PERSONS FEBRUARY 2016

PERSONS FEBRUARY 2016

• Amar Singh: An Indian-origin Sikh has been appointed the Police Commissioner of Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur. It is the highest police rank achieved by a Sikh in the Malaysia. Deputy Commissioner Amar Singh, in his late 50s, will replace Tajuddin Mohamed. His appointment as Kuala Lumpur police chief was announced along with several other transfers and promotions.
  
• HL Dattu: Former Chief Justice of India H L Dattu will be the next Chairman of National Human Rights Commission. The post had been lying vacant since May 11 last year, when Mr. K.G. Balakrishnan demitted office after his five-year term. Justice Cyriac Joseph had been functioning as the acting chairperson since then. Justice H.L. Dattu had retired as the Chief Justice of Supreme Court on 2nd of December last year.
  
• PK Thungon: A Delhi court on 24th February convicted former union minister P K Thungon for his alleged role in a scam relating to allotment of government shops in the national capital during 1993-94. Mr Thungan is already in jail in another graft case. Special CBI Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal, however, acquitted two other accused in the case.
  
  A case was registered by the CBI in 1996 against him and other accused for allegedly hatching a conspiracy in allotting shops and stalls in 1994. Mr Thungon was awarded a four-and-a-half year jail term in July last year in a 1998 graft case relating to misappropriation of central funds.
  
• 3 information commissioners appointed: Government announced the names of three information commissioners in the Central Information Commission, New Delhi.
  
  They are former Chairman of Staff Selection Commission Amitava Bhattacharya, former Information and Broadcasting Secretary Bimal Julka and former Secretary (Security) in the Cabinet Secretariat Divya Prakash Sinha.
  
  An official release said, the appointments have been made for a term of five years from the date on which they enter upon their office or till they attain the age of sixty five years.
  
• Rajendra Singh: Rajendra Singh on 27th February took charge as the Director General of the Indian Coast Guard, the first non-Navy officer to be elevated to the top post. Singh, who belonged to the first batch of Indian Coast Guard in 1980 and was the Inspector General (West region) during the 26/11 terror attacks, took charge from Vice Admiral H C S Bisht. Singh was the Additional Director General of the Indian Coast Guard. His elevation as the DG was approved by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet on February 24.
  
• Srinivasan K Swamy: Asian Federation of Advertising Associations (AFAA) elected Srinivasan K Swamy representing the Advertising Council of India as Vice-Chairman recently in Taipei. Raymond So, representing the Taipei Association of Advertising Agencies was elected the Chairman of its Executive Committee for a period of four years.
  
  Ramesh Narayan also representing ACI was elected Chief Strategy Officer as part of a four-person Executive Committee comprising Chief Revenue Officer — Lee Soon Dong, Korea Federation of Advertising Associations; Chief Knowledge Officer — Bharat Avalani, Malaysian Advertisers Association; Chief Marketing Officer — Harris Thajeb, Komisi Periklanan Indonesia. AFAA will conduct AdAsia 2017 in Bali in November.
  
• Sushanta Dattagupta: Indian President Pranab Mukherjee has approved the dismissal of Viswa Bharati Vice Chancellor Sushanta Dattagupta, the first instance of sacking of the VC of a Central University, HRD ministry officials said.
  
  Ghanshyam Goel, the spokesperson for the HRD ministry said that the President, who is the Visitor of Central Universities, has approved the dismissal of Viswa Bharati VC Dattagupta, as proposed by the ministry. Previously this month, the HRD ministry had sent the file to the President recommending dismissal of Dattagupta, who was facing allegations of financial and administrative irregularities, after the Law Ministry and the Attorney General approved the procedures followed by it in the issue.
  
• UK Sinha: In an unprecedented move, the Centre has extended for the second time UK Sinha’s term as Chairman of Securities and Exchange Board of India. Sinha was appointed the market regulator in 2011 for a three-year term, which was extended by two years in 2014.
  
  Sinha’s three predecessors — CB Bhave, M Damodaran and GN Bajpai — had three-year terms. Sinha has got an extension till March 2017.
  
• Tyagi: South Asian University professor Yogesh Kumar Tyagi has been appointed the new vice-chancellor of Delhi University after his name was selected by President Pranab Mukherjee from among four persons. The human resource development (HRD) ministry had forwarded the four names to the President who, as Visitor of Central Universities, makes the final selection.
  
