Braj Kumar Nehru (1909 – 2001) was an Indian diplomat, Governor of seven different states of India prior to serving as the Ambassador of India to the United States from 1961 to 1968.
He was the cousin of Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister.
Nehru's wife was Magdolna Friedman, also known as Shobha or Fori Nehru. They met as students at the London School of Economics in 1930 and married in 1935. Fori was a Hungarian-born Indian social worker who had a remarkable life of her own. She promoted Indian handicrafts when she was in the US. The founders of Fabindia, became interested after seeing some samples of the Indian work when Fori met one of them in 1953. In her husband's autobiography, she is mentioned as "a wife who gives direction and stability". She lived till the age of 108.
He was the cousin of Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister.
He joined the Indian Civil Service in 1934. Prior to India's Independence, he played the following roles -
- From 1934 to 1937, he served in various government positions in the province of Punjab.
- In 1957, he became the secretary of economic affairs.
- The following year, in 1958, he was appointed Commissioner General for Economic Affairs (external financial relations) of India.
Nehru also had a significant international presence:
- He served as an executive director in the World Bank in 1949.
- In 1954, he held the post of Economic Minister at the Indian Embassy in Washington. One of his notable achievements was helping to establish the Aid India Club in 1958. This consortium of donor nations pledged a substantial $2 million for the development of India.
- He served as a diplomat and ambassador to several countries.
- Interestingly, he was offered the prestigious position of secretary-general of the United Nations in 1951 but declined the offer.
- From 1973 to 1977, Nehru served as the Indian High Commissioner in London.
- For an impressive 14 years, he chaired the United Nations Investment committee.
- He also represented India in the crucial 'Sterlings balances' negotiations with Britain at the post-World War II reparations conference.
BK Nehru was the Governor of seven different states of India at various times. He served as the Governor of:
- Jammu and Kashmir (1981–1984)
- Assam (1968–1973)
- Gujarat (1984–1986)
- Nagaland (1968–1973)
- Meghalaya (1970–1973)
- Manipur (1972–1973)
- Tripura (1972–1973)
He was appointed an MBE in the 1945 New Year Honours. In 1999, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan.
Nehru's wife was Magdolna Friedman, also known as Shobha or Fori Nehru. They met as students at the London School of Economics in 1930 and married in 1935. Fori was a Hungarian-born Indian social worker who had a remarkable life of her own. She promoted Indian handicrafts when she was in the US. The founders of Fabindia, became interested after seeing some samples of the Indian work when Fori met one of them in 1953. In her husband's autobiography, she is mentioned as "a wife who gives direction and stability". She lived till the age of 108.