Chakravarthi V. Narasimhan, Diplomat, UN Official
Diplomat, UN Official

Chakravarthi V. Narasimhan

Born 13 August 1915 · verify — Died 2 November 2003

Serving as Under Secretary-General of the United Nations for 22 years.

Chakravarthi Vijayaraghava Narasimhan MBE, ICS was an Indian Civil Service officer and a former Under Secretary-General of the United Nations, serving twenty-two years in the UN.

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A detail that
surprised us

“

In 1965, Narasimhan published an English translation of selected Mahābhārata verses, a rare feat for a career diplomat, despite critiques calling it 'dry and oversimplified'.

The Story

1
In 1937, Chakravarthi V. Narasimhan cracked the Indian Civil Service exam and started his career amidst British India’s final decade, entering the ICS in September and soon working in Madras’s Development Department.
2
🎖️ In 1946, as a Deputy Secretary for Madras, he was awarded the MBE, a British honor, just a year before India gained independence, marking a complex recognition amid colonial transition.
3By 1953, Narasimhan led the Economic Affairs Department in India’s Ministry of Finance, managing foreign aid coordination during the country’s early planned economy era.
4🌏 In 1956, he took a bold step, moving to the United Nations as Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East, establishing a bridge between India and global diplomacy.

🏅 Awards & Honours

—
Padma Vibhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

“

Narasimhan was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1946 New Year Honours, just a year before India’s independence, highlighting his role within colonial administration during a turbulent period.

🖼️

Through the Years

5 photographs from the archives
Chakravarthi V. Narasimhan received by Prof. De Quay in The Hague (1963)
Chakravarthi V. Narasimhan received by Prof. De Quay in The Hague (1963)
1963
Chakravarthi V. Narasimhan arriving at Schiphol Airport during a UN visit (1966)
C.V. Narasimhan announcing MS Subbulakshmi's performance at the 1966 UN diplomatic event.
C.V. Narasimhan announcing MS Subbulakshmi's performance at the 1966 UN diplomatic event.
Chakravarthi V. Narasimhan with U Thant and Abdul Rahman Pazhwak at the UN (1967)

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Born in Madras, India
Chakravarthi Vijayaraghava Narasimhan was born in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, laying his roots in a city that was a colonial hub.
1915
⚡
Career
Entered Indian Civil Service
He joined the Indian Civil Service in September 1937, beginning his career in British India’s elite administrative cadre.
1937
🏅
Award
Awarded MBE
Appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year Honours while serving as Deputy Secretary in Madras Development Department.
1946
⚡
Career
Headed Economic Affairs Dept, Ministry of Finance
Led coordination of foreign aid programs in India's Ministry of Finance during early post-independence economic planning.
1953
⚡
Career
Joined United Nations
Appointed Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East, initiating his long UN career.
1956
⚡
Career
Under-Secretary for Special Political Questions
Began work under UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld, collaborating with Nobel laureate Ralph Bunche on political issues.
1958
⚡
Career
Became Chef de Cabinet at UN
Advanced to Chef de Cabinet, managing key UN administrative and political functions at the height of Cold War tensions.
1961
📖
Publication
Published Mahābhārata translation
Authored an English translation of selected Mahābhārata verses, combining his scholarly interest with his diplomatic career.
1965
⚡
Career
Retired as Under Secretary-General
Concluded 22 years at the UN, retiring from the high-ranking role of Under Secretary-General.
1978
🕊️
Death
Passed away in Chennai
Died at the age of 88 in Chennai, India, closing a life bridging colonial and postcolonial India with global diplomacy.
2003
More moments to come...
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

In 1958, Narasimhan worked directly under UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld and alongside Nobel laureate Ralph Bunche, positioning him amid critical Cold War diplomacy.

02 / 04
👤PERSONAL

Despite a demanding international career, Narasimhan translated selected verses of the Mahābhārata into English in 1965, a scholarly pursuit unusual for a high-ranking diplomat.

03 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

He served 22 years at the United Nations, retiring only in 1978 after holding the Under Secretary-General position, an era covering key geopolitical shifts in Asia and the world.

No quote recorded for Chakravarthi V. Narasimhan yet.

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
C.V. Narasimhan | Bureaucrat | Radio Autobiography | Part - 2
·YouTube
More from this archive
C.V. Narasimhan | Bureaucrat | Radio Autobiography | Part - 2
01
C.V. Narasimhan | Bureaucrat | Radio Autobiography | Part - 2
YouTube
C.V. Narasimhan | Bureaucrat | Radio Autobiography | Part - 1
02
C.V. Narasimhan | Bureaucrat | Radio Autobiography | Part - 1
YouTube

🌱 What changed because of them

Narasimhan's tenure at the United Nations helped shape Asia's economic development strategies during the mid-20th century, influencing foreign aid coordination frameworks still referenced today. His dual role in Indian civil service and international diplomacy set precedents for Indian bureaucrats engaging with global institutions. Additionally, his literary contribution to the Mahābhārata added a unique, though debated, cultural dimension to his legacy.

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