Former Gujarat-cadre IAS officers Yagnik, Nanda

Two former IAS officers, Kulinchandra Yagnik and S K Nanda, have passed away. While Yagnik (97) died in Gandhinagar on Saturday, Nanda (68) died in the USA on Friday.

By Connect Gujarat Desk 28 Jul 2024 in Gujarat

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Former Gujarat-cadre IAS officers Yagnik, Nanda

Two former IAS officers, Kulinchandra Yagnik and S K Nanda, have passed away. While Yagnik (97) died in Gandhinagar on Saturday, Nanda (68) died in the USA on Friday.

Yagnik was a Sanskrit scholar and had been appointed to IAS cadre in 1973.

Nanda, an IAS officer of the 1978 batch, was one of the youngest officers when appointed and served Gujarat for 38 years.

Nanda had travelled to the USA earlier this week to visit his children. He suffered a cardiac arrest there on Friday.

He last served as the CMD of Gujarat State Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd (GSFC) for nearly two years before he retired from service in February 2016.

The GSFC University in Vadodara was set up in 2015 when Nanda was CMD of the state PSU.

After his retirement, he was appointed as a member of the advisory committee of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who heads NDMA, had recognised Nanda’s practical experience in dealing with natural disasters in Gujarat and in other states.

Nanda, who served as ACS (Home) during 2012-2014, held two aspects close to his heart: the tribal people of Dang and the use of HAM radio in establishing communication with affected people during disasters.

After the 2001 Gujarat earthquake, the Gujarat Institute of Amateur Radio (GIAR) came into being and Nanda became its chairman.

Nanda was the brain behind the Jagannath Cultural Academy and Research Centre (JCARC) at Adalaj and was its chairman.

On his part, Yagnik wrote Sanskrit verses and contributed to Gujarat Samachar and Akhand Anand for many years. He was well known for his books on administration. He was also a founding member of North Gujarat University.

In 1951, he became an information assistant in the then Saurashtra state. After being appointed to the IAS cadre in 1973, he served in different positions. He was also associated with several trusts.