P. N. Haksar Biography 
P. N. Haksar was an Indian bureaucrat and diplomat, best remembered as principal secretary of former Prime Minister of India - Indira Gandhi. He served the position of principal secretary for six years (1967–1973). He played a significant role as a chief strategist who guided less experienced Indira to a powerful woman leader of mid-1970s. He was a diplomat of the Indian Foreign Service who served as Indian ambassador to Austria and Nigeria, prior to his appointment as the Chief Secretary of Ms. Gandhi. A great administer he was the first chancellor of the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi. He also served as deputy chairman of the Planning Commission.
His full name is Parmeshwar Narayan Haksar. He was born on 4 September 1913 in Gujranwala, Punjab (present day Pakistan). He was born into a Kashmiri Pandit family. Following partition his family moved to India. After completing his Master’s from Allahabad University, Uttar Pradesh he studied at London School of Economics. During this time he got influenced by leftist ideology. He started his professional career as a lawyer. He joined Indian Foreign Services in 1947. Ambassador to Nigeria & Austria are the major positions he held during his diplomatic career.
He spent 20 years in the field of Indian Foreign Services, before he was appointed as principal secretary of newly elected Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1967. Lakshmi Kant Jha was holding the position till then. A strategic planner, this great diplomat is also remembered for his key role in implementing many new policies in nationalization of banks, insurance & foreign oil companies. He was also involved with 1971 Indo-Soviet treaty and the liberation of Bangladesh. He was associated with Human Rights Movements during his last years. He passed away on 25 November 1998 aged 85.
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Updated: April 03, 2016
