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{{Short description|Indian diplomat and | {{Short description|Former Indian diplomat and author}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}} | ||
{{more citations needed|date=March 2025}} | |||
{{Infobox officeholder | {{Infobox officeholder | ||
| honorific-suffix = [[Indian Foreign Service|IFS]] | | honorific-suffix = [[Indian Foreign Service|IFS]] | ||
| name | | name = Vikas Swarup | ||
| image = VikasSwarup (cropped).jpg | | image = VikasSwarup (cropped).jpg | ||
| imagesize = 180px | | imagesize = 180px | ||
| caption = Swarup in 2007 | | caption = Swarup in 2007 | ||
| pseudonym = | | pseudonym = | ||
| birth_date = 22 | | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|6|22|df=y}} | ||
| birth_place = [[ | | birth_place = [[Prayagraj]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[India]] | ||
| occupation = *[[Civil Servant]] ([[Indian Foreign Service|IFS]]) | | occupation = *[[Civil Servant]] ([[Indian Foreign Service|IFS]]) | ||
*Author | *Author | ||
| Line 18: | Line 19: | ||
| minister = [[Subrahmanyam Jaishankar]] | | minister = [[Subrahmanyam Jaishankar]] | ||
| term_start = 1 December 2019<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/vikas-swarup-appointed-secretary-west-in-foreign-ministry/articleshow/72478720.cms|title=Vikas Swarup appointed Secretary (West) in foreign ministry|newspaper=The Economic Times}}</ref> | | term_start = 1 December 2019<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/vikas-swarup-appointed-secretary-west-in-foreign-ministry/articleshow/72478720.cms|title=Vikas Swarup appointed Secretary (West) in foreign ministry|newspaper=The Economic Times}}</ref> | ||
|term_end = 30 June 2021 | | term_end = 30 June 2021 | ||
| predecessor = A. Gitesh Sharma | | predecessor = [[A. Gitesh Sarma|A. Gitesh Sharma]] | ||
| successor = Reenat Sandhu | | successor = Reenat Sandhu | ||
| office1 = [[Indian Foreign Secretary|Secretary of Consular, Passport, Visa and Overseas Indian Affairs]]<ref name=HB1>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/vikas-swarup-appointed-secretary-of-overseas-indian-affairs/article28399233.ece | title=Vikas Swarup appointed Secretary of Overseas Indian Affairs | date=12 July 2019 | newspaper=The Hindu Business Line | agency=PTI | access-date=16 August 2019 }}</ref> | | office1 = [[Indian Foreign Secretary|Secretary of Consular, Passport, Visa and Overseas Indian Affairs]]<ref name=HB1>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/vikas-swarup-appointed-secretary-of-overseas-indian-affairs/article28399233.ece | title=Vikas Swarup appointed Secretary of Overseas Indian Affairs | date=12 July 2019 | newspaper=The Hindu Business Line | agency=PTI | access-date=16 August 2019 }}</ref> | ||
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| term_end2 = 1 August 2019 | | term_end2 = 1 August 2019 | ||
| predecessor2 = Vishnu Prakash<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/politics/vikas-swarup-external-affairs-ministry-spokesperson-india-ambassador-high-commissioner-to-canada|title=MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup Named High Commissioner to Canada|date=16 February 2017|access-date=3 August 2018}}</ref> | | predecessor2 = Vishnu Prakash<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/politics/vikas-swarup-external-affairs-ministry-spokesperson-india-ambassador-high-commissioner-to-canada|title=MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup Named High Commissioner to Canada|date=16 February 2017|access-date=3 August 2018}}</ref> | ||
| successor2 = [[Ajay Bisaria]] | | successor2 = [[Ajay Bisaria]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ajay-bisaria-appointed-indias-next-high-commissioner-to-canada/articleshow/73804604.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131215510/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ajay-bisaria-appointed-indias-next-high-commissioner-to-canada/articleshow/73804604.cms |archive-date=2020-01-31 |website=[[The Times of India]] |title=Ajay Bisaria appointed India's next High Commissioner to Canada |date=Jan 31, 2020 |access-date=2023-03-31}}</ref> | ||
