Like his father and grandfather, Niranjan Khilnani had earned a fame and authored several books on history, national and international affairs, and was the Indian External Affairs Ministry’s expert on Latin America, Sikkim, Bhutan and Nepal.
By Nasir Aijaz
Today is the 100th birthday of Niranjan Manohardas Khilnani, an eminent historian, scholar, professional writer, analyst of national and international affairs, and the astrologer who had a knack of predicting accurately.
Born on November 27, 1922 in Sukkur Sindh (now a province of Pakistan), to Manohardas Khilnani and Shrimati Amrit Devi (Ambi d/o Kundandas Keswani), Niranjan was the grandson of renowned educationist, author and social reformer Rai Bahadur Dewan Kauromal Chandanmal Khilnani, hailing from Bhiria, a town in Naushehro Feroze (formerly part of Nawabshah district) and known as Sahihti Pargana.
Niranjan M. Khilnani, who passed away on December 14, 2012, was the youngest one to secure a PhD from Bombay University at age 25 in 1947. He had retired from Foreign Service of India while serving at a senior position.
Career
After partition he became the youngest lecturer at Hindu College, Delhi University. In 1951 he joined the Ministry of External Affairs where he rose to the level of Director, Historical Division. In 1952 Dr. N. M. Khilnani was awarded Fulbright fellowship and he did his post-doctoral Research at Yale University, where he won a prize for writing the best term-paper on New Deal Policies of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
He served with the Ministry of External Affairs from 1951 to 1980. He was the External Affairs Ministry’s expert on Latin America, Sikkim, Bhutan and Nepal. Dr. Khilnani attended the coronation ceremony of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. In 1968, he visited Peru, Chile and Ecuador on a Human Rights Fellowship of the United Nations. In 1972 he represented India at the Second United Nations Geographical Conference in London. Khilnani was associated with CHOGM Conference and the 7th Non-aligned Summit in 1983 in New Delhi. After his retirement from the Ministry of External Affairs, Khilnani served on the Sarkaria Commission for Center – State relations. In 1990 Khilnani visited Moscow as a visiting Professor.
Authorship
Dr. Niranjan M. Khilnani wrote extensively for the national and international press. Some of his articles are ‘The denuclearization of South Asia’, ‘Vacuum in the Punjab’, ‘Mrs. Indra Gandhi’s exit from the Indian Scene’, and ‘Denuclearization of South Asia’.
He also authored more than 15 books. His books Panorama of Indian Diplomacy, Realities of Indian Foreign Policy, Road to Independence (1857 to 1947), Four Diamonds of Anand Bhavan, Indira Gandhi-the Iron Lady of Indian Politics, won acclaim. Here is the list of some of his books:
The Punjab under the Lawrences; British power in the Punjab, 1839-1858; Glimpses of Hindu America: Story of India’s Relations with Latin America; Four diamonds of Anand Bhavan: Motilal Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi a perceptive analysis of Indian political experience from 1929 to 1987; Emergence of New Russia: Panoramic Survey of Russian History; Panorama of modern Indus Valley; New dimensions of Indian foreign policy: Prime Minister Narasimha Rao’s Era X-rayed; Socio-political dimensions of modern India; The denuclearization of South Asia; India’s political and economic policies towards her neighbors; India 1990: 1991 to 2001 AD; Panorama of Indian diplomacy: From Mauryan epoch to post-Nehru era; Iron Lady of Indian Politics: Indira Gandhi in the Balanced Perspective, India’s Road to Independence and Realities of Indian foreign policy.
Dr. Niranjan M. Khilnani was blessed with a great sense of humor and creative wit. He was a dynamic personality and was extremely popular and enjoyed social gatherings.
Personal Life
Dr. Niranjan M. Khilnani married Chitra (Shanta d/o Hassanand Tolani) who lived in New Delhi. His elder son is Ravi Khilnani who married Sunita with children Rishav and Kanika. His younger son is Vijay Khilnani, an electronics engineer, who married Poonam Khilnani. They bore a daughter Divya Khilnani.
Niranjan Khilnani’s brother Ashok Khilnani lives in Los Angeles, California who married to Renu Khilnani. They have sons Madhu- Mark Khilnani, Keerti – Keith Khilnani. Several other members of Khilnani family also live in America.
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Nasir Aijaz is a senior journalist and Chief Editor, Sindh Courier, based in Karachi, Sindh. He originally belongs to Bhiria City of district Naushehro Feroze, the hometown of Khilnani Dynasty.
Photos provided by Mr. Vijay Khilnani from New Delhi
