NARAYANAN, SHRi K, R. : M. A. (English Literature), First Class First, University of Travancore, Kera!a, B.Sc. (Economics), First Class Honours, London School of Economics; s. of Shri Kocheril Ramari Vaidyan: b. October 27, 1920; m, Shrimati Usha Narayanan; 2 d.; Lecturer. University of Travancore, 1943, Journalist with 'The Hindu' Madras and 'Times of India' Bombay, 1944-45; London Correspondent of 'Social Welfare'—a weekly from Bombay edited by Shri K.M, Munshi, 1945—48; Joined the Indian Foreign Service, 1949 and served with the Indian Missions in Rangoon, Tokyo. London. Australia and Hanoi and held different positions in the Ministry ' of External Affairs: From 1954 to 1955 taught Economic Administration at Delhi Schoo! of Economics and was also Joint Director of the Oriental Centre for Foreign Technicians;
India's Ambassador-- to Thailand, 1967—69, Turkey, 1973—75. The People's Republic of China, 1976—78: Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, 1976: After retirement from Foreign Service in 1978 was appointed Vice-Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University in January 1979 and held the post till October 1980;

Appointed Ambassador to United States of America, 1980—84;

Had been Member of Indian delegation to, (i) United Nations General Assembly. 1979, (n) the U.N. Security Council in November 1985 on Nambian Independence, (111) Conference of Non-aligned Nations at Harare in 1986 and (;v) the Special Session of the U.N. General Assembly in May 1986 on the critical situation in Africa: Elected to Lok Sabha, 1984, 1989 and 1991, Union Minister o' State for (i) Planning, 1965. (ii) External Affairs. 1985-86 and (in) Science and Technology, Atomic Energy, Space. Electronics and Ocean Development and Vice-President. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, 1986—89; Member of the Universal Academy of Cultures, Pans: Honorary Fellow of London School of Economics; honorary Fellow, Jawaharial Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore: Honorary FellowofCentre for Development Studies. Kerala; Doctor of Science {Honoris Causa), University of Toledo, USA; Doctor ofLaws (Honoris Causa), Australian National University; Australian National University has instituted an annual "K.R. Narayanan Oration"; Awarded Jawaharlat Nehru Fellowship in 1970—72 'or study of Nehru's Non-alignment; President, (I) Indian Institute, of Public Administration and (ii) Ramakrishna Mission Institute; Chancellor of Delhi University, POnjab University, Pondicherry University, Assam University, North-Eastern Hill University and Gandhlgram Rural Institute (Deemed University);

Visitor of Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University Institute of Journalism, Bhopal; Chapman of (I) Jury of the Jawaharlal Nehru Award 'or International Understanding, (ii) International Jury for [he Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development, (in) The Advisory Committee for the Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Award, (iv) The Jury for International Gandhi Award for Leprosy, (v) The Jury for Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar, (vi) The Jury for Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Award for Social Understanding and Upliftment of Weaker Sections, (vii) The Jury for Dr. Ambedkar International Award for Social Change and (viii) Jury for G.D. Biria Awards for Humanism. India's Heritage and Culture and Rural Upliftment; Author of, (i) "India and America. Essays in Understanding", (ii) "Images and Insights" and (iii) ''Non-alignment in Contemporary International Relations" (Joint Authorship); Vice-President of India and ex-officio Chairman, Rajya Sabha 21.8.92 to 24.7.97; President of the Republic of India from 25.7.97onwards.