{{Short description|Indian politician and former diplomat}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Pavan Varma | image = Pavan Varma 2005.jpg | caption = Varma speaking at a book launch in Nehru Centre, London, in 2005, when he was its director | office1 = General Secretary of Janata Dal (United) | office2 = MP of Rajya Sabha for Bihar | term_start1 = 10 November 2016 | term_end1 = 29 January 2020 | term_start2 = 23 June 2014 | term_end2 = 7 July 2016 | office3 = Indian Ambassador to Bhutan | predecessor3 = Sudhir Vyas | successor3 = VP Haran | term_start3 = {{dts|May 2009||}} | term_end3 = {{dts|January 2013||}} | office4 = Indian High Commissioner to Cyprus | predecessor4 = Shyamala B Cowsik | successor4 = Neelam D. Sabharwal | term_start4 = {{dts|format=dmy|2001|08|08}} | term_end4 = {{dts|format=dmy|2004|01|23}} | birth_name = Pavan Kumar Varma | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1953|11|05}} | birth_place = Nagpur, India | other_party = Trinamool Congress (2021–2022) <br>Janata Dal (United) (2016–2020) | party = Jan Suraaj Party<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://x.com/jansuraajonline/status/1913144914218545260|title=महत्वपूर्ण सूचना - जन सुराज पार्टी के विचारों एवं पक्ष को प्रेस / मीडिया में रखने के लिए पार्टी के ओर से राष्ट्रीय मुख्य प्रवक्ता श्री पवन वर्मा और श्री वाई वी गिरी अधिकृत हैं। |date=18 April 2025|access-date=23 May 2025}}</ref> | office = National Chief Spokesperson Jan Suraaj Party<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://x.com/jansuraajonline/status/1883048813054865573|title=जन सुराज के मुख्य प्रवक्ता एवं प्रवक्ताओं की सूची।|date=23 January 2025|access-date=27 May 2025}}</ref><ref name=":3"/> | term_start = 23 January 2025 }}
'''Pavan K. Varma''' (born 5 November 1953) is an Indian politician, author, and former diplomat who served as India's Ambassador to Bhutan and High Commissioner to Cyprus.<ref>{{Cite news |title=MEA {{!}} Statements : Press Releases |url=https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/9450/SHRI+PAVAN+KUMAR+VARMA+currently+Joint+Secretary+at+Headquarters+of+the+Ministry+of+External+Affairs+has+been+appointed+as+the+next+High+Commissioner+of+India+to+CYPRUS+in+succession+to+Smt+Shyamala+B+Cowsik |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220821151618/https://mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/9450/SHRI+PAVAN+KUMAR+VARMA+currently+Joint+Secretary+at+Headquarters+of+the+Ministry+of+External+Affairs+has+been+appointed+as+the+next+High+Commissioner+of+India+to+CYPRUS+in+succession+to+Smt+Shyamala+B+Cowsik |archive-date=21 August 2022 |access-date=2025-05-23 |work=Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref> He has also served as the Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha representing Bihar. He is also a widely published author, known for his works on Indian culture, identity, and politics.
