A former Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, Vienna and Governor for India of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna and Ambassador to Austria and Slovenia (2000-2004), T.P. Sreenivasan has served in the Indian Foreign Service for 37 years. His previous postings were as Deputy Chief of Mission in the Embassy of India, Washington, (1997-2000) High Commissioner of India to Kenya
and Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations in
Nairobi, (1995-1997) Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of
India to the United Nations, New York. (1992-1995) and Ambassador to
Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu,
Kiribati and Tonga (1986-1989). He has also served in New Delhi,
Tokyo, Thimphu, New York and Yangon. He rose to the highest level in
the Indian Foreign Service in 2001 and retired in 2004.
Mr. Sreenivasan has nearly 20 years of experience in multilateral
diplomacy and has represented India at a number of international
conferences organised by the United Nations, the Commonwealth and the
Nonaligned Movement. He has chaired several UN Committees and
Conferences.
Mr. Sreenivasan has a creditable academic record, having stood first
in the University of Kerala in B.A. (English) and M.A. (English). He
has won several distinctions during his student days. He speaks
Japanese and Russian.
Mr. Sreenivasan is presently a member of the National
Security Advisory Board of the Government of India, the Director
General, Kerala International Centre and an Adviser to ‘Asianet’ and
produces a weekly TV programme on international issues entitled
‘Videsa Vicharam’. He also contributes articles regularly to the “Asia
Wall Street Journal”, ‘The Times of India’, ‘The Tribune’ ‘Deccan Chronicle”, Asian Age and ‘Rediff.com’ He is also a visiting faculty in several universities and
other academic institutions. He is also the Executive Director of
‘IAEA 2020’, a project launched by the Director General of the
International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna.
Mr. Sreenivasan was a Visiting Fellow on Foreign Policy at the
Brookings Institution, Washington in 2009. He the author of three books: ‘Words, Words, Words—Adventures in Diplomacy’, ‘Encounters’ and ‘Mattering to India-the Shashi Tharoor Campaign.’
Mr. Sreenivasan is married to Lekha Sreenivasan who is an Indian
classical dancer and painter. She is the founder chairperson of Karuna Charities International. The couple has two children; one of them, Sreenath Sreenivasan is the Dean ofStudents and Professor of New Media at the Graduate School of
Journalism at Columbia University, New York and the other, Sreekanth Sreenivasan is in the private sector in Dubai.
and Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations in
Nairobi, (1995-1997) Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of
India to the United Nations, New York. (1992-1995) and Ambassador to
Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu,
Kiribati and Tonga (1986-1989). He has also served in New Delhi,
Tokyo, Thimphu, New York and Yangon. He rose to the highest level in
the Indian Foreign Service in 2001 and retired in 2004.
Mr. Sreenivasan has nearly 20 years of experience in multilateral
diplomacy and has represented India at a number of international
conferences organised by the United Nations, the Commonwealth and the
Nonaligned Movement. He has chaired several UN Committees and
Conferences.
Mr. Sreenivasan has a creditable academic record, having stood first
in the University of Kerala in B.A. (English) and M.A. (English). He
has won several distinctions during his student days. He speaks
Japanese and Russian.
Mr. Sreenivasan is presently a member of the National
Security Advisory Board of the Government of India, the Director
General, Kerala International Centre and an Adviser to ‘Asianet’ and
produces a weekly TV programme on international issues entitled
‘Videsa Vicharam’. He also contributes articles regularly to the “Asia
Wall Street Journal”, ‘The Times of India’, ‘The Tribune’ ‘Deccan Chronicle”, Asian Age and ‘Rediff.com’ He is also a visiting faculty in several universities and
other academic institutions. He is also the Executive Director of
‘IAEA 2020’, a project launched by the Director General of the
International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna.
Mr. Sreenivasan was a Visiting Fellow on Foreign Policy at the
Brookings Institution, Washington in 2009. He the author of three books: ‘Words, Words, Words—Adventures in Diplomacy’, ‘Encounters’ and ‘Mattering to India-the Shashi Tharoor Campaign.’
Mr. Sreenivasan is married to Lekha Sreenivasan who is an Indian
classical dancer and painter. She is the founder chairperson of Karuna Charities International. The couple has two children; one of them, Sreenath Sreenivasan is the Dean ofStudents and Professor of New Media at the Graduate School of
Journalism at Columbia University, New York and the other, Sreekanth Sreenivasan is in the private sector in Dubai.
T.P. Sreenivasan, who retired from the highest level in the Indian Foreign Service on June 30, 2004 at the age of 60, has 37 years of diplomatic experience in crucial appointments around the globe.
He joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1967 through a highly competitive Civil Service examination with a brilliant academic record, having stood first in the University of Kerala in the Bachelors and Masters examinations.
After successful training for two years, he served as the Third Secretary in the Embassy of India, Tokyo (1969-71) where he passed an advanced examination in the Japanese language with distinction. He won prizes in Japanese debating and interpreted speeches on live television. He also demonstrated his talent for commercial work. Ambassador Vincent Coelho characterized him as "much loved, much admired", when he left Tokyo.
