Mr. Ashok K. Kantha joined Chanakya University on 4th December 2025 as Subhas Chandra Bose Chair Professor of International Relations.
Mr Kantha is former career diplomat who served as Secretary (East) in Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Ambassador/High Commissioner of India to China, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. He is an Honorary Fellow and former Director (2017-22) of the Institute of Chinese Studies, New Delhi; a Distinguished Fellow at Vivekananda International Foundation, New Delhi; a Distinguished Fellow at Council for Strategic and Defence Research, New Delhi; and Chair of the Core Group on China of the Confederation of Indian Industry.
In his diplomatic career, Kantha specialised in India’s neighbourhood and extended neighbourhood with a particular focus on China and South Asia. Apart from three diplomatic assignments in China, he handled relations with China in policy positions at MEA for eight years and was the lead Indian negotiator for several key agreements with China, including the Agreement on Political Parameters and Guiding Principles for Boundary Settlement.
Kantha also served as Joint Secretary (East Asia), MEA, Consul General in Hong Kong, Deputy Chief of Mission in Nepal, Director (China), MEA, Director (Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan), MEA, Counsellor (Political), Embassy of India, Washington DC, Deputy Secretary (Afghanistan – Pakistan), MEA, and Special Assistant to Chairman, Policy Planning Committee and Policy Advisory Committee, Cabinet Secretariat (Shri G. Parthasarathi).
Kantha has an advanced certificate in Chinese language from National University of Singapore. He graduated from Patna University with honours in history.