Veteran diplomat Abid Hussain passes away

Veteran administrator, economist and diplomat Abid Hussain passed away in London yesterday at the age of 85.

Veteran administrator, economist and diplomat Abid Hussain passed away in London yesterday at the age of 85.

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The end came after a massive heart attack, the Observer Research Foundation(ORF) said here. Hussain, who had been honoured with Padma Bhushan for his meritorious services in 1988, was also a senior trustee of the ORF.

He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.

Hussain had also served as Ambassador to the US.

Born on December 19, 1926, Hussain was a member of the Indian Administrative Service and served in various capacities at the Centre. He was secretary, ministry of heavy industries, commerce secretary and chairman, IIFT. He became member, planning commission in 1985. Later on he became India's Ambassador to the US.

Hussain played important role in India's economic and trade reforms. He headed six important committees set up by the Government covering trade policy reforms; project exports; CSIR review committee for development of science and technology; textile policy of the government of India; development of capital market; and small scale industry.

At the time of his death, he was also the chancellor of English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, a member of the International Panel on Democracy & Development of UNESCO, Prof Emeritus at Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Prof Emeritus at the Foreign Service Institute of Ministry of External Affairs, Chairman of Ghalib Academy and Vice President of Rumi Foundation.

He was Trustee of various prestigious educational, cultural and charitable institutions. He was a member of the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco and BP Koirala Foundation and a Trustee of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts Trust.

Hussain had also served for nine years as special rapporteur to UN on freedom of opinion and expression. He was a member of the Constitution Review Commission set up by the Government, and also a member of the Prasar Bharati Board till April 2001. Till recently Hussain was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, New York.