Nirupam Sen: A Diplomat from NAM to Neo-Global Order

Nirupam Sen, India’s former Permanent Representative to the UN, died in New Delhi on Sunday aged 70.

Nirupam Sen, a 1969 batch IFS officer, was India’s Permanent Representative from September 2004 to March 2009 and served as Special Senior Advisor to the UN General Assembly President. He also served as India’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Bulgaria and Norway during his career.

“Saddened at the passing of illustrious diplomat Ambassador Nirupam Sen. My condolences to his friends and family,” West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted.

Besides his former Indian Foreign Service colleagues, the Communist Party of India party general secretary Sudhakar Reddy was among those who gave him the final send off.

Nirupam Sen served in Oslo, Sofia (Bulgaria) and Colombo. He was figured in Wikileaks which revealed that his deputy in the Permanent Mission told a U.S. diplomat that South Block had given him the power to override Mr. Sen in view of his lack of sympathy for U.S. global policies.

A strong supporter of India’s tradition of non-alignment, Mr. Sen was perceived as close to Nehruvian policies in the Indian foreign policy establishment.

“He was close to the Leftist concerns and his work reflected that often. Most recently, he spoke about the centenary of the October Revolution and his introduction of the revolution impressed all,” Sumit Chakravartty, Editor, Mainstream, said.