| primeminister2 = [[Narendra Modi]] | | primeminister2 = [[Narendra Modi]] | ||
| minister2 = [[Sushma Swaraj]]<br>[[Subrahmanyam Jaishankar]] | | minister2 = [[Sushma Swaraj]]<br>[[Subrahmanyam Jaishankar]] | ||
| office3 = Official Spokesperson | | office3 = [[Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mea.gov.in/personnel.htm|title = MEA | Spokesperson's Office : Personnel}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/slumdog-millionaire-author-vikas-swarup-to-take-over-syed-akbaruddin-as-mea-spokesperson-2174715.html|title = Slumdog Millionaire author Vikas Swarup to take over Syed Akbaruddin as MEA spokesperson|date = 27 March 2015}}</ref> | ||
| term_start3 = 18 April 2015 | | term_start3 = 18 April 2015 | ||
| term_end3 = 28 February 2017 | | term_end3 = 28 February 2017 | ||
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| primeminister3 = [[Narendra Modi]] | | primeminister3 = [[Narendra Modi]] | ||
| minister3 = [[Sushma Swaraj]] | | minister3 = [[Sushma Swaraj]] | ||
| successor3 = Gopal | | successor3 = [[Gopal Bagalay]] | ||
| alma_mater = [[University of Allahabad]] | | alma_mater = [[University of Allahabad]] | ||
| signature = | | signature = | ||
| known_for = ''[[Q & A (novel)|Q & A]]'' (2005)<br>''[[Six Suspects (novel)|Six Suspects]]'' (2008)<br>''[[The Accidental Apprentice]]'' (2013) | | known_for = ''[[Q & A (novel)|Q & A]]'' (2005)<br>''[[Six Suspects (novel)|Six Suspects]]'' (2008)<br>''[[The Accidental Apprentice]]'' (2013) | ||
| website = {{ | | website = {{URL|http://vikasswarup.net}} | ||
| successor1 = | | successor1 = Sanjay Bhattacharya | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Vikas Swarup''' (born 22 June 1961)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tcs.cam.ac.uk/interviews/0023961-interview-vikas-swarup-the-author-of-qa-the-novel-behind-the-oscar-winning-film-slumdog-millionaire.html|title=Interview: Vikas Swarup - The author of Q&A, the novel behind the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire|date=24 January 2013|publisher=The Cambridge Student}}</ref> is | '''Vikas Swarup''' (born 22 June 1961)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tcs.cam.ac.uk/interviews/0023961-interview-vikas-swarup-the-author-of-qa-the-novel-behind-the-oscar-winning-film-slumdog-millionaire.html|title=Interview: Vikas Swarup - The author of Q&A, the novel behind the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire|date=24 January 2013|publisher=The Cambridge Student}}</ref> is an [[Indian nationality|Indian]] [[writer]] and [[retired]] [[diplomat]] of the [[Indian Foreign Service]] who served as the Secretary (West) at the [[Ministry of External Affairs, India]] on 30 June 2021 and previously served as High Commissioner of India in Canada and has been the [[Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs|official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Vikas Swarup to be new spokesperson of External Affairs Ministry|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/vikas-swarup-to-be-new-spokesperson-of-external-affairs-ministry/article7035772.ece|access-date=14 March 2016|work=The Hindu|date=26 March 2015}}</ref> He authored the novel ''[[Q & A (novel)|Q & A]]'', adapted in film as ''[[Slumdog Millionaire]]'', the winner of Best Film for the year 2009 at the [[Academy Awards]], [[Golden Globe Awards]] and [[BAFTA Awards]]. | ||
Swarup joined the [[Indian Foreign Service]] in 1986 and served in [[Turkey]], the [[United States]], [[Ethiopia]], the [[United Kingdom]], [[South Africa]] and [[Japan]] in various Indian diplomatic missions. His other novels are ''[[Six Suspects (novel)|Six Suspects]]'' and ''[[The Accidental Apprentice]]''. In April 2015, he was appointed as the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs of India to head its [[Public Diplomacy|Public Diplomacy divisions]] at [[New Delhi]], succeeding [[Syed Akbaruddin]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/slumdog-millionnaire-author-vikas-swarup-succeed-syed-akbaruddin-mea-spokesman-2174715.html|title=Slumdog Millionaire author Vikas Swarup to take over Syed Akbaruddin as MEA spokesperson|work=Firstpost|date=27 March 2015}}</ref> | Swarup joined the [[Indian