On Friday 7 July 2006 the Honourable Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar, Indian Cabinet Minister for Panchayati Raj and Youth Affairs and Sports will speak on 'India, South Asia and Asia in the Quest for Energy Security'.
Mr Aiyar previously held the post of Union Cabinet Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas from May 2004 till February 2006. He was re-elected to the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) for the third term from Mayiladuturai in Tamil Nadu in May 2004. Following his first election to the Lok Sabha in 1991, Mr. Aiyar was a Member and Secretary of the All India Congress Committe (AICC).
Mr. Aiyar's political career follows a successful career as a senior Indian diplomat. Having served as Consul General in Karachi, Mr. Aiyar served as Joint Secretary to the Prime Minister's Office in New Delhi under Rajiv Gandhi (1985-89). He resigned from the Indian Foreign Service in 1989, to take up a career in politics. The author of several books, including 'Remembering Rajiv', he was educated at Doon School, St. Stephen's College, and Cambridge University.
The talk is scheduled to begin at 2.15 pm, finish at 3.15 pm and will be held at Arundel House, 13 - 15 Arundel Street, Temple Place, London, WC2R 3DX. If you you would like to attend this meeting please RSVP (confirmations only) to Ms. Kathleen James please email james@iiss.org or call on 020 7395 9109.