== Early life and education == Varma a native of Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh was born on 5 November 1953 in Nagpur, Madhya Pradesh (now Maharashtra). He graduated with a degree in History from St. Stephen's College, University of Delhi, where he stood first in his class. He subsequently obtained a degree in law from the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi. He joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1976.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2018-11-15 |title=Pavan K. Varma |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/pavan-k-varma/articleshow/66630435.cms |access-date=2025-05-23 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>
== Career ==
=== Diplomatic career === Varma joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1976. Over the course of his diplomatic career, he held several key positions, including Press Secretary to the President of India, Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Joint Secretary for Africa, High Commissioner of India to Cyprus, Director of the Nehru Centre in London, Director General of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, and Ambassador of India to Bhutan.<ref name=":0" />
=== Political career === In June 2014, he was elected to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of India's Parliament, representing the state of Bihar. He served in this capacity until July 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pavan Kumar Varma {{!}} PRSIndia |url=https://prsindia.org/mptrack/rajya-sabha/pavankumarvarma |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=PRS Legislative Research |language=en-US}}</ref> During this period, he was also appointed as the National General Secretary and National Spokesperson of the Janata Dal (United).<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-11-10 |title=K C Tyagi, Pawan Varma, Harivansh in Nitish Kumar's new JD(U) team |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/k-c-tyagi-pawan-varma-harivansh-in-nitish-kumars-new-jdu-team/443157/ |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=Financialexpress |language=en}}</ref>
Varma served as the National General Secretary of the JD(U) until 29 January 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=PTI |date=2021-11-23 |title=Congress leader Kirti Azad, former JDU general secretary Pavan Varma join TMC |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2021/Nov/23/congress-leader-kirti-azad-former-jdu-general-secretary-pavan-varmajoin-tmc-2387198.html |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> He subsequently joined the Trinamool Congress on 23 November 2021 and was appointed the party's National Vice-President on 19 December 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |last=PTI |date=2021-12-19 |title=TMC appoints Pawan Varma as national vice-president |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tmc-appoints-pawan-varma-as-national-vice-president/article37993495.ece |access-date=2025-05-23 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He resigned from the post and left the party on 12 August 2022, following political realignments in Bihar associated with the formation of the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) government.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.abplive.com/news/india/trinamool-congress-former-mp-pavan-k-varma-left-trinamool-congress-said-to-mamta-banerjee-thank-you-2190472/amp|title= Pawan K Verma left TMC|work= ABP News|access-date=2022-08-12}}</ref>
=== Literary career === Varma is a noted author and commentator on Indian culture, history, and society. He has written both non-fiction and translations, contributing significantly to public discourse through his publications. Some of his notable works include:<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pavan K. Varma: Indian Identities |url=https://ghum.kuleuven.be/ggs/research/india_focus/europalia_lectures/overview/pavan-k.-varma |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=Groep Humane Wetenschappen KU Leuven |language=en}}</ref> * ''Ghalib: The Man, The Times'' (1989) * ''Krishna: The Playful Divine'' (1993) * ''The Great Indian Middle Class'' (1998) * ''Being Indian: The Truth About Why the 21st Century Will Be India's'' (2004) * ''Becoming Indian: The Unfinished Revolution of Culture and Identity'' (2010) * ''Chanakya's New Manifesto'' (2013) * ''Adi Shankaracharya: Hinduism's Greatest Thinker'' (2018) * ''The Greatest Ode to Lord Ram: Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas'' (2021)
Varma has also translated the poetry of prominent Indian figures including Kaifi Azmi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Gulzar into English. Varma is a regular columnist, with his articles appearing in publications such as ''The Times of India'', ''The Asian Age'', and other national and regional newspapers and journals.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-11-03 |title=Pavan K Varma |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/litfest/delhi-litfest-2016/speakers/pavan-k-varma/articleshow/54956268.cms |access-date=2025-05-23 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>
