Samar Sen (diplomat)

Samar Sen (10 August 1914 – 16 February 2003) was an Indian diplomat who served as the 1st permanent representative of India to the United Nations, Geneva, 8th in New York and the 2nd high commissioner of India to Bangladesh from June 1974 to November 1976.[10]

Samar Sen
1st and 8th Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations
In office
January 1969 – June 1974[1]
Preceded byGopalaswami Parthasarathy
Succeeded byRikhi Jaipal
In office
June 1953 – October 1955[2]
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byB. N. Rau
2nd High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh
In office
June 1974 – November 1976[3]
Preceded bySubimal Dutt
Succeeded byK. P. S. Menon
President of the United Nations Security Council
In office
1972–1973[4]
Preceded byJeanne Martin Cissé
Succeeded byChaidir Anwar Sani
Chairperson of the Group of 77
In office
1970–1971[5]
7th High Commissioner of India to Pakistan
In office
1968–1969[6]
Preceded byKewal Singh Choudhary
Succeeded byB. K. Acharya
7th High Commissioner of India to Australia
In office
1960–1963[7]
Personal details
Born(1914-08-10)10 August 1914
Dacca, Bengal Presidency, British India (now Dhaka, Bangladesh)
Died16 February 2003(2003-02-16) (aged 88)
London, United Kingdom[8]
SpouseSheila Malhotra[9]
Alma materUniversity of Oxford

Born in Dacca, British India (in modern-day Dhaka, Bangladesh),[11] Sen obtained his education from the University of Calcutta, the University of London, Oxford, and Lincoln's Inn. He was a civil services officer who served as a president of the United Nations Security Council from 1972 to 73.[12]

Career

Sen served in the government of India at various posts, including under secretary, and deputy secretary. From 1946 to 48, he represented India at the United Nations as a liaison officer. He also served as chairperson of the International Commission of Control and Supervision besides serving as ambassador to Algeria and Lebanon, and high commissioner to Australia, New Zealand, and Pakistan. At the government of India, he also served as joint secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs from 1957 to 1959.

During his foreign services, he served as president of the United Nations Administrative Tribunal and chairperson of the G77.[5]

Assassination attempt

Following the Bangladesh Liberation War and assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, he was reportedly a target of an assassination attempt in November 1975. He received several injuries and then remained India's high commissioner for the next year until he was appointed as high commissioner to Pakistan.[13]

He suffered broken shoulder bone, but bullet was removed after a surgery in Dhaka hospital. During retaliation his security guards killed four of the six attackers. The attackers posed his visitors in a civilian clothes. He was brought to India by an Indian Air Force plan, although he remained India's high commissioner for the next year after he survived alleged assassination.[11]

References
  1. Welcome to Permanent Mission of India to the UN , New York 2015.
  2. Welcome to Permanent Mission of India in Geneva.
  3. Welcome to High Commission of India, Bangladesh.
  4. un.org 2012.
  5. "Ambassador Samar Sen (India)". The Group of 77. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  6. Welcome to High Commission of India, Islamabad, Pakistan 2020.
  7. hcicanberra.gov.in.
  8. The Telegraph Online (17 February 2003). "Samar Sen dead". Telegraph India. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  9. Alikhan 2017.
  10. "World". The Tribune, Chandigarh, India. 18 February 2003. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  11. "India's Top Aide in Dacca Wounded in Ambush by 6". The New York Times. 27 November 1975. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  12. Web Desk (18 June 2020). "India secures win in UN Security Council elections". The Week. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  13. "An envoy remembers". Frontline. 21 November 1998. Retrieved 2 December 2021.

Further reading
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