Pavan K. Varma(2022)
Pavan K Varma is a writer-diplomat and politician who has authored over a dozen best-selling books, including Ghalib: The Man, The Times, The Great Indian Middle Class, The Book of Krishna, Being Indian, Becoming Indian and Chanakya’s New Manifesto. He has been an Ambassador in several countries, including Bhutan and was the Director of The Nehru Centre in London, Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Director General, ICCR, and Press Secretary to the President of India. Varma was conferred with an honorary doctorate by the University of Indianapolis and Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management in 2005 and 2018, respectively. He is the recipient of the Atta Galatta-Bengaluru Literature Festival prize, the Kalinga International Literary Award and the Druk Thuksey, Bhutan’s highest civilian award. Varma’s latest book is The Great Hindu Civilisation: Achievement, Neglect, Bias and the Way Forward.