== Honours and recognition == In 2005, Varma was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the University of Indianapolis in recognition of his contributions to diplomacy, literature, culture, and aesthetics.<ref name=":0" /> During his tenure as Ambassador to Bhutan, he was conferred the Druk Thuksey Award, Bhutan's highest civilian honour, by His Majesty the King of Bhutan. He remains the only serving Indian Ambassador to Bhutan to have received this distinction.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Pavan K. Varma - Profile & Biography |url=https://www.rekhta.org/editors/pavan-k-varma/profile |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=Rekhta |language=en}}</ref>
Varma has also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from his alma mater, St. Xavier's School, Delhi, and the Distinguished Alumnus Award from St. Stephen's College, Delhi.<ref name=":2" /> In February 2019, he was presented with the inaugural Wordsmith Award at the Words Count Festival in Pune. The same year, he was also honoured with the Kalinga International Literary Award for his contributions to Indian literature and public discourse.<ref name=":1" />
== Bibliography ==
===Fiction=== * {{cite book|title=When Loss is Gain|publisher=Rain Tree|year=2012|isbn=978-81-291-1941-4|author=Pavan K. Varma}} * {{cite book |title=The Lady Who Carried the Monk Across the River |publisher=Penguin India |year=2026 |isbn=978-93-730-3754-7 |author=Pavan K. Varma}}
===Non-fiction=== * {{cite book|title=Ghalib, the man, the times|publisher=Viking|year=1989|author=Pavan Kumar Varma}} * {{cite book|title=Havelis of Old Delhi|publisher=Bookwise (India)|year=1992|author=Pavan K. Varma}} * {{cite book|title=Krishna, the playful divine|publisher=Viking|year=1993|author=Pavan K. Varma}} * {{cite book|title=Yudhishtar and Draupadi|publisher=Penguin Books India|year=1996|author=Pavan K. Varma}} * {{cite book|title=The great Indian middle class|publisher=Viking|year=1998|author=Pavan K. Varma}} * {{cite book|title=Being Indian: the truth about why the twenty-first century will be India's|date=1 April 2004|publisher=Viking|author=Pavan K. Varma}} * {{cite book|title=Love and lust: an anthology of erotic literature from ancient and medieval India|date=1 June 2004|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers a joint venture with India Today Group|author1=Pavan K. Varma|author2=Sandhya Mulchandani}} * {{cite book|title=Kamasutra: The Art of Making Love to a Woman|date=1 February 2007|publisher=Roli Books Private, Limited|isbn=978-81-7436-448-7|author=Pavan K. Varma}} * {{cite book|title=Becoming Indian: The Unfinished Revolution of Culture and Identity|publisher=Penguin Books India|year=2010|isbn=978-0-670-08346-6|author=Pavan K. Varma}} * {{cite book|title=Adi Shankaracharya: Hinduism's Greatest Thinker|publisher=Tranquebar|year=2018|isbn=978-81-9365-561-0|author=Pavan K. Varma}} As a sequel to ''The Great Indian Middle Class'' in 1998, he, in association with journalist Renuka Khandekar, published ''Maximize Your Life: An Action Plan for the Indian Middle Class'' (Viking 2000). His 2004 ''Being Indian'' was published by William Heinemann, in the United Kingdom, as ''Being Indian: Inside the Real India'' in March 2005. Adi Shankaracharya: Hinduism's Greatest Thinker has translated and published in various Indian languages.
===Translations=== * ''Selected Poems: Kaifi Azmi'' (Viking/Penguin 2001) is the English translation of the Urdu poems of Kaifi Azmi. * ''21 Poems'' (Viking/Penguin), a translation in English of the Hindi poems of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the then Prime Minister of India, was published in December 2001. * ''Selected Poems: Gulzar'' (Penguin) a translated collection of the poems of Gulzar into English, one of India's best-known poets, came out in April 2008. * ''Neglected Poems'', Pavan K. Varma's second volume of the English translations of Gulzar's poems was launched at the Jaipur Literary Festival in January 2012. * ''Green Poems: Gulzar'', (Penguin, 2014) Pavan K. Varma's third volume of the English translation of Gulzar's poems. * ''Suspected Poems: Gulzar'', (Penguin, 2017) Pavan K. Varma's fourth volume of the English translation of Gulzar's poems.
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Varma, Pavan}} Category:1953 births Category:Living people Category:People from Ghazipur Category:Ambassadors of India to Bhutan Category:Rajya Sabha members from Bihar Category:Jan Suraaj Party politicians Category:Janata Dal (United) politicians Category:High commissioners of India to Cyprus Category:Trinamool Congress politicians from Maharashtra Category:Spokespersons for the Ministry of External Affairs of India