Sir CPN SINGH / विद्वान् राजनयिक

Governor of Uttar Pradesh (1980-85), and India's first ambassador to Nepal. He also served as an ambassador of Japan. He was born on the 18th April 1901 at Parsgarh, Bihar. Standing First Class-First from the Calcutta University in his M.A. He obtained the Mallick Gold Medal in 1925. After coming to Bihar, he was elected to the then Legislative Council in 1927. He was also elected Chairman of the District Board of Muzaffarpur, where he distinguished himself by exemplary organisation of succour for earthquake victims of the great Bihar Earthquake of 1934. This received special recognition at the hands of the different organisations of the country, including the Congress at that time. In 1945, he became the Vice-Chancellor of the United Patna University. After Independence, he was invited by the then Prime Minister, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, to become the country's Ambassador to Nepal. It was during his tenure the King of Nepal sought refuge at the Indian Embassy in 1950. After completing his tenure there, he was appointed the Governor of undivided Punjab in 1953. It was under his aegis that the city of Chandigarh and the Bhakra-Nangal dam were built. In 1958, he subsequently became the Ambassador to Japan. There he received the signal and unique honour of receiving a doctorate from the prestigious Ohtani University. Unable to continue in the post, due to ill-health, he was forced to come back to India. After that he became a Director of the Reserve Bank of India and the I.D.B.I. and the Chairman of several companies. A distinguished educationist, an able administrator and an inspiring leader and interpreter of Indian Culture, Shri C.P.N. Singh was honoured with Padma Vibhushan in 1977 for his meritorious services rendered to the country.