Dr S K Nanda, a retired IAS officer from the Gujarat Cadre and a native of Odisha’s Puri, passed away at 68 due to a cardiac arrest in the USA on Friday. He suffered the cardiac event while being treated for pneumonia at a hospital in Ithaca, New York State. Sources indicate he was in the US accompanying his wife to visit their children.
Dr Nanda, who retired as Additional Chief Secretary at Home during Narendra Modi‘s tenure as Chief Minister, was known for his exceptional service. Post May 2014, he closely coordinated with the New Delhi dispensation and was regarded as one of the few promising officers.
During his early years, Dr. Nanda served in various districts as Assistant Collector and District Collector in Dang, Baroda, Panchmahals, Banaskanta, and Junagadh. He was the “Guardian Secretary” of the Dang district for an extended period. In 2014, he authored a book titled “Dangs: The Little Known Paradise of India.”
An expert in Ham Radio operations, Dr Nanda was the first to use amateur radio to establish communication with the Amreli district during a cyclone in 1997. After the Kutch earthquake on January 26, 2001, he chaired the Gujarat Institute of Amateur Radio (GIAR).
Dr Nanda, a proud native of Puri, was the chairperson of the Jagannath Cultural Academy and Research Centre (JCARC) and the Odisha Socio-Cultural Association (OSCA), which established an Odisha-styled Jagannath temple in Adalaj, Gandhinagar, in 2014.
Known for his approachable nature, Dr. Nanda was always willing to engage with journalists and the general public. He was renowned for his transparent communication, often responding to queries from common people and attending calls with diligence.