K.R. Narayanan

This article shows the intersections of caste with Indian diplomacy through the biography of Kocheril Raman Narayanan. An early recruit to the Indian Foreign Service, Narayanan held ambassadorial positions in China and the United States. Afterwards, he transitioned to a political career, serving as a parliamentarian, minister, vice president and president of India. The article discusses Narayanan’s struggles within the foreign service to engineer a space for himself and his ideas. A range of archival sources are used to unearth how Narayanan’s caste identity was invoked to undermine his merit, professional competencies and constitutional roles. Accordingly, the article explores his diplomatic style, roles and vision. This exploration is significant to understand not only the everyday obstacles that a diplomat from ‘low social origin’ encounters within the Indian diplomatic corps, but also how Narayanan expands the horizons of diplomatic practices – by prioritising ‘everyday diplomacy’ to mainstream multiple marginalities and bridge binaries.