Pakistan is a paradigm example of a failed state that has undergone an extremely dangerous form of radical Islamisation.
Kocheril Raman Narayanan
KR Narayanan was born at Uzhavoor in Kottayam District, Kerala on October 2,
1920. He had his early schooling at Uzhavoor primary and middle schools and
Kuravilangad English High School. He joined for the intermediate course at CMS
College, Kottayam on a merit scholarship. He completed the BA (honours) Degree with
first division from the University College, Thiruvananthapuram.
He obtained his MA degree in English Literature by securing the first rank
from the University. After the completion of his studies at Thiruvananthapuram
he went to London School of Economics and secured B.Sc. (Eco) degree with First
Class Honours, specializing in Political Science.
He started his career by working as a lecturer in a Govt. College. Later, he
joined the world of journalism through the 'Commerce and Industry' weekly at
first and then with the celebrated 'The Hindu' Daily and at 'Times of India'.
Later, he enrolled at the London School of Economics. During those years, he
developed close contact with freedom fighters like VK Krishna Menon and
participated in the activities of India League. He was also a member of the
Indian Journalists' Association in London and worked as the London correspondent
of the 'Social Welfare Weekly' published by KM Munshi from Mumbai.
Narayanan was absorbed in the Indian Foreign Service and was shortly posted
to Indian Embassy for Myanmar (Burma) as a secretary. There he met his present
day wife.
Since then he worked as Secretary with the Indian Missions in Vietnam and
Australia. After these assignments, he was sent as Indian Ambassador to
countries like Thailand, China, and Turkey on different occasions. While in
China, he tried to improve the Sino-Indian relationship. After his retirement as
Indian Ambassador to China, he was made the Vice Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru
University, Delhi.
In the year 1980, he was appointed as Ambassador to Washington. In 1986, he
was elected to the Lok Sabha from Ottappalam Parliamentary constituency on a
Congress ticket. Shortly he became a minister in the Rajiv Gandhi cabinet. He
won parliamentary elections of 1989 and 1991 from Ottappalam.
On 21st August 1992 he became Vice president of Indian Republic and was later
elevated as the President of India.
Narayanan is married to Ma Trint Trint, a Myanmarese woman. She was later
renamed as Usha and they have two daughters, Chitra and Amritha.
Usha Narayanan is involved with social welfare activities for women and
children. As National President of KARUNA, an all-India organization for the
welfare of women and children form 1985 to 1992, she was responsible for
building working Girls' Hostels and Day Care Centres, Potters' Cooperatives and
Sericulture projects in Kerala.
In addition to her interest in landscaping, gardening, orchid cultivation,
Ikebana and Bonsai, she is also a short story writer. She has translated several
Burmese short stories into English. A collection of her translations of Thein Pe
Myint's Burmese Short Stories was published as a book entitled 'Sweet and Sour'
in December 1998. Usha Narayanan has also worked with All India Radio for many
years, translating, and broadcasting news and talks for the External Services of
All India Radio.
