirs of an Ambassador|year=1991 |publisher=Vikas Pub. House |isbn=9780706958119 |url=http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/002710239|accessdate=4 December 2012}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Offices held==<br />
{{S-start}}<br />
{{Succession box | before= R.K. Tandon | title=Consul-General of [[India]] to the [[French Establishments in India]] | after=''Consulate Abolished''<br>{{small|([[List of lieutenant governors of Puducherry|Chief commissioner of French Establishments in India]])}}|years=October 1953 – 31 October 1954}}<br />
{{Succession box | before= Georges Escargueil<br>{{small|([[Gouverneur Général de l'Inde française]])}} | title=''[[List of lieutenant governors of Puducherry|Chief commissioner]]'' of [[French Establishments in India]]{{refn|group=note|In January 1955, The Indian union government by an order renamed the four French settlements in India as '''State of Pondicherry'''.<ref name="IAR1955">{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JncPAQAAIAAJ|title=Indian Affairs Record (Vol. I and II)|publisher=Diwan Chand Indian Information Center|year=1955}}</ref>{{rp|20}}}} | after=[[Moti Kripalani]]|years=1 November 1954{{refn|group=note|Appointed immediately by the Government of India after the Kizhoor referendum that was held on 21 October.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DFqbAAAAMAAJ|title=Cabinet Responsibility to Legislature|work= G. C. Malhotra|publisher=Lok Sabha Secretariat|year=2004|isbn=9788120004009 }}</ref>{{rp|964}}}} – 16 November 1956}}<br />
{{Succession box | before= N.A.| title=Ambassador of India to the Denmark{{refn|group=note|Resident in Stockholm}}| after=N.A.|years=c.1959 – 1962}}<br />
{{Succession box | before= N.A.| title=Ambassador of India to the Finland{{refn|group=note|Resident in Stockholm}}| after=N.A.|years=c.1959 – 1962}}<br />
{{Succession box | before= N.A.| title=Ambassador of India to the Sweden| after=N.A.|years=c.1959 – 1962}}<br />
{{Succession box | before= [[T. N. Kaul]] | title=Deputy High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom | after=P. N. Haksar|years=1962 – 1965}}<br />
{{Succession box | before= [[Gopalaswami Parthasarathy (diplomat)|G. Parthasarathi]] | title=[[List of High Commissioners of India to Pakistan|High Commissioner of India to the Pakistan]] | after=[[Samar Sen (diplomat)|S. Sen]]|years=1965 – 1966}}<br />
{{Succession box | before= [[T. N. Kaul]]| title=[[List of ambassadors of India to Russia|Ambassador of India to the Russia]] | after=[[Durga Prasad Dhar]]|years=1966 – 1968}}<br />
{{Succession box | before= N.A.| title=Ambassador of India to the Mongolia | after=N.A.|years=1968 – 1969}}<br />
{{Succession box | before= Khub Chand| title=[[List of ambassadors of India to Germany|Ambassador of India to the Germany]] | after=Y. K. Puri|years=1970 – 1972}}<br />
{{Succession box | before= [[T. N. Kaul]] | title=[[Foreign Secretary of India]] | after=[[J. S. Mehta]]|years=4 December 1972 – 31 March 1976}}<br />
{{Succession box | before= [[T. N. Kaul]] | title=[[List of ambassadors of India to the United States|Ambassador of India to the United States]] | after=[[Nanabhoy Palkhivala]]|years=1976 – 1977}}<br />
{{S-end}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
* [[List of lieutenant governors of Puducherry]]<br />
* [[List of consuls general of India in the French India]]<br />
* [[List of ambassadors of India to Russia]]<br />
* [[List of ambassadors of India to the United States]]<br />
* [[List of Padma Shri award recipients (1954–1959)]]<br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
{{reflist|group=note}}<br />
{{Notelist}}<br />
<br />
{{s-start}}<br />
{{s-dip}}<br />
{{s-bef|before=[[Triloki Nath Kaul]]}}<br />
{{s-ttl|title=[[Foreign Secretary of India]]|years=1972 - 1976}}<br />
{{s-aft|after=[[Jagat Singh Mehta]]}}<br />
{{s-end}}<br />
<br />
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Civil Service}}<br />
{{Authority control}}<br />
<br />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh Choudhary, Kewal}}<br />
[[Category:1915 births]]<br />
[[Category:1991 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:Ambassadors of India to the Soviet Union]]<br />
[[Category:Ambassadors of India to the United States]]<br />
[[Category:Ambassadors of India to Germany]]<br />
[[Category:Ambassadors of India to Mongolia]]<br />
[[Category:Ambassadors of India to Sweden]]<br />
[[Category:Ambassadors of India to Denmark]]<br />
[[Category:High commissioners of India to Pakistan]]<br />
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Oxford]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian civil servants]]<br />
[[Category:Indian Foreign Service officers]]<br />
[[Category:Forman Christian College alumni]]<br />
[[Category:Foreign secretaries of India]]<br />
[[Category:People from Faisalabad]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in civil service]]<br />
[[Category:Lieutenant governors of Puducherry]]<br />
[[Category:People from Punjab Province (British India)]]</div>MaricelaHamilton