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{{Short description|Indian administrator, diplomat (1926-2020)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| office = Chief Commissioner, [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]
| term_start = 1972
| term_end = 1975
| predecessor = H. S. Butalia
| successor = Surendra Mohan Krishnatry
| office2 = Commissioner, [[North-East Frontier Agency]]
| term_start2 = 1971
| term_end2 = 1972
| office3 = Director, [[Ministry of External Affairs (India)|Ministry of External Affairs]]
| term_start3 = 1968
| term_end3 = 1971
| birth_place = [[Dar es Salaam|Dar-es-Salaam]], [[Tanzania]]
| birth_date = {{birth date|1926|6|26|df=yes}}
| children = [[Harsh Mander]]
| death_date = {{Death year and age|2020|1926}}
| awards = {{Awards|[[Padma Shri]]|1960}}
}}

'''Har Mander Singh''' (1926–2020) was an Indian administrator, diplomat, and a recipient of the [[Padma Shri]] in 1960. He played a pivotal role in the Dalai Lama’s safe passage into [[India]] in 1959 and served in various key positions in governance.

== Early life ==
Har Mander Singh was born on 26 June 1926, in [[Dar es Salaam|Dar-es-Salaam]], [[Tanzania]], to Piara Singh.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZmdmAAAAMAAJ |title=India Who's who |date=1975 |publisher=INFA Publications. |pages=159 |language=en}}</ref>

== Career ==

=== Early career ===
Singh began his professional journey as a [[Officer (armed forces)|commissioned officer]] in the Indian Army (1946–1953).<ref name=":2" /> He later transitioned to the [[Indian Administrative Service#Indian Frontier Administrative Service|Indian Frontier Administrative Service (IFAS)]], where he held significant postings:

* Assistant Political Officer, [[North-East Frontier Agency]] (1954–1956)<ref name=":2" />
* Additional Political Officer, [[Nagaland]] (1956)<ref name=":2" />
* Secretary, Supply and Transport, North-East Frontier Agency (1956–1957)<ref name=":2" />
* Political Officer, [[Kameng district|Kameng District]] (1957–1960)<ref name=":0" />

=== Role in the Dalai Lama's escape to India ===
In 1959, the [[14th Dalai Lama]] fled [[Tibet]] after a failed uprising against Chinese rule.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=IANS |date=2020-04-17 |title=Lockdown read: Indian who spirited Dalai Lama to safety, no lessons learnt from a century-old graft case |url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/lockdown-read-indian-who-spirited-dalai-lama-to-safety-no-lessons-learnt-from-a-century-old-graft-case |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=National Herald |language=en}}</ref> Har Mander Singh played a key role in coordinating the Dalai Lama's safe passage into India.<ref name=":0" /> Singh escorted the Tibetan spiritual leader from the Chutangnu border crossing, through treacherous terrain and remote villages, including Gorhsam, Shakti, Lumla, Thongleng, [[Tawang]], Jang, Senge Dzong, [[Dirang]], Rahung, and [[Bomdila]], ultimately reaching [[Tezpur]], [[Assam]].<ref name=":0" /> For this exceptional service, Singh was awarded the [[Padma Shri]] in 1960.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Padma Awards {{!}} Interactive Dashboard |url=https://dashboard-padmaawards.gov.in/?Year=1960-1960&Award=Padma%20Shri&Field=Civil%20Service&Place=Punjab |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=dashboard-padmaawards.gov.in |language=en}}</ref> His detailed diary entries on the operation were later compiled in the book ''An Officer and His Holiness'' by his niece, Rani Singh.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2020-05-05 |title=Story of Indian Officer Who Escorted the Dalai Lama to Safety |url=https://www.tibetanjournal.com/story-of-indian-officer-who-escorted-the-dalai-lama-to-safety/ |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=Tibetan Journal |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Rani |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8mjLDwAAQBAJ |title=An Officer and His Holiness |date=2020-01-30 |publisher=Penguin Random House India Private Limited |isbn=978-93-5305-746-6 |language=en}}</ref> The book includes interviews with the Dalai Lama, his brother [[Tendzin Choegyal|Tenzin Choegyal]], and others involved in the event.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" />

=== Subsequent roles ===
Singh held several prominent roles:

* Deputy Secretary, [[Ministry of External Affairs (India)|Ministry of External Affairs]] and Prime Minister’s Secretariat (1960–1965)<ref name=":2" />
* Financial Adviser, Office of the Political Officer for [[Sikkim]] and [[Bhutan]] (1965–1967)<ref name=":2" />
* Counsellor, Ministry of External Affairs (1967–1968)<ref name=":2" />
* Director, Ministry of External Affairs (1968–1971)<ref name=":2" />
* Commissioner, [[North-East Frontier Agency]] (1971–1972)<ref name=":2" />
* Chief Commissioner, [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]] (1972–1975)<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2003-10-05 |title=An island home in the Indian Ocean; Time and place |url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA108573582&sid=sitemap&v=2.1&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&userGroupName=anon~1af149c6&aty=open-web-entry |journal=Sunday Times (London, England) |language=English |pages=3}}</ref> - During this tenure, he initiated efforts to promote tourism and oversaw the first official contact with the [[Jarawas (Andaman Islands)|Jarawas]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kohli |first=M. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Av4JAQAAMAAJ |title=One More Step: An Autobiography |date=2005 |publisher=New Delhi |isbn=978-0-670-05787-0 |pages=225 |language=en}}</ref> He also facilitated the settlement of [[Nicobarese people|Nicobarese]] in [[Little Andaman]], creating a new habitat for migrating Nicobarese families in an area later named Harmander Bay in his honour.
* Director of the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific under [[International Social Security Association]] (March 1985 to December 1995)<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VesKvJXrhbMC |title=Asia and Pacific News Sheet |date=1996 |publisher=ISSA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific |pages=4–7 |language=en}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Har Mander Singh was married to Narinder Kaur, and the couple had two sons and one daughter.<ref name=":2" /> His son, [[Harsh Mander]], is a noted author and civil rights activist.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mander |first=Harsh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OCfYpRL1BewC |title=Ash in the Belly: India's Unfinished Battle Against Hunger |date=2012-12-01 |publisher=Penguin UK |isbn=978-81-8475-860-3 |language=en}}</ref> In 2017, at age 91, he co-signed an open letter with 64 other retired senior officials, advocating for the preservation of democratic values and governance in India.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Letter To PM Modi On 'Hypernationalism' Based On Experience: Ex-Official |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/open-letter-to-pm-modi-on-hypernationalism-based-on-experience-ex-official-1712154 |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=www.ndtv.com |language=en}}</ref>

== Death ==
Har Mander Singh died in 2020.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rao |first=Nirupama |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y49FEAAAQBAJ |title=The Fractured Himalaya: India Tibet China 1949-1962 |date=2022-11-21 |publisher=Penguin Random House India Private Limited |isbn=978-93-5492-288-6 |language=en}}</ref>

== References ==
<references />{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Civil Service}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Har Mander}}
[[Category:1926 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian Administrative Service officers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in civil service]]

Har Mander Singh - Revision history

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