Prof. I.S.Saluja

NEW YORK (TIP): An email sent to community leaders in New York Consulate jurisdiction, Consul General Sandeep Chakravorty  has announced that Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu will have virtual interaction with the Indian American community leaders of New York Consulate jurisdiction on June 12.

The meeting originally scheduled for June 11 was moved to June 12 in view of the preoccupation of many community leaders with the cremation of FIA chairman Ramesh Patel  on June 11 around the same time as that of the meeting.

Mr. Chakravorty’s email reads: “Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu assumed charge as Ambassador of India to the US in February 2020. Since he took over, while in one hand we have had a very successful visit of President Trump to India, on the other hand we all have been confronted by the challenge presented by COVID-19. In this scenario, normal interaction between Community leaders and Ambassador has not been possible. As the future looks uncertain with respect to travel and personal meetings, it has been decided to hold virtual interactions with Community leaders across USA. We are delighted that Ambassador Sandhu has agreed that the first meeting is held with Community leaders in our jurisdiction” .

Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu is not new to New York or Washington. He  served in the Indian Mission in Washington DC twice earlier. He was Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of India in Washington DC from July 2013 to January 2017. Earlier, he was First Secretary (Political) at the Embassy of India, Washington, DC responsible for liaison with the United States Congress from 1997 to 2000. He has also been at the Permanent Mission of India to United Nations, New York from July 2005 to February 2009.

Prior to his current assignment in Washington DC, Ambassador Sandhu was High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka from January 2017 to January 2020. He had also served at the High Commission of India, Colombo earlier as the Head of the Political Wing from December 2000 to September 2004.

Ambassador Sandhu was Consul General of India in Frankfurt from September 2011 to July 2013. He has worked in the Ministry of External Affairs in various capacities: as Joint Secretary (United Nations) from March 2009 to August 2011; and later as Joint Secretary (Administration) heading the Human Resource Division. He was Officer on Special Duty (Press Relations), Ministry of External Affairs from December 1995 to March 1997, and was responsible for liaison with foreign media in India.

In a distinguished career spanning over thirty years in the Indian Foreign Service since 1988, Ambassador Sandhu started his diplomatic career from former Soviet Union (Russia) where he worked as Third Secretary (Political) / Second Secretary (Commercial) in the Indian Mission from 1990 to 1992. Following the breakup of Soviet Union, he was sent to open a new Embassy in Ukraine. He served as Head of Political and Administration Wings in Indian Embassy in Kiev from 1992 to 1994.

Born on 23 January 1963 in a family of educationists, Ambassador Sandhu studied at The Lawrence School, Sanawar and graduated with History Honors from St. Stephens’ College, Delhi. He pursued a Master’s Degree in International Relations at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

Ambassador Sandhu is married to Mrs. Reenat Sandhu, who is Ambassador of India to Italy. They have two children. His interests include books, movies and outdoor sports.

Ambassador Sandhu assumed charge as Ambassador to the United States on February 3, 2020.

Ambassador Sandhu presented his credentials to the President of the United States of America,  Donald Trump at the Oval office of the White House on 6 February 2020.