Kamalesh Sharma

Kamalesh Sharma
Name	Kamalesh Sharma
Birth date	1941
Birth place	Lucknow, United Provinces, British Raj
Nationality	Indian
Occupation	Diplomat, diplomat, civil servant, academic
Alma mater	The Doon School, St. Stephen's College, Balliol College, Oxford

Kamalesh Sharma (born 1941) is an Indian diplomat and academic who served in senior posts including Permanent Representative to the United Nations, High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, and as the fifth Commonwealth Secretary-General. He has held roles across multilateral institutions such as the United Nations Security Council, the International Court of Justice, and the Commonwealth of Nations. His career spans postings in Geneva, New York, London, and Delhi with involvement in diplomacy, international law, and education.

Early life and education

Born in Lucknow during the British Raj, he attended The Doon School before studying at St. Stephen's College, Delhi and reading Law at Balliol College, Oxford. His formative years connected him to networks including alumni of Eton College-educated diplomats, contemporaries from All India Services backgrounds, and scholars associated with the Indian Civil Service legacy. He later associated with institutions such as Jawaharlal Nehru University, University of Cambridge, and London School of Economics through fellowships and lectures.

Diplomatic career

Sharma joined the Indian Foreign Service and served at missions such as the Permanent Mission in Geneva and the Permanent Mission in New York. His postings included representation at bodies like the United Nations Human Rights Council, the World Health Organization, and the World Trade Organization. He participated in multilateral negotiations alongside envoys from United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and representatives of the European Union. Sharma took part in debates at the United Nations General Assembly, on the UN Security Council during India's non-permanent membership bids, and in proceedings involving the International Atomic Energy Agency and the International Court of Justice. He served as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom in London, engaging with counterparts from the British Council, Commonwealth Secretariat, House of Commons, and House of Lords.

Governor of Maharashtra

Appointed Governor of Maharashtra, he occupied Raj Bhavan in Mumbai and worked with chief ministers from parties including the Indian National Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party, and regional parties such as the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party. His gubernatorial term interacted with developments in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, responses to events like the 2008 Mumbai attacks aftermath, and administrative exchanges with the Election Commission of India. He engaged with institutions such as the Bombay High Court, the Mumbai Police, and public universities including University of Mumbai.

Commonwealth Secretary-General

Elected as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations, he succeeded predecessors linked to posts in Canberra, London, and Kuala Lumpur. In that role he liaised with heads of state from member countries such as United Kingdom, India, Australia, Canada, South Africa, Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and New Zealand. He chaired meetings of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and worked with institutions including the Commonwealth Foundation, the Commonwealth Games Federation, and the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group. His tenure addressed issues involving member states such as Zimbabwe, Fiji, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Gambia, and Papua New Guinea, and involved dialogue with organisations like the United Nations, the African Union, and the International Criminal Court.

Academic and public engagements

After his tenure in multilateral diplomacy, he engaged with academic institutions including Oxford University, Cambridge University, London School of Economics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, University of Delhi, Columbia University, Harvard University, and think tanks such as the Chatham House, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Brookings Institution, and the Royal Institute of International Affairs. He lectured on topics at forums like the India Today conferences, the World Economic Forum, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, and the Observer Research Foundation. He served on advisory boards including those of the United Nations Association, the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, and cultural institutions such as the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and the British Museum.

Honours and awards

He received honours from institutions and orders including academic degrees, fellowships, and national awards presented by bodies like University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University of Edinburgh, Government of India, Royal Society of Arts, and distinctions associated with the Order of the British Empire-level recognitions. His awards and honorary positions involved organisations such as the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, the Asia Society, Royal Commonwealth Society, and regional universities including University of Mumbai and University of Delhi.

Category:Indian diplomats Category:Commonwealth Secretaries-General Category:Governors of Maharashtra Category:1941 births Category:Living people