Braj Kumar Nehru (4 September 1909 – 31 October 2001) was the son of Brijlal and Rameshwari Nehru and a relative of India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
He joined the Indian Civil Service in 1934 and rose to be governor of seven different states of India; Jammu and Kashmir, (1981–84), Assam, (1968–73), Gujarat (1984–86), Nagaland (1968–73), Meghalaya (1970–73), Manipur (1972–73) and Tripura (1972–73).
He also served as a diplomat, as ambassador to several countries and was offered the post of secretary-general of the United Nations in 1951, but declined.
He was frustrated with corruption and wrote a book called Nice Guys Finish Second.
He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan award in 1999.
The speech "Civil Service in Transition" delivered at the India International Center in New Delhi on the 15th of October, 1999 describes the need and the role played by a strong civil service. It also details out the causes for the prevalent corruption in India's political system and civil services.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by M.C. Chagla |
Indian Ambassador to the United States 1961–1968 |
Succeeded by Ali Yavar Jung |
| Government offices | ||
| Preceded by Vishnu Sahay |
Governor of Assam 1968–1973 |
Succeeded by Lallan Prasad Singh |