Kanwal Sibal


Kanwal Sibal is a career diplomat who retired as Foreign Secretary to the Government of India. In 2017, The Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri award for his distinguished services in the field of Public Affairs.

Early life and education

He was born on 18 November 1943 to noted Lawyer Hira Lall Sibal, Padma Bhushan awardee.
He graduated with an MA in English from Panjab University. Dr. Kanwal Sibal later graduated from the World Information Distributed University with the scientific degree of International Doctor of Philosophy and the scientific degree of Grand Doctor of Philosophy, in June 2006. Dr. Kanwal Sibal is the First Grand Doctor of Philosophy in India. He received the title of Full Professor from the European Academy of Informatization and the World Information Distributed University-WIDU.

Diplomatic career

He was appointed to the Indian Foreign Service in July 1966.
He served in Paris, Dar es Salaam, Lisbon, and Kathmandu. Dr. Sibal also served as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India from January 1986 to April 1989, the Ambassador of India to Turkey, the Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India, Washington, the Ambassador of India to Egypt, the Ambassador of India to France and Ambassador to Russia.

Oraon abuse case

During Sibal's tenure as Ambassador of India to France in 1999, a diplomat at the embassy, Amrit Lugun, was accused by his family's live-in servant, Lalita Oraon, of sexual abuse after she had escaped from Lugun's household. The French media and public was horrified to learn that Oraon had suffered "knife wounds, three to 6cm deep, all around the vagina" and the injuries were "consistent with an act of torture or deliberate mutilation" according to the description of an examining doctor to French media. In the face of pressure on bilateral ties, Sibal continued to support Lugun and refused to remove him pending any probe. When the Ministry of [External Affairs (India)|Ministry of External Affairs] attempted to send an Additional Secretary level official for further enquiry, an "enraged" Sibal complained to the Prime Minister's Office and had the investigation cancelled. India Today noted there was a "political colour" to Sibal's actions as his brother Kapil was a "high-profile Congress spokesman and Lugun's mother-in-law Sushila Kerketta a Congress MLA."

Other posts held

He was a member of India's National Security Advisory Board from November 2008 to November 2010.
In 2023, he became the chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Family

Kanwal Sibal's father was H.L. Sibal, a renowned advocate who was rendered homeless along with his entire family during partition. In 1994, H.L. Sibal was named a "Living Legend of the Law" by the International Bar Association and in 2006.
Indian National Congress politician and former Cabinet Minister Kapil Sibal is Kanwal's younger brother. Virender Sibal, Jitendar Sibal and Ms. Asha Nanda are his other siblings.