PAVAN K. VARMA is the member of the Rajya Sabha. A history graduate from St. Stephen's College, he joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1976. His career as a diplomat has seen him serve in several countries. In New York, he was with India's Permanent Mission to the United Nations. He also served as Executive Assistant to the Chairman of the Group of 77. In Moscow, he was the Director of the Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre in the Indian Embassy. He has also been High Commissioner of India to Cyprus as well as Director of the Nehru Centre in London. His assignments in India include that of Press Secretary to the President of India, Spokesman in the Ministry of External Affairs, Joint Secretary for Africa and Director General of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, and Indian Ambassador to Bhutan.