  Apart from Tyagi, who is the Dean of the Law Faculty at South Asian University, the other names on the panel were JNU professor Rameshwar Nath Kaul Bamezai, former IIT professor and UPSC member Hemchand Gupta and Bidyut Chakraborty, a professor in the DU Political Science department. According to reports, Tyagi was the front-runner for the position as he was the HRD ministry’s choice.
  
  Earlier, it was reported that while appointing the JNU Vice Chancellor, the President had ignored the HRD ministry's preference and appointed IIT professor M Jagadesh Kumar to the post. Tyagi will assume charge of the new assignment from Dinesh Singh, whose tenure saw controversy over the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP), which was later rolled back after intervention by University Grants Commission.
  
• Suhhani Lohia: Suhaani Lohia, a six-year-old from Mumbai, made a little bit of history when she was ranked among the top six ranked players for players of around her age. Her rating of 1156 is behind two Russians, two Iranians and one Danish player. Suhaani joins the list of the world's youngest rated players in the girls' category. Suhaani had won a silver medal in January 2016 at the National Schools Chess Championships at Nagpur in the Under-7 category with a commendable score of seven points out of possible nine.
  
• Christine Lagarde: Christine Lagarde has been appointed as the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund for a second five-year term.
  
  Her new term will start on 5th of July. IMF on 19th February said she was the sole candidate nominated for the post. It said that the decision was taken by consensus among its Executive Board.
  
  Ms Lagarde, a former French Finance Minister, took over as head of the IMF in 2011 following Dominique Strauss-Kahn's resignation amid scandal.
  
• Amit Mitra: West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra has been appointed as the new chairman of the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers on Goods and Services Tax (GST). He will succeed Kerala Finance Minister K M Mani who had to resign in November last year over corruption charges. Mr Mitra, who is an economist was elected at the meeting of State Finance Ministers that was also attended by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. The panel is tasked with framing rules for roll out of the ambitious GST regime, which will subsume all indirect taxes and create one national market.
  
• Mukesh Ambani: Reliance Industries chairman and managing director Mukesh Ambani has been elected to the prestigious National Academy of Engineering, a non-profit organisation based in the US. Ambani is one of only 10 Indians elected to the institution since its inception in 1964, and one of only 22 members the institution elected from outside the US in 2016. Tech evangelist Sam Pitroda is the other Indian elected to the NAE this year.
  
  Ambani and Pitroda will be formally inducted during a ceremony at the NAE's Annual Meeting in Washington, DC on 9 October, 2016.
  
  Other Indian members include P.C. Kapur of IIT-Delhi, scientist R.A. Mashelkar, Narayana Murthy of Infosys, scientist Roddam Narasimha, Pradip P. of TCS, scientist P. Ramarao, chemical engineer M.M. Sharma and industrialist Ratan Tata.
  
  Founded in 1964, the academy is a private, independent and non-profit that provides engineering leadership with a mission to promote a vibrant engineering profession and giving insights to the US government on related matters.
  
  The institution has more than 2,000 peer-elected members and foreign members, who are considered among the world's most accomplished engineers -- people who provide leadership for numerous projects to link their domain with better quality of life.
   
• RK Pachauri:, the former Director-General and current Executive Vice-Chairman of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) RK Pachauri, has gone on an indefinite leave from the organisation as well as its affiliated TERI University.Pachauri, however, retains his positions as both Executive Vice-Chairman of TERI as well as Chancellor of the TERI University.
  
  The council had created the new position with executive powers for Pachauri on February 8, despite the organisation's own Internal Complaint Committee finding him guilty.
  
  TERI also announced that BV Sreekantan has resigned from his post as the Chairman of TERI and Ashok Chawla, former Chairman of the Competition Commission, would succeed him.
  
  It further clarified that Ajay Mathur, who took charge as the Director-General of the organisation on February 8 will operate with full executive powers. Mathur was inducted as a member of the council.
   
