Dr. TCA Raghavan

Dr T.C.A Raghavan retired from the Indian Foreign Service in December 2015 as Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan (2013-15). He joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1982.

He had earlier served as Deputy High Commissioner in Pakistan (2003-2007) and High Commissioner to Singapore from 2009 to 2013. During his last posting in New Delhi (2007-09) in the Ministry of External Affairs, he was appointed the Joint Secretary of the Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran Division. He has also served in United Kingdom (1995-1998), Bhutan (1992-1995) and Kuwait (1983-1986). His earlier posts held in the Ministry of External Affairs include Director of the Office of the External Affairs Minister (2000-2003).

He was appointed as Director-General of the Indian Council of World Affairs in New Delhi from July 2018 to July 2021.

He is the author of several books including, ‘Attendant Lords, Bairam Khan and Abdur Rahim- Courtiers and Poets in Mughal India’ was awarded the Mohammad Habib Memorial Prize by the Indian History Congress in December 2017. His other books include, ‘The People Next Door- The Curious History of India’s relations with Pakistan’ (Harper Collins, 2017); ‘History Men: Jadunath Sarkar, G.S. Sardesai, Raghubir Sinh and their quest for India’s Past’ (2019).

He completed his PhD from the Jawaharlal Nehru University in 1992. His dissertation was on the economic history of India. He finished school at Sardar Patel Vidyalaya and his college and university were at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University.