Dharma Vira

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Dharma Vira was a former Cabinet Secretary of the Government of India and former governor of Punjab, West Bengal and Karnataka .

Dharma Vira was born in Patiala on 20 January 1906, the son of Raja Jwala Prasad and Bhagyati Devi. He studied at Muir Central College in Allahabad, before coming to London to read for the ICS examinations at the London School of Economics. Whilst in London, he had a relationship with his landlord's daughter, leading to a son, who was born after he returned to India in late 1930, but to whose mother he sent maintenance payments until his son was 16.

Dharma Vira joined the ICS in early 1931 and his career proceeded quickly after he married Dayavati Ganga Ram in 1932. He was a Resident Magistrate in Uttar Pradesh, but from 1941 became more involved in central Indian government affairs. He became Deputy Chief Controller of Imports during 2nd World War, and was Textile Commissioner for India in 1945. After Independence,he worked closely with Jawaharlal Nehru, and was Joint Secretary to the Indian Cabinet in 1947. He then became Principal Private Secretary to Jawaharlal Nehru, 1950-51, and Commercial Adviser to the Indian High Commissioner in London, 1951-3.

In 1954 he was appointed Ambassador to Czechoslovakia, in which capacity he served until 1956. On his return to India he served as Secretary to the Ministry of Rehabilitation until 1962 and was Secretary to the Ministry of Works, housing and Supply in 1962.

From 1963-1964 he was Chief Commissioner of Delhi and then from 1964-1966 Cabinet Secretary and Secretary to Union Council of Ministers and became Was Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission

He served as Governor of:

Punjab and Haryana 1966-67 West Bengal 1967-69 and Karnataka (Mysore),1969-72

and was Chairman of the National Police Commission, 1977-83

In terms of post Independence India, he was unquestionably the senior and most distinguished civil servant, and was awarded the Padma Vibhushan award in 1999. He died on 16 September 2000.

He was survived by two sons. One in England, whom he never met, and another, Indu Vira, born in 1934. Accounts of him stress his congenial but firm nature, his addiction to golf, and his integrity.