T. S. Tirumurti: Difference between revisions

{{Infobox Officeholder

| image              = File:T S Tirumurti.jpg

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| successor2          = Mridul Kumar<ref>https://indianmandarins.com/mridul-kumar-is-next-hc-of-india-to-malaysia/</ref>

'''T. S. Tirumurti''' (born 7 March 1962) is an [[Indian people|Indian]] [[civil servant]] who belongs to the [[Indian Foreign Service]] cadre. He is currently the [[Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations]].<ref>{{cite news |title=T S Tirumurti appointed India's Permanent Representative to the UN |url=https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/t-s-tirumurti-appointed-indias-permanent-representative-to-the-un-1.1588183494233 |access-date=30 April 2020 |work=gulfnews.com |language=en}}</ref> The [[Permanent Representatives]] ([[UN ambassador|UN Ambassador]]) is the head of the [[Permanent Mission]] to the [[United Nations]] in [[New York City]].

Tirumurti was born in [[Coimbatore]].<ref>{{Cite web|last1=May 5|first1=A. Subramani / TNN /|last2=2020|last3=Ist|first3=11:32|title=Proud to be from Chennai, says civil servant made India's representative to UN {{!}} Chennai News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/proud-to-be-from-chennai-says-civil-servant-made-indias-representative-to-un/articleshow/75548597.cms|access-date=2021-02-10|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> He completed his schooling at the [[Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School|Vidya Mandir]], Chennai. He secured his [[Bachelor of Commerce]] degree from [[Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College]], Chennai. The teachings of Swami Vivekananda, Sri Ramakrishna and the Holy Mother have since guided him in his life. He subsequently completed his [[LL.B.]] ([[Bachelor of Laws]]) from Campus Law Centre, [[Delhi University]] in 1985.<ref name="archive.org" /> He is the grandson of Dr. T. S. Tirumurti who was the Principal of [[Stanley Medical College]], Chennai and Officiating Vice-Chancellor of [[Andhra University]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=INSA :: Deceased Fellow Detail|url=https://insaindia.res.in/detail.php?id=F00-0841|access-date=2021-02-15|website=insaindia.res.in}}</ref>

He is married to Gowri Tirumurti and they have two children - a daughter and a son.<ref name="archive.org" /> Tirumurti's wife Gowri is the daughter of the retired [[tennis]] player [[Ramanathan Krishnan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://prtraveller.blogspot.in/2015/03/ramanathan-krishnan.html|title=Ramanathan Krishnan|website=prtraveller.blogspot.in}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/society/how-the-krishnans-brought-wimbledon-home/article5947982.ece|title=How the Krishnans brought Wimbledon home|first=Prince|last=Frederick|date=25 April 2014|publisher=|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> Gowri was the [[Indian people|Indian]] National Juniors Champion in 1982 and competed in French Open Juniors.<ref name="auto" /> She is currently a Partner in an [[Intellectual property|Intellectual Property]] Law firm, Delhi. Their son Vishwajit and daughter Bhavani are also [[tennis]] players.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=May 5|first1=A. Subramani / TNN /|last2=2020|last3=Ist|first3=11:32|title=Proud to be from Chennai, says civil servant made India's representative to UN {{!}} Chennai News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/proud-to-be-from-chennai-says-civil-servant-made-indias-representative-to-un/articleshow/75548597.cms|access-date=2021-02-10|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collegetennisonline.com/UniversityofDenver-W-Tennis/Player.aspx?plId=69349|title=College Tennis Teams - University of Denver - Team Roster - Bhavani Tirumurti|website=www.collegetennisonline.com}}</ref>

[[Ambassador]] T. S. Tirumurti joined the [[Indian Foreign Service]] in 1985. He served in [[List of diplomatic missions of India|Indian diplomatic missions]] in [[Cairo]], [[Geneva]], [[Gaza Strip|Gaza]], [[Washington, D.C.]], [[Jakarta]] and [[Kuala Lumpur]]. He has served at the [[Ministry of External Affairs (India)|Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India]] in [[New Delhi]] as Under Secretary ([[Bhutan]]), Director ([[Foreign Secretary (India)|Foreign Secretary's Office]]), Joint Secretary ([[Bangladesh]], [[Sri Lanka]], [[Myanmar]] and [[Maldives]]) as well as Joint Secretary ([[United Nations]] Economic and Social Division).<ref name="archive.org"/>  

