DR. NIRAD CHAUDHURI BECOMES HONORARY CBE

October 19, 1992

Peter Brooke, Secretary of State for National Heritage, announced today that Her Majesty the Queen has appointed Dr Nirad Chaudhuri an Honorary Commander of the British Empire (CBE).

The award recognises the outstanding services he has rendered to British national life as a writer and journalist focusing on Britain's relationship with India.

Mr Brooke will present the award to Dr Chaudhuri at a ceremony to be arranged.

Mr Brooke said today: "I congratulate Dr Nirad Chaudhuri on the bestowal of this honour. He is one of the great writers of this century in the English language and this award is a tribute both to Dr Chaudhuri and to his country."

Notes to Editors

  1. Dr. Nirad Chaudhuri is an Indian citizen. Honorary awards are normally announced and presented, separately from the Birthday and New Year honours, by a Minister of the Crown in accordance with Her Majesty's Commands.
  2. Dr. Chaudhuri, who was born in Bengal on 23 November 1897, has devoted his life to studying India's relationship with Britain. His first international success, "The Autobiography of an Unknown Indian" (1951), has been followed by books including "A Passage to England", "Clive of India" and "Scholar Extraordinary: The Life of Max Muller". At the age of 90 he completed another volume in his autobiography, "Thy Hand, Great Anarch".
  3. Dr. Chaudhuri settled in Britain nearly 20 years ago and lives in Oxford, where he continues to write in English and Bengali. He holds honorary degrees at both Oxford and Stirling Universities.
    Last modified: Mon Aug 9 11:20:56 PDT 1999