Niranjan M. Khilnani (27 November 1922 - 14 December 2012) was a historian, scholar, professional writer and commentator on Indian and International Affairs.
Khilnani was born at Sukkur, Sindh to Manohardas Kauromal Khilnani and Smt Amrit Devi (Ambi d/o Kundan das Keswani). He was the grandson of Rai Bahadur Dewan Kauromal Chandanmal Khilnani of Bhiriya in Sindh. His brother Ashok Khilnani lives in Los Angeles, California married to Renu Khilnani with sons Madhu- Mark Khilnani, Keerti - Keith Khilnani. He was the youngest to secure a PhD from Bombay University at age 25 in 1947. He did his post doctoral research at Yale University.
He married Chitra (Shanta d/o Hassanand Tolani) who stayed in New Delhi.
After partition he became the youngest lecturer at Hindu College, Delhi University. In 1951 he joined the Ministry of External Affairs where he rose to the level of Director, Historical Division.
He served with the Ministry of External Affairs from 1951 to 1980.[1] He was the External Affairs Ministry’s expert on Latin America, Sikkim, Bhutan and Nepal.
In 1968, he visited Peru, Chile and Ecuador on a Human Rights Fellowship of the United Nations. In 1972 he represented India at the Second United Nations Geographical Conference in London. Khilnani was associated with CHOGM Conference and the 7th Non-aligned Summit in 1983 in New Delhi. After his retirement from the Ministry of External Affairs, Khilnani served on the Sarkaria Commission for Center - State relations.
In 1990 Khilnani visited Moscow as a visiting Professor
He wrote extensively for the national and international press.
Khilnani published several books. His Panorama of Indian Diplomacy, Realities of Indian Foreign Policy, Road to Independence (1857 to 1947), Four Diamonds of Anand Bhavan, Indira Gandhi-the Iron Lady of Indian Politics, won acclaim.