Foreign Service]] in 1986 and served in [[Turkey]], the [[United States]], [[Ethiopia]], the [[United Kingdom]], [[South Africa]] and [[Japan]] in various Indian diplomatic missions. His other novels are ''[[Six Suspects (novel)|Six Suspects]]'' and ''[[The Accidental Apprentice]]''. In April 2015, he was appointed as the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs of India to head its [[Public Diplomacy|Public Diplomacy divisions]] at [[New Delhi]], succeeding [[Syed Akbaruddin]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/slumdog-millionnaire-author-vikas-swarup-succeed-syed-akbaruddin-mea-spokesman-2174715.html|title=Slumdog Millionaire author Vikas Swarup to take over Syed Akbaruddin as MEA spokesperson|work=Firstpost|date=27 March 2015}}</ref> | ||
In December 2019, Swarup took charge as Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, looking after relations with Europe, Central Asia as well as the United Nations system.<ref>{{Cite news | In December 2019, Swarup took charge as Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, looking after relations with Europe, Central Asia as well as the United Nations system.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-12-12|title=Vikas Swarup, appointed as Secretary (West) in MEA|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/vikas-swarup-appointed-as-secretary-west-in-mea/article30281275.ece|access-date=2021-01-21|issn=0971-751X}} | ||
He died on 17 July 2022 due to heart attack</ref> | |||
==Early life and education== | ==Early life and education== | ||
Swarup was born in 1961 in the | Swarup was born in 1961 in the Indian city, [[Prayagraj]] in a family of lawyers.<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://www.vikasswarup.net/bio/|title=Bio|work=vikasswarup.net}}</ref> He did his schooling at [[Boys' High School & College, Allahabad]] and pursued further studies at [[Allahabad University]] in [[Psychology]], [[History]] and [[Philosophy]]. | ||
==Diplomatic career== | ==Diplomatic career== | ||
Swarup is a career diplomat and joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1986. He has served in different capacities in New Delhi and in India's missions abroad including his last assignment as High Commissioner of India to Canada followed by the post of the official spokesperson of the [[Ministry of External Affairs (India)|Ministry of External Affairs]].<ref>{{Cite news | Swarup is a career diplomat and joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1986. He has served in different capacities in New Delhi and in India's missions abroad including his last assignment as High Commissioner of India to Canada followed by the post of the official spokesperson of the [[Ministry of External Affairs (India)|Ministry of External Affairs]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2017-02-16|title=Vikas Swarup appointed High {{sic|Commis|ioner|nolink=y}} to Canada|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/SWARUP_ENVOY/article17313382.ece|access-date=2021-01-21|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Panda|first=Sushmita|date=2019-07-12|title=Author-Diplomat Vikas Swarup moved to Delhi as Indo-Canadian ties remain cold|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/world-author-diplomat-vikas-swarup-moved-delhi-indo-canadian-ties-remain-cold-534573|access-date=2021-01-21|website=www.indiatvnews.com|language=en}}</ref> He also served in [[Ankara]], Washington D.C., [[Addis Ababa]], London, [[Pretoria]] and as [[Consulate General of India, Osaka|Consul General in Osaka-Kobe]], Japan. | ||
==Writing career== | ==Writing career== | ||