Tirumurti was the first Representative of [[India]] to the [[Palestinian National Authority]].<ref>http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/63602/12/12_chapter%204.pdf</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1041117/asp/opinion/story_4010441.asp|title=The Telegraph - Calcutta : Opinion|website=www.telegraphindia.com}}</ref><ref name="roiramallah.org"/> He was also the [[Deputy Chief of Mission]] in [[Jakarta]] and the [[Indian people|Indian]] High Commissioner to [[Malaysia]].<ref name="archive.org"/> Before being appointed as the Permanent Representative to the UN, he served as the Secretary of Economic Relations in the [[Ministry of External Affairs (India)|Ministry of External Affairs, India]]. On 19 May 2020, he took over as the [[Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations]] succeeding [[Syed Akbaruddin]].<ref>{{cite news |title=TS Tirumurthy will permanent representative of India to UN to replace Syed Akbaruddin, {{!}} NewsCrab |url=https://www.newscrab.com/article/india/ts-tirumurthy-will-permanent-representative-of-india-to-un-to-replace-syed-akbaruddin-21792 |accessdate=30 April 2020 |work=www.newscrab.com |language=english}}</ref>

As Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India in New Delhi, his portfolio included overseeing relations with Africa, the Arab World, including the Gulf and the Middle East, Development Partnership, including lines of credit, grant assistance, and capacity building, Economic and other groups, including [[BRICS]], IBSA, [[OECD]], [[International Solar Alliance]], etc., and economic and technology-related relations. His stint saw India’s relations with Africa to the next level through high-level visits, the opening of 18 new Indian Missions in Africa, stronger development partnership and capacity building, etc. India’s relations with the Islamic world, especially the Gulf, reached a new high, including when India was invited as the Guest of Honour at the 46th session of Council of Foreign Ministers of the [[Organisation of Islamic Cooperation]] in Abu Dhabi in March 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Report|first=Wam/Web|title=India welcomes guest of honour invite at OIC's Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Abu Dhabi|url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/news/government/india-to-attend-muslim-nations-foreign-ministers-meet-in-uae|access-date=2021-02-15|website=Khaleej Times|language=en}}</ref>

As the Joint Secretary of the BSM Division (2007-2011), Tirumurti oversaw India’s strengthening of relations with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Myanmar at a critical juncture, which included [[2008 Bangladeshi general election|Bangladesh's path-breaking elections of December 2008]] and taking over of Prime Minister [[Sheikh Hasina]], end of civil war in Sri Lanka in 2009, first multiparty [[2008 Maldivian presidential election|Presidential elections in the Maldives in 2008]] and taking over of President [[Mohamed Nasheed]], and the [[2010 Myanmar general election|2010 Myanmar general elections]]. India's development cooperation with these four countries progressed by leaps and bounds during his tenure.

As the [[Joint secretary to the Government of India|Joint Secretary]] of the UNES Division (2011-2013), Tirumurti’s portfolio also included [[climate change]] negotiations wherein he was an integral part of the Indian delegation. He had earlier been a part of climate change negotiations (1993-1996) in Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations, Geneva and has had extensive experience in environment and climate change related issues.

During his current stint as Permanent Representative to the United Nations, India was elected to the [[United Nations Security Council|UN Security Council]] in July 2020 with an overwhelming mandate of 184 votes out of 192.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Chaudhury|first=Dipanjan Roy|title=India wins 184 out 192 votes to enter UN Security Council|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/india-mexico-norway-ireland-elected-to-un-security-council/articleshow/76435650.cms|access-date=2021-02-16}}</ref> India entered the UN Security Council for a two-year term on 1st January 2021. India was also elected to the [[United Nations Commission on the Status of Women|UN Commission on the Status of Women]] (CSW) for 2021-2025 and the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) for the term 2021-2023.