Lalit Mansingh

Lalit Mansingh
Indian Foreign Secretary
In office December 1, 1999 - 2001
Preceded by	K. Raghunath
Succeeded by	Chokila Iyer
Personal details
Born	(1941-04-29) 29 April 1941 Orissa
Spouse(s)	Indira
Children	Two
Parents	Mayadhar Mansingh (father)
Occupation	Civil Servant (Indian Foreign Service)

Lalit Mansingh (born April 29, 1941) is the former Indian diplomat, the Foreign Secretary of India, 1999–2000, and Indian Ambassador to the United States on March 15, 2001. Prior to this he had remained Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. Lalit Mansingh is the son of Oriya poet Mayadhar Mansingh.

Early life and education

Mansingh was born and brought up in Odisha as the middle son of Oriya poet Mayadhar Mansingh. He was born at NANDALA of District of Puri surrounded by Chillika lake and Bay of Bengal and graduated with honors in History and obtained his master's degree in Political Science, receiving University’s Gold Medals for securing the top position in both subjects. He was a Research scholar and Faculty for short period in American Studies Programme at the School of International Studies in Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He was married to Odissi dancer Sonal Mansingh. but, the couple decided to divorce later.

Career

Lalit Mansingh has remained a lecturer in the Post-Graduate Department of Political Science, Utkal University in Bhubaneswar, Orissa. He joined Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, in June 1963 and was the topper of his batch. He became High Commissioner to Nigeria (1993–95) and Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (1980–83) and in Nigeria with concurrent accreditation to Benin, Chad and The Cameroons. Apart from that he also served in various diplomatic capacities in Geneva, Afghanistan and Belgium.

He was Deputy Chief of Mission in Washington, DC, 1989–92 and remained the Dean of Foreign Service Institute, India, from 1995 to 1996., apart from serving as Director-General of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs .

Ambassador Mansingh is a member of an international group called the Non Official Group of Friends (NGF) of Sri Lanka which aims at assisting that country in its post-conflict reconstruction and reconciliation. He is part of a Track II dialogue between India and Pakistan focusing on confidence building measures between the two nuclear armed neighbors.

Other engagements - Overseas: Member, Board of Trustees, International Crisis Group, Brussels; Member, Asia Pacific Leadership Network, Canberra; Member, International Advisory Council, APCO Worldwide, Washington D.C.and International Advisory Council Member in APCO Worldwide

In India: Chairman World Cultural Forum India; President, India Strategic Forum, Vice President, Maha Bodhi Society of India; Chairman, Political Science Association, Ravenshaw University; Vice President of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Prof Emeritus at the Foreign Service Institute of India; Member, Governing Body of Development Alternatives, New Delhi and Gram Vikas, Orissa

He is also Diplomatic Advisor to the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Chairman, FICCI India-US Policy Group.

He was awarded the Kharavela Samman (Kharavela Award) by Orissa Governor in Feb, 2009

Speech and transcription

• Valedictory address delivered by Ambassador Lalit Mansingh, former Foreign Secretary in a seminar on Tibet in the Aftermath of Devolution of Political Authority at VIF India

Further reading

• Selected Speeches, Remarks & Letters of Ambassador Lalit Mansingh
• Lalit Singh Mansingh Interview

External links

• Ministry of External Affairs, Official website
• Lalit Mansingh Quotes
• Lalit Mansingh: From us to US The Times of India

Political offices
Preceded by Naresh Chandra	Indian Ambassador to the United States 2001-2004	Succeeded by Ronen Sen