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Swarup's [[debut novel]], ''[[Q & A (novel)|Q & A]]'', tells the story of how a penniless waiter in [[Mumbai]] becomes the biggest quiz show winner in history.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kannan|first=Indira|date=2018-10-28|title=Slumdog Millionaire has opened up doors for me as a diplomat: Vikas Swarup|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/slumdog-millionaire-has-opened-up-doors-for-me-as-a-diplomat-vikas-swarup-118102700691_1.html|access-date=2021-01-21}}</ref> Critically acclaimed in India and abroad, this international best-seller has been translated into 43 different languages. It was shortlisted for the Best First Book by the [[Commonwealth Writers' Prize]] and won South Africa's [[Exclusive Books Boeke Prize]] in 2006, as well as the Prix Grand Public at the 2007 Paris Book Fair. It was voted winner of the Best Travel Read (Fiction) at the Heathrow Travel Product Award 2009. | Swarup's [[debut novel]], ''[[Q & A (novel)|Q & A]]'', tells the story of how a penniless waiter in [[Mumbai]] becomes the biggest quiz show winner in history.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kannan|first=Indira|date=2018-10-28|title=Slumdog Millionaire has opened up doors for me as a diplomat: Vikas Swarup|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/slumdog-millionaire-has-opened-up-doors-for-me-as-a-diplomat-vikas-swarup-118102700691_1.html|access-date=2021-01-21}}</ref> Critically acclaimed in India and abroad, this international best-seller has been translated into 43 different languages. It was shortlisted for the Best First Book by the [[Commonwealth Writers' Prize]] and won South Africa's [[Exclusive Books Boeke Prize]] in 2006, as well as the Prix Grand Public at the 2007 Paris Book Fair. It was voted winner of the Best Travel Read (Fiction) at the Heathrow Travel Product Award 2009. | ||
A [[BBC]] radio series based on the book won the Gold Award for Best Drama at the 2008 [[Sony Radio Academy Awards]] and the 2008 IVCA Clarion Award. [[ | A [[BBC]] radio series based on the book won the Gold Award for Best Drama at the 2008 [[Sony Radio Academy Awards]] and the 2008 IVCA Clarion Award. [[HarperCollins]] brought out the audio book, read by [[Kerry Shale]], which won the Audie for best fiction audio book of the year. [[Film4]] of the UK had optioned the movie rights and the movie titled ''[[Slumdog Millionaire]]'', directed by [[Danny Boyle]], was first released in the US to great critical acclaim.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Mendes|first=Ana Cristina|date=2010|title=Showcasing India Unshining: Film Tourism in Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire|journal=Third Text|language=en|volume=24|issue=4|pages=471–479|doi=10.1080/09528822.2010.491379|s2cid=145021606|issn=0952-8822}}</ref> It won the People's Choice Award at the [[Toronto International Film Festival]] and three awards (Best Film, Best Director and Most Promising Newcomer) at the [[British Independent Film Awards]] 2008. The [[National Board of Review]] picked ''Slumdog Millionaire'' as the best film of 2008. The movie swept five awards out of its six nominations at the [[Critics' Choice Awards]], and all four nominations awarded at the [[Golden Globe Awards]] including best director, picture, screenplay and score, and seven [[BAFTA Awards]]. It received ten [[Academy Awards|Oscar]] nominations of which it won eight, including Best Picture and Best Director. From ''[[The NY Times]]'' report: "[T]hough it had no actors nominated for prizes, [it also] swept many awards other than those on the top line, including prizes for cinematography, sound mixing, score and film editing. ''Slumdog'''s eight Oscars was the largest total won by a single film since ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'' won 11 in 2004."<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/23/movies/awardsseason/23oscar.html "A ‘Slumdog’ Kind of Night at the Oscar Ceremony"] by [[Michael Cieply]] and [[David Carr (journalist)|David Carr]], ''The New York Times'', 23 February 2009. Retrieved 2–23–09.</ref> The film was released in the UK on 9 January 2009 and in India on 23 January with William Losch. | ||
===''Six Suspects''=== | ===''Six Suspects''=== | ||
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===''The Accidental Apprentice''=== | ===''The Accidental Apprentice''=== | ||
Swarup's third novel is ''[[The Accidental Apprentice]]'', published by Simon & Schuster (UK) in 2013. | Swarup's third novel is ''[[The Accidental Apprentice]]'', published by Simon & Schuster (UK) in 2013. | ||
=== ''The Girl with Seven Lives'' === | |||