In Thimphu, Bhutan, (1971-74) as the First Secretary in the Indian Mission, he dealt with the complex and important relationship with a friendly neighbouring country and made a mark for his sensitivity and diplomatic skills.
As the First Secretary (Political) and the Head of Chancery in the Embassy in Moscow, (1974-77) he proved his administrative skills and talent for man management. He also reported extensively on political issues. He traveled the length and breadth of the then Soviet Union, learning about the vast country and promoting co-operation between India and the Soviet Union.
Having been handpicked by the then Foreign Secretary, Jagat Mehta, as his Special Assistant, (1977-80) he had the unique experience of witnessing and assisting policy formulation at the highest levels. He traveled with high level delegations and participated in various bilateral and multilateral negotiations. He was assigned to assist the Minister of External Affairs at the Commonwealth Summit in Lusaka and the Nonaligned Summit in Havana. The Foreign Secretary rated him as one of India's ablest diplomats.
His talent for multilateral diplomacy blossomed during his days as Counsellor (Political) in the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations (1980-83). Whether it was the Decolonisation Committee, The Council for Namibia or the Disarmament and International Security Committee or the Committee on the Indian Ocean, he made the Indian case forcefully and effectively and helped build consensus, which accommodated India's concerns. He became the authentic voice of India. A local journal called him a 'Man for all Seasons".
In Yangon, Myanmar, (1983-86) he spent more time as the Acting Head of Mission rather than as the Deputy. He gave life to India-Myanmar relations, which had remained dormant as a result of the isolationist policy of Myanmar. Trade went up and the cultural scene became active. Many outstanding issues were resolved and a beginning was made for a mutually beneficial relationship. He began his golfing career there, which won him many friends around the globe in future years.
His first appointment as a Head of Mission (1986-89) was to Fiji, with concurrent accreditation to Papa New Guinea, Vanuatu, Nauru, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Kiribati. After a year of hectic, but peaceful life in the islands, he found himself in the middle of a political crisis, when a democratically elected Government, dominated by Fiji Indians, was overthrown in a coup. In a situation where the Government of India refused to recognize the military Government, he had to operate in unconventional ways to promote the interests of Fiji Indians, whom the Government of India had vowed to protect. After more than two years of a tense relationship, the Fiji Government invited him and the Indian Mission itself to leave. But India's position was vindicated when the Fiji Indians were brought back into the political mainstream after a decade.
As the head of the International Organisations Division in the Ministry of External Affairs, (1989-92) he returned to multilateral diplomacy. He guided multilateral negotiations around the globe and also participated in various international conferences. The negotiations on the CTBT and the preparations for the Rio Summit dominated the agenda at the time. He successfully met the challenge presented by the transformation of the world situation, as reflected in the United Nations.
His posting to New York as Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations (1992-95) was in recognition of his extraordinary talent for multilateral work. Among the negotiations in which he played a crucial role were on An Agenda for peace, An Agenda for Development, UN High Commissioner for Refugees and Peacekeeping Operations. He chaired the Security Council Committee on an Arms Embargo against South Africa, the Committee on Programme and Co-ordination, the General Assembly Consultations on Financing of Technical Co-operation and the GA Working group on Reforms of the United Nations. His role in countering the renewed Pakistan propaganda on Jammu and Kashmir in the various UN bodies during this period was a highlight of his career.
His tenure as High Commissioner to Kenya and Permanent Representative of India to the UN bodies in Nairobi (1995-97) was marred by a politically motivated armed attack, which put him in a wheelchair for several months, but he refused to be deterred by the incident. He helped to bring about reform in The United Nations Programme on the Environment (UNEP) and HABITAT. He also chaired the Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR) to UNEP for a year. On the bilateral front, he doubled trade with Kenya by holding an unprecedented trade exhibition, ‘Made in India Show’, opened by President Daniel Arap Moi. The Indian community in Nairobi was spurred into action to boost bilateral relations.
At a moment of crisis in the Embassy of India in Washington, necessitating the presence there of a senior officer as the Deputy Chief of Mission at short notice, Prime Minister I.K. Gujral ordered his posting there (1997-2000). India-US relations underwent some dramatic changes during the period, particularly after India’s nuclear tests. He made a personal contribution to the management of those relations through his skillful interaction with the State Department, the media, the Think Tanks and the Indian community.
The posting to Vienna as Ambassador to Austria and Slovenia and the Permanent Representative to the UN (2000-2004) was the grand finale of an illustrious career. His role as the Governor for India of the IAEA was crucial at a critical time. The relations with Austria and Slovenia were also strengthened and diversified during his tenure. Having reached the mandatory age of 60, he retired from the Foreign Service at the end of June, 2004.
Sreenivasan is presently the Director General of the Kerala International Centre in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. He is also the Executive Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) 2020 Project. He is an Advisor to Asianet, the largest Malayalam television channel and produces a weekly program on Foreign Affairs called "Videsha Vicharam". As a freelance writer, he contributes to Asia Wall Street Journal, Times of India, Tribune and Rediff.com.