• Abhinav Bhushan: Indian lawyer Abhinav Bhushan has been appointed the regional director for South Asia in the International Court of Arbitration, which is under the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). The first Indian to be appointed as deputy counsel of the ICC earlier, Bhushan will be based in its Asia offices in Singapore and will take on part of the role of the outgoing regional director
  
  The appointment of Bhushan is in continuation of ICC's efforts to expand its on-the-ground presence in Asia. Bhushan brings to his new role first-hand experience working on arbitrations arising out of common law jurisdictions, in particular working with parties from India, Singapore and other regions of Asia. Bhushan's appointment brings together more than 300 members from 40 countries, representing multi-national companies, law firms, trade associations, and small and medium-sized enterprises. ICC is a private sector global business organisation with a central role in world trade and commerce.
  
  It provides a forum for businesses and other organisations to examine and better comprehend the nature and significance of the major shifts taking place in the world economy.
   
• DJ Pandian: India nominee D J Pandian has been appointed as Vice-President and Chief Investment Officer of the newly formed 100 billion dollar Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
  
  According to the Finance Ministry, the primary responsibility of the Chief Investment Officer is leading the planning and supervision of the bank's infrastructure investment by promoting sustainable investment throughout Asia.
  
  The Beijing-based 100 billion dollar multi-lateral lender AIIB was set up to boost lending for infrastructure projects. China, India and Russia are the three largest shareholders, in the newly-formed bank.
  
  Dr. Pandian has had an extensive career spanning 30 years with the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), holding key positions at the State, National, and International levels in the energy, infrastructure, finance, and industry sectors.
  
  He was instrumental in liberalizing the policy regime to attract international investment to crucial infrastructure sectors including power, airlines, ports and telecoms.
   
  Obituary
• Nida Fazli: Noted Urdu Poet and well known Bollywood lyricist Nida Fazli passed away in Mumbai on 8^th February at Versova.. Nida Fazli, the son of poet Murtaza Hasan Baidi, was born on October 12, 1938 in Delhi, to a Kashmiri family.
  
  He worked for film magazines 'Blitz' and 'Dharamyug'. He has also written several songs for Indian films.
  
  Nida Fazli received various awards including Khusro Award, Best Poetry Award from Maharashtra Urdu Academy, Hindi Urdu Sangam Award and Sahitya Akademi Award in 1998.
  
  He was honoured with t National Harmony Award for writing on communal harmony. He has 24 books to his credit in Urdu, Hindi and Gujarati- some of which are assigned as school textbooks in Maharashtra. He received the Mir Taqi Mir award for his autobiographical novel 'Deewaron Ke Beech'.
  
  His works include Lafzon ke Phool (collection of sher-o-shayari), Mulaqaten (character-sketches), Mor Naach (collected works) in 1978, Aankh aur Khwab ke Darmiyan, Safar Mein Dhuup to Hogi, etc. His most acclaimed shers include; 'Duniya jise kehte hain jaadu kaa khilona hai, Mil jaaye to mitti hai, kho jaaye to sona hai'. Few of the popular film songs written by him are; Aa bhi jaa (Sur), Tu is tarah se meri zindagi mein (Aap To Aise Na The) and Hosh waalon ko khabar (Sarfarosh).
   
• Koirala: Former Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, who spent 16 years in exile in India, died on 9^th February.
• Hanumanthappa: Siachen survivor Lance Naik Hanumanthappa passed away on 11^th February. The nation is grieving the loss of its braveheart Lance Naik Hanumanthappa Koppad, the soldier who survived for six days under tonnes of snow at the Siachen Glacier but lost the battle for life on Thursday at an Army hospital in Delhi.
  
  Madras Regiment's Lance Naik Hanumanthappa breathed his last at Delhi's Army Research & Referral Hospital. 33-year-old Hanumanthappa joined the Indian Army in October, 2002. He was part of the 19th battalion of the Madras Regiment.
  
  During his 13 years of service he spent nearly 10 years in extremely challenging postings in the North East and Jammu & Kashmir. 10 soldiers were buried alive under a snow wall at the North Siachen glacier on the 3rd of February.
  
   
• O.N.V. Kurup: Renowned Malayalam poet and Jnanpith winner Prof. O.N.V. Kurup has passed away in a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. Popularly known as "ONV", Ottaplakkal Nambiyadikkal Velu Kurup, has made significant contributions to the Malayalam film music, too.
  
  A winner of the Kerala and Kendra Sahitya Academy awards, ONV won the Jnanpith in 2007 for his overall contributions to the Malayalam literature in the last six decades.
  
