Govind Narain,
ICS (5 May 1916 – 3 April 2012) was an Indian civil servant who was member of the
Indian Civil Service
The Indian Civil Service (ICS), officially known as the Imperial Civil Service, was the higher civil service of the British Empire in India during British Raj, British rule in the period between 1858 and 1947.
Its members ruled over more than 3 ...
and served as the 8th
Governor of Karnataka
The governor of Karnataka, formerly governor of Mysore, is the constitutional head of the Indian state of Karnataka. The governor is appointed by the president of India, and holds office at the president's pleasure. The governor is ''de jure'' ...
.
He formerly served as Defence Secretary of India (1973 to 1975),
Home Secretary of India (1971 to 1973) and the
Chief Secretary of
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh ( ; UP) is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. With over 241 million inhabitants, it is the List of states and union territories of India by population, most populated state in In ...
(1958 to 1961). He is considered to be one of
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
's most senior and respected civil servants.
He also served as Adviser and Secretary to the
King of Nepal
The King of Nepal (traditionally known as the Mahārājdhirāja i.e. Great King of Kings; ) was Nepal's head of state and monarch from 1768 to 2008. He served as the head of the Nepalese monarchy—Shah Dynasty. The monarchy was abolished on 2 ...
from 1951 to 1954.
Early childhood and education
He was born into a Kayastha family in
Mainpuri
Mainpuri (; ) is a city in Mainpuri district in the States and territories of India, Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of Mainpuri district and is 55 km from Etawah and 294 km from New Delhi. Mainp ...
,
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh ( ; UP) is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. With over 241 million inhabitants, it is the List of states and union territories of India by population, most populated state in In ...
and educated at the
University of Allahabad
The University of Allahabad is a Central university (India), Central University located in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. It was established on 23 September 1887 by an act of Parliament and is recognised as an Institute of National Importance (INI). ...
and
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a collegiate university, collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the List of oldest un ...
.
Career
He was selected as a member of the
Indian Civil Service
The Indian Civil Service (ICS), officially known as the Imperial Civil Service, was the higher civil service of the British Empire in India during British Raj, British rule in the period between 1858 and 1947.
Its members ruled over more than 3 ...
in 1939 and served as
District Collector
The district magistrate, also known as the district collector or deputy commissioner, is a career civil servant who serves as the executive head of a district's administration in India. The specific name depends on the state or union territo ...
of
Farrukhabad
Farrukhabad is a city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of the Farrukhabad tehsil. This city is on the banks of river Ganges is from the national capital Delhi and from the state capital Lucknow.
His ...
and
Aligarh
Aligarh (; formerly known as Koil) is a city in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. It is the administrative headquarters of Aligarh district and lies northwest of state capital Lucknow and approximately southeast of the capital, New Delhi. ...
.
Ministry of Defence
He served as 11th
Defence Secretary of India (1973 to 1975) and also as
Secretary to the Government of India in Department of Defence Production (DDP) from 1968 to 1970.
Ministry of Home Affairs
As Home Secretary, he played a crucial role during the
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. He then became
Defence Secretary, a post he occupied between 1973 and 1975. He was also chief secretary of Uttar Pradesh, and was deputised to build relations between India and Nepal in 1951 as Adviser to the
King of Nepal
The King of Nepal (traditionally known as the Mahārājdhirāja i.e. Great King of Kings; ) was Nepal's head of state and monarch from 1768 to 2008. He served as the head of the Nepalese monarchy—Shah Dynasty. The monarchy was abolished on 2 ...
.
Ministry of Health
He served as
Secretary to the Government of India in
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) is an Government of India, Indian government Ministry (government department), ministry charged with health policy in India. It is also responsible for all government programs relating to family ...
from 1966 to 1968.
Others
After retirement, he was affiliated with the
Public Interest Legal Support and Research Trust, Shankara Vidya Kendra, Federation of Indo-German Society in India, and an NGO,
Common Cause
Common Cause is a watchdog group based in Washington, D.C., with chapters in 35 states. It was founded in 1970 by John W. Gardner, a Republican, who was the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare in the administration of President Lyndon ...
.
Political career
He was named
Governor of Karnataka
The governor of Karnataka, formerly governor of Mysore, is the constitutional head of the Indian state of Karnataka. The governor is appointed by the president of India, and holds office at the president's pleasure. The governor is ''de jure'' ...
and held the post between 1977 and 1983. He was awarded the
Padma Vibhushan
The Padma Vibhushan ( , lit. "Lotus Grandeur") is the second-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "exceptional and distinguished service". All persons w ...
in 2009.
Further reading
* ''Nehru to the Nineties - The Changing Office of Prime Minister in India'' (Publisher: Hurst; )
* ''Me and My Guru: A Personal Memoir of Spiritual Awakening and Growth'' (Publisher: Prabhat Prakashan; )
* ''On the Corridors of Power: the Theatre of the Absurd'' (Publisher: Partridge Publishing India; )
* ''Legacy to Bureaucracy - Musings of an Indian Civil Servant'' (Publisher: Lancer Publishers & Distributors; )
* ''Relentless: An Autobiography'' (Publisher: Bloomsbury India; )
References
External links
Official Profile and Biographyat Governors Office, Karnataka
Govind Narain, one of the last surviving ICS officers, deadGovind Narain: The young ICS who protected Aligarh university
{{DEFAULTSORT:Narain, Govind
1916 births
People from Mainpuri
Indian Civil Service (British India) officers
Alumni of the University of Oxford
University of Allahabad alumni
Governors of Karnataka
Recipients of the Padma Vibhushan in public affairs
2012 deaths
Indian civil servants
Indian Home Secretaries
Defence Secretaries of India