Swarup's most recent novel ''The Girl with Seven Lives'', published by S&S India (16 July 2024). The novel made longlist in 2025 for the [[International Dublin Literary Award]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=IGO |date=2025-01-14 |title=The Girl with Seven Lives |url=https://dublinliteraryaward.ie/the-library/books/the-girl-with-seven-lives/ |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=Dublin Literary Award |language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
===Other works=== | ===Other works=== | ||
Swarup's short story "A Great Event" was published in ''The Children's Hours: Stories of Childhood'', an anthology of stories about childhood to support [[Save the Children]] and raise awareness for its fight to end violence against children. | Swarup's short story "A Great Event" was published in ''The Children's Hours: Stories of Childhood'', an anthology of stories about childhood to support [[Save the Children]] and raise awareness for its fight to end violence against children. | ||
Swarup has participated in the Oxford Literary Festival, the [[Turin International Book Fair]], the Auckland Writers' Conference, the [[Sydney Writers' Festival]], the [[Kitab Festival]] in New Delhi, the [[St. Malo]] International Book & Film Festival in France, the 'Words on Water' Literary Festival at the [[University of the Witwatersrand]] in Johannesburg, the [[Jaipur Literature Festival]] in India, the Hay-on-Wye Festival in Wales and the Franschhoek Literary Festival in South Africa. In 2009 he participated in the 33rd [[Cairo International Film Festival]] as a jury member for the International Competition for Feature Digital Films. | Swarup has participated in the [[Oxford Literary Festival]], the [[Turin International Book Fair]], the Auckland Writers' Conference, the [[Sydney Writers' Festival]], the [[Kitab Festival]] in New Delhi, the [[St. Malo]] International Book & Film Festival in France, the 'Words on Water' Literary Festival at the [[University of the Witwatersrand]] in Johannesburg, the [[Jaipur Literature Festival]] in India, the Hay-on-Wye Festival in Wales and the Franschhoek Literary Festival in South Africa. In 2009, he participated in the 33rd [[Cairo International Film Festival]] as a jury member for the International Competition for Feature Digital Films.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}} | ||
He has written for ''TIME'', Newsweek, ''[[The Guardian]]'', ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' (UK), [[Outlook (Indian magazine)|''Outlook'']] magazine (India) and ''[[Libération]]'' (France). | He has written for ''TIME'', Newsweek, ''[[The Guardian]]'', ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' (UK), [[Outlook (Indian magazine)|''Outlook'']] magazine (India) and ''[[Libération]]'' (France).{{citation needed|date=March 2025}} | ||
Vikas Swarup gives | Vikas Swarup gives motivational talks at institutions internationally.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}} | ||
==Recognition== | ==Recognition== | ||
On 21 September 2010, the [[University of South Africa]] (UNISA) conferred the degree of Doctor of Literature & Philosophy ([[honoris causa]]) on Swarup at a graduation ceremony in Pretoria. | On 21 September 2010, the [[University of South Africa]] (UNISA) conferred the degree of Doctor of Literature & Philosophy ([[honoris causa]]) on Swarup at a graduation ceremony in Pretoria. On 18 June 2020, Montreal-based Concordia University conferred an Honorary Doctorate on Swarup for literary excellence and dedication to diplomacy. On 16 June 2023, Swarup was awarded with an Honorary Doctorate at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}} | ||
On June | |||
Swarup took over as the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs on 18 April 2015.<ref>{{Cite news|title='Slumdog Millionaire' writer Vikas Swarup appointed as External Affairs Ministry spokesperson|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/slumdog-millionaire-writer-vikas-swarup-appointed-as-external-affairs-ministry-spokesperson/articleshow/46705115.cms|access-date=2021-01-21}}</ref> | Swarup took over as the [[Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs|spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs]] on 18 April 2015.<ref>{{Cite news|title='Slumdog Millionaire' writer Vikas Swarup appointed as External Affairs Ministry spokesperson|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/slumdog-millionaire-writer-vikas-swarup-appointed-as-external-affairs-ministry-spokesperson/articleshow/46705115.cms|access-date=2021-01-21}}</ref> | ||
