Apa Saheb Bala Saheb Pant

Apa Saheb Bala Saheb Pant

Born 11 September 1912
Aundh State, British India
Died 5 October 1992
Occupation Diplomat, freedom fighter
Spouse(s) Nalini Devi
Children Three children
Parent(s) Bhawanrao Shriniwasrao Pant Pratinidhi
Awards Padma Shri

Apa Saheb Bala Saheb Pant, also known as Apa Pant, was an Indian Prince (the son of the tenth ruler of the Aundh State), gandhian, writer, freedom fighter and diplomat.[1][2] He served as the Indian Commissioner at various African countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Tanganyika, Zanzibar, Northern Rhodesia, Southern Rhodesia, Nyasaland and the Belgian colony of the Congo and, later, as the Indian ambassador to countries like Indonesia, Norway, Egypt, United Kingdom and Italy.[1] The Government of India honoured him in 1954, with the award of Padma Shri, the fourth highest Indian civilian award for his contributions to the society,[3] placing him among the first recipients of the award.

Biography

Apa Sahib Bala Saheb Pant was born on 11 September 1912[4] in the princely state of Aundh in the British India, presently near Pune in the Indian state of Maharashtra, as the second son of Bhawanrao Shriniwasrao Pant Pratinidhi,[5] the ruler of the state.[1] After schooling at local institutions, he graduated (BA) from the University of Mumbai and secured his master's degree (MA) from Oxford University.[2] He continued his studies in London and passed Barrister at Law from Lincoln's Inn and returned to India in 1937 when the Indian freedom movement was gathering pace.[1]

Pant married Nalini Devi,[6] a medical doctor and a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1942 and the couple had three children, Aditi, Aniket and Avalokita.[2] He died, aged 80, on 5 October 1992,[4] succumbing to old age illnesses.[1]

Political and diplomatic career

Pant started his political and diplomatic career as the Minister of Education of the Aundh State in 1944 when his father was the ruler of the state.[2] His tenure lasted one year and during this period and thereafter, he was involved in the discussions related to the integration of the state into Indian Union.[1] After India's independence, he entered Indian Foreign Service, got deputed to Africa and worked in Kenya, Uganda, Tanganyika, Zanzibar, Northern Rhodesia, Southern Rhodesia, Nyasaland and the Belgian colony of the Congo.[2] In 1954, he was appointed as the Officer on Special duty with the Minister of External Affairs when India's relationship with China was strained.[2] He represented India at Bandung Conference in 1956 for the formation of Non-Aligned Movement. He also worked as the Officer in Charge of the missions of Tibet and Bhutan,[7] and as Ambassador to Indonesia (1961–64), Norway (1964–66), Egypt (1966–69),[8] United Kingdom (1969–72) and Italy (1972–75).[1][4]

Literary career

Apasaheb Pant was a former judge for the Templeton Prize,[9] an international recognition honouring the entrepreneurship of spirit,[10] He published[2] eight books towards the latter part of his life.[1]

  • Surya Namaskar, an Ancient Indian Exercise (1970)[11]
  • Towards Socialist Transformation of Indian Economy (1973)[12]
  • A Moment in Time (1974)[13]
  • Mandala: An Awakening (1976)[14]
  • Survival of the Individual (1983)[15]
  • Undiplomatic Incidents (1987)[16]
  • An Unusual Raja - Mahatma Gandhi and the Aundh Experiment (1989)[17]
  • An Extended Family of Fellow Pilgrims (1990)[18]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Benegal". Benegal. 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Awaaz Magazine". Awaaz Magazine. 1 November 2011. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Padma Shri" (PDF). Padma Shri. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 15, 2014. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 "WMF Labs". WMF Labs. 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Free Library". Free Library. 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  6. ↑ Gaurav Desai, Commerce with the Universe: Africa, India, and the Afrasian Imagination, p. 75
  7. ↑ "TH Library" (PDF). TH Library. 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Middle East Institute". Middle East Institute. 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Judge Templeton". Templeton Foundation. 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Templeton About". Templeton Foundation. 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  11. ↑ Apa Pant (1970). Surya Namaskar, an Ancient Indian Exercise. Sangam Books. ISBN 9788125013877.
  12. ↑ Bhuleshkar, Ashok V.; Pant, Apa B. (1973). Towards Socialist Transformation of Indian Economy. Humanitites Press.
  13. ↑ Pant, Apa B. (1974). A Moment in Time. United Kingdom: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd. ISBN 9780340147900.
  14. ↑ Apa B. Pant (1976). Mandala: An Awakening. Sangam Books. p. 218. ISBN 978-0861310630.
  15. ↑ Apa Pant (1983). Survival of the Individual. Sangam Books. ISBN 9780861314003.
  16. ↑ Pant Apa B. (1987). Undiplomatic Incidents. Majestic Books. ISBN 9780861316908.
  17. ↑ Apa Pant (1989). An Unusual Raja Mahatma Gandhi and the Aundh Experiment. Oscar Publications. ISBN 9780861317523.
  18. ↑ Apa Pant (1990). An Extended Family or Fellow Pilgrims. Oscar Publications. ISBN 9780863111099.

Further reading

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