KR Narayanan

Life and Career

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 finished the BA (honours) Degree in the 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.