==Personal life== | ==Personal life== | ||
Swarup speaks Turkish apart from English and other Indian languages. He is married to Aparna, an artist, and the couple | Swarup speaks Turkish apart from English and other Indian languages. He is married to Aparna, an artist, and the couple have two sons.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}} | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
*[[List of Indian writers]] | |||
*[[Harsh Vardhan Shringla]] | *[[Harsh Vardhan Shringla]] | ||
*[[Taranjit Singh Sandhu]] | *[[Taranjit Singh Sandhu]] | ||
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==External links== | ==External links== | ||
*{{IMDb name|3139511}} | *{{IMDb name|3139511}} | ||
===Interviews and articles=== | ===Interviews and articles=== | ||
* [https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/nov/27/mumbai-terror-attacks-terrorism Vikas Swarup: Mumbai will recover from this, just as it has many times before] | * [https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/nov/27/mumbai-terror-attacks-terrorism Vikas Swarup: Mumbai will recover from this, just as it has many times before] | ||
* [http://www.rediff.com/news/2005/feb/02inter1.htm The Rediff Interview/Vikas Swarup] | * [http://www.rediff.com/news/2005/feb/02inter1.htm The Rediff Interview/Vikas Swarup] | ||
* [http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/south-asia/slumdog-success-it-all-started-in-allahabad_100141686.html How the story of Slumdog Millionaire started.] | * [http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/south-asia/slumdog-success-it-all-started-in-allahabad_100141686.html How the story of Slumdog Millionaire started.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502015814/http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/south-asia/slumdog-success-it-all-started-in-allahabad_100141686.html |date=2 May 2009 }} | ||
{{Authority control}} | {{Authority control}} | ||
{{USC Scripter Awards — Film}} | |||
{{portal bar|Biography|India|Literature}} | |||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Swarup, Vikas}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Swarup, Vikas}} | ||
[[Category:21st-century Indian novelists]] | [[Category:21st-century Indian novelists]] | ||
[[Category:Living people]] | [[Category:Living people]] | ||
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[[Category:Indian Foreign Service officers]] | [[Category:Indian Foreign Service officers]] | ||
[[Category:21st-century Indian short story writers]] | [[Category:21st-century Indian short story writers]] | ||
[[Category:Writers from | [[Category:Writers from Prayagraj]] | ||
[[Category:Novelists from Uttar Pradesh]] | [[Category:Novelists from Uttar Pradesh]] | ||
[[Category:1963 births]] | [[Category:1963 births]] | ||
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[[Category:Indian male novelists]] | [[Category:Indian male novelists]] | ||
[[Category:Indian male short story writers]] | [[Category:Indian male short story writers]] | ||
[[Category:High | [[Category:High commissioners of India to Canada]] | ||
[[Category:Spokespersons for the Ministry of External Affairs of India]] | |||
Latest revision as of 11:34, 20 March 2026
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2025) |
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Vikas Swarup (born 22 June 1961)[7] is an Indian writer and retired diplomat of the Indian Foreign Service who served as the Secretary (West) at the Ministry of External Affairs, India on 30 June 2021 and previously served as High Commissioner of India in Canada and has been the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs.[8] He authored the novel Q & A, adapted in film as Slumdog Millionaire, the winner of Best Film for the year 2009 at the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards and BAFTA Awards.
