A distinguished civil servant, Chandra had a long association with the United States.
Naresh Chandra, who served as India’s ambassador to the United States from 1996 to 2001, passed away at a Panaji, Goa, hospital on Sunday. He was 82.
Chandra, a 1956 batch Indian Administrative Service officer, died due to a cardiac arrest, according to reports.
“He was admitted to the hospital on Friday evening with complaints of fever and vomiting,” Dr. Shekhar Salkar of the Manipal Hospital told The Hindu newspaper.
Chandra had been a diabetic, according to Dr. Salkar.
Within hours of his death, tributes have been pouring in.
“Shri Naresh Chandra was an outstanding public servant, who left an indelible mark on matters of governance & policy,” tweeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Pained by his demise.”
In another tweet, Modi said the former envoy “believed in strong India-USA friendship.” He wrote: “I remember an insightful discussion with Naresh Ji, who as USA ambassador invited me for dinner.”
Chandra’s former colleagues also remembered him fondly.
“His networking skills, his ability to manage complex inter-personal relations and to do all this with an unfailing sense of humor brought him to the pinnacle of the civil service and then beyond,” Shyam Saran, a former foreign secretary, wrote in The Business Standard. He leaves behind a formidable reputation, indeed, the aura of a legend.
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In a tweet, Indian Ambassador to the United States Navtej Sarna described Chandra as “a gigantic intellect.”
The ambassador, who served at the embassy from 1998 to 2001, during Sarna’s tenure in the US capital, recalled that the iconic Gandhi statue on the Massachusetts Ave “was his personal mission.”
During a distinguished career, Chandra served the government and people of India in a number of high profile positions, including as the cabinet secretary (1990 to 1992) and as the governor of Gujarat (1995-1996).
He also served as co-chairman of the US-India Technology Group and as a member of the Indo-US Economic Sub-Commission. After India opened up its economy, he led a delegation to the United States seeking investments.
Born in Allahabad on August 31, 1934, Chandra earned a master’s degree in mathematics from the Allahabad University.
Shri Naresh Chandra was an outstanding public servant, who left an indelible mark on matters of governance & policy. Pained by his demise.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 10, 2017
I remember an insightful discussion with Naresh Ji, who as USA ambassador invited me for dinner. He believed in strong India-USA friendship.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 10, 2017
Deeply saddened; he was my Ambassador 98-01; a gigantic intellect. Gandhi statue on Mass Ave, today a landmark, was his personal mission https://t.co/0Ixj6Nn7jV
— Navtej Sarna (@NavtejSarna) July 10, 2017