Sreenivasan is the author of two books, "Words, Words, Words - Adventures in Diplomacy" (Pearson Longman) and "Encounters" (Rythm House).
Sreenivasan is married to Lekha Sreenivasan, an accomplished Bharathanatyam dancer and painter. She established the Karuna Charities International in New York, with Chapters in other cities. Their elder son, Sreenath Sreenivasan, is the Professor of New Media at the Journalism School of Columbia University, New York. He and his wife, Roopa Unnikrishnan, an Arjuna award winner for excellence in sport (rifle shooting) and a Rhodes Scholar, have twin children, Durga and Krishna. Sreenath was recently featured by the ‘Newsweek’ among the 20 most influential South Asians in the US. Sreenivasan’s younger son, Sreekanth Sreenivasan, is the Business Development Manager for the Afras group of companies in Dubai.
Multilateral Experience
I. Special Assistant to the Foreign Secretary Government of India (1978-80)
Delegate to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, Lusaka, Zambia 1979
Delegate to the Summit of the Nonaligned Movement, Havana, Cuba 1979
II. Counsellor (Political), Permanent Mission of India, New York (1980-1983)
Vice Chairman UN Council for Namibia
Delegate to the Committee on Palestine
Delegate to the Ad hoc Committee on the Indian Ocean
Delegate to the Decolonisation Committee
Member of the Advisory Board on UN Education Programme for Southern Africa
Delegate to the Ministerial Meeting of the Nonaligned Movement, New Delhi, India 1981
Delegate to the Summit of the Nonaligned Movement, New Delhi, India 1983
Delegate to the Special Meetings of the Palestine Committee, Nicosia, Cyprus 1982
Delegate to the UN General Assembly Sessions 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982
III. Coordinator of the Ministerial Meeting of the Nonaligned Movement, New Delhi, India 1986
IV. Head of the International Organisations, Division of the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi, India (1989-1992)
Delegate to the UN General Assembly Sessions 1989, 1990, 1991
Delegate to the Human Rights Commission 1990,1991,1992
Delegate to the Sessions of the UN Committee on Programme and Coordination 1990, 1991,1992
Delegate to the Consultative Committee on the Antarctic Treaty, Santiago, Chile
Delegate to the Ministerial Meeting of the Nonaligned Movement, Accra, Ghana 1991
Coordinator for India's participation in the Conference on Environment And Development 1992
V. Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations (1992-1995)
Delegate to the General Assembly Sessions 1992,1993, 1994
Vice Chairman, Inter Governmental Committee on Climate Change And the Conference of Parties, Berlin 1995
Delegate to the UN Security Council 1992
Chairman of the UN Security Council Committee on Sanctions Against South Africa 1992
Chairman of the UN General Assembly Consultations on Financing of UN Programmes for Development 1995
Chairman of the UN General Assembly Consultations on UN Reforms 1995
Delegate to the Ad hoc Committee on Expansion of the Security Council
Delegate to the Commission on Sustainable Development (1993-1995)
Delegate to the Social Summit, Copenhagen, Denmark 1995
VI. High Commissioner to Kenya and Permanent Representative of India to the UN Offices in Nairobi (1995-1997)
Chairman of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to UNEP1996
PR to the UN Commission on Human Settlements, Nairobi (1995-1997)
Delegate and Spokesman of G77 to the Habitat Conference Istanbul, Turkey (1996)
Member of the High Level Advisory Committee for UNEP
VII. Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India, Washington (1997-2000)
Member of the Convening Group for a Community of Democracies (1999-2000)
VIII. Ambassador of India to Austria and Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations Organisations (UNO) in Vienna (2000-2004)
Chairman, the Expert Group for evolving the terms of reference for the proposed International Convention against Corruption, UN, Vienna, Austria (2001)
Vice-Chairman, Committee of the Whole, IAEA General Conference, UN,Vienna,Austria (2001)
Vice-Chairman, the 45th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, UN, Vienna, Austria (2002)
Vice-Chairman, the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (2003)
Chairman, Commission on Narcotic Drugs (2004)
T.P. Sreenivasan
Former Ambassador of India to the United Nations, Vienna
Former Governor for India, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna
Managing Trustee and Director General, Kerala International Centre, Thiruvananthapuram
Email: tpsreenivasan@gmail.com
Mobile: (91) 98477 21656
Phone: (91 471) 272 5456/272 0497
Mailing Address: "Sreelekha" J-3, Jawahar Nagar, Thiruvananthapuram 695 003, Kerala, India
Former Ambassador of India to the United Nations, Vienna
Former Governor for India, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna
Managing Trustee and Director General, Kerala International Centre, Thiruvananthapuram
Email: tpsreenivasan@gmail.com
Mobile: (91) 98477 21656
Phone: (91 471) 272 5456/272 0497
Mailing Address: "Sreelekha" J-3, Jawahar Nagar, Thiruvananthapuram 695 003, Kerala, India