  ONV was awarded Padma Shri in 1998 and Padma Vibhushan in 2011. His notable works include Agnishalabhangal, Aksharam, Uppu, Bhoomikkoru Charamageetham, Ujjayini and Swayamvaram.
  
  Prof. Kurup, who began his career as a lecturer in Maharajas College, Ernakulam later taught at the University College, Thiruvananthapuram, the Arts & Science College, Kozhikode and Brennan College, Thalassery. ONV was Chairman of the Kerala Kalamdandalam and held several top positions in various arts and literary bodies.
  
• Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba: Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba took over the reins of Western Naval Command (WNC) as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief on31st January from Vice Admiral SPS Cheema at a ceremonial parade held at INS Shikra. Later in the day, officers of the Western Naval Command accorded Vice Admiral Cheema a warm send off, with the traditional ‘Pulling Out’ ceremony. Vice Admiral Cheema retired, after completing nearly four decades of service to the nation and the Navy.
  
  Vice Admiral Lanba, a specialist in Navigation and Direction and an alumnus of Defence Services Staff College, has served as Navigating Officer of INS Sindhudurg (Corvette) and INS Dunagiri (Frigate).
  
• Archana Ramasundram: Tamil Nadu Cadre IPS officer Archana Ramasundram has become the first woman to head a paramilitary force. Ramasundram was on 31st January appointed as the Director General of Sashastra Seema Bal, SSB that guards India's frontiers with Nepal and Bhutan. 58-year-old Ramasundram is currently the Director of National Crime Records Bureau.
  
  Besides her, IPS officer K Durga Prasad has been appointed Director Generals of Central Reserve Police Force. Another IPS officer K K Sharma will be new Chief of the Border Security Force.
  
• Saroj Kumar: Saroj Kumar Jha has been appointed to a key position in the World Bank. Jha assumed the position of Senior Director for the Fragility, Conflict and Violence Group at the World Bank on 1st February. He has to work across the Bank Group and in close collaboration with partners. Jha is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
  
  He joined the World Bank in 2005 as a Senior Infrastructure Specialist in the Sustainable Development Network, after significant experience with the Indian Government and the United Nation's Development Program (UNDP). Earlier, Jha worked as the World Bank's Global Manager for Disaster Risk Management Practice.
  
• Balram Jakhar: Former Lok Sabha Speaker Balram Jakhar passed away in New Delhi on3rd February. Balram Jakhar was elected as the Lok Sabha Speaker for two consecutive terms from 1980 to 1989. He was elected to the Lok Sabha four times and also served as the Union Agriculture Minister. He was elected to the Punjab Legislative Assembly for two terms and served as Minister in the state and also Leader of Opposition. Mr Jakhar also served as the Governor of Madhya Pradesh.
  
• Jaishanker Menon: Major General Jai Shanker Menon of India has been appointed as the Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
  
  In a statement, the UN said, Maj Gen Menon succeeds Lt Gen Purna Chandra Thapa of Nepal, who will complete his assignment on 7th of this month.
  
  Maj Gen Menon brings to his new position extensive command experience and knowledge of peacekeeping affairs at the national and international levels. Till now, Maj. Gen. Menon was Additional Director General Equipment Management in the Indian Army. From 2012 to 2013, he was General Officer, Commanding of an Infantry Division.
  
• Parameshwar Iyer: The government has appointed World Bank's water and sanitation specialist, Parameshwaran Iyer, as the new Secretary of the Drinking Water and Sanitation Department. Iyer is a key architect of the framework of the $1,500 million proposed loan from World Bank for the Swach Bharat Mission which is pending Cabinet approval.
  
  Iyer's appointment is expected to create more synergy between the Swachh Bharat Mission and the objectives of the World Bank project . An IAS officer of the UP cadre, who launched Jal Suraj program, Iyer took voluntary retirement in 2009 and joined the World Bank.
  
  Before that, he worked with the UN World Food Programme (UNWFP) for nearly a decade till 2006 as a Senior Rural Water Sanitation specialist on foreign assignment. He was then served a show-cause notice by the Indian government to return and he quit in 2009.
  
• Sudhir Tailang: Famous political cartoonist Sudhir Tailang, passed away Saturday afternoon in a Hospital in Gurgaon, Haryana. Sudhir Tailang had been battling with brain cancer for a long time. Tailang was awarded Padma Shri in 2004 for his contribution to the art of cartooning.