Srinagar, June 12: D.P. Dhar (Durga Prasad Dhar) (1918-1975) was a key Indian politician and diplomat. He played a crucial role in India’s involvement in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War and was a close adviser and confidant of Indira Gandhi.
Dhar held prominent positions, including Ambassador to the Soviet Union and minister in the governments of Jammu and Kashmir and India.
D.P. Dhar was a distinguished Indian diplomat and politician who served as the Chairman of India’s Policy Planning Committee. He chaired India’s Policy Planning Committee and played a key role in strengthening Indo-Soviet ties. Dhar represented India at the UN Security Council in 1949 and UN General Assembly in 1952. He served as India’s Ambassador to the Soviet Union from 1969 to 1971 and again from 1975 until his death.
D.P. Dhar played a crucial role in the 1971 Indo-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation. He also played a key role in India’s intervention in the East Pakistan civil war, which led to the formation of Bangladesh. His legacy is honored at the Embassy of India in Moscow, where a hall bears his name.
Retired Journalist and public affairs commentator, Shubh Bhattacharya paid tribute to D.P Dhar and wrote in a post on X, “Tribute to D.P. Dhar , who as chairman of India’s Policy Planning Committee crafted the strategy to defeat Pakistan and create Bangladesh in 1971 war, on his 50th punya tithi ( anniversary of his passing away).”