Swarup joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1986 and served in Turkey, the United States, Ethiopia, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Japan in various Indian diplomatic missions. His other novels are Six Suspects and The Accidental Apprentice. In April 2015, he was appointed as the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs of India to head its Public Diplomacy divisions at New Delhi, succeeding Syed Akbaruddin.[9]
In December 2019, Swarup took charge as Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, looking after relations with Europe, Central Asia as well as the United Nations system.[10]
Early life and education[edit | edit source]
Swarup was born in 1961 in the Indian city, Prayagraj in a family of lawyers.[11] He did his schooling at Boys' High School & College, Allahabad and pursued further studies at Allahabad University in Psychology, History and Philosophy.
Diplomatic career[edit | edit source]
Swarup is a career diplomat and joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1986. He has served in different capacities in New Delhi and in India's missions abroad including his last assignment as High Commissioner of India to Canada followed by the post of the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs.[12][13] He also served in Ankara, Washington D.C., Addis Ababa, London, Pretoria and as Consul General in Osaka-Kobe, Japan.
Writing career[edit | edit source]
Q & A[edit | edit source]
Swarup's debut novel, Q & A, tells the story of how a penniless waiter in Mumbai becomes the biggest quiz show winner in history.[14] Critically acclaimed in India and abroad, this international best-seller has been translated into 43 different languages. It was shortlisted for the Best First Book by the Commonwealth Writers' Prize and won South Africa's Exclusive Books Boeke Prize in 2006, as well as the Prix Grand Public at the 2007 Paris Book Fair. It was voted winner of the Best Travel Read (Fiction) at the Heathrow Travel Product Award 2009.
A BBC radio series based on the book won the Gold Award for Best Drama at the 2008 Sony Radio Academy Awards and the 2008 IVCA Clarion Award. HarperCollins brought out the audio book, read by Kerry Shale, which won the Audie for best fiction audio book of the year. Film4 of the UK had optioned the movie rights and the movie titled Slumdog Millionaire, directed by Danny Boyle, was first released in the US to great critical acclaim.[15] It won the People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival and three awards (Best Film, Best Director and Most Promising Newcomer) at the British Independent Film Awards 2008. The National Board of Review picked Slumdog Millionaire as the best film of 2008. The movie swept five awards out of its six nominations at the Critics' Choice Awards, and all four nominations awarded at the Golden Globe Awards including best director, picture, screenplay and score, and seven BAFTA Awards. It received ten Oscar nominations of which it won eight, including Best Picture and Best Director. From The NY Times report: "[T]hough it had no actors nominated for prizes, [it also] swept many awards other than those on the top line, including prizes for cinematography, sound mixing, score and film editing. Slumdog's eight Oscars was the largest total won by a single film since The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King won 11 in 2004."[16] The film was released in the UK on 9 January 2009 and in India on 23 January with William Losch.
Six Suspects[edit | edit source]
Swarup's second novel Six Suspects, published by Transworld, was released on 28 July 2008 and has been translated into more than 30 languages. The US edition was published by Minotaur Books in 2009. It was optioned for a film by the BBC and Starfield productions and John Hodge, who has been commissioned to write the screenplay.
The Accidental Apprentice[edit | edit source]
Swarup's third novel is The Accidental Apprentice, published by Simon & Schuster (UK) in 2013.
The Girl with Seven Lives[edit | edit source]
Swarup's most recent novel The Girl with Seven Lives, published by S&S India (16 July 2024). The novel made longlist in 2025 for the International Dublin Literary Award.[17]
Other works[edit | edit source]
Swarup's short story "A Great Event" was published in The Children's Hours: Stories of Childhood, an anthology of stories about childhood to support Save the Children and raise awareness for its fight to end violence against children.
