Har Mander Singh

Har Mander Singh
Chief Commissioner, Andaman and Nicobar Islands
In office
1972–1975
Preceded byH. S. Butalia
Succeeded bySurendra Mohan Krishnatry
Commissioner, North-East Frontier Agency
In office
1971–1972
Director, Ministry of External Affairs
In office
1968–1971
Personal details
Born(1926-06-26)26 June 1926
Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
Died2020 (aged 93–94)
ChildrenHarsh Mander
Awards
Padma Shri
1960

Har Mander Singh (1926–2020) was an Indian administrator, diplomat, and a recipient of the Padma Shri in 1960. He played a pivotal role in the Dalai Lama’s safe passage into India in 1959 and served in various key positions in governance.

Early life

Har Mander Singh was born on 26 June 1926, in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, to Piara Singh.

Career

Early career

Singh began his professional journey as a commissioned officer in the Indian Army (1946–1953). He later transitioned to the Indian Frontier Administrative Service (IFAS), where he held significant postings:

Role in the Dalai Lama's escape to India

In 1959, the 14th Dalai Lama fled Tibet after a failed uprising against Chinese rule. Har Mander Singh played a key role in coordinating the Dalai Lama's safe passage into India. Singh escorted the Tibetan spiritual leader from the Chutangnu border crossing, through treacherous terrain and remote villages, including Gorhsam, Shakti, Lumla, Thongleng, Tawang, Jang, Senge Dzong, Dirang, Rahung, and Bomdila, ultimately reaching Tezpur, Assam. For this exceptional service, Singh was awarded the Padma Shri in 1960. His detailed diary entries on the operation were later compiled in the book An Officer and His Holiness by his niece, Rani Singh. The book includes interviews with the Dalai Lama, his brother Tenzin Choegyal, and others involved in the event.

Subsequent roles

Singh held several prominent roles:

Personal life

Har Mander Singh was married to Narinder Kaur, and the couple had two sons and one daughter. His son, Harsh Mander, is a noted author and civil rights activist. In 2017, at age 91, he co-signed an open letter with 64 other retired senior officials, advocating for the preservation of democratic values and governance in India.

Death

Har Mander Singh died in 2020.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 India Who's who. INFA Publications. 1975. p. 159.
  2. 1 2 3 4 IANS (2020-04-17). "Lockdown read: Indian who spirited Dalai Lama to safety, no lessons learnt from a century-old graft case". National Herald. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
  3. ↑ "Padma Awards | Interactive Dashboard". dashboard-padmaawards.gov.in. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
  4. 1 2 "Story of Indian Officer Who Escorted the Dalai Lama to Safety". Tibetan Journal. 2020-05-05. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
  5. 1 2 Singh, Rani (2020-01-30). An Officer and His Holiness. Penguin Random House India Private Limited. ISBN 978-93-5305-746-6.
  6. ↑ "An island home in the Indian Ocean; Time and place". Sunday Times (London, England): 3. 2003-10-05.
  7. ↑ Kohli, M. S. (2005). One More Step: An Autobiography. New Delhi. p. 225. ISBN 978-0-670-05787-0.
  8. ↑ Asia and Pacific News Sheet. ISSA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. 1996. pp. 4–7.
  9. ↑ Mander, Harsh (2012-12-01). Ash in the Belly: India's Unfinished Battle Against Hunger. Penguin UK. ISBN 978-81-8475-860-3.
  10. ↑ "Letter To PM Modi On 'Hypernationalism' Based On Experience: Ex-Official". www.ndtv.com. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
  11. ↑ Rao, Nirupama (2022-11-21). The Fractured Himalaya: India Tibet China 1949-1962. Penguin Random House India Private Limited. ISBN 978-93-5492-288-6.