Swarup has participated in the Oxford Literary Festival, the Turin International Book Fair, the Auckland Writers' Conference, the Sydney Writers' Festival, the Kitab Festival in New Delhi, the St. Malo International Book & Film Festival in France, the 'Words on Water' Literary Festival at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, the Jaipur Literature Festival in India, the Hay-on-Wye Festival in Wales and the Franschhoek Literary Festival in South Africa. In 2009, he participated in the 33rd Cairo International Film Festival as a jury member for the International Competition for Feature Digital Films.[citation needed]
He has written for TIME, Newsweek, The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph (UK), Outlook magazine (India) and Libération (France).[citation needed]
Vikas Swarup gives motivational talks at institutions internationally.[citation needed]
Recognition[edit | edit source]
On 21 September 2010, the University of South Africa (UNISA) conferred the degree of Doctor of Literature & Philosophy (honoris causa) on Swarup at a graduation ceremony in Pretoria. On 18 June 2020, Montreal-based Concordia University conferred an Honorary Doctorate on Swarup for literary excellence and dedication to diplomacy. On 16 June 2023, Swarup was awarded with an Honorary Doctorate at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario.[citation needed]
Swarup took over as the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs on 18 April 2015.[18]
Personal life[edit | edit source]
Swarup speaks Turkish apart from English and other Indian languages. He is married to Aparna, an artist, and the couple have two sons.[citation needed]
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "Vikas Swarup appointed Secretary (West) in foreign ministry". The Economic Times.
- ↑ "Vikas Swarup appointed Secretary of Overseas Indian Affairs". The Hindu Business Line. PTI. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
- ↑ "MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup Named High Commissioner to Canada". 16 February 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
- ↑ "Ajay Bisaria appointed India's next High Commissioner to Canada". The Times of India. 31 January 2020. Archived from the original on 31 January 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
- ↑ "MEA | Spokesperson's Office : Personnel".
- ↑ "Slumdog Millionaire author Vikas Swarup to take over Syed Akbaruddin as MEA spokesperson". 27 March 2015.
- ↑ "Interview: Vikas Swarup - The author of Q&A, the novel behind the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire". The Cambridge Student. 24 January 2013.
- ↑ "Vikas Swarup to be new spokesperson of External Affairs Ministry". The Hindu. 26 March 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- ↑ "Slumdog Millionaire author Vikas Swarup to take over Syed Akbaruddin as MEA spokesperson". Firstpost. 27 March 2015.
- ↑ "Vikas Swarup, appointed as Secretary (West) in MEA". The Hindu. 12 December 2019. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 21 January 2021. He died on 17 July 2022 due to heart attack
- ↑ "Bio". vikasswarup.net.
- ↑ "Vikas Swarup appointed High Commisioner [sic] to Canada". The Hindu. 16 February 2017. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
- ↑ Panda, Sushmita (12 July 2019). "Author-Diplomat Vikas Swarup moved to Delhi as Indo-Canadian ties remain cold". www.indiatvnews.com. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
- ↑ Kannan, Indira (28 October 2018). "Slumdog Millionaire has opened up doors for me as a diplomat: Vikas Swarup". Business Standard India. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
- ↑ Mendes, Ana Cristina (2010). "Showcasing India Unshining: Film Tourism in Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire". Third Text. 24 (4): 471–479. doi:10.1080/09528822.2010.491379. ISSN 0952-8822. S2CID 145021606.
- ↑ "A ‘Slumdog’ Kind of Night at the Oscar Ceremony" by Michael Cieply and David Carr, The New York Times, 23 February 2009. Retrieved 2–23–09.
- ↑ IGO (14 January 2025). "The Girl with Seven Lives". Dublin Literary Award. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
- ↑ "'Slumdog Millionaire' writer Vikas Swarup appointed as External Affairs Ministry spokesperson". The Economic Times. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
External links[edit | edit source]
- Vikas Swarup on IMDb
